Chapter 20

Chapter 20

In the faint daylight, Minghe saw the empty bed and asked, "Where's little brother?"

Xiao Yu looked around and called out, "Danzi."

Minghe also began searching under the blanket, "Little brother, little brother, where are you?"

"Little uncle, big brother." A faint voice came from somewhere.

Xiao Yu and Minghe paused, listening closely to the sounds around them.

"Little uncle, big brother, I'm here." Danzi's voice seemed to come from an enclosed space, small and muffled.

"Little uncle, little brother is over there!" Minghe pointed towards the debris from the collapsed part.

Xiao Yu felt a surge of fear and hurriedly approached, "Danzi!"

Minghe ran down, calling, "Little brother!"

"Little uncle, big brother." Indeed, Danzi's voice was coming from inside.

"Little uncle, little brother is in there." Minghe happily reached to move the debris of wood and bricks to rescue Danzi.

"Don't move!" Xiao Yu immediately stopped him.

"But little brother is inside," Minghe said.

"I know," Xiao Yu acknowledged. The debris pile from the house collapse might have formed a small space just big enough to fit Danzi's small body, keeping him temporarily safe. But any disturbance could cause the debris to collapse instantly, potentially crushing Danzi with severe, if not fatal, consequences.

Minghe didn't understand these dangers, but obediently refrained from moving.

Xiao Yu also dared not act rashly. With the faint daylight insufficient to assess the debris pile, he quickly found a match, lit the oil lamp, and carefully inspected the situation, softly reassuring, "Danzi, don't be afraid, little uncle is figuring out how to rescue you."

"Don't be scared, little uncle and big brother are here," Minghe added.

"Okay, I'm not scared," Danzi replied softly from within.

After assessing the debris pile, Xiao Yu handed the oil lamp to Minghe and found a wooden stick to prop against the heaviest part of the pile. He then planned to crawl in and pull Danzi out.

Before he could act, Danzi's clear voice called out again, "Little uncle, big brother."

Xiao Yu and Minghe turned in surprise.

Somehow, Danzi had crawled out from the other side of the debris pile, standing unharmed in front of them. Just then, with a loud "boom," the pile collapsed again.

Xiao Yu and Minghe jumped in fright.

"Little uncle, big brother, are you okay?" Danzi asked.

"Danzi." Xiao Yu, more concerned about Danzi than himself, stepped forward and crouched down to check him thoroughly, "Danzi, are you hurt? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"Little uncle, I'm not hurt," Danzi replied.

Not injured?

Xiao Yu, being cautious, asked Minghe to bring the lamp closer and indeed found no signs of injury on Danzi.

Thank heavens!

He was relieved that Danzi was unharmed.

Briefly relieved, he had no time to ponder further. Once again, he wrapped both children in the blanket and struggled to carry them out of the straw hut.

"Little uncle, why are we going outside?" Danzi asked, poking his little head out from the blanket.

Minghe, also poking out his little head, answered, "We can't stay in the house, it might collapse and crush us!"

"Oh, okay."

Once they were in the courtyard, snowflakes fiercely whipped against their faces.

Minghe and Danzi both instinctively shrank their necks.

Unable to enter either the straw hut or the kitchen, Xiao Yu realized they needed to find shelter to avoid freezing. He temporarily set the children down, saying, "Wait here, little uncle will go inside to grab some things."

"I want to come too," Minghe said.

Xiao Yu reassured him, "Stay here and don't move, little uncle will be right back."

Minghe expressed concern, "Then be careful, little uncle."

Xiao Yu nodded and quickly ran back into the house, gathering all the blankets, mattresses, and clothes from the beds and chairs, and brought them to the courtyard, draping the blankets and mattresses over the clothesline.

Thankfully, he had previously tied two clotheslines for drying vegetables. Now, he crossed a blanket and a mattress over them to form a makeshift rectangular shelter.

He then used a large shovel to clear the snow underneath the shelter before carrying the children, wrapped in blankets, inside.

"Wow, we have a house to live in," Minghe exclaimed happily.

"Wow," Danzi echoed in amazement.

Xiao Yu brought a small wooden stool from the kitchen and sat down to dress the two children. It was then that he noticed Danzi holding a bowl: "Why do you have a bowl?"

"I was drinking water just now," Danzi explained.

