Shun said, “Our soup basin is still too small. We should get a bigger one.”
Lu Liu shook his head for now. Their sales were only for this morning; summer foods didn’t keep well, so they’d wait until autumn to upgrade.
As usual, after the scholars finished classes, a few small buns were left at the stall. Lu Liu counted—five sweet buns and two boiled eggs remained.
Too few to bother selling on the street. His family had eaten already, and taking them back would just mean letting them sit.
Lu Liu glanced ahead and vaguely saw the gate of Luming Academy.
He considered giving the leftovers to the academy’s gatekeepers, hoping for some future convenience.
After thinking it over, he shook his head, deciding against it. He and Shun packed up the stall, planning to take the buns and boiled eggs to Mr. He.
On the way home, Shun was curious about the market.
He remembered past big earnings and wanted to ask when they’d go sell at the market again—whether they could go today, hoping to join the excitement.
Lu Liu told him not to ask, “Let’s go home and count the money!”
Shun peeked into the basket of coins. “……”
He had really grown complacent, thinking this small pile of coins wasn’t worth counting.
The cart moved quickly, and in a few minutes, they were home.
The alley was lively. The two little ones were already on the bamboo bed, surrounded by a circle of people entertaining them.
Lu Yang brought some blank sheets of paper, roughly the size of the babies’ palms, rolled them into small balls for the children to grab.
They grabbed one, threw one. Chen Guizhi brought a small dustpan for them to toss into.
The little ones couldn’t speak yet, but they interacted with gurgles and squeals. Teaching them was easy—hold their hands, toss a few times, praise them when the paper went in. They quickly learned to compete, trying to throw into the pan.
The dustpan was open, placed between them. It wasn’t difficult—just required patience. Hands had to be gentle, or the paper would bounce out.
Lu Liu entered the alley, calling out to everyone, including the babies.
Zhuangzhuang’s domineering nature was growing. When he came over, he pushed Xiaomai aside, using his short hands to block her. Xiaomai pouted, still stubborn, silently looking at Lu Liu.
Lu Liu worked to serve water, lifting both children at once. Hearing their happy giggles, letting go, making funny faces, calling out kisses to Xiaomai and Zhuangzhuang, he could finally return inside to wash up.
After tidying up, he had Shun deliver the buns and boiled eggs to Mr. He, then led Lu Yang inside to talk.
He had Lu Yang help count the money, threading the coins with hemp cord.
There were 463 wen in the basket. Lu Liu deliberately ignored the costs and explained to Lu Yang what they could buy with the coins.
“You could buy three catties of meat, two ribs, a pig’s stomach, ears, and trotters. After that, still some left, I can buy vegetables. If you like eggplant, get some. Beans, a couple sections of lotus root, cucumbers, cabbage. Vegetables aren’t that expensive—thirty wen is enough. There’s still more. I can buy green beans, red beans, glutinous rice flour, soybean flour. Green beans for soup or cakes. Red beans for paste, for making ‘donkey rolls.’ See, this money goes a long way.”
Lu Liu had never calculated the purchasing power before—he only knew to save carefully. This was from the time Li Feng had taken him to the county, using a guide to check prices.
He wanted to show that daily living didn’t need much spending—they didn’t have to take risks.
Having said this, he considered—if he couldn’t convince his brother, he could at least be a “brake,” asking him to slow down.
“Brother, please don’t sell at the market. Wait for me. I just earned this little money. Don’t leave me behind…”
His words were too straightforward. Lu Yang understood immediately; when explained, it became even clearer.
Lu Yang smiled, rubbing his face.
“All right, Liu Ge’er, I’m doing business for the company. You get a share of the profits. If I earn, you earn. What’s there to fear?”
Lu Liu grabbed Lu Yang’s hand, saying, “I don’t like money.”
Lu Yang laughed at him. “So domineering—you don’t like money, and you don’t want me earning either?”
Lu Liu called out, eyes watering, “Brother, you’re the best!”
With the decision made not to go, their hearts relaxed—but too much, and a faint gloom lingered.
Lu Liu coaxed him, taking two wolf-hair brushes from the cabinet, giving them to Lu Yang to play with.
“Brother, you love writing, right? Use these—good brushes. It’ll make you feel better!”
Lu Yang raised an eyebrow, refusing them.
The brushes were expensive; he felt unworthy.
Lu Liu insisted, “Da Feng got the leather and ordered them from a craftsman. Costs weren’t high. They were meant for your birthday, then your exam. It’s our little gift. You two families first—take these two for fun. Da Feng won’t mind.”
Lu Yang smiled. “You’re thoughtful.”
Lu Liu pulled him outside to spend some money. “Let’s buy what I mentioned. Teach me to make mung bean cakes—I can’t do it yet.”
Lu Yang agreed.
The market opened, feeling like a startling dream to them.
They donned wide straw hats, baskets on their backs, going to buy vegetables.
Lu Yang said, “Don’t buy meat this hour—by now, it would spoil.”
Lu Liu followed his lead. They bought vegetables, beans, glutinous rice flour, and soybean flour.
With leftover coins, Lu Liu went to a candy shop, buying two catties of dragon’s beard candy. On the way, each brother ate a piece.
Chewing the candy, Lu Yang mumbled, “Liu Ge’er, you really know how to manage a household. I’ve never had this before. It’s delicious—sweet but not cloying, delicate flavor, hard yet soft and chewy. Excellent!”
Lu Liu chuckled. “Da Feng liked it, so I bought it for him twice before.”
Lu Yang teased, comparing with Li Feng, “You still owe me once.”
Lu Liu gave him another piece, and Lu Yang held his ground.
“Two candies are two candies. Two times candy is two times candy. Different. Today I eat two catties; you still owe me once.”
Lu Liu linked arms with him, trying to lean on him for a smile. Their hats bumped, so he laughed on his own.
He asked, “What did you buy for Mr. He? I want some too.”
Lu Yang didn’t answer, “I’m your brother—you should give me gifts.”
How unreasonable.
Lu Liu replied, “I’m your younger brother—you should care for me.”
Daring to argue.
Lu Yang said, “I came first, you second—you give me gifts first.”
Lu Liu insisted, “You care for me first; I’ll follow and honor you later.”
Lu Yang poked his waist, tickling him; Lu Liu squirmed.
“How much older am I? You care for me first, I won’t make it hard for you. Follow the way you coax Mr. Li—take care of everything. Today, I’ll be the big man.”
Lu Liu laughed, adjusting his hat to the back of his head, leaning in to smell Lu Yang, mock-surprised: “Oh my, whose big man is this? Smells so good—not like a stinky man!”
Wow.
He was flirting openly on the street.
Lu Yang was momentarily stunned, letting him get away.
They chased each other, laughing into the alley, back home. Lu Liu couldn’t escape; Lu Yang caught him and tickled him thoroughly.
They had lunch together, managing the household as a team.
