Looking at the 40 cents in his hand, Gou Dan almost burst into tears and wanted to kiss it right away. This was all the hard-earned money he had earned with his own hands.

The feeling of making money was so wonderful that Gou Dan inexplicably found himself somewhat addicted.

The next day, Gou Dan gave 10 cents to Da Niu, and went to the peddler to buy 10 cents worth of candy to give to the children who helped catch fish the day before. He saved the remaining 20 cents.

Da Niu initially thought Gou Dan was joking, but he didn't expect him to actually give him 10 cents. He felt a little embarrassed and wanted to return the money to Gou Dan.

Dog Egg forcefully stuffed the money into his pocket: "Big Niu, you can take it. Hehe, look, I still have 2 mao here. We can earn more money when we catch more fish in the future."

Hearing Gou Dan say that, Da Niu also smiled with relief: "Gou Dan, thank you."

This is the first time Da Niu has received so much money except during the Chinese New Year. Usually, when his mother is in a good mood, she will give him 1 or 2 cents as pocket money to buy candy.

After experiencing the joy of making money, Gou Dan and Da Niu devoted themselves to the fish-catching business, and after a few days, their already not-so-fair skin became even darker.

Xia Qingqing couldn't stand it anymore, and when Gou Dan was about to go out to catch fish under the scorching sun, she called out to him, "Gou Dan, why don't you wear a straw hat before you go out?"

"No, wearing that thing is uncomfortable at all, it's hot and inconvenient."

"Don't you ever look in the mirror? Look how dark you are now. What if you can't get your fair skin back?" Xia Qingqing said with a hint of worry in her voice.

Growing up with a dark complexion would put her younger brother at a disadvantage in finding a partner, and she couldn't let him lose his priority in choosing a spouse from such a young age.

Gou Dan looks three-tenths like Xia Qingqing. If his skin were a little fairer, he could be considered a handsome young boy. Unfortunately, he is too dark-skinned.

Gou Dan scratched his head, slightly puzzled: "Why wouldn't I look in the mirror? What would a boy like me need to look in the mirror for?"

They only have one mirror in their house, which is usually placed in Xia Qingqing's room. Zhang Hongyan sometimes goes to Xia Qingqing's room to get the mirror when she needs it, but she doesn't usually need to use it.

Xia Qingqing had mentioned wanting to buy a new mirror before, but Zhang Hongyan rejected the idea, saying that mirrors aren't something you can eat or drink, and buying one would be a waste of money.

As for Gou Dan, he would never look in the mirror every day. Only girls look in the mirror; a man like him shouldn't do such girly things.

Xia Qingqing went back to her room, took out a mirror, and handed it to Gou Dan: "Take a good look at how your face has been tanned. From now on, don't call me Gou Dan, just call me Black Egg."

Gou Dan fiddled with the mirror for a bit: "Hehe, it's not bad, I'm even a little bit whiter than Da Niu."

Xia Qingqing was speechless for a moment. She had been overthinking it. How could a little boy of that age know anything about beauty and ugliness?

"Fine, if you don't care, then so be it. Just don't regret it later," Xia Qingqing said, waving her hand.

Dog Egg chuckled nonchalantly. What's there to regret? What country bumpkin doesn't have dark skin? It's a symbol of manhood.

Gou Dan gave Xia Qingqing a fawning smile: "Sis~, can I talk to you about something?"

Xia Qingqing looked at him suspiciously: "What is it? Speak."

"When are you going to the county? I want to eat that popsicle again. Can you take me with you next time you go to the county?"

Xia Qingqing estimated the progress of Zhang Hongyan's chili sauce production: "If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to go tomorrow."

"I want to go too, sis, can you take me with you?" Gou Dan looked at Xia Qingqing pleadingly.

"It might be inconvenient to give you a ride if I bring so many bottles of chili sauce," Xia Qingqing said with some difficulty.

Dog Egg's mouth immediately drooped: "Sis~ I can sit on the front bar of the bicycle, please, my most beautiful sister."

Seeing his pitiful appearance, Xia Qingqing sighed helplessly: "Alright, then I'll take you with me."

"Ahhh, thank you, sis! You promised you'd take me, right?" Gou Dan's eyes suddenly lit up.

Having received his sister's promise, Gou Dan didn't waste any more time and hurriedly went out to catch fish.

He decided he had to catch as many fish as possible today so he could earn more money.

I don't know how much a popsicle costs. He's saved up 1 yuan now. I wonder if he can buy 4 popsicles.

......

At 6 a.m., it was already bright outside.

After yawning and washing up, Gou Dan quickly finished a large bowl of sweet potato porridge.

"Sis, I'm ready, we can go now."

"Wait a moment, it'll be ready soon," Xia Qingqing gestured for him to sit down and wait.

Xia Heping securely tied the wooden crate containing 100 bottles of chili sauce to the back of his bicycle: "Qingqing, be careful on the road, or maybe we shouldn't bring Gou Dan this time?"

"Oh, Dad, you can't do this! My sister said yesterday she'd take me today!" Gou Dan complained, looking at his father.

Zhang Hongyan slapped him on the back of the head: "What are you yelling about? Your sister is already carrying so much chili sauce, it's already heavy, if you add another one, you'll be exhausted. How can you be so inconsiderate?"

Faced with his parents' accusations, Gou Dan felt extremely wronged. With tears welling up in his eyes, he looked at Xia Qingqing and said, "Sister~ I want to go with you."

If he misses this opportunity, he doesn't know when he'll have another chance to go to the county. His parents don't usually take him, and they can't let him go alone.

Seeing that Gou Dan was about to burst into tears, Xia Qingqing immediately said, "Mom and Dad, it's okay. Gou Dan isn't heavy. I can carry him."

Seeing that her daughter was willing to take care of her younger brother, Zhang Hongyan no longer objected: "If you get tired on the way, let Gou Dan walk by himself. Anyway, the little rascal is full of energy every day and is not afraid of getting tired."

"No problem, if my sister can't carry me, I'll get off and walk," Gou Dan assured confidently, the tears in his eyes long gone.

On the way to the county, Gou Dan kept asking Xia Qingqing if she was tired. If she was, he would get off the bike and run behind her.

Xia Qingqing laughed and said, "Your sister isn't as weak as you think. She can easily carry a little kid like you."

It sounds easy, but Gou Dan plus 100 bottles of chili sauce weigh over 100 pounds. If Xia Qingqing hadn't been stronger than the average girl, she probably would have been exhausted by now.

With Gou Dan keeping her company and talking, Xia Qingqing felt that time passed much faster, and it felt like she arrived in the county in no time.

Upon hearing the knock, Xiao Hui immediately jumped out of bed, beaming, and said, "Boss Xia, you're here so early! I knew it was you as soon as I heard the knock."

The next second his gaze swept over Gou Dan, who was following behind Xia Qingqing, and he raised an eyebrow: "Oh, why did you bring a little follower with you today?"