"Did you drink from the wooden box?" Xiao Yu inquired.

"Yes," Danzi nodded.

"But hadn't you already drunk water?"

"I got thirsty again." Used to the routine, Danzi didn't want to disturb Xiao Yu again and slid off the bed to get water himself. He had only taken a few sips when he heard a loud bang and found himself trapped under debris, until Xiao Yu and Minghe came to find him. He saw light and somehow crawled out, dazed.

Xiao Yu, who hadn't had the chance to ask Danzi how he got trapped, now understood. He was relieved that Danzi was unharmed and continued dressing the children.

"Little uncle, you should dress warmly too," Danzi said softly.

Xiao Yu, who had been wearing only a Zhongyi (Chinese robe) while busily attending to everything in a state of high alert, hadn't felt cold. Now, as he relaxed a bit, he felt the chill and quickly put on a cotton jacket.

Concerned about catching a cold, he quickly gathered a metal pot, ginger, dates, scallions, and brown sugar from the kitchen and made ginger soup over a fire in the snow. The three of them sat in the makeshift shelter, sipping the soup.

"Little uncle, it tastes bad," Danzi grimaced.

Minghe also found it unpleasant.

Kids usually don't like the strong taste of ginger soup, but its effectiveness in warding off colds and flu is excellent. Xiao Yu insisted firmly, "No, you must drink it to avoid getting sick."

The children reluctantly finished their ginger soup following Xiao Yu's lead. They sweated out their earlier tension and panic, especially Xiao Yu, who had been terrified and exhausted. Now relaxed, he chatted briefly with the kids and soon fell asleep leaning against the cart.

Not sure how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, it was already bright outside. The two kids were sitting quietly in front of me, wrapped in blankets, speaking in hushed tones.

"Danzi, let's keep our voices down, Uncle Xiao is asleep," Minghe whispered.

"Brother, Uncle Xiao is tired," Danzi murmured.

Minghe added, "Uncle Xiao held us last night."

Danzi continued, "We're quite heavy."

"Yeah, so heavy, and Uncle Xiao carried both of us at once! He's incredibly strong!" Minghe said with admiration.

Danzi nodded, "And Uncle Xiao even built this shelter."

"This shelter is so warm and nice."

"It's made with blankets!"

"Uncle Xiao is so amazing."

"Uncle Xiao also shoveled the snow!"

"And he made soup too."

"Uncle Xiao worked so hard," Minghe said with a tone of compassion.

Danzi echoed, "Yeah, so hard."

Hearing the children talk like this made all the hardship and chaos of the night seem insignificant. I felt a surge of warmth in my heart and softly called out, "Minghe, Danzi."

The two children turned their heads in surprise and joyfully said, "Uncle."

"Do you have a fever?" Xiao Yu reached out to touch the foreheads of the two children.

"We drank ginger soup," Danzi said softly.

"Right," Minghe agreed.

"That's good, come on, get up," Xiao Yu said.

"Uncle, are we not selling buns today?" Minghe asked.

"The heavy snow has blocked the roads, we can't go," Xiao Yu got up and stepped out of the small house. The snow had finally stopped, and even the sun peeked out.

However, the thatched house and kitchen were still burdened with yesterday's snowfall. Xiao Yu started a fire right there, deciding to fill their stomachs first.

He steamed some buns with the dough he had prepared the night before and cooked a pot of green vegetable noodle soup. The three of them ate until they were warm all over.

Afterwards, they stepped out of the courtyard. By then, villagers had started clearing the snow from in front of their homes, chatting loudly over fences and paths.

"This snowfall was incredibly heavy!"

"Indeed, it snowed almost a whole day and night."

"Many houses have leaks from the snow."

"Leaks are nothing; my kitchen collapsed."

"Ah? Your kitchen collapsed?"

"Yes, it's all because the head of our household is too lazy. Every year he changes the straw on the roofs of the inner and outer houses, but never bothers with the kitchen. Now, with the heavy snow, it just collapsed."

"What will you do now?"

"It's just the kitchen. I've seen many people whose main houses have collapsed."

Xiao Yu felt a pang, recalling that since his brother-in-law joined the army, his sister struggled to raise Minghe and fell ill, leaving no time to repair their house, which then collapsed in the blizzard. Thankfully, no one was injured.

He needed to find a way to repair it. Just then, Grandma Hao approached, "Xiao Yu."

