After Uncle Zhang had tucked the blanket around Lin Zaozao, he got on the ox cart and started heading off.
"Uncle Zhang, aren't we going to wait for other people?"
"No more waiting. It's so late already. If anyone else was coming, they would have come by now," said Uncle Zhang as he sat in front smoking his pipe slowly.
Not until the ox cart started moving did Lin Zaozao tilt her head to sneak a peek at the few young men sitting beside her.
The oldest looking one was probably in his early thirties while the youngest seemed around the same age as Lin Zaozao.
Perhaps because Lin Zaozao had taken up a quarter of the cart's space or because she was the only woman, those men looked rather stiff when they glanced her way.
Even their eyes seemed to evade her. She didn't know if it was shyness or if her ghastly appearance had horrified them.
As the ox cart ambled along, the sun finally rose when they arrived at the town.
"Uncle Zhang, can you wait for me here this afternoon? I'd like to go buy some things."
"Sure. No one will be around this afternoon anyway. I'll wait under that tree for you. Remember, girl, come back early or we won't make it home before dark."
"Okay, Uncle Zhang."
After waving goodbye to Uncle Zhang, Lin Zaozao headed excitedly into town.
Ever since coming to this time, she had been cooped up in that tiny courtyard. The farthest she had gone was fishing with Lonely Mountain.
Now that she could finally see an ancient-style marketplace in person, Lin Zaozao's heart quickened with anticipation.
Stepping into the bustling marketplace, it looked chaotic at first glance. But observing closely, everyone on the streets was busy minding their own business, especially the various vendors.
Lin Zaozao roughly eyed the wares laid out on both sides—hardware, scissors and other sundries, as well as rouge and powder for girls.
Although the workmanship looked quite crude, they certainly didn't contain any harmful chemicals or toxins.
As she walked along either side of the street, Lin Zaozao looked around at all kinds of shops, those selling clothes, grains and rice, as well as tea and various snacks.
She finally stopped when spotting a money exchange. Stepping inside, the people who had been secretly watching Lin Zaozao in the marketplace couldn't help but start whispering about her figure and appearance.
After all, they rarely saw girls as hideous and obese as her living such impoverished lives here.
If a family didn't have some savings, they certainly couldn't raise such a fat daughter.
Looking so ugly, it was no wonder she dared to go out alone without fear of brigands. Though it was true, with her looks, who would want to rob her?
Oblivious to the talk behind her back, what could Lin Zaozao do if she knew?
She was currently as displeased with her appearance as others were, if not more so.
If she wanted people to stop looking down on her, she'd better restore herself to looking like a normal girl as soon as possible!
Taking out the small gold nugget concealed in her clothes, she placed it on the counter to exchange with the shopkeeper. After all, the most commonly used currencies in daily ancient life were silver and copper coins.
As for gold, only wealthy households used that regularly. If she tried buying things in the marketplace with gold, few could make change for her!
After the shopkeeper inspected the gold, weighed it and exchanged it for eight taels of silver and two thousand copper coins, Lin Zaozao left with a heavy money bag in hand. The feeling of being nouveau riche instantly swelled up in her.
She really had to thank whichever gentleman had sent her this money yesterday. She was grateful to his ancestors too.
With money now, not only could she buy herself some new clothes, she needed to get some rice, flour, oil and other staples for the family too.
Otherwise, the rice and flour barrels in the kitchen would continue gleaming as brightly as mirrors while seasoning was out of the question.
Whenever she saw Murong Hai's meals, their bowls contained not a speck of anything.
Just drinking mouthfuls of plain water, how could they have any strength left!
Although her cooking skills were poor, she had to learn in order to fill their stomachs. She couldn't let herself starve to death.
Just as Lin Zaozao was secretly scheming, her stomach rumbled loudly right on cue.
Yesterday, she only had a bowl of fish soup. She could still walk today solely thanks to her strong willpower.
Spotting the nearest steamed bun shop, Lin Zaozao bought four buns and a bowl of soy milk before finding an empty seat.
Inhaling the appetizing aroma of the buns, the famished Lin Zaozao could have cried tears of joy.
This was true happiness!
Heavens! Before coming here, she had hated eating steamed buns the most, fearing weight gain. But now, though she had ballooned into a ball, hunger made these four buns seem heavenly.
People said lust comes on the heels of food and warmth. Who would think about romance when starving, much less beauty or ugliness?
Taking a big bite, though the filling was vegetarian, they certainly contained no harmful chemicals or toxins. Mmm, so delicious!
And so, when Lin Zaozao wolfed down four buns and a bowl of soy milk, just as she was debating whether to order more food, a commotion erupted from behind her.
Glancing back toward the source of the screams and cries for help, after peeking curiously at the wine shop next door, Lin Zaozao prepared to leave.
In an unfamiliar place, it was best for a powerless young girl like herself to avoid crowds and excitement, lest she got embroiled in trouble.
But before she had taken a few steps, the system's voice clearly sounded in her mind.
[Temporary mission: Go rescue a specific person. Reward: one drop of Level 2 beauty serum.]
[Level 2 beauty serum? The stuff I drank the other day was only Level 1?]
[Correct. Level 1 beauty serum can only improve your complexion, whereas Level 2 can fade the dark spots on your face and help you lose 5 jin. After drinking just 5 drops of Level 2 beauty serum, the spots on your face can be completely removed. Does the host accept this temporary mission assigned by the system?]
[Accept, accept! It's just holding someone's hand and transferring their pain for a bit! No big deal, I accept right now.]
[I hope the host succeeds soon. Host, I wish you the best!]
After hearing the system's voice brimming with ill intent, Lin Zaozao wiped her greasy hands on herself and barged straight into the crowd.
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