**Chapter 44: Pastries from the Capital City**

The ox cart was stopped by a simple, honest-looking coachman.

He bowed respectfully and took out a few taels of silver, asking politely, “Our carriage wheel broke. Would you be so kind, old sir, to give us a lift into the city?”

Driving the ox cart was Old Man Meng. He glanced at the three taels of silver, then looked at the passengers sitting behind him.

Truth be told, Old Man Meng was tempted.

Three taels of silver was no small sum, and they had only just left the city. A round trip wouldn’t take much time at all.

But he couldn’t very well leave his fellow villagers stranded halfway just for some silver.

“There’s another tael here. I hope you kind folks won’t mind helping out. You can split the silver among yourselves.”

The coachman had clearly read the mood on the ox cart and promptly pulled out another tael.

“No problem at all! Old Meng, go on ahead!”

A quick-witted auntie hopped off the cart.

Once the first got off, the second followed.

It was a win-win—earn a bit of silver and help someone out. Besides, everyone could see that Old Man Meng wanted to take the job; he just didn’t want to abandon his fellow villagers.

Now that the coachman had offered to share the silver, there was no reason to object.

Bai Tian also got off the cart, holding Juanjuan in his arms.

Watching the villagers cheerfully accept money they hadn’t worked for, Bai Tian cleared his throat and solemnly addressed the two children:

“This money may have come easily, but you can’t just sit around waiting for silver to fall from the sky. You have to rely on your own hard work and cleverness to make a living, understand?”

“Especially you, Juanjuan. You must work hard too, alright? Girls can earn money and become officials too!”

Juanjuan nodded seriously to show she understood.

Yunyun also looked at his father, thinking his words made a lot of sense.

Nearby, the young lady from the Liang Family happened to walk by and gave Bai Tian a second glance.

She hadn’t expected this scruffy-looking man to say something so profound.

In reality, Bai Tian was thinking: 【As expected, only a Transmigrator gets this kind of luck! I knew it—if they picked a useless guy like me out of so many people, then Heaven must be on my side.】

【Changing my name was the best decision ever. With luck like this, I don’t even need to work! Can I just lie flat and coast through life? Come on, Heaven, keep dropping money from the sky!!!】

Juanjuan: …

Her father sure talked a good game, but behind the scenes, he was something else entirely.

Still…

Compared to picking up free money, Juanjuan preferred to earn it honestly through her own efforts.

Even if she wasn’t capable of earning anything just yet.

“Miss, please slow down.”

A crisp, respectful voice rang out—different from the way villagers spoke, carrying a distinct air of refinement, though still understandable.

At the same time, Juanjuan heard her Second Brother’s inner voice.

【That’s the official accent from the Capital City! These master and servants must be from the Capital.】

Juanjuan looked over curiously.

She saw a girl around ten years old supporting a young lady wearing a veil, dressed beautifully, with several ornate hairpins in her hair.

It was the first time Juanjuan had seen such a beautiful elder sister, and she was from the Capital City, no less.

The little girl couldn’t help but stare a bit longer.

To her surprise, the beautiful young lady happened to look over at her as well.

Their eyes met, and Juanjuan immediately grew flustered and shy, burying her little head into her father’s chest.

She’d been caught peeking—how embarrassing for a child.

The young lady chuckled softly at the sight, then leaned over and whispered a few words to her maid.

Moments later, the maid approached Bai Tian with a small bundle of pastries.

“The child is adorable. These pastries were brought from the Capital City by my young lady. If you don’t mind, please accept them as a gift for the little girl.”

Bai Tian: 【Oh my God! See? This is what I mean by good luck! Thank you, Heaven, for yet another meal!】

“Of course we don’t mind. Many thanks to your young lady.”

Bai Tian motioned for Juanjuan to accept the pastries.

Juanjuan took the bundle with both hands and politely said, “Thank you, big sister.”

The maid smiled gently, nodded, and turned to leave, climbing back onto the ox cart.

The cart began to move forward slowly.

“Miss, that little girl was quite well-mannered,” the maid said softly beside her mistress, then frowned. “But I noticed there was also a little boy with her. Do you think it’ll be like last time, where the boy got all the pastries?”

Liang Tian’er lowered her head and laughed lightly. “I don’t think so. A father who can say such things to his daughter surely wouldn’t give all the treats to his son.”

“No rush. A few days ago, Shopkeeper Liang sent word that he found a seasoning with an exceptional flavor. Even in the Capital City, it could make a name for itself.”

“If that’s true, then we’re in luck. Our private business could really take off.”