"Grandma," Minghe and Danzi called out together.

Xiao Yu stepped forward to help Grandma Hao, "Auntie, be careful, the road is slippery."

"I heard many people's houses have collapsed. I came to check on your situation."

"Mine collapsed too."

"Where did it collapse?"

Xiao Yu led Grandma Hao into the courtyard.

Seeing that both the inner and outer rooms had collapsed at one corner and the kitchen was barely holding up, Grandma Hao frowned, "You can't live here anymore."

"Yes, I plan to find someone to repair it."

Grandma Hao said, "In this heavy snow, even if you find someone, it won't be possible to repair."

"Can't we just do a simple fix?"

Grandma Hao replied, "No, the adobe bricks freeze easily."

Xiao Yu knew that adobe bricks were square blocks made of clay, also known as mud bricks. They are usually made in late spring or early winter when it's dry and rain is scarce. The temperature and humidity from May to September are suitable for building houses, drying them, and house repairs. However, he had overlooked that it was midwinter now. Even if someone had stored a lot of adobe bricks, applying mud for walls in cold weather would not only lack adhesion but also pose a significant risk.

He frowned involuntarily.

"Why don't you stay at my house? I have a spare room," Grandma Hao offered warmly.

If it were just for a day or two, staying at Grandma Hao's might be feasible, but given the weather and the state of the house, Xiao Yu, Minghe, and Danzi clearly needed long-term accommodation, possibly until next spring. Not wanting to impose on Grandma Hao for so long, Xiao Yu declined.

"What will you three do then?" Grandma Hao asked.

The night before, thinking about the small dock's business, Xiao Yu had already considered the inconvenience of living in Jinxui Village and planned to rent a storefront in town.

Now, it seemed essential. He said to Grandma Hao, "We're planning to rent a house in town."

"That must cost quite a bit of money," Grandma Hao, unaware of the rental prices in town, remarked.

"I'll go and inquire."

Grandma Hao persisted, "Why can't you just stay at my place?"

Xiao Yu smiled, "No, thank you for your kindness, auntie."

"Staying at my place is convenient too, we have everything like a well," Grandma Hao urged again. She genuinely liked Xiao Yu, Minghe, and Danzi, feeling sorry for them as they had no close relatives.

However, Xiao Yu's mind was made up.

Left with no other choice, Grandma Hao said, "If there's anything you need, just let me know."

Xiao Yu then spoke frankly, "Could you please look after Minghe and Danzi for a day? I need to go to town to find a house."

"Do you want your brother or your uncle to accompany you?" Grandma Hao was referring to her own sons.

"No, no, it's okay. I can manage by myself."

"Alright, go ahead, I'll take care of them," Grandma Hao assured.

Minghe pouted, "Uncle, can't I come with you?"

Danzi looked at Xiao Yu with a pleading expression, "Uncle, I want to go with you too."

"The snow is too deep, you won't be able to walk through it." Normally, Xiao Yu would prefer to keep the children with him rather than trouble others.

"Exactly, the snow comes up to your waists. You won't be able to walk, and you'll only slow your uncle down," Grandma Hao persuaded, "Let your uncle go alone, so he can come back quickly and easily."

Hearing that their uncle could have an easier time, Minghe and Danzi reluctantly nodded.

After giving the children some instructions, Xiao Yu left Jinxui Village under their reluctant gazes.

He had expected the road to Qing Shi Town to be difficult, but found it already trodden and firm.

Along the snowy path, he met many people heading to town for work and heard various rumors about Pei Yanli winning a great battle. Some said his disappearance was a strategy, others claimed he had sought revenge after going missing, and some even believed he was a deity incarnate.

The truth was hard to discern, but the increased foot traffic at the small dock was evident. However, due to the harsh winter weather, few boats were docking, so business remained slow.

Unperturbed by the dock's situation, Xiao Yu decisively entered Qing Shi Town.

Unfamiliar with the rental market in town, he inquired about prices at several storefronts.

He was shocked at the prices once he asked.

In any bustling area, even a small storefront demanded a rental of at least one silver tael per month, and the price only increased with additional features like a kitchen or courtyard.

Unable to afford or even find a suitable place, Xiao Yu wandered around, eventually reaching a lane where ordinary people of Qing Shi Town lived. Everyone was busy clearing snow from their doorsteps, giving glimpses of their daily activities.

