Running a Food Stall to Support My Deceptive Omega - Chapter 20

She glanced into the bag of sweet potatoes; the large bag she had just bought had somehow become sparse, the remaining tubers looking small and few.

Mu Jinyu reflected for a moment, seemingly understanding why Rong Heng had been feeling so miserable.

She looked at the meal she had prepared for Rong Heng, took out a new bowl, and divided the portion in half, serving only one half to her. Given that the other woman had just developed a fever from overeating, it was better for her to eat less for the time being.

Rong Heng, lying on the bed, had already turned around. She gazed at Mu Jinyu expectantly, naturally assuming in her mind that Mu Jinyu would give her a great deal of food.

However, seeing the small bowl Mu Jinyu brought over, the look of anticipation on Rong Heng’s face instantly vanished into disappointment. Her nose wrinkled, and she looked quite displeased.

Seeing how quickly her expression changed, Mu Jinyu comforted her, “You can eat more once you’ve recovered.”

She handed the bowl to Rong Heng, intending to stay and watch her finish before taking the bowl away. But seeing that she wasn’t leaving, Rong Heng instead pulled the bowl protectively into her chest and turned her back again, as if afraid Mu Jinyu would snatch her food away.

Mu Jinyu couldn’t help but chuckle. She instructed, “I’m going out to buy some things. Just leave the bowl aside when you’re finished; I’ll clean it up when I get back.”

With that, she went into the courtyard, put on her back basket, and placed the little calico cat inside. She kept the kitten with her specifically because of that unconscious remark Rong Heng had made. She was afraid that in her absence, Rong Heng might harm the little creature.

Then again, Rong Heng is ill right now; she probably doesn’t have the strength to do anything, right? Mu Jinyu thought as she walked out the door.

Even though she now felt that Rong Heng wasn’t as formidable as she had imagined—appearing rather dim-witted and even making herself sick from eating—she still didn’t leave the calico cat at home.

Arriving at the street, she headed toward the fish stalls. It was getting late, and she wasn’t sure if there would be any fish left.

As soon as she approached a stall, the fishmonger greeted her immediately, “Jinyu! I thought you weren’t coming to buy fish today.”

“How could that be? I was delayed by some matters today. Are there any fish left, Sister?”

“Of course. Knowing you’re selling food, I specifically saved a few large ones for you.”

Normally, her larger and better fish would have sold out long ago. It was only because of her good relationship with Mu Jinyu that she thought to hold some back, ensuring that even if the girl arrived late, she wouldn’t go home empty-handed.

Hearing that fish had been reserved for her, Mu Jinyu was pleasantly surprised. The fishmonger had set aside four fish weighing about three catties each. Since she was short on money, she couldn’t take them all; she bought three, totaling ten catties for two hundred and fifty wen.

She also made an arrangement with the fishmonger to have ten catties of fish reserved and gutted for her every day, so she could just pick them up directly.

After getting the fish, Mu Jinyu went to the vegetable market.

The market was teeming with people, and the noise was deafening. Mu Jinyu was forced to overhear the gossip of several families. Since she didn’t know the people being discussed, she didn’t pay it much mind, letting it go in one ear and out the other as she focused on picking out Chinese cabbage.

“Hey, have you heard? Something’s happened in Bianjing City lately. They say an assassin escaped.”

“What? Mother Wang, tell us quickly, what’s going on?”

“Oh, they say that one was assassinated,” Mother Wang whispered, pointing a finger toward the sky, her voice dropping even lower. “The Regent is sending people to hunt down the assassin. Bianjing has been turned upside down, and it won’t be long before they reach us.”

Mu Jinyu’s hand, reaching for a cabbage, froze.

The Regent?

The Regent was in her house. How could she be sending people to chase an assassin?

This talk of “searching for an assassin” was likely a cover to hunt down Rong Heng and finish her off once and for all.

According to the plot of the book, after Rong Heng was framed and poisoned, she didn’t die but was pursued by assassins. These people were likely the ones chasing her.

But what was this about “that one” being assassinated?

Could it be that Rong Heng failed an assassination attempt and was nearly killed instead? Or was there some twist in the situation that she wasn’t aware of?

Mu Jinyu’s movements slowed as she deliberated. If someone came to search her house, where could Rong Heng hide? There was a pit under the bed that might be suitable, but she wasn’t sure if Rong Heng would fit.

Not many people knew someone was staying at her house. After thinking it over, she realized only the doctor from yesterday knew. Mu Jinyu pressed her lips thin, worried about whether the doctor might expose them.

If they were truly exposed, not only would Rong Heng die, but she would likely be killed as well. What could she do to save both of their lives?

Should she go to the Regent’s manor now and tell them the Regent was with her?

…She felt that would only lead to a faster death. People were currently looking for Rong Heng; if her location was exposed, wouldn’t it be even easier to kill her?

Forget it. The best way was to ensure no one knew where Rong Heng was.

Suddenly swept into a life-and-death struggle, Mu Jinyu felt her scalp tingle and her back turn cold. It was as if she were treading on the edge of a blade. If she stepped firmly, the sharp edge would cut her; if she slipped, she would fall and be crushed to pieces.

But she never once considered driving Rong Heng away. Since she had taken her in, she couldn’t just flee when disaster struck.

Just as Mu Jinyu was weighing her options while picking cabbage, the subject of the gossip behind her changed.

“Do you know Master Zhou the Wealthy? I heard he kept a mistress outside, and his primary wife beat her something terrible.”

“She was black and blue all over.”

Mu Jinyu: …!