Chapter 10: Miss Mi and the Candied Hawthorn Sticks

"Young Master Jun, I have long heard that Lu County is no ordinary place. Even Young Master Zhu spoke highly of it, which is why he specifically tasked me with coming here to investigate. Young Master Zhu mentioned that Magistrate Lu, the official in charge of Lu County, must be a person of extraordinary talent to have developed what was once a tiny village into a place of this scale. He is not to be underestimated, so if you happen to meet him while we are in town, you must be careful not to offend him."

The steward spoke as he drove the carriage, his tone filled with concern. He felt helpless; leading a merchant caravan across the land was never an easy task, and danger lurked at every turn—why else would he have brought so many guards? The current times were turbulent, with bandits and rogues running rampant everywhere; a moment of carelessness could cost them their lives. Even upon entering a county town, one could not rest easy, for encountering a greedy official could prove even more dangerous than any bandit.

To his dismay, he had only discovered after setting out that his young mistress had snuck into the caravan, hiding in the carriage and refusing to leave. Since he could not force her back, he had no choice but to adjust their route, avoiding areas infested with outlaws and heading toward the relatively safe Lu County, intending to conduct his business there before returning. Losing a little profit was one thing, but if the young mistress came to any harm, the consequences would be dire.

Miss Mi had been blessed with exceptional beauty since childhood—her skin as white as snow—and she had long been the object of many people's desires. Fortunately, her brothers, Mi Zhu and Mi Fang, doted on her; even though she was of marriageable age, they preferred to keep her safe at home unless she herself expressed a desire to wed. Given how much they cherished her, the steward knew that if anything happened to her under his watch, no amount of penance could atone for his failure.

Throughout the journey, he had insisted that she dress as a man and remain hidden in the carriage, avoiding the public eye as much as possible, with her maid handling any necessary errands. Even now, as they entered Lu County, he kept reminding her to remain composed and avoid any friction with the local magistrate.

Miss Mi showed signs of impatience. The steward’s constant nagging throughout the journey had made her ears weary. "All right, all right, I understand!"

Yet, despite her words, Miss Mi was a girl who had rarely stepped outside her home. Upon arriving in the bustling, vibrant Lu County, how could she not be captivated by the sights? Through the carriage window, she spotted many trinkets she had never seen before, especially something called "candied haws" that made her mouth water. Even from a distance, the sweet, fragrant aroma wafted over, and the sight of the bright red hawthorn berries made her salivate instantly.

"Stop! Stop right there! That candied haw—get me a skewer!"

"Young Master, I would like to try one too..." the maid in the carriage added, tempted by the treat.

"Fine, get two!"

The peddler heard the call and hurried over with two skewers. When he caught sight of Miss Mi, he froze. Even though she was dressed in men's clothing, her beauty was impossible to conceal. With her delicate features and skin that outshone the snow, who could help but be stunned?

The steward, noticing this, quickly stepped down and pressed a few copper coins into the peddler’s hand. "Here, take this! Stop staring and be on your way!"

The peddler shook his head as he regained his senses. How could there be such a refined and handsome young master in this world?

Miss Mi and her maid took the skewers and eagerly took a bite. The taste was a perfect blend of sweet and sour—absolutely exquisite!

"Young Master, mmm... this is delicious! I have never tasted anything this good in my life!" The maid popped a hawthorn berry into her mouth, her cheeks bulging.

Miss Mi could not help but laugh. "Look at you, no one is going to snatch it away! We don't have these candied haws back in Xuzhou. I wonder who could have come up with such a wonderful treat."

"Young Master Jun, it is said that the method for making these candied haws was invented by the Magistrate of Lu County himself," the steward explained from outside. "While hawthorn is common, the sweet coating wrapped around it is quite rare. In all my years of traveling, I have seen similar things, but never anything quite like this. If you enjoy them, I shall offer a handsome sum to buy the recipe from this peddler, so you can have them even after we return to Xuzhou."

"Is that so? That would be wonderful!" Miss Mi was overjoyed. The sweet and sour treat was simply addictive. If she could have one every day, it would be pure bliss!

The steward did not hesitate; he stopped the carriage and found the peddler again, offering one thousand coins for the secret of the candied haws.

To his surprise, the peddler refused. "No! The method for making these was taught to us by Magistrate Lu. How could we trade his secret for money? Do not even think about it!"

The steward was taken aback and immediately raised his offer. "Two thousand coins! I am buying the method not to compete with your business, but simply for my Young Master to enjoy. Besides, our Mi family is based far away in Xuzhou and could never affect your trade."

Two thousand coins meant nothing to the Mi family, but for an ordinary person, it was a small fortune. Given that a single skewer cost only two copper coins, the steward was offering the price of a thousand skewers for the recipe, while promising not to interfere with the peddler's livelihood—a very generous offer. If it were not for the young mistress's praise and his desire to please her, he would never have bid so high. If this failed, he might have had to resort to less honorable tactics. Mi Zhu would not have entrusted the caravan to him had he not been a man of great capability.

"That still won't do! This isn't about money. We cannot do anything that would wrong Magistrate Lu!" The peddler remained firm, refusing to yield.

Other vendors nearby, hearing the commotion, gathered around. "That's right! We owe our good lives to Magistrate Lu's care; he is like a second father to us. How could we do such a thing for money? You needn't bother asking anyone else—in Lu County, no one will ever betray Magistrate Lu!"

The experienced steward could tell from their tone that their words came from the heart, not merely as a ploy to drive up the price. He had no choice but to let the matter drop.

Inside the carriage, Miss Mi heard the peddler’s words, a look of curiosity dancing in her beautiful eyes. What kind of magic did this Magistrate Lu possess that even these humble peddlers were so loyal and respectful to him?