“Have you two made your choices?” Jing Yi asked.

 

This was a stall selling small toys, ranging from slingshots and cuju (a Chinese ball game) that boys liked to skipping ropes and puppets that boys and girls enjoyed. There were also other items like kites and lanterns, with a wide variety available.

 

Initially, Jing’s mother didn’t allow them to buy anything. In the past, the original body was in poor health and didn’t like to play around, and the two younger brothers didn’t dare to play freely either, let alone buy toys.

 

Later, the family encountered some difficulties and couldn’t afford to spend more money. After Jing Yi arrived, he initially thought about getting some toys, but he had been busy with business matters and forgot about it.

 

Both younger brothers were sensible children, but the more sensible they were, the more they couldn’t be neglected.

 

“Big brother, I want a cuju so that I can play with Cheng Ge and Second Fatty,” Jing An deliberated between cuju and slingshots but ultimately chose cuju. He could only play with the slingshot by himself.

 

“Then I’ll take the kite. It’s so pretty!” Jing Shu made his choice. At his young age, he hadn’t seen many nice things, so when he saw the kite shaped like a swallow, he couldn’t let go of it. However, he noticed that there was a sister who also wanted the kite but the adults didn’t buy it for her. He secretly asked his big brother, “Big brother, is this kite expensive? Maybe I should buy the skipping rope instead. I also like playing with it.”

 

Jing Yi: … They are truly his two little angels.

 

“Alright, Xiao An, you choose a cuju.” Then he said to Xiao Shu, “This kite is a bit expensive, but big brother can afford it. Don’t worry. However, kites are fragile, so play with it carefully, okay?”

 

“Yes, yes, I will treasure it!” Xiao Shu said happily.

 

“Uncle, excuse me, how much for a cuju, a swallow kite, and this slingshot?” Jing Yi had noticed earlier that the items at this uncle’s stall were all well-made, but he didn’t really negotiate the price and just bought them directly.

 

“A cuju costs fifteen wen, the kite is thirty wen, and the slingshot is also thirty wen. In total, it’s seventy-five wen.” After speaking, the uncle glanced at Jing Yi and said, “Young man, you’re still young, yet you’re so caring towards your younger brothers. It’s rare. This skipping rope doesn’t cost much, so I’ll give it to you as well.”

 

“Thank you so much. Your merchandise is great. We’ll come again next time.”

 

Jing Yi thought to himself that this shopkeeper looked fierce, but his heart was actually soft. He must have overheard him talking to Xiao Shu.

 

Carrying their items, Jing Yi went to meet up with Jing’s father and mother. Looking at the bright eyes of his two younger brothers, he thought for a moment and didn’t miss the opportunity to teach them, “Did you see that uncle just now? Although he looks stern, he’s actually a very kind person. Similarly, some people may appear friendly, but they might be up to no good. So, you can’t judge a person’s character based on their appearance.”

 

As he spoke, he gave the skipping rope to Xiao Shu and handed the slingshot in his hand to Xiao An, saying, “This is big brother’s slingshot, but I’m busy every day, so I’ll let you keep it for now.”

 

As they chatted, they met up with Jing’s father and mother.

 

Next, they accompanied Jing’s father and mother to buy fine fabric and cotton. Jing Yi wasn’t too concerned about what clothes to wear. As long as they were clean and warm, it was fine. So he basically waited on the side, watching Jing’s mother confidently choose the fabrics.

 

After that, the whole family bought some pork, a jar of cooking oil, and some candies from a candy shop. Their day’s itinerary was almost complete, and Xiao Shu had already fallen asleep on Jing’s father’s back.

 

After taking the cart, Jing Yi asked Jing An and Jing Shu to get on the cart. Jing An hesitated, feeling that he was a big boy and could walk home like a man.

 

However, when it came to Jing Yi’s authority, especially at critical moments, it was not to be questioned. Jing An reluctantly got on the cart.

 

As expected, within a few sentences, both children fell asleep. Jing’s mother quickly covered them with the clothes they brought that morning. Jing Yi held onto the two children and found the journey back home much easier than carrying the buckets earlier in the morning.

 

After the family returned from the market that day, Jing’s mother told Jing’s father about Jing Yi and  Chuxia’s matter in the evening. Of course, they were currently fine, but the main concern was the mystery of the embroidered sachet.

 

Upon hearing this, Jing’s father had been observing his eldest son for the past two days, wondering how his head worked and how he came up with such roundabout and complex ways to pursue someone. And yet, it wasn’t efficient.

 

After finishing their business that day, Jing Yi bid farewell to his father at the corner of Wang Family Village. Jing’s father felt ashamed to face Brother Lin in his current state, knowing that his son had used some tricks to deceive the ignorant brother. It was better to let his son deal with his own mess first.

 

Jing Yi didn’t notice the awkward gaze from his father and was thinking about meeting Chuxia again later. However, he figured he might not have the chance to exchange more than a few words today. It wasn’t urgent; they had plenty of time.

 

There were many people in the village that day as many families had finished their agricultural work and came out to chat and relax. They gathered in small groups in the open space in the center of the village.

 

At this moment, they saw a handsome and tall young man, Jing Yi, entering the village. All eyes were on him.

 

“Young man, whose house are you going to?” one of the women in the group asked kindly.

 

“I’m going to Uncle Lin Ling’s house. My father asked me to bring something for Uncle Lin,” Jing Yi replied, then smiled and greeted everyone before slipping away quickly.

