Chapter Eighteen: Visiting the New Year's Eve Market

They received no answer; obviously, Chen Tianyu had not made up his mind. He never spoke of anything he hadn’t considered, so everyone dropped the matter. Extracting information from Fourth Brother was notoriously difficult, and everyone was rather lazy about it.

Thus, time slipped by until New Year’s Eve. By tradition, the villagers of Luoshui would head to the neighboring village’s market to purchase festival goods—a lively event that Beiting naturally joined. Luoshui was a sizable village, but its remote location meant goods were scarce, so the market was held nearly ten miles away in Mutu Village, which lay closer to the city. This happened to be Hei Qi’s village, though Beiting was unaware of this person’s existence.

Among them, the happiest was Wan Yongkun, the gourmand, who discovered that the hottest spots in the market were the food stalls. The baked bun stand was just a roadside stall, yet people queued up! A crowd pressed around the stall, clutching white plastic bags and staring intently at the oven.

Whenever a batch of buns came out, a frenzy broke out. The high heat of the charcoal did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm, leaving Wan Yongkun and Kuang Suo staring wide-eyed—were their hands made of iron?

After several rounds of scrambling, the two remained empty-handed. For Wan Yongkun, it was a humiliating defeat. Kuang Suo gave him a wordless look of disdain, and Wan Yongkun, unable to save face, rolled up his sleeves and placed his hands right at the mouth of the oven, daring anyone to challenge him.

The vendor shot him a glance and tapped his hand lightly with the tongs used for buns. Wan Yongkun didn’t budge.

The vendor kindly warned, “Your hand will get burned…”

“Don’t worry,” Wan Yongkun replied, unafraid, seeing others grab the buns as soon as they came out.

The vendor shook his head helplessly. A few minutes later, he picked up a golden bun and hesitated as he handed it over. Wan Yongkun seized it in his palm; at first, he felt nothing, but in an instant, a sharp pain shot from his fingertips, and reflexively, he flung the bun half a meter away.

Laughter erupted all around. Wan Yongkun’s dark face flushed red, though the contrast wasn’t so obvious. Kuang Suo hurried over to retrieve the bun, while Wan Yongkun desperately blew on his hand.

How could there be truly heat-resistant protein in this world?

This batch was snatched up in seconds!

The two crouched awkwardly at the roadside, gazing at the bun—now covered in dust and sesame, oddly shaped—caught between laughter and tears.

After a moment—

Wan Yongkun grabbed the bun and took a fierce bite. The grit crunched between his teeth, yet the more he chewed, the more he savored it…

“Hey, save me a bite,” Kuang Suo urged.

“Oh… Try it. It’s really crispy outside, tender inside, and bursting with juice,” Wan Yongkun exclaimed.

Kuang Suo said nothing and, without brushing off the dirt, took several bites of the remaining half.

“How is it?” Wan Yongkun glanced at him, curious.

Kuang Suo hadn’t quite swallowed, but mumbled, “Let’s queue again!”

When the others finished their round of the market, they found the two still steadfast in the crowd at the bun stall, snatching and eating as they went.

The scene was simply hilarious.

Advertising was unnecessary; crowds spoke for themselves. Drawn by the aroma, Shen Mingyue joined the fun—she was tempted, just watching made her hungry.

Li Yiting watched with amusement from the side. Liu Zichen asked in wonder, “Is it really that good?”

Li Yiting nodded slightly, “Yes, these are called Guang Buns. They’re famous here. Supposedly, General Qi Jiguang invented them to reward his troops during the fight against the Japanese pirates.”

“Really?… Well, I want to try some, too.” Beiting had her share of food lovers, and Liu Zichen was among them, though she disliked eating messily.

Chen Tianyu commented, “Yiting, your hometown may be remote, but its customs are fascinating and full of hidden surprises.”

Liu Zichen laughed lightly, “You chat here, I’ll join the festivities…”

Chen Tianyu feigned enthusiasm, “Shall I grab some for you? You’re so clumsy.”

Liu Zichen scoffed, shaking her head, “No, your hands are dirty; I’ll get my own.” With that, she bounced away.

