She led the whole village to prosperity by raising koi fish.

Chapter 6, First Encounter

The next day, as the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, it was as if nature had gently lifted a corner of the night curtain, revealing the mysterious and tranquil sky. Faint light pierced through the clouds, sprinkling the earth and bringing a hazy glow to the world.

"Daughter, wake up!"

Su Yuning, who was fast asleep, was woken up by the woman.

Su Yuning rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked softly, "Why did Mother wake me up so early?"

The woman smiled and pointed to the mountains not far away. "When I went out to buy tofu, I found your friends were already waiting for you at the foot of the mountain. If you don't hurry up and wash up, they'll probably have already left."

"Oh, I understand." Su Yuning jumped up and hurriedly went to wash and dress.

After a short while, the three of them met up.

"Hi! Good morning!" Su Yuning raised her hand and greeted the siblings with a smile.

"Good morning!" Zhou Xi replied with a light smile.

"Good morning!" Zhou Dong replied quickly.

Seeing Su Yuning empty-handed and completely unprepared, Zhou Xi was speechless for a moment before reminding her.

"It takes about an hour to get from the village to the market in the city. A round trip takes two hours. Are you planning to go hungry without bringing some food and water?"

Su Yuning smiled awkwardly, "It's okay, it's okay. I won't eat while we're on the road. I'll just ask my second brother for a meal when we get to the city."

Zhou Xi smiled, "That's great, let's go then!"

"Alright, let's go!" Su Yuning replied excitedly.

At this moment, the entire world was still immersed in tranquility, with only the occasional clear chirping of early birds. A fresh scent filled the air, invigorating the spirit. In this pre-dawn hour, everything was so beautiful and full of hope.

On the way, the Zhou siblings carried heavy baskets filled with mutton and rabbit meat.

"Didn't you eat wild rabbit yesterday?" Su Yuning asked.

The older sister from the Zhou family replied nonchalantly, "I'm already tired of eating rabbit meat every few days. I think simple meals are just fine."

My brother directly undermined him.

"Pshaw, my sister is just bragging. We don't eat rabbit meat often. Dad sells all the game for money. We eat sweet potatoes, vegetables and tofu all the time."

After hearing his younger brother's answer, Zhou Xi gave him a look that said, "You'll understand."

“That’s normal, my family is the same. My parents collect medicinal herbs and exchange them for copper coins. Besides all kinds of wild vegetables, we’re lucky if we get tofu on our dining table occasionally.” The quick-witted Su Yuning smoothed things over.

As Zhou Dong walked, he got tired, so he simply took the basket off and put it on the ground, then sat down and refused to get up.

"Lazybones, are you coming or not? We'll be in the city soon." Zhou Xi turned around and asked him.

"I'm so tired, I need to rest before I set off again," Zhou Dong replied weakly.

"Are you coming or not? I'll count to three. If you stay on the ground and don't move, I'll just leave you in the middle of nowhere!" Zhou Xi said angrily, gritting her teeth and stamping her foot.

"Waaaaah, waaaaah, my sister doesn't want me anymore~" Zhou Dong pretended to cry on the spot, trying to get her sister to understand her.

At this moment, Su Yuning took the initiative to carry his basket full of prey on her back, and then reached out to help him up.

"Alright, don't be sad. I'll carry the basket for you. Just come with us obediently."

"Mmm, you're so kind! You're the kindest and prettiest girl in the world! Without a doubt!" Zhou Dong was overjoyed and showered Su Yuning with compliments.

When the two caught up with Zhou Xi, Zhou Xi was speechless.

"Sister, what's wrong? You look a little unhappy," Su Yuning asked, puzzled.

Zhou Xi sighed, "Sigh! You just have to spoil him."

Su Yuning smiled slightly and replied softly, "My younger brother is still young, so let him rest if he's tired."

Zhou Xi saw right through him: "He's not tired at all; he's just being lazy and shirking his duties."

Su Yuning didn't take it seriously. "It's okay, we're almost in the city anyway."

After walking and stopping frequently, the three of them finally arrived at the bustling morning market.

At dawn, sunlight streamed down the ancient streets, awakening the slumbering city. The streets and alleys were filled with various aromas: freshly baked buns, steaming porridge, and sweet and delicious pastries.

