Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

This abrupt action made Cheng Yuntao's eyes widen. She looked at Jiang Yu with confusion and asked softly, "What are you doing?"

Jiang Yu stood up, patted the corner of his clothes, looked at the scholar with a hint of disgust, then casually stuffed the scraps of cloth into his arms and explained.

"I don't want someone like that holding anything of yours, even if it's just a small piece of cloth."

After saying that, he took Cheng Yuntao's hand again and led her back to the bustling street.

Cheng Yuntao lowered her head slightly, looking at the two people holding hands, her heart was like the surface of a lake brushed by a spring breeze, rippling layer by layer.

All the past events flashed through her mind like a kaleidoscope, from Jiang Yu's cynical smile when they first met, to the care he inadvertently revealed during their later interactions. All these little things came together, causing her originally tightly closed heart to quietly open.

Away from the gathering places of brothels and gambling houses, the number of small vendors gradually increased.

The craftsman selling sugar paintings was fiddling with the syrup in his hand with skill. The crystal clear sugar liquid flowed through his fingertips. In a moment, a vivid little rabbit jumped out, attracting the surrounding children to cheer and shout to buy it, holding copper coins.

The stall owner next door who was selling roasted meat was holding an iron skewer, skewering sizzling mutton, and flipping it over the charcoal fire. Sparks flew, grease dripped, and a tempting fire started. In an instant, the air was filled with the rich and mellow aroma of meat, which made the diners around salivate. They handed over copper coins, eager to taste this hot and delicious delicacy.

Not far away, an old man selling lotus root powder was guarding a steaming copper pot. The delicate lotus root powder was rolling in the pot. He skillfully added a spoonful of sugared osmanthus and sprinkled some white sesame seeds. A bowl of fragrant, soft, sweet lotus root powder was ready. Many passers-by were attracted by the sweet taste and stopped to buy a bowl to warm their hands and stomachs.

Different from the light food of the East and West Markets, and different from the heavy oil and salt of the North Market, the South Market has more snacks with rich flavors.

It does seem contradictory, but it is true that in the same city, people of different economic levels have different taste preferences, and several markets are separated by an invisible line.

The two of them strolled in, feeling the hustle and bustle of this world.

The streets were bustling with people coming and going. Jiang Yu seemed to be lost in a beautiful dream, and his steps were light as he followed the crowd.

He didn't know how long he had been walking, but he seemed to be awakened by a sudden spring thunder. He suddenly came to his senses and realized that his hand was tightly clasped with Cheng Yuntao's hand.

He moved his fingers in panic and subconsciously wanted to pull his hand back. He glanced at Cheng Yuntao from the corner of his eye, but saw that her face was calm. She was completely unaware of his embarrassment and did not show the slightest displeasure.

Jiang Yu originally wanted to pull his hand away, but was pulled by an invisible force and slowly tightened a little. With a heart full of uneasiness, he coveted the warmth of the palm.

He lowered his head slightly, as if trying to hide the tangled emotions deep in his heart in his drooping hair. His thoughts were like a wild horse running wild, and he murmured to himself, when did his heart quietly fall on her?

Was it when we first met?

At that time, as the delicacy entered his mouth, the fresh fragrance blossomed on his taste buds, layer by layer, surging. For the first time in his life, he knew that food could contain such an irresistible charm.

Or was it when you saw her eloquence, wit, and how she had firmly taken root and built a family in the land of Junhua City?

Although she had no elders to support her at home and faced heavy pressure to make a living, she never complained or backed down, and managed the household in an orderly manner.

Or was it because she had vision and ambition, and was unwilling to confine her sister in the inner house, so she sent her to study?

In this pedantic world, many rules bind everyone tightly. If they struggle a little, they will be strangled and bruised all over. But she just doesn't believe it, and is not afraid of the world's sidelong glances and criticisms.

There were too many moments that made his heart tremble. These fragmented yet precious moments were like pieces of a puzzle, pieced together bit by bit, making Jiang Yu more and more certain that she was different from others.

Cheng Yuntao was the first to break the ambiguous deadlock and gently withdrew her hand. Jiang Yu's heart tightened, and a sense of loss instantly surged in his heart. He swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

"Based on what we just saw, the area around the brothel and gambling house is the worst place to set up a food stall."

"Many brothel customers seek pleasure, indulging in sensual pleasures and focusing on drinking and the company of beautiful women. Casino customers, on the other hand, are completely absorbed in gambling activities like playing cards and dice, their minds focused solely on winning or losing. For these people, the need for food often becomes secondary, and they may even ignore it."

"Brothels are usually open late, and customers' stays are unpredictable. This is even more true of gambling houses, where a single game can last a long time, and customers come and go at irregular times. For small vendors, it's difficult to arrange stall hours and prepare the right amount of ingredients based on such unpredictable customer flow."

"Another particularly important point is that brothels and gambling houses are prone to attracting people of bad character. These people may cause trouble due to losing money or getting drunk, posing a safety hazard. Furthermore, these places are considered places of decadence in the eyes of the world, and ordinary people simply don't want to be associated with them."

Jiang Yu saw that Cheng Yuntao's analysis was very logical and she was obviously immersed in her own thoughts. He didn't want to mention what happened just now and had to suppress the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

"It seems that the night market entrance and the area around the theater that I originally considered are the best." Cheng Yuntao walked while carefully looking at the surrounding situation.

"The entrance to the night market is bustling with people. Those coming and going are all new to this bustling place, excited and likely hungry, so there's no shortage of business. The same is true around the theater. After each show, the audience streams out, chatting and laughing, always looking for something to eat. That presents a good opportunity for us."

She frowned slightly, looking troubled. "It's just that the entrance to this night market has been almost completely taken up by other stall owners. I'm afraid it'll be hard for us to find a place to stay."

Cheng Yuntao paused, looking at a few busy stall owners not far away, and continued to mutter to herself: "I don't know if there is any organization and unified management here, and whether I have to pay stall fees."

"If I set up a stall without thinking and break other people's rules, I'm afraid I'll get into trouble. I'm new here and I don't know anyone. What if I accidentally bump into someone?"

Cheng Yuntao stared at the food stalls on both sides and sighed softly.