Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  “Is that so?” Jiao Ziqing clearly didn’t believe Yu Lili. She looked to Nanny Zhang for confirmation.

  Nanny Zhang nodded her head. “Yes, Madam. If you don’t want to go there, we can still go to the nearby supermarket instead. However, the selection there is a lot less, and we’ll only be able to pick from what they have.”


  “Forget it. The selection is too limited.” Jiao Ziqing waved her hand. “Let’s go to the wet market. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone there anyway.”


  Nanny Zhang didn’t have much say. She looked toward Yu Lili and asked, “The smell at the wet market may be a little pungent. Are you OK with that?”


  “Of course! I like fresh ingredients, too.” Yu Lili beamed at her amiably and sincerely.

  Nanny Zhang’s impression of her improved even further. She nodded her head and led them to the wet market.

  Before they even entered, Jiao Ziqing couldn’t take it. “It’s so noisy and smelly!”


  “That’s the way the wet market is. If you’re not used to it, why don’t you wait for us by the side? I’ll go in with Nanny Zhang to buy the groceries, and we’ll come for you later before we leave,” Yu Lili said to Jiao Ziqing as warmly and gently as she could.

  To Jiao Ziqing’s ears, these words sounded mocking and sarcastic. She laughed sardonically and said in dissatisfaction, “If you can enter, why can’t I?”


  With that, she headed inside as if she were facing down a challenge. Each step she took was heavy and forceful. Jiao Ziqing was dressed in a very expensive-looking green coat, and on her feet were a pair of stiletto shoes.

  Yu Lili looked on worriedly. She hurried to her side, afraid that she might miss a step and fall. On the other hand, she was also careful to keep a distance for fear that too close a proximity would aggravate Jiao Ziqing. While she was walking, her focus never left Ou Ming’s mother.

  Her gesture was very obscure, and it was hard to notice. Nanny Zhang didn’t notice it, but Jiao Ziqing did. She didn’t call Yu Lili out on it, but she did slow her steps down.

  Jiao Ziqing was tagging along just for fun. She did not know how to choose the ingredients and couldn’t identify which ones were fresh and which ones weren’t. Slowly, her nose got used to the smell of the wet market.

  Yu Lili’s worry dissipated. She began to help Nanny Zhang choose the produce instead.

  Nanny Zhang was very surprised. “Do you come to the wet market often?”


  “Yeah. I usually cook on my own,” Yu Lili said. “I like my food fresh and with a variety. As time passed, I slowly picked up the knowledge on how to choose the produce.”


  A look of comprehension passed over Nanny Zhang’s face. “How nice. Your cooking skills must be pretty good! I have to try your cooking later. Don’t you agree, Madam?”


  “It’s average. Nothing special.” Jiao Ziqing turned her head and focused her attention on the vegetable stall.

  Nanny Zhang was at a loss of what to say. She snuck up to Yu Lili and whispered quietly, “That’s just how she is. She has a very unforgiving tongue. But, her heart isn’t evil. It’s fine once you’ve gotten used to it.”


  Yu Lili knew that. After all, Nanny Zhang wasn’t the only one who had said that to her. She nodded her head. “I know that.”


  The three ladies walked around for a long time. After some discussion, they decided to prepare five dishes and a soup. Just as they were preparing to leave after purchasing the needed ingredients, a man in ragged clothing came running toward them from the opposite direction.

  Jiao Ziqing wasn’t paying attention. When she looked up and saw the individual, she jumped up in fright and let out a scream.

  Yu Lili had been paying attention to her stiletto shoes the entire time, afraid that she might fall. But, Jiao Ziqing’s reaction caught her by surprise. She saw her lose her balance and wobble to the side.

  Without a second thought, Yu Lili rushed forward to hold on to her. The force Jiao Ziqing exerted when falling was too great. Yu Lili ended up being pulled down to the ground instead.