Volume 4, Chapter 1: Locust (2/2)

As the madam spoke in irritation, the very first pair of chopsticks went for the large plate.

(Oh?)

It was an unexpected person who ate it first. Unfazed, he crunched on the insect with an ominous look.

Its not tasty at all. Kinda hollow, this.

It was Chouu who was eating as he gave his honest opinion.

She was sure that, with his young master upbringing, he would be opposed to putting this sort of thing in his mouth, but it didnt seem to be the case.

Did he lose that mien because he lost his memories? Or has he eaten this before? Or could it be the adaptability of a child?

You can eat well, dont you.

Pairin said, inserting herself between Maomao.

Its not delicious but its not like its inedible. Its just extremely hollow.

(Hollow?)

If she was not mistaken, the locust innards are removed before it is cooked, so it being hollow is a given. So its something like this, Maomao thought as she half-heartedly picked up a locust.

(Mn!?)

It really is hollow. Rather than the hollow texture when she had eaten it before, it felt more like that there were no insides. Even though it was simmered in soy sauce, that feeling must be because there is only the texture of the exoskeleton in her mouth.

Not that it has meat, she felt that it was more that it didnt have any in the first place.

Hey hey, why dont you have me eat for you? You can trade me one mooncake.

She seized Chouus head, who was offering a negotiation with Pairin, and pressed down firmly. Ow, owowowow, Chouu groaned.

Maomao picked up a locust with her chopsticks and studied it intently.

It was her usual bad habit. Once she gets interested in it, that would be all she thinks about.

Oh yeah, I was thinking of getting you to go shopping.

After breakfast, the madam finally remembered why she had summoned Maomao. It was to go shopping at the market that is set up in the central road of the town.

The courtesans cannot leave the brothel and the manservants were not smart. The market has a lot of unusual goods, but there arent few of those fellows that rip people off. As they dont set up shop, they should sell with cheap prices, but there arent few bad guys that dont put up signboards. You need a good sense of judgement to buy good items.

I want you to go buy incense. The usual one.

It is the incense that burns with the usual faint aroma at the entrance of the Rokushoukan. Since its a consumable, she would want it as cheap as possible, but something of poor quality was out of the question.

Kay. And the reward?

When Maomao put out her hand, it was slapped away.

Two persons worth of morning baths and breakfast. Aint that first-class?

Stingy hag, Maomao thought.

Heeyyy, freckles. Buy that.

No way.

Maomao ignored Chouu who was pulling her sleeve and pointing to the open-air toy store. She honestly wanted to go alone, but she had no choice but to bring this shitty brat along as he threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground, saying that he wanted to follow. Maomao took Chouus hand, and walked while dragging him along.

The market is set up daily on the large stretch of road in the centre of the capital. Amid the coming and going of horse-drawn carriages, beyond there is the place where the people of the heavens resided.

Seeing it like this, she ended up wondering whether the time she worked at that place was a dream or something. However, Chouu next to her signified that she had been in the imperial court and thus had also been involved in that incident.

The uprising of the Shi Clan. It seems it more or less also had an effect on the market.

A lot of the special products from the northern regions are types of grain and wooden goods, but she felt that there were less of these products than usual in the shops. Instead, the dried fruit and textile shops common from the southern and western regions caught her eye. And then, Maomao made an unpleasant face when she came across a certain thing.

They were selling simmered insects.

Locust again.

That, is absolutely bad. Would anyone buy this?

Chouu had said it in front of a shop, so Maomao clamped his mouth shut and dragged him away. Honestly, the food cart shopkeepers eyes were scary.

Maomao finally released Chouu in a place a fair distance away.

What was that? Isnt it true that its bad?

Shut up.

Maomao looked at Chouu coldly. Thats why I really hate children, she thought deeply.

Insects with that hollow shape is bad. This years produce is already no good.

just then, what did you say?

Maomao blinked incessantly.

Ah, that its absolutely bad?

No, not that. What you said after.

That this years produce is already no good?

(What was that?)

Maomao stared at Chouu.

How did you know that?

Ummm, what was that again

Chouu roughly scratched his head with his right hand. His left hand is slightly cramped, so it hung limply by his side. Chouu had died once, having drunk the resurrection drug, and somehow came back to life afterwards. Because of that, his body is still numb, and he had lost most of his memories.

I cant remember well. Its just, I feel that I heard that when insects become hollow, theyll be crop failure.

Ummm, Chouu clutched his head.

He might recall something if I shake his head, Maomao thought, but she cant treat him anymore slovenly as he is pretty much in her custody.

However, if what Chouu said is true, then there will be quite a serious issue, Maomao thought.

Perhaps, I might be able to remember.

Really?

Maomao replied, and Chouu looked towards the food cart. The toy shop was over there.

If you buy something, I might be able to remember.

For now, she wrenched his mouth wide open.

T/N: so I promised myself that Ill take it easy this time, thus two chapters per week starting next week (this week Ill release a chapter on Sat too). Tues and Thur. It sounds less, but its still an average of ~5000 English words a week. Aint that first class, as the madam would say ;D

I might increase the number if the chapters get a bit shorter, but for now, lets take it easy

This arc has twenty-seven chapters. The atmosphere of the rest of the story is a little different to the previous arcs, so Id like to consider this as the next part (i.e. if this was an anime, this would be season 2).

Also, a question on how to translate the name of a new character that comes in later (chapter 10). Mind its not actually her name, but rather what other people are calling her. Shes albino and is treated like a fairy/goddess. To make it easier, Ive made a poll. Please vote, thanks