Some here were peddlers, others blacksmiths, tofu grinders, or engaged in needlework… But the foot traffic here wasn't great. These goods had to be taken to busier markets for sale.

Xiao Yu wondered about the rent in this area.

He looked around, intending to ask someone, and spotted a pregnant woman sunbathing. Just as he was about to approach her, several children ran by, recklessly charging through.

The pregnant woman, frightened, clutched her belly and retreated, slipping and starting to fall.

"Be careful!" In a flash, Xiao Yu dashed forward and dived into a snow pile beside the road, grabbing the woman's arm and steadying her.

"Yuanyuan!" A man rushed over and embraced the pregnant woman.

Xiao Yu relaxed and let go of her arm.

Once steady, Yuanyuan said to her husband, "Husband, this gentleman saved me and our child."

Yuanyuan's husband quickly helped her to the side and then reached out to Xiao Yu, "Young man, are you alright?"

Covered in snow from head to toe, Xiao Yu stood up, brushing himself off, "I'm fine, I'm fine. Is the lady alright?"

"I'm fine." The couple, seeing the young man's features clearly, showed a hint of admiration in their eyes.

Reassured, Xiao Yu nodded to the couple and turned to leave.

Yuanyuan and her husband hurriedly stopped him. They had been married for five years and had finally conceived this year. The doctor advised Yuanyuan to get more sun and walk more.

Yuanyuan only ventured to the doorstep after her husband had cleared the snow from their home and sprinkled ash for traction. She hadn't expected to encounter the rowdy children.

If not for the young man's timely rescue, she and her unborn child might have been in grave danger, so they wanted to express their gratitude.

Yuanyuan's husband bowed to Xiao Yu, "Young man, my name is Song Sanwu. I work at the courier station. This is my wife, Yuanyuan. If you don't mind, please come inside for a drink and rest your feet."

"It's very kind of you, Brother Sanwu, but I'm in a bit of a hurry and must be on my way."

"What kind of hurry? If there's anything I can help with, I'll do my best," Song Sanwu asked directly, eager to assist.

Xiao Yu was about to decline but then realized he had spent the whole morning wandering aimlessly in town without finding a suitable place. He decided to ask the couple and said, "To be honest, I'm looking for a house."

"What kind of house?" Song Sanwu inquired.

"A place big enough for three people, and having a storefront would be ideal," Xiao Yu explained.

Song Sanwu thought for a moment, then asked, "We have a place with a storefront, but it's not in a busy area. Is that okay?"

"That's fine." Given the high prices and scarcity in busy areas, Xiao Yu knew he couldn't afford such locations with the little money he had.

Song Sanwu looked at Yuanyuan.

Yuanyuan smiled and said, "Young man, as it happens, we have just the kind of house you're looking for."

"You do?" Xiao Yu was surprised.

"It's right over there," Yuanyuan pointed towards the end of the alley.

Xiao Yu saw a closed storefront.

Yuanyuan suggested, "Husband, let's take him to see it."

Concerned about Yuanyuan's health, Song Sanwu said, "You shouldn't go."

Yuanyuan replied, "The doctor advised me to walk more."

"Then I'll accompany you," Song Sanwu quickly offered his support to Yuanyuan.

"Okay."

The couple led Xiao Yu to the storefront at the end of the alley and opened the door.

Inside was a small entry hall with tables and chairs. Pushing open the rear door of the hall revealed a moderately-sized courtyard with a well in the middle, surrounded by overgrown weeds, suggesting it hadn't been inhabited for a long time.

Xiao Yu asked in surprise, "What was this place used for before?"

"It was a noodle shop," Yuanyuan explained.

Song Sanwu scratched his head awkwardly, "I wanted to run a noodle shop, and I did open it. Everything was set up, but no one came to buy."

"Why didn't anyone come?" Xiao Yu inquired.

Song Sanwu admitted, "The noodles weren't good!"

"No, that's not it, my husband's cooking is actually quite good," Yuanyuan defended her husband. "It's just that this place is too secluded. There aren't many people passing by, so we couldn't make any money. Eventually, we just gave up."

"After that, I started working at the courier station," Song Sanwu added.

Yuanyuan pointed to the left and right of the back door, "Here's the kitchen, and there's the bedroom. It's quite convenient for everyday living."

