Early in the morning, Xiao Yuyan washed up and got ready to go to the village market again. Xiao Fenghao still accompanied her, but this time they brought a few more wooden toys.
He had heard about his sister's hands. Anger almost consumed him, but he clung to the last thread of his rationality and channeled his anger into wood crafting—he created a few toys like wooden swords and some animals.
They needed the money to pay for their sister's medication.
At this moment, the pair of brother and sister who already looked like a panda from their lack of sleep, smiled in weariness at each other.
"You two look so tired," Xiao Yuxi commented, then she suggested, "Why not stay at home and sleep some more?"
"No." Xiao Yuyan clenched her fist and shook her head. "We already promised the girl from yesterday that we will sell scented sachets today. We have to keep our promise."
Xiao Fenghao cleared his throat. "I am strong and healthy. Are you looking down on me?"
Before they start arguing again, Xiao Yuyan hurriedly tugged on her brother's clothes. "Let's go, Second Brother."
He snorted and let his sister drag him away. They didn't forget to tell their mother. After Zhou Anran emphasized the two to be careful, she finally let them leave.
"Mother is so worried." Xiao Fenghao shook his head. He had a puzzled look on his eyes. "Do I look that unreliable, Yan'er?"
Xiao Yuyan bit her lip to stop herself from telling the truth. She coughed softly, then she spoke in a calm and smooth tone. "Mother is just worried about us after yesterday's incident. It's natural, because Mother cares about us."
He hummed and no longer dwelled on the topic. "Let's go quickly. These toys are so hard to sell these days, who knows we might get lucky today…"
The siblings' voices gradually faded as they walked toward the village market, walking through the sometimes barren or the grass-filled grounds.
Despite its name, the village market was actually a place for a few villages to sell their items. The city was too far from their location, and hence, they built their own little market.
As soon as the siblings set up their stalls, a few people came to them, inquiring about the scented sachets.
"Yan girl, give me one of your scented sachets," A middle aged auntie came to them, sighing with tiredness. "Your uncle has been suffering from insomnia lately. He is so worried that the crops will fail."
"Old Li's wife, you haven't harvested your crops yet?" An auntie from the stall beside them who were selling some vegetables chimed in.
"It's not the time," Auntie Li muttered. "Old Zhang crops failed this year. There is not enough water, and most of the heads are empty. There have been many pests too lately. We don't even have enough to eat ourselves, but we still have to share with the pests!"
"The birds are ignoring the scarecrows now, causing less yield for us. They must have been so hungry to do that. It's really equally hard for us humans and beasts," Another added, sharing their experience in a bitter tone.
Xiao Fenghao and Xiao Yuxi glanced at each other. The last time they checked their fields was a few days ago.
"Auntie Li, you can pick the scented sachets on this side." Xiao Yuyan's soft voice interrupted softly amidst their conversation.
Auntie Li snapped to her senses, sighing with regret. She took one and gave one copper coin to Xiao Yuyan. "Yan girl, I hope that this scented sachet will be effective. I believe in your brother's skills. He has such good fortune that a physician even took him in as a disciple."
Xiao Yuyan smiled kindly. The composition for the herbs were their eldest brother's personal experiment, and his master even guided and approved him, so it was guaranteed that the scented sachets would at least have some effect as long as they didn't suffer from serious or chronic illness.
"Thank you, Auntie Li. We wish you an abundant harvest this year," Xiao Yuyan said sweetly.
Auntie Li exchanged a few kind words with them before she finally left with the daily necessities she had just bought.
However, even after she left, the discussions around them still haven't died down. Many people shared their recent experience, which mostly involved reduced crop harvest.
The merchant maid from yesterday did come back, and Xiao Yuyan offered her a free scented sachet as promised.
"I will take two scented sachets," the girl told them. She couldn't help but glance at Xiao Fenghao. Seeing the wooden toys in front of him, she suddenly had an idea. "How much is the carved wooden sword?"
Once Xiao Yuyan packed the wooden toy and scented sachets, she handed them over to the girl. After the girl paid, she turned over and left.
"Miss," Xiao Yuyan got up from her small stool and ran after the girl. "You gave us too much money. The first scented sachet is free."
However, the girl merely waved her hands. "Take it."
Xiao Yuyan was a little stunned before she thanked her profusely. When she went back to their stall, she sighed in relief. They had met a kind customer.
Seeing that there were no more customers coming to their stall, she used this chance to do the mission that their mother had assigned to her. In a careful tone, she called out to Xiao Fenghao. "Second Brother?"
He turned to her with a puzzled look on his face.
She took a deep breath. "Little Ya misses you."
The moment she finished these words, she could see that he stiffened slightly. In the end, he merely nodded at her words and didn't say anything.
Xiao Yuyan pursed her lips. Her hands clenched on the edge of her clothes. "Will you accompany Little Ya later?"
He was still quiet.
"Second Brother?" She called out again. Sighing, she tried to console him. "It's actually not your fault, Second Brother. Everyone makes mistakes, but you shouldn't avoid Little Ya like this."
Actually, Xiao Yuyan wasn't lying. In her lively inner thoughts, their youngest sister was wondering about where their brother was. She even noticed she hadn't seen his face for a while.
"What if Little Ya misunderstands you and thinks that you dislike her instead?" Xiao Yuyan added, a little guilty instead.