Chen Tianyu smiled awkwardly.

Li Yiting teased, “Fourth Brother, you’re so adorably clueless.”

“Cut it out… We’re both as silly as each other.” Chen Tianyu spotted a nearby steamed bun stall, strode over, bought a cabbage bun, and ate unhurriedly.

Though he wasn’t from the north, steamed buns had always been his favorite—and these were excellent!

Soft and tasty, not greasy, with a fragrant aroma. Chen Tianyu glanced at the tender, springy bun in his hand, marveling at the small joys found among ordinary folk.

Just then—

A fashionable, striking woman in red strode straight toward Li Yiting, her face radiant with joy.

She promptly threw herself into his arms!

---

The alluring woman in red seized Li Yiting, wrapping her pink arms tightly around his neck in an intimate embrace.

Li Yiting’s brow furrowed, but he couldn’t break free. He grumbled, “Always so crazy—can’t take it anymore!”

Just then, Liu Zichen, bun in hand, approached, chewing as she walked. She paused in surprise, then burst out laughing.

“Ti’an!” She was excited; previously unaware, she now knew this was Li Yiting’s younger sister—Li Tian.

One of her few close friends. Had she not married a wealthy old man of ill character, their contact wouldn’t have ceased for so long.

[Details of this episode will not be repeated here: Li Tian and Liu Zichen met in SZ, Li Tian later married a wealthy man, and three months after the wedding, the old man had an affair and the child was lost. At that time, Liu Zichen hadn’t yet met Li Yiting; it was only during her rural retreat that she realized Li Tian was, coincidentally, his sister. That’s the gist.]

Li Tian, a little embarrassed, let go and turned, “Zichen, you’re here too?”

“Bet you didn’t expect me to come visit your family,” Liu Zichen offered her a bun. Li Tian accepted it happily, “Have a taste of your hometown’s delicacy.”

Returning home, Li Tian abandoned all pretense, grabbing the greasy bun and munching away, heedless of decorum.

Liu Zichen joked, “It’s the first time I’ve seen you eat so messily…” In her memory, Li Tian was always very fastidious, the picture of a refined lady.

Li Yiting teased, “Ah, the true self revealed.” He doted on his sister, pulling her suitcase over and carrying her bag for her.

Li Tian enjoyed her brother’s attentions as a matter of course. While eating the bun, she replied shyly, “In the city, if you don’t put on a facade, people treat you like a freak.”

Liu Zichen appreciated her honesty—it showed Li Tian had moved past her trauma, and she was sincerely happy for her friend.

“Ti’an, we’ve brought quite a crowd this time—all foodies.”

Li Tian laughed gleefully.

“No worries, our family can afford it. Best if you all stay for good…” She linked arms with Liu Zichen. “Who’s here? Do I know them?”

Liu Zichen shook her head, “None you know.”

“That doesn’t matter. You’ll know them soon enough.” Li Tian was a natural socialite. “Where are they?”

Liu Zichen pointed toward the bun stall and the steamed bun stand. Li Tian laughed even harder—what a bunch of true gourmands!

“Why are you only now back?” Li Yiting feigned annoyance, “Mom thought you wouldn’t return.”

Li Tian replied nonchalantly, “Busy. And you have some nerve talking—such thick skin…” She playfully pinched his cheek.

Li Yiting sighed, “I’m not like you, always idling about. Where’s your boyfriend? Aren’t you bringing him home?”

Li Tian retorted, “Where’s your girlfriend?… We’re even.”

“Can’t win with you. You two go play!” Li Yiting waved them off in mock anger.

Chen Tianyu finished his bun and wiped his hands on a nearby cloth. He had sharp eyes and ears, and was close enough to catch everything. Smiling, he walked over.

“Hello, young lady!” He held out his hand.

Li Tian laughed, “Handsome guy, are you Zichen’s… boyfriend?” Trusting her intuition and Liu Zichen’s glance, she boldly guessed.

They shook hands. Chen Tianyu raised his thumb, “Good eye!… Much better than your brother.”

Li Yiting chuckled, “You’re quite the conversationalist.”

