The sisters chatted and laughed for a while before weaving through the city streets. Given the crowd, Hua Xiaomai had to keep close to her elder sister, who led the way while they shopped for some household knick-knacks. Seeing they still had plenty of time, they decided to rest their feet at a teahouse by the street, ordering a few pastries to make do for lunch.
The teahouse wasn't very large, yet it was famous for its silver thread rolls, which sold extremely well. As noon approached, many townsfolk made a special trip just to buy them. Sitting by the window, Hua Xiaomai and her elder sister watched a continuous stream of people pour into the shop with curiosity. After tasting the delicious rolls, they planned to buy some to take back for Old Lady Meng and Meng Yuhuai to try. Just as she was about to call the waiter, Hua Xiaomai spotted a chubby figure sauntering by outside. She lifted the corners of her lips and called out, "Lord Zhao."
