"How about… you each take half?"
The butcher hesitantly suggested as he looked at the two people pointing at the ribs.
However, neither of them responded. They just stared at each other in silence, as if they were locked in some kind of standoff.
As Sakuya's gaze gradually shifted, she noticed the large bag of ingredients Rin was holding. Almost instantly, she analyzed what dishes he was planning to make.
After a moment of contemplation, her soft, nightingale-like voice gently floated through the air—
"Could you let me have it this time? My two kids have been clamoring for stewed ribs, and there's also a patient who needs some nourishment."
"It's fine. My family can manage with something else."
Seeing Rin withdraw his hand, Sakuya gave him a slight nod of gratitude. After purchasing the ribs, she reached into her basket.
To Rin's surprise, Sakuya handed him a rather perfect-looking apple.
"Thank you."
After saying that, Sakuya didn't linger and turned toward the market exit.
After watching her slender figure fade into the distance, Rin turned back to the butcher's stall, eyeing the remaining cuts of meat.
Thinking about the freeloaders at home who loved to eat but never contributed, he asked—
"Boss, how much for the pig's trotters?"
"And pack some of that duck blood too."
"What's this? Rabbit meat? I'll take some of that too. Haven't had it in a while."
After finishing his shopping at the butcher's stall, Rin was about to head to the next vendor when a hand suddenly shot out from the gap between the stalls and patted his shoulder.
"Boss Rin~ I still want to eat crayfish, spicy ones!"
Smack!
Rin immediately flicked the back of this old hag's hand with his finger.
"If you keep eating so much and staying lazy, you're going to turn into a ball."
"Don't say nonsense! I've always maintained a perfect figure."
Yakumo Yukari poked Rin's face unhappily, but soon after, she withdrew back into the gap.
The next second, under Reimu's bewildered gaze, Yukari ran straight toward the back room while holding her waist, as if she was about to check her body measurements.
"What's she running for?" Marisa, fresh from a bath and still toweling her hair, asked curiously.
"Maybe she ate too many random snacks this morning and got an upset stomach?"
"That can't be right. Are you telling me even a youkai's stomach is that fragile?"
Marisa's tone suddenly faltered as her eyes drifted toward Reimu, who was sitting silently in her seat.
Just what exactly had happened while she was unconscious?
Had another forced laborer been added to the ranks that quickly?
After a moment of silence, Marisa handed her a new set of employee uniforms—
"Here. Everyone gets one."
"This is a thing?"
Reimu looked surprised as she accepted the uniform.
Free food, free drinks, and now even free clothes?
Is this heaven?!
"But this slogan on the shirt… It's meaningful, but why does it feel a little off?"
Reimu tugged at the "财源广进" characters printed on the shirt, mumbling to herself. (T/N: means Fortune and Prosperity.)
"Maybe it'll feel right once you put it on. Try it?"
"Alright!"
Reimu happily hugged the uniform and ran toward the back room.
This place is amazing. After a few good days here, I'm definitely bringing my mom over!
If that doesn't work out, I could set up a branch of the Hakurei Shrine next door!
After watching Reimu's figure disappear, Marisa lazily slumped back into her chair, amused as she watched Chen sitting by the entrance, playing with a flying fish toy.
But after watching for a moment, Marisa suddenly sat up again.
She kind of wanted to play too.
"Chen, that toy of yours seems to have a bit of a problem. Let me take a look at it for you. I'll give it back once I fix it."
"?"
Chen's big eyes were filled with confusion.
A problem? It seemed to be flying just fine, wasn't it?
But seeing Marisa's eager expression, Chen flicked her cat ears knowingly and pointed toward the back of the store.
"There are more over there. Other models too."
"Ahem. I'm just worried the boss might charge me for it later…"
Marisa muttered under her breath. Just the thought of Rin's methods made her legs feel weak.
But she had also noticed her progress today. Seven days should be enough for her to adapt and resist!
Once the forced labor period was over, it would be her time to shine!
Chen watched Marisa's combination of cowardice and excitement with a complicated expression before handing over the remote control.
"Just three minutes."
"No problem! Here, have a lollipop!"
Marisa shoved a lollipop into Chen's mouth before happily starting to play with the new toy.
If not for the time limit, she would've strutted around the entire Human Village showing it off to all the kids.
Meanwhile, Chen sat there, puffing up her cheeks as she started poking around the store, trying to explore every corner.
Not long after, Reimu returned to the store. For some reason, the "Fortune and Prosperity" characters on her shirt now looked even more ironic.
"Little Reimu, do you think you're cursed by those four words?"
Yakumo Yukari hesitated for a while before asking in the most delicate way possible.
Reimu's eyes twitched.
What's that supposed to mean? Do I look like someone who's cursed with bad luck?
My luck is just delayed, that's all! It'll come eventually!
She snorted, ignoring Yukari, and plopped down next to Marisa, gulping down some tea.
However—
To her left: Marisa's shirt – "出入平安" (T/N: Safe Travels/Peace Comes And Go)
To her right: Reimu's shirt – "财源广进" (T/N: Fortune and Prosperity)
"..."
Yakumo Yukari barely held it together, seriously wondering if Rin had prepared those shirts on purpose.
Before she could say anything, Rin appeared at the entrance, arms full of groceries.
He was just about to greet everyone when he stopped in his tracks, frozen at the sight of the two figures sitting at the entrance like guardian statues.
"We should print your images and paste them on the door for the New Year. It'd probably work pretty well."
Reimu's face darkened. But when she saw the pile of food in his basket, all her resentment vanished, and her eyes brightened.
"We're eating well today?"
"There's more for the hot pot tonight. I got all the seasonings too."
"What flavor do you like?"
"Anything! I'm not picky!"
Reimu's grin widened—tonight's dinner was already secured.
'Mom, I'm not coming home tonight! If I'm going down, I'm going down with a full belly!'
Meanwhile, Marisa's gaze fell on a single apple in the basket.
"Boss, you even bought fruit? Why only one?"
"Someone gave it to me. Don't even think about sneaking a bite."