I Only Choked on Noodles, Why Am I Here?! [BL]

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 – The Things Worth Spending Money On

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After a brief pause, Han Yan’s gaze landed on several neatly bundled stacks of dried noodles.

The noodles were pale in color and hung in orderly rows.

"And twenty jin of dried noodles."

The shopkeeper blinked in surprise.

Twenty jin was not a small amount.

Most customers only bought a few bundles at a time.

"Customer has good taste."

The shopkeeper walked over and proudly picked up a bundle.

"These noodles were made only a few days ago."

"The wheat used is of excellent quality. They won’t break easily during cooking."

Han Yan accepted the bundle and inspected it briefly before nodding.

The noodles were indeed well-made.

For some reason, the familiar sight of the dried noodles caused memories of his previous life to surface.

His gaze lingered on the neatly bundled strands, and a bitter smile briefly appeared in his eyes.

After all, it was because of a bowl of noodles that he had somehow ended up in this world.

Most people worried about being struck by lightning, falling off a cliff, or meeting some other dramatic end.

Han Yan had choked on noodles.

Even now, the memory felt absurd enough to make him question reality.

For a moment, he wondered if he had developed some sort of trauma toward noodles.

Then he remembered the large bowl he had shared with Wei Jun not long ago.

Not only had he eaten every last strand, but he had even thought the taste was quite good.

"..."

Perhaps the trauma was not as serious as he thought.

The corners of his lips twitched slightly before the expression faded.

With the rice, flour, and noodles combined, they would not have to worry about food for quite some time.

The shopkeeper looked pleasantly surprised.

By now, Han Yan’s order was already larger than the monthly purchases of most regular customers.

The abacus beads clacked rapidly as the shopkeeper calculated the total.

After finishing, he glanced at Han Yan and smiled.

"Customer is buying enough grain for an entire household."

Han Yan replied calmly.

"We recently separated from our family branch. There are many things to prepare."

Understanding immediately flashed across the shopkeeper’s face.

"So that’s the case."

After another moment of calculation, he adjusted a few beads on the abacus.

"Since Customer is purchasing so much, I’ll deduct twenty copper coins."

Han Yan looked up.

The shopkeeper chuckled.

"Think of it as building a relationship."

"Customers who buy in bulk are rare. If you need grain in the future, you’re welcome to return."

"Our prices are fair, and our scales are honest."

Han Yan gave a slight nod.

"Many thanks."

The shopkeeper waved his hand generously.

"No need."

Then he turned toward the workers.

"Be careful with the rice and noodles. Don’t damage anything."

The workers immediately acknowledged the order.

As the workers finished tying the grain sacks, the shopkeeper glanced at the sizeable pile of goods and chuckled.

"Customer, that’s over a hundred jin of grain, not counting the flour and noodles."

He stroked his chin.

"Carrying all of that back yourself would be quite troublesome."

Han Yan nodded.

He had already considered the issue.

The grain alone would require several trips.

Seeing his reaction, the shopkeeper smiled.

"Our shop has carts heading toward the surrounding villages every afternoon."

"If Customer is willing to pay a small delivery fee, we can transport everything directly to your home."

Han Yan’s eyes brightened slightly.

"How much?"

The shopkeeper quickly calculated.

"For this amount of grain, twenty copper coins will be enough."

"The carts are already making deliveries along that route, so it won’t cost much."

Han Yan considered briefly before nodding.

"Alright."

The delivery fee was reasonable and would save him considerable effort.

The shopkeeper quickly worked his abacus again.

The wooden beads clacked together several times before he announced the total.

"Eighty jin of fine rice, thirty jin of wheat flour, twenty jin of dried noodles, and the delivery fee."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"I’ve already included the discount I promised you."

The shopkeeper smiled warmly.

"The final total is two taels and two hundred copper coins."

Han Yan nodded.

Since the shopkeeper had already deducted the twenty copper coins from the price, there was no need to mention it again.

Without hesitation, he took out two taels of silver and two strings of copper coins and handed them over.

The shopkeeper carefully counted the payment before his smile widened.

"Customer is truly straightforward."

He immediately called over one of the workers.

"Write down the customer’s address."

"Make sure the grain, flour, and noodles are delivered safely before sunset."

The worker quickly nodded.

"Understood."

The shopkeeper then turned back to Han Yan.

"You can continue your shopping without worry."

"Our shop has been in business for many years. Your goods will arrive safely."

His tone carried the confidence of someone who had been running a business for many years.

Han Yan cupped his fists slightly.

"Then I’ll trouble Shopkeeper."

The shopkeeper laughed.

"No trouble at all."

"Remember to visit again when your grain runs low."

With the matter settled, Han Yan left the grain store and continued deeper into the bustling marketplace.

