A few people rested a while at the tea house, filled their stomachs, and hurried to depart. Chen Bing said they needed to make good speed in the afternoon; they had to reach the nearby town before nightfall for lodging.

The carriage didn't stop all afternoon. As dusk fell, it indeed arrived at the town Chen Bing mentioned. With twilight approaching, there were few people about. Chen Bing requested several rooms at the counter while Uncle Wen ordered simple dishes and instructed the waiter to bring hot water. After eating, they could wash up and rest early—the day's journey had been tiring.

After dinner, Lin Hé gave some silver coins to the waiter, asking him to purchase new basins. Initially reluctant, the boy brightened at the generous tip and hurried off.

Da Bao, puzzled in their room, said: "Sis, don't we already have basins? Why spend money on these and give such a big tip? That waiter was practically dancing when he got the silver."

Lin Hé knew people weren't particular about hygiene habits back then. But she had grown meticulous—separate basins for different uses at home with Lin Chen. To her, these were personal items best kept from shared use. The inns' basins had been used by God knows how many hands without disinfection, so she'd rather do without them. Though unable to explain this to Da Bao's satisfaction, she only smiled and said nothing.

Soon the new basins arrived with hot water delivered. Da Bao lingered in Lin Hé's room until the waiter finished delivering before returning to his own quarters.

Lin Hé washed the new basin clean with the hot water, wiped herself down—though autumn was cooler than June, the journey had left her sweaty. Rather than use the shared bath tub she refused, this partial cleansing would have to suffice for now.

After finishing up, Lin Hé felt drowsy. Tidying slightly, she collapsed onto** the bed—the day's travel had been exhausting—and fell asleep quickly.

The following two days mirrored their first: nonstop travel by day and inn stay by night until mid-afternoon on the third day brought them to Taiping County. Though technically afternoon, the county buzzed with activity. Uncle Wen remarked it was a daily market town, unlike villages with fixed weekly bazaars.

Larger than any village they'd seen, Lin Hé had no strength for sightseeing after the journey's toll. Seeing their exhaustion, Uncle Wen ordered Chen Bing to drive directly to the inn. No other tasks tonight—just rest first, then order special dishes at nightfall once they arrived.

Agreeing, they entered Taiping County's grandest inn: Fulai Inn. The lavish exterior hinted at even greater opulence within. Inside proved far more luxurious than Lin Hé had imagined—the place dwarfed Uncle Wen's village inns by at least double.

Soon Chen Bing returned with rooms and dinner reserved. Everyone could rest until dinnertime.

Inside, Lin Hé still adhered to her routine, tipping the waiter for purchasing essential supplies. Da Bao shook his head—he just didn't understand why his sister insisted on buying new things everywhere they went, calling it wasteful.

Lin Hé knew this was indeed spending. Yet given she traveled in Uncle Wen's carriage rather than her own (where she'd pack these items herself), and considering basins were affordable, the cost was bearable for occasional travel. Besides, she wasn't out here daily!

Seeing Da Bao sitting nearby, Lin Hé shooed him back to his room. This time, she had the waiter bring a bath tub—after several days without proper washing, her skin felt sticky. When ready, Da Bao knocked again from outside.

The inn's cuisine proved exceptional. Almost every dish imaginable (for ordinary people at least) was available on their menu.

After dinner, Uncle Wen said: "Hé'er, I need to inspect the shop we found. Someone must accompany me tomorrow."

Lin Hé smiled: "Uncle, I'm here to sightsee, not look at shops! Let my big brother go with you while I explore the county."

Da Bao shook his head: "Uncle, I won't go either. The girl is unfamiliar—let me stay with her instead of leaving her alone."

Lin Hé found this awkward. Two siblings coming along just to abandon their responsibilities? Someone should accompany Uncle Wen. She insisted: "Big brother, you're as unfamiliar here as I am. Let me explore on my own while you check the shop with Uncle!"

Uncle Wen saw fit for Lin Hé's first county visit without company was unwise. Glancing at his son, he compromised: "Fine—Da Bao and I will inspect the shop tomorrow. Wen Níngxuān, accompany Lin Hé on her explorations."

Lin Hé balked—the boy rarely spoke to her outside formalities, let alone walk arm-in-arm! She protested: "No need, Uncle! I'll just wander. No one needs to follow!"

To Lin Hé's surprise, Wen Níngxuān readily accepted his father's assignment. Ignoring her protests entirely, Uncle Wen chuckled: "Settled then—Da Bao and I will inspect the shop tomorrow while Wen Níngxuān accompanies Lin Hé through town."

With no further room for refusal, she relented.

The next morning Da Bao knocked insistently at her door. "Time to go! The second master waits below. Would be rude to keep him waiting long!"

Lin Hé groaned into the pillow—this kid could wait a bit longer! After days of exhaustion and poor sleep, this early hour was cruel. Though intending to feign continued slumber, sleep eluded her now. She reluctantly washed up before descending.

Sure enough, Wen Níngxuān sat at a downstairs table sipping porridge, barely glancing at her arrival before continuing his tea with deliberate indifference—as if she were an irrelevant stranger. Lin Hé thought privately: How absurd to have this stiff company for shopping!

Joining him at the table, she said: "Second master, you don't need to accompany me. I'll just ask directions where needed. Go do your own things—I won't tell Uncle!"