"Sheng Er, are you alright?" Yize inquired upon noticing a slight wrinkle on his face.
"I am," he replied.
Yize frowned at his response, observing as he adjusted his posture. Her gaze then shifted to the other man, still clad in his worn attire that seemed to speak of long days of hard toil.
The contrast between the two men was stark, creating an impression that Yize may have favored one over the other. Though a sense of dissatisfaction lingered within her, she managed to mask her feelings, keeping her expression neutral.
Three individuals strolled down the street—a woman and two men flanking her on either side.
"Sheng Er, would you like to go shopping by yourself?" Yize proposed, noticing the curious glances Xiao Sheng cast around them.
In addition to visiting the tavern, this was her way of allowing them some freedom to decompress. Sometimes, it was beneficial for their mental well-being to enjoy a little time apart.
"Why? Aren't you coming with us, my wife?" Sheng Er inquired, a hint of reluctance in his voice. He had assumed Yize would accompany them, but as he pondered it, he realized that perhaps some independent fun would be advantageous.
"No, I have some tasks to attend to at the tavern today," Yize explained succinctly. Sheng Er nodded, accepting her response with an understanding demeanor.
Xiao Sheng was already aware that Yize owned a tavern, so he didn't see any problem with visiting. However, when he felt Ling Ling tugging at his sleeves, he quickly realized something was amiss and asked, "My wife, you're not going to—"
"What are you thinking?" Yize gently caressed the top of his head. "I'm not going there to drink," she assured him, deliberately making eye contact with Ling Ling's gaze.
This morning she felt a twinge of concern, fearing that the men might not find a way to reconcile. However, as she observed their brief interaction, it became clear to her that her worries were unfounded.
"Alright then, Ling Ling and I will go shopping ourselves," Sheng Er decided, forgetting for a moment that he had no money to begin with.
Yize quietly drew her purse from beneath her clothes, aware that the two men merely wore their purses more as an ornament than for any real purpose, as they held no money at all.
"Here, buy whatever you want," she said, offering him two silver coins. However, upon seeing the amount, his eyes widen and a look of disbelief crosses his face, too intimidated to accept.
For Sheng Er, who had accepted various items from her without hesitation, this was the first time Yize had offered him money. The amount was significant enough to unsettle him, prompting him to decline and take a step back. "It's okay, my wife. We can just stroll around. We don't need money at all."
Xiao Ling Ling exhaled softly, relieved by his brother's response. He had anticipated that Sheng Er would accept the coins without hesitation.
If only Xiao Sheng had been aware that the dress he had worn cost a few silver coins, he might have declined it from the outset.
Yize was well aware of his hesitance, yet she maintained her facade of ignorance and firmly placed the money into his hands. "If you refuse to accept it, I will be angry," she declared, her tone leaving little room for negotiation.
Then, she pressed two silver coins into Ling Ling's palm with equal determination. "Once you both finish your shopping, meet me at The Moonlight Tavern."
With a gentle touch, she ruffled the hair of both men before reluctantly departing, eager to avoid further discussion about returning the money. Especially Ling Ling, whose expression always held a trace of skepticism regarding her intentions, was likely to find fault if she lingered any longer.
Xiao Sheng sighed softly, watching as his wife moved further away from them. The silver coins in his grasp could sustain a poor family for an entire year, yet his wife had given it to them so casually. He tucked the coins into his purse and secured it tightly to his waist, determined to hold onto it for now and return later.
"Ling Ling, let's take a stroll," he said, reaching out to grasp Ling Ling's other hand to draw his attention.
Despite their disagreement the day before, it hadn't marred their relationship. These brothers had a bond that ran deeper than grievances, one that only they understood in their hearts.
Ling Ling cautiously tucked his own share of money into his purse, his hand trembling slightly. He had never possessed such a considerable amount before. Though whispers of Yize's wealth had reached him, he hadn't anticipated her generosity in giving such a large sum for her men to enjoy a shopping day. "Brother, what should I do with this?" he asked, uncertainty in his voice.
"Just keep it for now," Xiao Sheng advised thoughtfully. "You can return it later if you don't want to spend it." The sharp words that had been exchanged the day before left their mark on him; the lessons learned in that moment shaped his careful approach as he managed this sensitive circumstance with his brother.