"Right," agreed Song Sanwu.

"Young man, if you like it, you can stay here," Yuanyuan offered.

Pleased with the place, Xiao Yu asked, "How much is the rent per month?"

"No rent," Song Sanwu and Yuanyuan said together.

"That won't do," Xiao Yu immediately refused.

"You saved my wife and child; I couldn't possibly take your money," Song Sanwu, who had worked at the courier station for many years, valued honor and credibility above all.

"This place is remote and hard to rent out. If you move in, it would bring some life to the house, and we wouldn't have to spend money maintaining it," Yuanyuan explained.

"Exactly," Song Sanwu nodded in agreement.

How could this house possibly be hard to rent?

Xiao Yu guessed that the couple might not be short on money and simply wanted to express their gratitude. He didn't feel he had done much to deserve such a favor and didn't want to owe them a huge debt of gratitude. He said, "We should keep things separate. I'm out to rent a house for a long stay, and it should be done fairly and squarely. Otherwise, if there's any friction in the future, it wouldn't be right, would it?"

Hearing this, the couple grew even more appreciative of the young man before them.

Yuanyuan said, "Okay, then how much do you think the rent should be?"

Xiao Yu replied, "Shouldn't you be the one to set the price?"

Yuanyuan looked Xiao Yu up and down, noting his handsome but plainly dressed appearance. He didn't seem wealthy, so she suggested, "How about one hundred wen per month?"

"Isn't that too little?" Xiao Yu responded.

"Two hundred wen?" Yuanyuan asked again.

Song Sanwu, seeing his wife's lack of market sense, thought for a moment and offered a reasonable price, "Brother, this place is secluded and not ideal for business, so the rent won't be high. How about four hundred wen per month?"

Yuanyuan tugged at Song Sanwu's sleeve, whispering, "Why so high?"

"It's already lower than the market rate," Song Sanwu whispered back. "Any lower and the young man won't rent it."

Xiao Yu considered the prices he had inquired about along the way. Four hundred wen for a storefront, a bedroom, and a small courtyard in this area was acceptable. He nodded, "Okay."

Song Sanwu and Yuanyuan agreed.

The three quickly signed a lease agreement. Xiao Yu paid six months' rent upfront and received the keys. After exchanging a few words with Song Sanwu and Yuanyuan, he hurried back to Jinxui Village, heading straight to Grandma Hao's house, where he saw the two children sitting on the threshold looking his way from a distance.

"Uncle!" Minghe shouted excitedly.

Danzi jumped up and yelled, "Uncle! You're back!"

Then the two children dashed towards Minghe like two cannonballs.

Having not seen the kids for the better part of the day, Xiao Yu also missed them dearly, squatting down to hug them and kissing each child's cheek.

The children paused, then simultaneously leaned in to plant a kiss on Xiao Yu's face.

"Oh my, look at these kisses," Grandma Hao said with a laugh as she walked over.

Holding a child in each hand, Xiao Yu stood up and said, "Auntie, I'm sorry for the trouble."

"What trouble? The kids are so well-behaved, they can wash their hands and faces and eat on their own, I don’t need to worry at all," Grandma Hao, who had never seen such sensible and lovable children before, couldn't help but praise, "Xiao Yu, you’ve done a great job raising them."

"Sometimes they can be quite a handful," Xiao Yu replied.

"Which child isn’t? You’ve worked hard," Grandma Hao said sympathetically.

"They're my nephews, it's only right," Xiao Yu said, patting the heads of the two little ones.

"That's true. Oh, did you find a house?"

"I did, and I'm moving right now."

Grandma Hao was surprised, "So soon?"

"Yes, my current home is uninhabitable, but the new place is ready to move into."

Grandma Hao quickly offered, "Let me ask your elder brother, your uncle, to help you."

This time, Xiao Yu didn’t refuse.

Grandma Hao had her husband and son each pull a bullock cart to load Xiao Yu's rice container, jars, bamboo baskets, wooden boxes, quilts, and more. However, they couldn't fit the firewood.

Xiao Yu decided to give the firewood to Grandma Hao.

Grandma Hao had spent these days well with Xiao Yu and his nephews, genuinely feeling the warmth from the younger generation. Watching them leave Jinxiu Village through the snowy path, she felt a real sense of loss and called out, "Xiao Yu, when it’s time to repair your house, I’ll let you know."

