Chapter 54: Jujube and Cinnamon (Part 2)

"Eldest Miss, we truly cannot delay any longer. Please hurry up, I am going to have the other young misses gather outside," the elderly woman who had been trailing behind Lin Chuyi instructed before turning and running out.

Lin Chuyi nodded without wasting any words. She reached directly into her cloth pouch, pulled out a smaller sachet, and handed it to Lin Zishan's elderly nursemaid, saying, "This is a little pouch I made myself. The items inside were blessed by me yesterday, and they signify the blessing of bearing children early. It is only one tael of silver."

Lin Jiuyue had just stepped across the threshold when she heard these words. Her face instantly flushed completely crimson, and she almost turned and bolted away.

Just as she had anticipated, upon hearing this, the two young misses lowered their heads in shyness, not even daring to lift their gazes.

They were still unmarried maidens, after all. How could they possibly listen to such blushing words in public? Even after marriage, speaking of such matters aloud was exceedingly embarrassing.

"Young lady, this, this..." Lin Zishan stammered for a long while, utterly at a loss for words to refute.

Ignoring her, Lin Chuyi turned her attention to the nursemaid instead. "Nursemaid, we really cannot delay any further, or we shall miss the auspicious hour."

The nursemaid hurriedly complied and, without a second thought, produced a tael of silver to hand to Lin Chuyi. Her young mistress might not understand, but she certainly did. The blessed tokens symbolizing the birth of noble offspring carried a wonderful meaning indeed.

Lin Chuyi accepted the silver with a beaming smile and immediately pulled out another sachet, attempting to press it directly into the hands of the other young woman.

Blushing fiercely, the young woman waved her hands frantically. "I—I cannot afford this."

"I am not taking your money," Lin Chuyi said, before forcefully thrusting the sachet into her hands anyway. She then urged, "Hurry on down now, lest we truly miss the hour."

"Yes," the two of them immediately nodded with flushed faces.

Nodding in satisfaction, Lin Chuyi turned and dashed outside. She still had many items left to sell and needed to make haste.

After running a short distance and realizing Lin Jiuyue had not followed, she quickly called out, "Jiuyue, what are you still doing? Keep up!"

Reluctant though she was, Lin Jiuyue still followed behind with a slightly flushed face.

The two of them hurried in a flurry from room to room. Fortunately, because the nursemaid still needed to give a few parting instructions before departure, it bought them ample time.

Having been thoroughly exposed to this atmosphere, Lin Jiuyue was no longer as bashful as she had been at first. Seeing the contents of the cloth bag dwindling rapidly, she could not help feeling a sense of wonder.

She truly had not expected these young ladies to actually purchase such items. Although each and every one of them had blushed deeply, none of them had refused.

As soon as the very last sachet was sold, Lin Jiuyue could no longer hold back her curiosity and asked, "Eldest Sister, how did you know they would definitely buy them?"

Lin Chuyi was cheerfully counting her silver coins. Hearing this, she shot her a disdainful look and said, "Jiuyue, you are already fourteen years old—fourteen!"

"I am not fourteen yet," Lin Jiuyue whispered in soft protest.

Choosing to completely ignore the objection, Lin Chuyi continued, "Tell me, what is it that maidens look forward to the most? Naturally, it is finding a husband who shares mutual affection with them, marrying, having children, and spending their lives together. But look around; in our town, apart from our own father, which household does not have a husband with a wife and concubines? Therefore, children become the ultimate reliance for these women in the future. Life without children in the days to come is truly difficult indeed." At this point, Lin Chuyi shook her head with a hint of sentimental reflection.

Seeing that Lin Jiuyue still wore a half-comprehending expression, she shook her head in exasperation at her lack of enlightenment.

"I might as well just count my silver. White silver is so much more lovable."

The moment her eyes landed on the silver, they instantly began to sparkle, and she looked thoroughly overjoyed.