Chapter 45: Ch:45 Unexpected Surprise

Daniel turned around and saw Tressa in her simple cream linen shift, a brown woll kritle belt at her waist and a woven basket balanced on the crook of her arm.

“Hi ma’am… I mean, Aunt,” he corrected himself quickly, flashing a nervous grin. “Renery, quick, hurry and give me a plate.”

“Yes, yes… in a second.” said Renery.

Renery quickly handed him a plate and served the food. Tressa accepted it politely, then tilted her head at the unfamiliar shape.

“What is this, Daniel?” said Tressa.

“It’s called meat pouch,” he answered, folding his hands behind his back.

“Meat pouch?”

“Yes.”

She glanced around. Several women nearby were already eating, heads bent over their own plates, soft, happy sounds escaping between bites.

“Excuse me ladies, how is the taste?” she asked to the nearest one.

The lady smiled warmly. “It’s heavenly, Mrs. Milan. Just try it.”

“Yes, Mrs. Milan try it.”

“Mrs. Milan apply some chutney also.”

Encouraged by the others, Tressa finally lifted a piece to her lips and took a cautious bite.

*nom*

A burst of flavour detonated across her tongue—sharp, warm and utterly unfamiliar. Her eyes fluttered half-closed, before she had even swallowed the first, she was reaching for her second mouch.

The first plate vanished in moments.

“Daniel, another plate please…” she asked with a warm smile.

“Sure, Aunt,” said Daniel.

One plate became two, then three, then six. Steam still curled from the meat pouches, yet she ate it without pause, as if the heat didn’t even bother her at all.

Ten minutes later, she stopped, one hand resting lightly on her stomach.

’Mmh… hoo… I’ve eaten so much without even noticing,’ Tressa thought, a private smile curving her lips. ’I should bring some home as well.’

“Daniel, could you pack six more plates for me?” she said softly.

He nodded. “Yes, Aunt. Just one moment.”

While Renery tied the parcels in banana leaves with twine, a neighboring stallkeeper stepped forward for a plate, coins already between his fingers.

Daniel served him without wasting a second, accepted the copper coins, and returned to Tressa’s basket, nestling the warm packets carefully inside.

“How much for all?” she asked.

Daniel paused for a moment. “It’s… umm… one hundred and… ten copper coins. Yes, one one zero.”

Tressa reached into the bodice of her shift, and drew out two gold coins, closed them briefly in her fist, then pressed them into his palm and leaned in.

“Keep the change,” she whispered warmly in his ear.

Then, she left with a small, satisfied smile, her basket swinging gently against her hip.

While Renery was occupied with new customers. Daniel took the opportunity and calmly slip the gold coins into the deepest pocket of his tunic.

In the end, they managed to sell every piece of meat pouches before evening, and people were still asking for more. Eventually the crowd thinned as Renery began dismantling the stall and loading the handcart.

“Phew,” Daniel exhaled deeply. “we made a fortune today, Renery.”

“I wonder how much we made, sir.” Renery asked calmly.

They crouched behind the now-empty stall boards and counted their earnings together. Total they made—three hundred twenty copper coins and ninety six silver coins.

They split the sum on the spot.

“Sir…” Renery said quietly, staring at his half. “Honestly I’ve never held this much amount of money in a single day, even after we split half of it. It’s more than I expected.”

Daniel met his eyes and smiled. “I told you, we will make some good amount.” He stood. “Well… have a nice day, sir.”

He had taken only two steps when Renery’s voice stopped him.

“You too… Sir. See you tomorrow morning…”

Daniel turned, shaking his head gently. “I’m not coming back, Renery. From now on, you’re on your own.”

Renery stared at him in stunned silence. “But… I thought we were going to make more money… And—”

“No, Renery. I’ve more important things to do than this.” Daniel said, his voice firm but not unkind.

…

A moment of silence hung in the air. Renery rose slowly and stepped closer, then bowed deeply, showing genuine respect.

“Sir,” he said, voice thick with emotion, “for the first time you made me believe that God had blessed me. I won’t forget your kindness and I hope you succeed in whatever path you’ve chosen. And if you need my help, you know my house, my doors—it will always be open for you.”

The sincerity in Renery’s words warmed something in Daniel’s chest. He gently placed his right hand on his shoulder and whispered his final words. “Good bye, Renery.”

Then he turned and walked toward the market.

’Hmm… what should I buy with this money,’ he wondered, gaze drifting over the meat stalls.

“A kilo of lamb for four silvers!”

“A kilo of beef for five silvers!”

“Fish for two silvers!”

The meat-mongers shouted, their voices rising as if in a competition. Daniel settled on beef, handed over five silver coins, and tucked it under his satchel.

“Man, what a day… from morning till evening, only work, work and work. And now I’m heading home with beef and some money. Hehe… some. Even though two out of ten dumplings got stuck and broke, people still wanted them.

I wonder how Aunt will cook this beef. Maybe another signature dish?” he murmured, as he headed east.

Halfway down the lane he spotted the flower lady from yesterday, her handcart creaking toward the eastern quarter.

Daniel quickened his steps.

“Excuse me, Lady. I want to buy a rose,” he said with a smile.

Yet he ended up buying a bouquet instead, full of roses. The lady wrapped it in overlapping layers of soft petal-leaves and braided it with thin green vines.

Daniel handed her a silver coin and made his way to Jessica’s house.

…

*Knock-Knock*

He waited excitedly, keeping the bouquet hidden behind his back. Minutes passed—no response.

*Knock!-Knock*

Still no response. But as he twisted the knob, it opened.

’Huh? Is she outside?’ he thought, and walked toward the backyard.

No sign of her.

He stepped inside and went straight to the kitchen. It was empty. Gently, he placed the beef on the table and stepped back outside.

’Where did she go? Did she just walked outside and leave the door open?” he wondered, moving toward the main door.

*click*

Daniel closed it and turned toward the stairs. Just as he was about to climb, a faint sound drifted from Jessica’s room.

’Wait… is she home?’

He approached her door and slowly pressed his ear against the wood. Soft moans seeped through.

To his surprise, the doorknob turned easily. He pushed the door open slowly, and what he saw left him flabbergasted.

Jessica lay sprawled across the bed, legs parted, the glossy purple curve of an eggplant disappearing between her thighs in slow, deliberate strokes.

Daniel stood paralyzed in the doorway.

’Fuck! she’s using a fucking… vegetable…’

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