"Thank you, Auntie," Xiao Yu replied, pushing the handcart.

"Thank you, Auntie," Danzi added from atop the handcart.

Minghe, beside them, reminded, "Silly, you should call her 'Grandma', remember?"

Grandma Hao, on the verge of tears, burst into laughter at this and felt even more reluctant to part with the three children.

"Goodbye, Grandma Hao," Minghe waved.

"Goodbye! Grandma Hao!" Danzi also called out.

"Goodbye," Grandma Hao waved back, reluctant to let them go.

With the slippery snowy road and heavy load, it took Xiao Yu and his group more than half an hour to reach the entrance of Shuiqing Lane. The Hao family had just unloaded Xiao Yu's belongings at the store when it started to snow again.

The Hao men had to hurry back.

Xiao Yu said, "Have a drink of water before you go."

"No, no," the Hao men, worried about the increasing snow, declined and left with the bullock cart.

Xiao Yu then said, "Uncle Hao, Big Brother Hao, come by when you have time."

The Hao men agreed and hastened home, finding three strips of cured meat, a jar of pickles, six fruits, and two coins left behind, undoubtedly by Xiao Yu.

This Xiao Yu.

Truly someone who never lets anyone suffer a loss!

The family discussed Xiao Yu's kindness and his tough situation, while Xiao Yu showed the two children around their new house, inside and out.

Minghe's eyes lit up, "Uncle, are we going to live here from now on?"

"Yes!" Xiao Yu nodded.

"It's so clean here! My shoes won't even get dirty!" Minghe lifted his little foot to show.

Indeed.

The storefront, kitchen, and bedroom were all tiled. Although not the marble tiles of the 21st century, they were still clean. Xiao Yu smiled and asked, "Do you like it?"

"I like it," Minghe nodded.

"Danzi, do you like it?" Xiao Yu inquired.

Danzi looked thoughtful, then said, "The house I used to live in was bigger, much bigger." It was particularly luxurious.

Minghe said, "You used to live in a dilapidated temple, of course it was bigger."

Danzi was momentarily confused, unable to clearly remember whether his previous home was a rundown temple or something else.

"So, do you like it here?" Xiao Yu asked.

"I like it," Danzi nodded.

"Why?"

"The roof here won't bury me."

"..." Xiao Yu found the little one's humor endearing. Seeing that both children liked it, he felt reassured. He looked around and said, "Alright, let's start cleaning up and settle in."

"How do we clean up?" Minghe asked.

"Let's start with the bedroom. I'll sweep the floor, and you guys can wipe the tables. How does that sound?"

"Okay," both children agreed.

The house had only a bit of dust, so the uncle and nephews quickly tidied up the bedroom, kitchen, and hallway. They made the beds, organized the clothes, and arranged the rice container and jars. Finally, they dried the day's rain-soaked quilts in front of the stove.

Xiao Yu cooked dinner at the stove, feeling exceptionally joyful after resolving a major concern. That evening, he steamed buns, eggs, and salted meat, stir-fried the children's favorite shredded potatoes, and boiled sweet potato porridge for a delightful meal. After a bath, the three could finally relax comfortably in bed.

"Uncle, will we ever go back home?" Minghe asked.

"Do you want to go back?" Xiao Yu inquired.

After pondering, Minghe replied, "Wherever Uncle goes, I'll go."

"Me too, me too," Danzi chimed in.

"Little brother, you're such a copycat!" Minghe teased.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Brother, please don’t call me a copycat, okay?" Danzi said softly, "We're good brothers, after all."

"Alright then."

Although both children were sensible, living together every day inevitably led to arguments and bickering. Usually, Xiao Yu didn't intervene, and they would resolve their issues on their own, just like they made up now.

"Uncle, will we sell buns again tomorrow?" Minghe inquired.

"Yes, we'll sell them," Xiao Yu said.

"Great, will you tell us a story tonight?" Minghe asked.

"I will," replied Xiao Yu.

"Uncle, I want to hear about the Monkey King!" Danzi eagerly shared his preference.

Minghe voiced his choice, "I want to hear about the Calabash Brothers!"

"I want the Monkey King!"

"I want the Calabash Brothers!"

"The Monkey King!"

