Chapter 7

Eager to see results, she quickly picked up the jade cup and poured water onto the rice and millet.

(Side note: Don’t start arguing that rice can’t grow from rice seeds! This space can even absorb gold. I’m not growing it in an ordinary field; is that so hard to understand?)

She poured several cups in succession, then stepped out of the space.

She kneaded the dough into small pieces and skillfully wrapped up the meat buns, one after another. She made a total of ten large buns and placed them in the steamer, checking the time. It was just enough to have them ready before everyone came home.

Before long, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking, and she could even hear neighbors whispering to each other:

“Who’s cooking meat? It smells amazing.”

“Yeah, we haven’t had meat for two weeks; it’s mouthwatering.”

“I know, right? If only they’d waited until dinnertime to cook it so I could at least enjoy the smell while I eat my rice.”

…

Xǔ Niánnián walked over to the kitchen with small, excited steps, inhaling the fragrance deeply. She felt like she had been revived.

It’s fine to cook something delicious once or twice, but if she did it too often, she’d attract unwanted attention. Once she had more money, she planned to buy a set of pots and utensils to use in her space.

After letting the buns steam for a few more minutes, she lifted the lid. The steamed buns looked soft, white, and plump, incredibly tempting. She swallowed her saliva.

She planned to take six to Aunt Liu, the matchmaker, and keep four for herself.

Ignoring the heat, she placed one bun in a bowl, blew on it, and took a bite. The thin wrapper and juicy, flavorful filling were irresistible. Eating meat for the first time since arriving in this world was pure bliss.

Each bite was a delight. She’d seasoned the filling generously, and the juices soaked into the bun’s wrapper, making it even more flavorful and fragrant.

With one big meat bun in her belly, she felt the anxiety of arriving in this world start to melt away.

Yes, she had space and food now, so at least she wouldn’t live as miserably as the original owner.

Putting the remaining three buns into her space, she wrapped the others in wax paper, two per packet, making three bundles. She then tidied up the kitchen, opened a window to let the smell dissipate, slung her small bag over her shoulder, and set off to the matchmaker’s house.

The matchmaker didn’t live far away, so she arrived quickly.

In those days, everyone kept their doors open in the summer to let air flow through. Following her memory of the original owner’s steps, she walked around the courtyard and soon spotted Aunt Liu sitting outside, fanning herself. Luckily, she was alone.

If there had been others around, Niánnián, as a young, unmarried girl, might have felt too shy to approach.

She pulled the bundled buns from her bag, smiled, and handed them over.

“Aunt Liu, taking a rest?”

Aunt Liu looked closely at the girl in front of her. What a beauty she was! Aunt Liu had been matchmaking for over 20 years, bringing together hundreds of couples since she’d married. She’d rarely seen someone so striking: rosy cheeks, her hair in a high ponytail, clean and lively. The most captivating part was her moist, bright eyes that softened the heart of anyone she looked at.

Aunt Liu’s fan stopped mid-motion. “Whose daughter are you?”

She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed such a distinctive girl before.

“Aunt Liu, I’m Xǔ Niánnián, Xǔ Àiguó’s second daughter.”

Now recognizing her, Aunt Liu noted that her facial features did resemble Niánnián. She hadn’t been this beautiful before. Such a transformation!

Then Aunt Liu remembered the fuss a few days ago when Niánnián had caused trouble over someone, and her face fell.

Her matchmaking success rate was high because she didn’t introduce just anyone. If Niánnián, who’d recently been infatuated with someone else, came looking for a match, it might just be a joke. If it worked out, fine, but if not, she could blame Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu almost wanted to brush her off coldly—who did this girl think she was?

But then the aroma wafting from the buns hit her nose. She could tell they were meat buns from the smell alone. She swallowed her saliva but kept her face stern. “What brings you here?”

Niánnián pushed the buns into her hand with a sweet smile.

“Aunt Liu, you’re the most famous matchmaker around. I’m here to seek your help.”

Aunt Liu, expecting this answer, couldn’t resist the temptation of the meat buns and asked, “Does your family know you’re here? You’re the first girl to come alone.”

Picking up on Aunt Liu’s hesitance, Niánnián reassured her. “Oh, Aunt Liu, no need to worry. I’m sincerely looking for a marriage match. My parents are busy, so I decided to come on my own.”

Aunt Liu was skeptical of this answer but found the girl’s attitude polite enough to continue the conversation.

“With your looks, if not for your thing with Hé Cōnghào, you could easily find someone like picking cabbage from the market. Do you have any preferences?”

As Aunt Liu spoke, she carefully observed Niánnián and noted her sincere gaze, without the shifty mannerisms she’d expected. Huh, why did she get so hung up on Hé Cōnghào before, causing such a scandal?

After a moment’s thought, Niánnián replied with her list: “He should be at least 175 cm tall, of good character, with a stable job. Ideally, he can marry within two months. I’d also prefer if he’s good-looking and doesn’t have a complicated family situation…”

Aunt Liu’s fist nearly clenched at hearing this list.

These meat buns were clearly not a simple gift. She was ready to turn her down, but then Niánnián pulled out a handful of crystal-clear rice grains from her bag.

“Aunt Liu, if you find a match, I’ll bring you two pounds of this rice.”

The rice was a product of the space; when she went out, she realized it was already ready for harvest and could even be manipulated by her thoughts. This discovery thrilled her, so she grabbed a handful before leaving.

The words Aunt Liu was about to say were swallowed back down, as she could smell the faint fragrance of the rice. Their family was well-off, yet rarely did they get rice of such quality; the usual rice was often mixed with stones and other impurities. This rice was immaculate, mouthwatering.

Seeing Aunt Liu’s interest, Niánnián placed the rice on the table beside her.

Aunt Liu was pleased with her generosity. This handful could make a whole meal. She realized that Niánnián seemed genuinely intent on finding a match, so she decided to cook the rice for dinner.

This young lady was attractive, educated, quick-witted, and well-proportioned, quite different from the rumors of being lazy and rude. Anyone who could make their own meat buns couldn’t be all bad.

After a moment’s thought, Aunt Liu said, “Do you have a photo, girl?”

“I do.”

The original owner was quite vain and had taken a formal photo.

Aunt Liu glanced at the photo; it wasn’t as lively as the real person, but it would do. She patted her chest, her expression brightening.

“Don’t worry; I know you’re eager, and I’ll find someone for you soon.”