Chapter Fifteen: Unexpected Surprises!

At this moment, a certain young woman had yet to grasp the gravity of the situation.

After dealing with the wild boar, she used the embers to roast two tenderloins.

Only then did she leisurely leave the mountain.

After lying down for four consecutive days, her scalp numbed from inactivity, Bai Mianmian wasted no more time.

She set off in the dark, heading toward the city.

Wild animals had no chance against her—this journey went exceptionally smoothly.

Not a single bird chirp or rooster crow was heard!

Passing by Hexi Village, the villagers were sound asleep, deep in slumber.

Arriving at the city gate, it was still closed.

“Hey! Young lady, is that meat in your basket?” an older vegetable vendor behind her leaned in closer, catching the scent of gamey flesh.

Bai Mianmian candidly replied, “Wild boar.”

“Wild boar!” the woman exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, caught in a trap by the edge of our family’s fields.”

“Did it damage the crops?”

“Quite a bit. I thought I’d sell some meat to help out, so my family had me carry it.”

“Do you think this wild boar meat will sell?”

“Why not?”

“It smells gamey.”

“Wild game naturally has a stronger flavor. But wild boar fetches a better price than typical wild chickens or rabbits. The fat can sell for eight or nine, even eleven or twelve wen.”

“Is the price really that good?”

“Meat’s worth the price!”

“Would you like some? I can give you a discount.”

Bai Mianmian’s fabrications came easily; the fields near the mountain were often trampled.

As the others’ attention shifted, she naturally began her sales pitch.

Having processed the wild boar earlier, she could have changed into clean clothes by now.

Her body was filthy beyond measure!

“I wasn’t planning to buy meat, but yours looks quite good. I’ll take half a catty,” the vendor said, leafing through the cuts and settling on a satisfactory piece.

Bai Mianmian, having promised a discount, quoted eight wen.

The portion weighed seven taels, just under half a catty.

“I’ll have a catty of this side,” a middle-aged woman ahead of her reached out, pointing at a slab of fat on the boar’s back.

After removing the skin and slicing the tenderloin, this piece was pure fat, comparable to lard.

Lard was the most expensive part of the pig, fetching as much as eighteen or nineteen wen per catty.

“This piece is at least fifteen wen. Would you like it?” the vendor chimed in.

The middle-aged woman glanced sharply, her gaze firmly returning to Bai Mianmian.

“She’s helping your business, and I’m helping as well. For this first sale, smooth transactions are what count. I won’t haggle with you; you decide the price.”

“Young lady, it’s not good to be spending money so early in the day. We’re helping your business; you should show us some respect,” a woman accompanying the middle-aged lady said, her hand already rubbing over the meat several times.

“This fat looks too thin; it won’t render much oil. For me, even six wen is too much.”

“Fifteen wen is not a lot,” Bai Mianmian said softly.

She made no move, giving the impression she wouldn’t cut the meat until the money was in hand.

Clearly, these two were bargain hunters.

She nodded to the six wen, but they still wanted three wen off.

In the end, giving it away seemed best.

“Young lady, you don’t know how to do business at all. So early in the morning…”

“Dong dong dong dong dong!” the five drumbeats marking the dawn sounded repeatedly.

With the last beat, the tightly shut city gate swung open.

Dressed in full uniform, city guards strode out briskly.

The women turned to continue bargaining, but the vendor warned, “Better not cause trouble; the officials have been grumpy these days.”

The middle-aged woman’s sharp eyes caught sight of the city guard’s grim face at the gate.

She quickly pulled the other back.

“Line up and move quickly,” the city guard bellowed at the gate.

Queues formed to pay the entrance fee.

Four wen per person—not cheap.

With the vendor’s help, Bai Mianmian hoisted her basket and followed closely.

“Your parents must trust you a lot to have you sell all this meat. From now on, stick with me and set up beside me—I’ll keep an eye on things for you,” the vendor said warmly.

The two of them soon reached the gate.

“Wait.”

Suddenly called out, Bai Mianmian was caught off guard.

She wondered: were these people here to buy or take?

If buying, how much would she charge?

If taking, would she give it?

A drawing was unfolded right before her face.

The sketch was simple but bore a striking resemblance to her.

Who said ancient authorities had to rely on guesswork to find people?

…Films and dramas have misled us!

“Zheng Tou.”

The two men responsible for collecting fees suddenly rose, flanking her on both sides.

The vendor’s mouth hung open, only recovering after Bai Mianmian had been taken away for some time amid the city guards’ scolding.

“Sir, that young lady…”

“You ask less about things you shouldn’t,” the guards snapped.

The vendor shrank back, lifting the meat pressed inside the vegetable basket.

“Just bought it from her.”

The guard stared at her for a few seconds then waved dismissively: “If you bought it, take it.”

That small bundle of meat was negligible compared to the two large slabs of pure pork inside the basket.

The woman, having heard official approval, was relieved.

After all, it had only cost a few wen.

“Thank you, sir, thank you.”

“She looks like a good child, doesn’t seem like trouble… these days, all kinds of people exist. Who would let a child this old into the city to sell meat?” the vendor muttered on the way in.

Meanwhile, Bai Mianmian, escorted by Zheng An and others to the office, couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“May I ask what crime I have committed?”

“You’re surprisingly calm.”

“I’m just scared.”

No one believed her; their eyes gave her away.

As for why she waited until now to ask… she wasn’t foolish; with so many people at the gate, asking anything could only ruin her chance to flee!

“Gentlemen, judging by my appearance, I don’t seem capable of wrongdoing. Is there some misunderstanding?”

“You’ll know once you’re inside the office,” Zheng An warned, “Don’t try any clever tricks. What happened that day must never happen again.”

That day?

She hadn’t done much that day.

At most, she had let a female lead go and deceived a city guard.

“Remember now?” Zheng, with a big grin that didn’t reach his eyes, sneered.

Bai Mianmian forced a dry laugh.

No, she remembered only too well.

That day, she had rushed out of the yard straight toward this man.

How could she have known the female lead would ask the city guards for help, or that her luck would be so extraordinary to meet such a masterful forensic sketch artist!

“If I told you you have the wrong person, would you believe me?”

“If you said the sun rises in the west, I’d believe it.”

“You sure have a knack for joking.”

“You seem quite amused.”

Zheng was in a foul mood.

Catching a suspicious culprit did not bring him any comfort.

He had been scolded badly these past days, from initial carelessness to finally letting the culprit go free.

He was truly in an embarrassing state.

No one expected he was just a city guard!

“Move along, no dawdling.”

Bai Mianmian was silent.

Clearly, trying to find out anything here was impossible.

This office…

Was she doomed?

‘System.’

‘Come out, stop pretending to be dead.’

The dormant system finally revealed itself.

Yet, it displayed a screen but remained silent.

Its displeasure was unmistakable.

Bai Mianmian nearly laughed in frustration.

‘So, who’s really the one throwing a tantrum—me or you?’