From a distance, a woman's voice rang out. "Hey! You little thief!" as she chased after a girl who dashed towards Xiao Sheng. He didn't see the chase unfold and found himself unexpectedly knocked aside as the girl brushed past him, landing hard on his backside.
"Ouch!" Ling Ling quickly rushed to help his brother to his feet and turned to scold the girl, but she was already stopping to apologize.
"I'm sorry, young master," the girl said as she halted, her words spilling out in a rush of regret. Yet, her apology had an unintended consequence—the very act of stopping allowed the woman pursuing her to close the gap and seize her.
"Hmp! Brat! I finally caught you. Hand me the items," the woman demanded, her voice sharp and commanding as she glared down at the girl before Xiao Sheng and Ling Ling.
"Auntie, I really need this medicine. My family is sick," the girl pleaded, dropping to her knees in a display of desperation.
"What does that have to do with me? Blame yourself for being poor. Give it back to me, or else I'll hand you to the authorities." With that, the woman delivered a harsh kick to the girl's side, sending her sprawling to the ground. Yet, showing resilience, the girl quickly rose back to her knees, ignoring the pain that coursed through her body.
"Please, Auntie, I'm begging you. My father is really sick, and he needs this medicine." The girl pleaded, bowing before the woman repeatedly, yet the woman remained unmoved, devoid of any sympathy. The girl desperately required the medicine for her ailing father but lacked the means to pay for it, leaving her no choice but to resort to such an act.
The bystanders looked on with disdain at the girl's apparent wrongdoing.
"Tsk! Whose family does this brat belong to? Stealing in broad daylight," one of them scoffed.
"Haven't you listened? It's medicine, and maybe what she says is true," a man in the crowd chimed in.
"Hmph! Who would believe that? If I were starving and stole your bread, claiming my family was hungry, would you let me go?" a woman retorted sarcastically. Nods of agreement circled among the crowd, affirming her words.
Only the two brothers, closest to the scene, felt a deep sense of compassion for the girl. They believed that, in her place, they would have done the same.
"Ma'am, how about I pay for it? Just let the girl go." Xiao Ling Ling stepped in, unable to hold back any longer.
"Oh? You'll pay for it?" The woman turned her attention to him, scrutinizing him from head to toe. She nearly scoffed in disdain at his appearance, but her demeanor shifted when she noticed the man beside him. "Young masters, if that's the case, I won't pursue this girl any further."
It was clear she felt the need to act with courtesy upon recognizing the other man's expensive attire. He was certainly a son of an official or a wealthy individual, and such individuals were often not to be trifled with.
"Here, leave the girl behind." Xiao Ling Ling pulled something from his sleeve and handed over the copper coins he had saved before being sold to Yize. Despite the ache in his heart, he was compelled by the hopeful expression of the child before him and resolutely offered the twenty or so copper coins. "It should be enough."
"Enough. Enough." The woman replied promptly. The medicine cost only fourteen copper coins, and she had earned another six. She glanced down at the girl and sneered, "Hmp! If it weren't for this young master, I wouldn't let you off."
With one last kick directed at the girl, the woman left, seemingly pleased with herself. Ling Ling let out a sigh of relief, and the onlookers began to disperse, returning to their respective places.
Ling Ling anticipated a challenging negotiation with the woman, but to his astonishment, she did not ask for a higher price. Had she done so, he would have had nothing else to offer. Apart from the money Yize had just given him, those twenty copper coins were the entirety of his funds.
"Thank you, young masters," the girl said, bowing deeply as tears of gratitude flowed for the kindness shown by strangers.
"Boy, you should quickly go and cure your father," Ling Ling advised.
The girl was momentarily taken aback. He believed his disguise would go unnoticed, yet this kind young man seemed to see right through it.
"Thank you. Thank you. I will surely repay you in the future," he expressed, bowing once more in gratitude to Ling Ling and Xiao Sheng before dashing away.
"Eh, brother, how did you know that girl is actually a boy?" Sheng Er asked, curiosity evident in his voice. Unlike him, his brother seemed to have an understanding.
"It's just intuition," Ling Ling replied.
