Xiao Yunying tugged at her older brother's sleeve as they walked toward the market: "I'm planning to use this instead of New Year's money. Don't let it slip when we get back, brother. I want to give my nieces and nephews a little surprise."
Xiao Yunsong felt sorry for his sister: "In the village, who gives so much New Year's money? At most, six or eight copper coins are enough as a token. Who gives two taels like you?"
“I never gave my nephews and nieces New Year’s money before, so I’m making up for it all this year.”
"You don't need to pay so much for this repair; it's twelve taels of silver."
Xiao Yunying was truly impressed by her honest and straightforward older brother. Anyone who didn't know better would think that she had given the silver pendant to a stranger, which was why he kept complaining about how expensive it was.
"Brother, we're all family by blood. I'm not giving it to an outsider, I'm giving it to your own son, my own nephew. Why are you so reluctant? If I had known you would react this strongly, I wouldn't have told you."
"I've already bought it, so I'll definitely give it to you as a gift. You absolutely have to keep it a secret from me; don't tell anyone. Just pretend you don't know anything. If you let it slip, you won't get any of the fresh food I make in the future, and you can forget about drinking any good wine either."
Even her older brother is such a chatterbox, so you can imagine that if her mother and two sisters-in-law found out, they would definitely launch into an extended, surround-sound nagging session, and she would have to use all her words to persuade them.
Xiao Yunsong didn't think much of the food; his younger sister had taught his wife quite a few recipes, and the dishes she made were quite delicious.
The wine is no good. Only his younger sister can buy that kind of clear, strong, and delicious wine. They don't even know where the wine shops are, let alone buy it.
Xiao Yunsong hurriedly said, "No, please! I promise I won't tell anyone, okay?"
Xiao Yunying said with a smile, "It's a promise, Big Brother, you can't go back on your word, otherwise I really won't bring any more good wine home."
The brother and sister chatted and laughed as they went to the market. In the winter, there were hardly any vegetable vendors at the market; most people were buying dried vegetables and mushrooms.
Xiao Yunying glanced around. Her family had all the dried vegetables at the market, so there was nothing unusual. She then went inside to the area where live poultry and livestock were sold.
With the help of her older brother, she selected six ducks and two geese, paid a copper coin, and had the vendor tie their wings and put them on the oxcart.
"Little sister, is there anything else you want to buy?"
Xiao Yunying thought for a moment and said, "Big brother, do you sell fireworks around here?"
The firecrackers in her house were bought and delivered by her father a long time ago. They were just loud and not very pretty. She wanted to set off colorful fireworks for the children to see.
"Little sister, fireworks are not something ordinary people like us can buy. They are rare items that even wealthy families cannot afford. To buy fireworks, you not only need money, but also power."
"How did you know, brother?"
Xiao Yunsong said honestly, "You forgot, when you were eleven or twelve years old, after you came back from the Lantern Festival, you insisted on watching fireworks. Your father searched all over Donglin City but couldn't buy any."
You threw a huge tantrum back then, and wouldn't listen to any explanation. Mom made you chickens and stewed meat for several days in a row before you finally stopped making a fuss.
Xiao Yunying: ……
Even if it wasn't her doing, it's still quite embarrassing for her to be using this body now and having her older brother bring up old grievances as if she were the person involved.
"It's too cold, my brain is all foggy and I forgot about it. Well, there's nothing else to buy, brother, let's go home."
"Get in the car and sit down. Your injury hasn't healed yet. Let me help you."
Xiao Yunying got on the oxcart without ceremony and sat behind her older brother, talking to him.
The oxcart turned onto the main road, and Xiao Yunying saw a familiar person enter the pawnshop.
She is Duan Yingying's mother.
"Big brother, wait a moment."
Xiao Yunsong pulled the oxcart back: "What's wrong? Is there anything else you want to buy?"
Xiao Yunying looked around and replied, "I'm not buying anything. I saw someone I know."
Xiao Yunsong looked around and asked, "Who do you see? Young Master Chen?"
"No, it's Duan Yingying's mother."
"Who?" Xiao Yunsong thought for a moment before remembering: "Oh, you mean the wife of Duan Xiucai who was killed by falling rocks during the earthquake?"
My younger sister also fell down because she gave up the carriage to them and got pulled down by a sheep on her way back.
Xiao Yunying didn't see Duan Yingying. She guessed her mother had come alone. She gestured with her chin toward the pawnshop not far away, indicating that her older brother should look there.
"Yes, she went to the pawnshop."
A few days ago, after Duan Yingying and her mother took Duan Xiaoxiao to see a doctor, they returned in Chen Yuancheng's carriage as usual.
They knew that Chen Yuancheng, this wealthy young master, had sent them back by carriage entirely out of respect for Xiao Yunying. After settling Duan Xiaoxiao in, they came over that evening to express their gratitude.
He felt extremely guilty after realizing that he had fallen and injured himself on the way back to the village with his sheep because he had given the carriage to the mother and daughter.
Duan Yingying's mother stayed at home to take care of the sick Duan Xiaoxiao, so Duan Yingying came over every day to see if she could help her with anything.
She sensed the little girl's desire to repay her.
The problem is that her mother and two sisters-in-law come every day, plus Fang Rou who comes often, so Duan Yingying, a young girl, has no chance to do any housework.
Duan Yingying stayed by her side, serving her tea and water, making her feel uncomfortable at home.
After several days of trying, she finally managed to persuade him to go back.
Xiao Yunsong said, "Duan Xiucai's wife has had a tough time. She doesn't even have any relatives to help her, and she has to raise two children all by herself."
It seems her youngest daughter's medical treatment cost a lot of money, and she's pawning things because she's out of money.
"I think so."
"Little sister, do you want to take her back with you?"
Xiao Yunying tucked her arms in and put her hands into her sleeves: "Yes, she usually doesn't want to spend a penny to ride in an oxcart and always walks back and forth. Now that she's in this situation, it's even less likely that she'll ride in one. Let's give her a ride back when she comes out."
Xiao Yunsong led the oxcart forward: "Let's tell her now."
Xiao Yunying quickly called out to her older brother, "Brother, stop now. Don't call out now. Let's wait until she comes out and we're a little further away before pretending that we bumped into each other by chance, so as not to make her feel uncomfortable."
Xiao Yunsong immediately understood what his younger sister meant: to save face for the other party and not make her feel embarrassed.
"Then let's wait a while."
The two looked toward the pawnshop. Duan Yingying's mother was petite and had to stand on a stool next to her to barely hand the items in her hands to the counter.
Xiao Yunsong casually remarked, "Why is the pawnshop counter built so high? Not to mention women, even I, a grown man, have to stand on tiptoe to reach it."
Xiao Yunying had previously read an article online about pawnshops: "There's a reason why pawnshop counters are built so high."
Xiao Yunsong leaned against the old ox and asked, "What's the explanation?"
Xiao Yunying withdrew her gaze, sat on the oxcart, swung her legs, and looked at the ground: "There is a set of sayings passed down by word of mouth among pawnshop owners: 'I open the pawnshop for profit, you help me in my time of need, the barrier is high, I do not see your suffering, do not advise me to be magnanimous.'"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