 

From the village entrance to Chuxia’s house, it was not a short distance. He encountered several people, but not many questioned him. For those who did, he simply said he was delivering something to Uncle Lin on behalf of his father. The truth couldn’t be disclosed; Jing Yi knew the atmosphere in the village quite well.

 

When he reached Chuxia’s doorstep, Jing Yi noticed that there was no one in the courtyard. Even though the gate was open, he didn’t enter recklessly.

 

So, he raised his voice and shouted, “Uncle Lin, are you home? My father asked me to bring something for you!”

 

In the main hall, Lin’s father was chatting and drinking tea. When he heard Jing Yi’s shout, he glanced at Chuxia sitting on a bench beside him, exchanged a knowing look with Lin’s father, and said, “Young lad Yi has arrived. He’s quite clever, knowing not to speak nonsense.”

 

Lin’s eldest sister smiled and whispered to Lin’s father, “Father, I’m not familiar with him either. I’ll leave.”

 

Knowing that his daughter’s situation was special at the moment, and not wanting her to meet unfamiliar men, Lin’s father let her go back to her room to attend to her own matters.

 

“What about you? Will you see him or not?” Lin’s father raised an eyebrow, looking at his little brother with a smile.

 

“I’ll stay and help. He’s a younger generation, and we can’t let father and grandfather do everything,” Chuxia calmly replied, playfully winking at his father.

 

“Hmph!” Lin’s father chuckled and tapped his forehead with his finger.

 

Country life was generally less formal, and the Lin and Jing families had a good relationship. Jing Yi was still a younger generation, so Lin’s father and grandfather didn’t make a move. Only Lin’s father walked into the courtyard and shouted, “It’s Xiao Yi! Come in.”

 

Jing Yi heard Lin’s father’s voice and quickly entered the courtyard with a bamboo basket. He immediately took out a bottle of wine from the basket and handed it to Lin’s father.

 

“Uncle Lin, this is the wine my father asked me to bring you. It’s made in our village’s distillery and tastes really good.”

 

It was Jing’s mother’s idea to bring Chuxia some thread, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to bypass Lin’s couple, so they had to prepare a gift.

 

“Alright, thank your father for me. Come, let’s go inside and talk.” Lin’s father accepted the wine and led Jing Yi into the main hall.

 

Jing Yi unloaded the bamboo basket and placed it under the eaves of the main house. He took out a small cloth bag from inside.

 

Without handing it to Father Lin, he held it himself. Father Lin gave a meaningful look at the cloth bag but didn’t ask anything.

 

When Jing Yi entered the house with Father Lin, he immediately saw Chuxia sitting on the long bench.

 

When Chuxia saw him and Father Lin entering the house, he stood up and quietly glanced at him before lowering his gaze, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor.

 

“Aunt Lin, Chuxia, good afternoon,” Jing Yi greeted politely.

 

“Xiao Yi is here, please sit down and chat. Chuxia, pour a cup of tea for Xiao Yi,” Mother Lin said.

 

Upon hearing this,Chuxia nodded slightly, poured a cup of tea for Jing Yi, and calmly said, “Jing’s brother, please have some tea.”

 

Jing Yi was taken aback and exclaimed, “…Who is Jing’s brother? You can call me Ah Yi or Xiao Yi.”

 

Well, with future father-in-law present, he didn’t dare to be impulsive. Jing’s brother it is, then.

 

After Chuxia’s words, an awkward silence permeated the Lin family’s main room.

 

Father Lin and Mother Lin glanced at Jing Yi without speaking. Jing Yi was still in a daze from being called “Jing’s brother” by Chuxia, while Chuxia had already vanished.

 

“Cough, why didn’t your father come with you?” Father Lin tried to find a topic, hoping this guy would snap out of it soon.

 

“My uncle’s family was busy today, so my father rushed back. He said he will have a drink with you some other time.”

 

After Jing Yi regained his composure, he started chatting with Uncle Lin. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room became lively.

 

Mother Lin, while listening to the back-and-forth between the two, could tell that Jing Yi was just making small talk and his mind was not focused on the conversation.

 

Looking at his own younger brother sitting silently in the main room, Mother Lin wanted to see who could remain calm.

 

As expected, after a while, Jing Yi got to the point, “Uncle, Aunt, to be honest, I have an unexpected request today, which is related to the favor I asked of Chuxia earlier.”

 

After Jing Yi explained the background of the matter, it matched the understanding of Father and Mother Lin.

 

But when they saw how calmly Jing’s son talked about Jing’s mother’s preference for “pine trees,” they couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. Mother Lin tactfully asked if they should consider a more popular style that other women like.

 

“No need, Aunt, pine trees are fine. I also consulted my mother’s opinion,” Jing Yi politely declined.

 

Mother Lin nodded upon hearing this and remained silent.

 

He thought to himself, it seems that this sachet is destined not to reach Jing’s mother’s hands.

 

Then, Jing Yi happily handed the small cloth bag he had been holding to Xia. With a twinkle in his eyes, he said, “Thank you for your trouble, Xia.”

 

“It’s nothing, you’re welcome,” Chuxia raised his eyes and glanced at Jing Yi, but seeing him staring intently at him, his heart started pounding uncontrollably. He quickly averted his gaze and looked at Jing Yi’s collar.

 

Jing Yi looked at the faint blush on Xia’s cheeks and smiled gently.

 

“Cough, cough, cough,” a cough interrupted Jing Yi’s gaze and broke the ambiguous atmosphere in the room.