Foster Son, Don’t Be So Crazy (25)

"Xiao Feng, look, doesn't this toy seem fun?"

Song Jia showed him a carved wooden horse, which had wheels for legs. She put it on her palm and crouched down to show him.

"..."

Xiang Feng looked indifferent. His eyes were more focused on her face than on the toy.

Song Jia sighed and straightened up. Looking around, she was a bit excited to explore this medieval fair. It was only held twice a year, and merchants from all over the kingdom traveled weeks or months just to sell their goods in the capital. There were also many people, as market fairs were usually held at the beginning of the agricultural year when people were thinking about what they needed for the year ahead.

There were many different stalls, selling all kinds of things for sale, from spices to rugs. There were also vendors selling snacks, like small pies when people got hungry. Jugglers, magicians and musicians could be found almost anywhere, along with mystery plays and travelling entertainers who told stories from the Bible. It was very crowded and noisy.

Song Jia put down the wooden horse and held Xiang Feng's hand. It would be very easy for a small child to get lost here.

"Look at those exotic birds over there. Does Xiao Feng want to go and take a look?"

Song Jia pointed at a place where barter trades of cattle, horses, sheep and other animals were being held. Children usually liked to have pets, didn't they?

"..."

Xiang Feng kept quiet, his gaze on their linked hands.

Song Jia pursed her lips as she inwardly rebuked him in her heart. Ever since they came here, he never responded to any of her questions. She couldn't remember if she did anything wrong.

"Xiao Feng, are you tired?"

"..."

"Xiao Feng, do you want to eat cheese bread? It seems very delicious."

"..."

"Xiao Feng, how about we buy some fruits?"

"..."

In the end, he never responded to any of her questions. Song Jia gave up and strolled around, enjoying herself while dragging Xiang Feng along with her. Anyway, he couldn't pretend to be mute forever.

Nian Shou had separated from them, saying that he wanted to look at the different kinds of meat being sold. He wanted to see other types of cuts that could be done to every kind of meat. Even though he stopped being a butcher's apprentice, he still wanted to expand his knowledge. They agreed to meet at the inn if they couldn't find each other at the end of the day.

"Young miss is so beautiful, how about buying this roll of silk?"

A man wearing a bright green tunic stepped forward and blocked Song Jia's path, his eyes curved into crescents. Song Jia looked at the piece of fabric in his hands. It was golden-yellow in color, with a glossy texture.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed.

"That doesn't look like mulberry silk."

"Young miss has very good eyes, yes, this silk didn't come from mulberry silkworms."

As Song Jia was a high-ranked wangfei before, most of the fabric she used were silk. She hadn't seen this type of silk before, which piqued her interest. She reached out and touched it, watching it shimmer under the sunlight.

"Beautiful miss, this silk is called Muga silk, which came from Assam. They use this silk for traditional dresses, especially in the royal families. The silkworm feeds on the leaves of soalu plants, and are very difficult to domesticate. I think Muga silk would look very beautiful on young miss, that's why I immediately called out to you."

Song Jia's lips twitched.

"Is that why you also called out to fifteen other people who came your way before me?"

An awkward expression flitted briefly on the merchant's face before he smiled brightly at her again.

"I previously thought those other people would look beautiful in Muga silk as well, but now that I had seen young miss, I think this Muga silk would suit young miss the best."

Having been in this business for too long, the merchant's face was very thick.

Suddenly, a slightly immature voice behind them piped up.

"It isn't because Muga silk suits her the best, but because she still looks the best whether it's Muga silk or the most common fabric."

Song Jia looked down at the child beside her. His face still looked indifferent, but the words coming from his lips were like melted honey. Her heart couldn't help but turn warm from his praise.

The merchant became flustered.

"T—that's...of course, whatever young master says is the truth. Muga silk looks good on young miss because young miss is beautiful. Yes, yes, very beautiful."

He couldn't let this young child get ahead of him in praising a potential customer. One had to know, a merchant's profit depended heavily on how smooth his tongue is. He had been having a hard time selling this Muga silk because it was very expensive, so he couldn't take the risk of losing this wealthy young miss as a potential customer as well.

Wanting to flatter them even further, the merchant put on a fawning expression and said, "Young master also looks very beautiful, it must be because you take after your mother, no?"

In an instant, Xiang Feng's eyes darkened. He pressed his lips tightly together and didn't speak another word.

Son.

That word again. It was the third time today that he heard it.

First, when they were in Nian Shou's trial, and second, when they were entering the market fair and someone mistook them to be a young mother taking out her son for a stroll. He and Song Jia had similar delicate features, along with an elegant bearing. With Song Jia wearing a black wig to hide her golden hair, it caused even more misunderstanding about their relationship than the usual.

But that wasn't what made his mood take a turn for the worse.

As soon as Song Jia heard the merchant's words, her eyes lit up.

"Of course," she said proudly, "How could my son not be as beautiful as me?"

Ever since taking Xiang Feng as her foster son, the times Song Jia could call him as her son was very rare because Xiang Feng didn't like it. It was only when they entered the capital that she could show off having such a beautiful foster son.

The merchant hurriedly nodded, "The mother is beautiful, the son is also very beautiful, of course it is only right. For the family to become even more beautiful, how about buying this beautiful Muga silk, young miss?"

Song Jia paused, then nodded. She reached in the pocket of her dress for her coin pouch.

"Alright, how much is it?"

She liked the silk, and this merchant's ability to flatter was not too bad.

The merchant quickly held up six fingers with a smile, "Only six pounds for the beautiful young miss."

Song Jia's eyes widened in shock.

Six pounds?! This was practically daylight robbery!

"This Muga silk is worth that much?"

She narrowed her eyes. The merchant covered his mouth and laughed.

"Young miss, you might not know how hard to get this Muga silk is. It's not very famous around these parts yet, so no one knows its true value. That's why I lowered the price a little. Young miss, six pounds is practically a bargain!"

Others might be convinced, but Song Jia was not. She crossed her arms, looking the merchant up and down. She tilted her head to Xiang Feng in a conspiratorial manner.

"Covering the mouth, standing too rigidly, excess of details when talking, erratic breathing, and staring without blinking. Xiao Feng, have you noted all of these?"

Xiang Feng nodded.

"Remember all these signs. They are the signs of a terrible liar."

The merchant's face turned black.

Not bothering with the merchant anymore, Song Jia walked past him. Although the Muga silk was beautiful, it was not worth six pounds.