Chen Tianyu grinned, “I’m just speaking the truth—no use denying it.”

Li Tian guessed, “Are you a policeman too?” She knew her brother’s profession well.

Chen Tianyu shook his head, “Wrong.”

“Then?…” Li Tian was puzzled.

Liu Zichen smiled, “Don’t worry about it. We’re tourists now. Your brother isn’t a policeman anymore.”

Li Tian beamed, “That’s right! What’s good about being a cop—tiring and dangerous.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Enough, let’s head home… Jiudao, Yongkun, time to go!” Li Yiting called everyone to regroup and return. The trip to the market hadn’t had a clear purpose, but since his sister arrived just in time, it was perfect for the first feast of New Year’s Eve—chicken and old wine.

He was getting hungry too.

Suddenly,

Li Tian’s eyes widened as she swooned, “Hey, who’s that? So handsome!…”

Everyone was surprised and followed her gaze. It was someone familiar.

---

Qiu Xi was strolling through the market when he suddenly sensed a piercing gaze fixed on him. He paused.

He saw a strikingly tall and beautiful woman staring straight at him.

His face burned red.

Compelled by some impulse, he walked over. Aside from the beauty, the others were all “acquaintances.”

Liu Zichen introduced him, “This is Officer Qiu from the city.” She emphasized ‘city.’

“Officer?!” Li Tian was momentarily stunned, but graciously extended her hand to Qiu Xi, feeling a jolt as their palms touched.

“Brother, aren’t you also…” She saw Li Yiting behind Qiu Xi shaking his head. She was quick-witted, “Oh…”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Li Tian.” She smiled sweetly.

Qiu Xi nodded, “Likewise.” He released her hand, already feeling the heat radiating from it.

Li Tian noticed Qiu Xi seemed to avoid her gaze. She smiled, pursing her lips, lost in thought.

Liu Zichen saw through her feelings and pinched her arm. The two exchanged glances, and Li Tian laughed.

Wan Yongkun and Kuang Suo walked back reluctantly, still munching away. Wan Yongkun, apparently thirsty, gestured to Li Yiting.

Li Yiting feigned ignorance, holding the water but refusing to move, smiling at him.

Wan Yongkun grew desperate, snatched the bottle, and gulped it down. Whether choked or otherwise, he suddenly sprayed a mouthful of bun crumbs.

Everyone burst into laughter, even Qiu Xi couldn’t help himself.

A flash of inspiration struck Chen Tianyu. He suddenly asked Li Yiting, “Does your third uncle’s room have any cups or mugs?”

Li Yiting came back to himself and thought, “I haven’t seen any. You mean…?” He lowered his voice, “Are you suggesting there should have been a drinking cup in Third Uncle’s room?”

“Something like that…” Chen Tianyu subconsciously touched his nose, still thinking.

“Oh, I remember now. Third Uncle didn’t like drinking water. He always left his teacup in the side hall where he wrote, and after writing, he’d go straight to bed. It’s become a habit. So, not having a cup in his room is normal.”

Chen Tianyu’s eyes lit up—he understood.

“Yiting, it seems things aren’t so simple. Did you see Yongkun’s mishap?”

Li Yiting nodded.

“How many buns do you think he had in his mouth?” Chen Tianyu asked.

“One at most… Even a big mouth couldn’t hold two.”

Chen Tianyu grinned, “Exactly, that’s why he choked.” He hinted.

Li Yiting suddenly realized, “You mean?!…”

“Yes!” Chen Tianyu stopped him from revealing the answer. Li Yiting was shocked—by this reasoning, without water, how could Third Uncle have swallowed half a pound of cinnabar? It was like trying to suffocate oneself with one’s own hands—impossible.

The revelation was startling. Li Yiting grew heavy-hearted; the situation was becoming clearer, and the suspicion of murder increased.

But who had used such a clever and covert method to kill Third Uncle? An ordinary thief would have neither the need nor the skill to pull off such a professional act.

The two suddenly fell silent, no longer joining the banter. Fortunately, the others were used to this and didn’t notice their unusual mood.