“Why don’t you bring a bowl, and I’ll scoop you a little. I don’t have much left. I only made a small batch of this peach milk tea, and it has to be made early in the morning to sell. If I make it now, it won’t be good by tomorrow.” Qin Rong wasn’t being overly enthusiastic—it was just that the look of disappointment on the uncle’s face was too obvious to ignore.

“Alright, alright, sorry to trouble you!” said the uncle, already pulling a small bowl from the cloth bag slung over his shoulder.

Qin Rong took the bowl and went in to scoop a bit of the milk tea for Uncle Bai. “Uncle, if your master likes the taste, he can come find my stall on West Street tomorrow.”

Bai Fu nodded and handed over a small silver ingot. “Thank you, young lady.”

Qin Rong shook her head and declined. “Uncle Bai, it’s just a bowl of milk tea between neighbors—it’s not worth such a silver piece. If your master likes it, just come again tomorrow. I have other snacks at my stall too.”

Bai Fu was a bit surprised by her words.

Though Pear Blossom Town wasn’t big, its people were certainly clever.

“Then thank you kindly, young lady!”

Qin Rong gave a polite bow and closed the door.

The next day, fearing that just she and Yu Xiaoshan wouldn’t be able to handle the crowd, Qin Rong dropped off Qin Yi at the Yu family before heading out to the stall with Qin Yue and Yu Xiaoshan.

The peach milk tea had been prepared early in the morning.

To better sell it, Qin Rong had borrowed two square tables from the old lady who ran the wonton stall. Bowls and chopsticks were ready, and water had been fetched in advance.

Once customers finished their milk tea, they could wash their own bowls.

Using the milk and peaches from the previous day, she had made about fifty bowls of peach milk tea.

Qin Rong priced each bowl at six copper coins, mainly targeting passing merchants or better-off families.

The perilla snails were also a new item today, priced at three copper coins per serving.

The fish balls still sold the fastest. The pumpkin flower cakes and perilla snails also sold steadily.

Only the peach milk tea had some interest—young women would ask about it but leave with a frown after hearing the price.

Qin Yue grew worried. “Sister, we haven’t sold a single bowl of the peach milk tea yet!”

But Qin Rong remained calm.

At this time, most of the people browsing the market were farmers who had to rush back afterward, and they were naturally reluctant to spend six copper coins on a small bowl of tea.

“No rush, no rush.”

While the two sisters whispered to each other, Uncle Bai showed up again, this time accompanied by a well-dressed gentleman—clearly Master Bai.

Master Bai had a long face and dignified features, commanding respect even without speaking.

Qin Rong smiled brightly. “Uncle Bai, Master Bai, are you here for the peach milk tea?”

Master Bai nodded slightly, while Uncle Bai laughed. “Yes, young lady. Your tea from yesterday was truly delicious.”

“Will you be taking it to-go or drinking it here?” Qin Rong asked.

“We’ll eat here. You mentioned yesterday you had other foods as well—bring us a bit of everything,” said Uncle Bai.

“Certainly!” Qin Rong quickly poured the tea while Yu Xiaoshan packed up the perilla snails and pumpkin flower cakes.

Qin Yue prepared the fish ball soup.

Uncle Bai and Master Bai sat down and looked around at the bustling crowd with admiration. “Ah Fu, look—even though this place isn’t as grand as the capital, the spirit in these people’s eyes outshines the capital’s.”

Bai Fu nodded. “Indeed.”

Soon, their dishes arrived.

When Master Bai saw the perilla snails, he caught a whiff of something spicy and asked in surprise, “Were these snails stir-fried with chili peppers?”

Qin Rong smiled slightly. “Yes, they were.”

This piqued Master Bai’s interest even more.

Yesterday’s peach milk tea had left a lingering impression, and now today’s spicy snails offered another delightful surprise.

He hadn’t expected such sophistication from such a small stall.

Though Master Bai enjoyed spicy food, he had a particular fondness for sweets.

He picked up the bowl of peach milk tea, inhaled its aroma, and took a big sip. “Fragrant—absolutely fragrant! Young lady, your cooking is exquisite!”

Qin Rong smiled lightly. “Thank you for the compliment, Master Bai.”

Meanwhile, Bai Fu was completely won over by the perilla snails.

The spiciness shot straight to his head, and the umami flavor spread throughout his mouth. The meat was clean, with no muddy aftertaste—better even than what he’d eaten in Nanshui.

“Young lady, these snails are incredible!”

The two men sat at the stall, eating and praising her food with such joy that they looked like they had discovered the best delicacies in the world.

The local farmers didn’t mind, but the passing merchants couldn’t resist and began ordering food to eat at the other table as well.

In just a short while, the pumpkin flower cakes and fish ball soup were sold out.

Only some perilla snails and peach milk tea remained.

Master Bai finished a bowl of milk tea and a few pieces of cake in one go, feeling that life could hardly be better.

Bai Fu, particularly fond of the fish ball soup and the snails, even packed up a few portions to take home.

After tidying up the tables, a few young women approached.

One of them looked familiar—Qin Rong thought she might have been with Qin Lian yesterday, though she’d kept to the back and hadn’t spoken.

“This drink smells so nice. How much for a bowl?” asked a round-faced young woman wearing a bright green velvet flower in her hair, which made her look even fairer.

“This drink is white peach oolong milk tea. Six copper coins a bowl.”

“I’ll take four bowls. I’m treating everyone today,” the girl said cheerfully.

Just as Qin Rong was about to serve the tea, the young woman who knew Qin Lian grabbed the round-faced girl’s sleeve and whispered, “Sister Yan, this girl is really mean. Her father left her mother, and she’s jealous of Sister Lian. Yesterday, Sister Lian wanted to help her and tried to buy something, but this girl cursed at her. Let’s go—we shouldn’t associate with such disgraceful people.”

Qin Rong: “…”

Who decided it was okay to talk trash about someone so loudly right in front of them?

Absolutely shameless.

Before Qin Rong could respond, Qin Yue put down what she was doing, planted her hands on her hips, and pointed at the gossipy girl. “Who are you calling mean? Who’s jealous of Sister Lian? Who are you saying is disgraceful?”

Qin Yue had always been bold and never got along with Qin Lian.

Though she didn’t know what exactly had happened, it was clear Qin Lian was involved.

The gossiping girl blushed and took a step back, hiding behind the round-faced girl. “I… I didn’t mean that.”

The round-faced girl looked a bit embarrassed but didn’t want to push her friend forward, so she politely bowed to Qin Rong and Qin Yue. “I’m sorry. Please forgive us. I apologize on her behalf.”

The girl’s demeanor was gracious, and Qin Rong didn’t want to make a scene.

She smiled and said, “It’s nothing. If anyone spreads false rumors, we can just go to the authorities. That sort of slander is punishable.”

After speaking, she glanced coolly at the gossiping girl, then turned to the round-faced one and asked, “Would you still like the peach milk tea?”