"Huh? Just like that?" Sheng Er was unconvinced, still puzzled to grasp the reasoning.
"Think about it. He's too timid to be a girl, and a true thief wouldn't apologize after bumping into someone. Besides, a girl wouldn't steal medicine for her father. Do you understand now?"
Sheng Er nodded, starting to piece it together. It did make sense; he hadn't examined it as thoroughly as his brother had. He refrained from asking Ling Ling about his money, wanting to spare him additional heartache. He knew how careful his brother was with finances, and giving away such a significant amount might be quite distressing for him.
"Alright, let's go shopping," Sheng Er said, trying to lift the mood, but Ling Ling seemed to have lost interest.
"Look at this! Isn't it beautiful?" Sheng Er exclaimed, pointing at the wooden hairpins adorned with intricate carvings.
The stall owner chimed in, "Young man, that hairpin is only thirty copper coins. Would you like to buy it?"
Sheng Er quickly shook his head. "Not buying, not buying. I don't have any money." He then moved on to the other stalls.
The shop owner scratched his head in confusion, wondering how someone dressed in such fine clothes could possibly be broke.
Ling Ling allowed his brother to pull him from one stall to the next, merely observing the various items on display, knowing they couldn't make any purchases. His gaze wandered around casually until he noticed a clothing shop in the distance, bustling with people.
"Stall owner, what's happening over there?" he inquired, intrigued by the crowd of men gathered outside the shop.
"A man from the capital, the son of the shop owner, who came by today. He visits that shop every month," the stall owner answered politely.
"From the capital?" Sheng Er murmured. He had heard that men from the capital bore an otherworldly beauty. "Brother, why don't we go take a look?"
"No. It's too crowded there," Ling Ling quickly declined, feeling it would be a waste of time to push through the crowd just to catch a glimpse of a man from the capital. Despite his curiosity, he believed that there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. He was certain that, in his lifetime, he would encounter people from the capital.
On the second floor of a clothing shop, a man sat sipping tea with an air of elegance. His gaze drifted to the window, where he spotted two men on the street below. One of them wore clothing that was all too familiar, prompting him to frown and avert his eyes. But curiosity soon got the better of him, and he summoned his attendant.
"Little Yan," he called.
An attendant entered the private room, bowing slightly. "What do you need, young master?"
"Invite that young man over there," he instructed, gesturing towards the street. The attendant followed his glance to identify the individual in question.
"Understood, young master. I'll bring him right away," he replied, bowing again before departing.
He had reviewed the sales records for the month and noticed a particular woman who had recently visited his shop. She had purchased some of the most expensive clothes available, piquing his curiosity about who she was and why she would choose to buy men's clothing. Among her selections were limited edition pieces, which he had hoped to take to the capital today, as they had remained unsold in his store for quite some time.
"Ling Ling, where should we go next? How about we check out a jewelry shop?" Sheng Er proposed, his eyes sparkling at the thought of the dazzling displays, even if he had no intention of making a purchase.
"Okay," Ling Ling agreed without hesitation.
"Young master!" A voice called out from behind them, but the two brothers paid no attention, thinking the call was directed at someone else.
"Brother, after this, we should look for Yize. It wouldn't be wise for us to wander around here for too long," Ling Ling suggested, feeling a growing discomfort for Sheng Er. Initially, he attributed his feelings to his imagination, but as time passed, it became evident that people were gazing at his brother. This realization only heightened his anxiety, while Sheng Er remained blissfully unaware of it all.
"Alright."
"Hold on, Young Master, please wait!" A man rushed forward, panting heavily, as he positioned himself in their path. Frustration bubbled within him as he almost cursed these men, feeling as though they were moving at a relentless pace, as if they were not men at all.
"Mr., what do you want from us?" Ling Ling asked, retreating slightly as she grasped Sheng Er's arms with him.
The little attendant observed the man speaking and noticed that the young master he referred to shared his features. It dawned on him that they must be siblings.
"Young Master, my master has invited you," the attendant stated plainly, revealing his purpose to Xiao Sheng.
He felt a spark of curiosity about why his master would be interested in this man. It appeared that the reason might lie in the familiar attire he wore.