The air there was filled with the rich aromas of spices and fermented sauces.

After comparing several vendors, Han Yan purchased five jin of fine salt, two large jars of soybean paste, one jar of vinegar, a bundle of dried chili peppers, several heads of garlic, fresh ginger, and two jin of brown sugar.

The brown sugar was somewhat expensive, but it could be used to make simple snacks and sweet porridge. Children were especially fond of it.

The seasoning vendor was equally pleased with such a large purchase.

Before Han Yan left, the man even threw in a small handful of dried scallions free of charge.

"Take it customer. It’s just a small gift."

Han Yan accepted the gift and thanked him before continuing through the market.

Han Yan then moved on to the butcher’s district.

Fresh pork hung from iron hooks while customers crowded around the stalls.

After some consideration, he selected five jin of pork belly and three jin of lean pork.

The butcher swiftly chopped the meat and wrapped it in clean lotus leaves.

"Customer can rest assured. The pork in my shop is always fresh," the butcher said proudly.

"It arrived this morning."

Seeing the amount Han Yan purchased, he even included two large pork bones.

"Take these as well."

"Good for making soup."

Han Yan accepted them without refusing.

Nearby, he purchased two dozen eggs and four large blocks of fresh bean curd.

The bean curd would not keep for long, but it would make an excellent meal tonight.

As he continued through the market, a dried goods stall caught his attention.

Rows of bamboo baskets displayed various preserved foods.

Han Yan bought three jin of dried mushrooms, two jin of dried bamboo shoots, and two jin of dried tofu sheets.

The stall owner happily wrapped everything and repeatedly thanked him for his patronage.

By now, his purchases had grown considerably.

Still, there were several household necessities left to buy.

At a household goods shop, Han Yan selected two large clay storage jars for grain, a sturdy wooden bucket to replace the family’s aging one, thirty feet of hemp rope, four large ceramic bowls, six smaller bowls, a dozen chopsticks, and a new oil lamp.

The old lamp at home had long since become worn and unreliable.

Since the family often remained awake after sunset, a proper lamp was worth the expense.

Afterward, he visited the oil merchant.

"Five jin of lamp oil."

The merchant filled a sealed clay container. With that purchase complete, most of the household necessities had been taken care of.

Only then did Han Yan head toward the cloth district.

Colorful fabrics fluttered gently from wooden racks lining both sides of the street.

His gaze swept across the selection before stopping on a bolt of pale blue cloth.

The color was clean and gentle, resembling a clear spring sky.

For some reason, Lin Xin’s face immediately appeared in his mind.

The pale blue would suit him, highlighting the gentle elegance he naturally possessed.

After a moment’s hesitation, Han Yan stepped forward.

"I’ll take enough for two sets of clothes."

The shopkeeper quickly measured the fabric.

Seeing the quality of the cloth, Han Yan thought for a moment before adding,

"Also prepare enough for two more sets of clothes for a child."

Dong Hai had been wearing old and patched clothes for a long time. Although the boy never complained, he was still young and deserved something new.

In addition, Han Yan selected a few more bolts of durable dark blue and brown cloth.

The darker fabrics would be more suitable for everyday work, while the softer cloth could be used for Lin Xin’s clothes.

He also purchased thread and sewing needles.

The shopkeeper’s smile grew wider as he packed the large order.

After the cloth was carefully wrapped, Han Yan carried the package with him.

With the household’s clothing taken care of, Han Yan finally made his way toward a nearby pastry stall.

His footsteps slowed as the vendor’s loud voice rang out across the street.

"Honey cakes! Peanut candy! Fresh sesame sweets! Candied hawthorn! Rabbit-shaped pastries!"

Several children lingered around the stall, their eyes fixed on the colorful treats, while nearby adults stopped to make purchases. The sweet aroma drifting through the air attracted a steady stream of customers, making the stall one of the busiest in the area.

At the sight of the treats, Han Yan couldn’t help but think of Dong Hai.

The child rarely asked for anything and was content with whatever he was given. Even when receiving something he liked, he would carefully save it rather than enjoy it all at once.

Perhaps because of that, Han Yan found himself wanting to indulge him a little.

He stepped forward and said, "Wrap some honey cakes, peanut candy, and those rabbit-shaped pastries."

The vendor’s eyes lit up at the order and quickly packed the treats.

Before long, a neatly wrapped package was handed over.

Han Yan accepted it and carefully tucked it into his robe.

Thinking of Dong Hai’s reaction when he received the treats, a faint smile appeared in Han Yan’s eyes.

The child had endured much in recent years. Giving him a few simple snacks was not much, but Han Yan still hoped he could experience more moments of happiness.

Just as he was about to leave the market district, a small accessories stall caught his attention.

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