Although Su Yuning had visited the city with the second son of the Su family before, it was at night, and all that could be seen were various lanterns and colorful jewelry. This time was different; it was during the day, and the streets were bustling with people.

"Wow! The morning market is so lively!" Su Yuning clapped her hands excitedly.

"Shh!" Zhou Xi put her index finger to her lips, gesturing for quiet. Then, Zhou Xi pulled Su Yuning to a corner of the market and slowly began to speak to her.

“Little sister Su, let me explain. When you come to the city, talk less and observe more. Otherwise, people will look down on you because you seem unsophisticated.”

"Oh, I see. Thank you for reminding me, sister." Su Yuning quickly nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Zhou Dong tugged at his sister's sleeve, "I'm hungry, go buy me some steamed buns, I want fennel and pork filling!"

Zhou Xi said casually, "We haven't even opened yet, and all you're thinking about is food. Let's talk about it later."

"Okay." Zhou Dong pouted, looking aggrieved.

Stepping into the market, one is greeted by a dazzling array of goods displayed on the stalls. Exquisite silks, gorgeous embroideries, and vibrantly colored fabrics attract the attention of the ladies. Su Yuning, seeing the luxurious fabrics, wanted to touch them, but was scolded by the stall owner.

"Get away! You look like a little beggar. If you don't have money, don't touch my fabric!"

Su Yuning was speechless and furious. Just as she was about to argue with the proprietress, her brother, Su Muyang, walked towards her.

"What kind of fabric is so precious? My sister can't even touch it?" Su Muyang asked in a displeased tone.

The proprietress's attitude softened slightly when she saw that the visitor was a city dweller.

"No, I just thought she wasn't going to buy it, that's why I said that. Please don't take it to heart, sir."

"Let's use this fabric to make her a custom-made outfit. She can come to the teahouse later to collect the payment," Su Muyang said generously. The proprietress immediately beamed, "Okay, okay, no problem!"

And so, Su Yuning put on her beautiful new clothes. She and her friends went with her second brother to a street stall and ate some delicious steamed buns.

"I didn't know you were coming, and I didn't prepare any good food or drinks. Please forgive me for any shortcomings," Su Muyang said politely.

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Su Xi replied with a smile.

After breakfast, the siblings went to a restaurant to sell their game. Su Muyang exchanged a few pleasantries with his sister and then went to work at the teahouse. Su Yuning was left to wander around the bustling market by herself.

The various ceramic wares and exquisite wood carvings captivated the men. And the strings of sparkling jewelry, gleaming brightly, drew the attention of passersby.

The stall owners greeted passersby enthusiastically, loudly hawking their goods. Some were all smiles, haggling with customers, while others carefully explained the features and uses of their products.

"How much is this fan?" Su Yuning and a young man asked in unison.

The stall owner chuckled and replied, "Fifteen coins."

"I didn't bring that many copper coins with me, so please give them to this young master," Su Yuning replied awkwardly. Then she quickened her pace and left the stall.

The stall owner handed the fan directly to the young master, who then gave the stall owner a silver ingot before going off to chase after the girl.

Children frolicked and played among the crowd, chasing after colorful windmills, their laughter echoing in the air. The markets of the Song Dynasty were full of life and humanistic spirit.

Beyond the trade of goods, the market also served as a venue for cultural exchange. Performers showcased acrobatics, magic, and opera, drawing cheers from the audience; scholars and artists gathered to compose poems, paint, and discuss current events. Here, one could find not only material satisfaction but also spiritual enjoyment.

"Here, this is for you." The young master caught up with Su Yuning and handed her the fan directly.

Su Yuning looked puzzled. "Why?"

The young master smiled and said, "I feel like we're quite destined to meet, so I'm giving you this fan as a gift."

Although Su Yuning really liked the fan, she still refused it, saying, "I don't want something I haven't earned."

"No need for so many excuses, here you go, just don't lose it," the young master said casually.

"Okay, let's be friends. My name is Su Yuning. What's yours?"

"Ye Beichen," the young master replied with a smile.

"What a unique name! Where are you from, young master?" Su Yuning asked curiously.

"Keep it a secret for now, I have other important matters to attend to. Farewell!" The young master said this and hurriedly left.

Afterwards, Su Yuning met up with the Zhou siblings at the city gate and then hurriedly headed back.