"The Calabash Brothers!"

“……”

Ultimately, the two children played rock-paper-scissors. Minghe accepted his loss gracefully, so Xiao Yu narrated a segment from 'Journey to the West', lulling both children to sleep. He soon fell asleep too, and the next day, before dawn, he rose to make buns.

After preparing them, he set them aside to rise.

Seeing the children still asleep, he quickly stepped out to buy pork bones from the market. Other vendors were not yet open, so he didn't buy anything else. Upon returning home, he boiled the pork bones in water on high heat, then simmered them on low.

Then, he washed the dough he had kneaded fifteen minutes earlier in a basin of water, repeatedly washing to separate the gluten and starch, setting them aside for later use.

Next, he took out stored bean curd skins, wood ear mushrooms, kelp, vermicelli, and peanuts for cleaning. By then, the buns had risen and were ready to steam. He used the long-unused steaming baskets, placing four baskets in, steaming forty buns in total.

Once the buns were steamed and the rich pork bone broth was ready, he removed the bones and added spring onions, ginger, soy sauce, salt, white and black pepper powder, Sichuan pepper powder, star anise powder, cinnamon powder, tsao-ko powder, and white cardamom powder. He then tore the washed gluten into small pieces and added them to the pot, followed by the bean curd skins, wood ear mushrooms, kelp, vermicelli, and peanuts.

As it boiled, he slowly poured the starch into the soup while stirring with a spoon, gradually thickening the soup until all the starch was incorporated.

A pot of spicy soup was now ready.

Xiao Yu had made spicy soup for Minghe before, but that was a different version. This time, the soup was made for selling.

"Uncle, did you make spicy soup again?" Minghe's voice rang out.

Xiao Yu turned to see the children dressed haphazardly. Shaking his head with resignation, he straightened their clothes while saying, "Yes, would you like to drink some first?"

"After we drink, let's go to the small dock to sell the buns," Minghe suggested.

"We won’t be going to the small dock today," Xiao Yu replied.

Minghe asked, puzzled, "Then where will we sell them?"

"Right here."

Minghe was astonished, realizing they could sell the buns without going to the small dock.

"You two eat first." Xiao Yu served each child a bowl of the hot soup, setting the bowls on the hallway table to cool faster. He then served two buns, saying, "Eat up," before turning back to the kitchen.

"Okay!" Danzi climbed onto a stool.

Minghe followed suit.

However, both children were shorter than their peers and dressed in bulky winter clothes, making the high benches here a challenge to climb.

"Little brother, little brother, push me up, push me up. Once I'm up, I'll pull you up," Minghe, unable to reach the bench with his short legs, called out for Danzi's help.

Danzi immediately abandoned his attempt to climb and used his small hands to push Minghe's bottom.

Minghe managed to reach the bench and, with a bit of effort, climbed up, then sat down panting and reached out his hand, "Come on, I'll pull you up."

Danzi grabbed Minghe's hand with one hand and held onto the bench with the other, straining his whole body to climb.

Heave-ho!

Heave-ho!

The two children made an enormous effort, so much so that they toppled the bench with a loud "crash," not only falling themselves but also bringing down the bench. Minghe turned around and asked, "What happened?"

Sitting on the floor, Danzi said, "Brother, you knocked over the bench!"

Minghe pointed at Danzi and retorted, "It was you who did it!"

"You did it!"

"You did it!"

"You did it, you're fat!"

"You've gotten fat too!"

Danzi analyzed, "But, but I was very gentle with the bench, gentle. You called it a 'stinky, too-high bench.' You insulted it, and since it's fat, it got angry and fell over. So, so it was you who made it fall."

"Xiao Danzi! You're such a storyteller!" Minghe accused Danzi.

Danzi earnestly replied, "I'm not making it up, it's just what I thought."

A chuckle came from nearby.

Minghe and Danzi turned their heads together to see three men in black tunics and riding pants standing at the door, amusedly watching their quarrel. One of them commented, "These kids are hilarious, toppling the bench and then blaming each other."

The other two men laughed along, "That little chubby one seems a bit older."

"Brother, they called you chubby," Danzi said.

Minghe quickly got up and marched over to the three men with an imposing air.

The three men took a step back in surprise.

Suddenly, Minghe broke into a smile, his voice sweet, "Handsome young men, are you here to buy buns?"