"Be careful," Lady Zhang pulled Lian Manman and Xiao Qi closer to her side. In her eyes, those firecrackers exploding amidst the crowd were a hazard. If anything went slightly wrong, what would they do if soone got hurt by the firecrackers? "Husband, let’s enter the market from another entrance."
"Mom, it’s the sa at the other entrance," Wu Lang said with a laugh.
Every New Year, the firecracker vendors would rush to occupy the entrance to the market as if afraid that people wouldn’t be able to find them.
"Dad, let’s buy so firecrackers," Xiao Qi, not the least bit scared, struggled free from Lady Zhang’s embrace and tugged at Lian Shouxin.
So parents, considering firecrackers dangerous, would prefer to keep their children far away, yet they couldn’t stop them from buying and playing with them. No doubt many parents felt this sa conflicting worry every year as they watched their children set off firecrackers.
Lady Zhang didn’t want to go near the firecracker stalls but, concerned about Lian Shouxin and their two sons, she could only follow behind.
Fortunately, Lian Shouxin was decisive when shopping. He bought a bag of firecrackers quickly, and the family continued walking deeper into the market.
"My grandma gave us two hens, so let’s buy a rooster as well," Lian Manman suggested as they stopped in front of a line of stalls selling live chickens and eggs.
"Okay," Lady Zhang nodded.
Eventually, the family chose a large red rooster weighing about four pounds, along with thirty eggs.
"We should make another feather duster this year," Lian Shouxin said, looking down at the large rooster in his hand.
"I want the tail feathers to make a shuttlecock," Lian Manman said. The rooster’s tail feathers were red, blue, and yellow, each seemingly shimring with light. They had picked this one not only for its weight but also because its feathers were clean and beautiful.
After a full round in the market, with everyone carrying sothing, the family left the market. They had co with a handcart, which they had left at an acquaintance’s store before visiting the jewelry shop. Upon exiting the market, they retrieved their handcart, placed their purchases on it, and slowly pushed it towards the stores along the street, as they still had a few things to buy.
"Let’s get our sugar from Fuda Grocery Store," Lian Shouxin said. "Erlang ntioned to a couple of days ago that we should buy whatever we need from his father-in-law’s store."
Lian Shouxin laughed as he spoke, as Erlang, now grown up, knew to drum up business for his father-in-law.
"Even if he hadn’t ntioned it, we would have done so," Lady Zhang also laughed.
Going to Fuda was a bit out of the way, but the store belonged to Zhao Xiue’s maternal family. Tenant farrs valued relationships highly; usually, when buying goods, they would patronize shops run by acquaintances. They preferred to let friends and family earn the money, rather than strangers, and they trusted familiar faces more—family and friends would not cheat them.
Once at Fuda Grocery Store, Lian Zhizhi and Wu Lang watched the cart while Lian Manman and Xiao Qi followed Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang into the shop.
With the New Year approaching, the shop was busier than usual. As soon as Lian Manman stepped in, she glanced at the counter. Zhao Wencai and Brother Zhao, along with two assistants, were there, and Zhao Xiue’s mother was heading into the back room, lifting the door curtain, which allowed Lian Manman to catch a glimpse of Zhao Xiue.
Zhao Xiue’s mother entered the back room, and the door curtain fell back into place. Zhao Xiue did not see Lian Manman.
It was advantageous for a daughter to be married close by and not live with her mother-in-law or grandmother-in-law, thought Lian Manman. She could visit her maternal ho whenever she wished.
Zhao Wencai and Zhao Fugui looked up, saw Lian Shouxin approaching, and hurriedly greeted him with smiles.
Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang walked over, exchanged a few polite words, and then requested to buy a pound of brown sugar and a pound of white sugar.
"Fugui, go and weigh it for your Uncle. Get the best, two pounds of each," Zhang Wencai said to Zhao Fugui.
Zhao Fugui agreed and went to weigh the sugar.
"No need for so much. Just a pound of each is enough. Who knows how long it will take to finish that. For us tenant farrs, sugar is a luxury," Lian Shouxin quickly gestured with his hands.
"That might be the case for other families, but little brother, you own a house and a shop, you shouldn’t worry about these things," Zhao Wencai said with a smile. "You don’t have to pay for this. It’s a gift from your big brother."
"We really can’t use that much," Lian Shouxin said.
"Who doesn’t know our family’s situation? We have little to spare," Lady Zhang added.
"Brother Zhao, you honor us. Hearing you say that makes my brother and happy. If our family appears prosperous, it’ll be easier for your nephew to find a wife in the future."
Zhao Fugui had already finished weighing and wrapping the sugar: two pounds of brown sugar and two pounds of white sugar. If they wanted to return any, they would have to unwrap the packages.
"This..." Lian Shouxin did not imdiately take it.
"Little brother, take this, it’s free. Consider it a gift from ," Zhao Wencai insisted, shoving the two packages of sugar into Lian Shouxin’s hands.
Brown and white sugars were expensive commodities; a pound of sugar could buy two pounds of rice. So tenant farr households would only buy an ounce or two at a ti. Lian Shouxin’s intent to buy a pound of each was to support the Zhao family business.
"It’s too much... I can’t not pay for it," Lian Shouxin said hesitantly.
Lian Manman glanced at them, counted out the money for four pounds of sugar from her purse, and standing on tiptoes, placed it on the counter.
"Alright, then we’ll buy four pounds," Lian Shouxin accepted the sugar.
"Why pay for it? We’ve already said, it’s free," Zhao Wencai said, pushing the money back towards Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang.
Naturally, Lady Zhang pushed the money back again.
"Brother Zhao, you’re busy, we should get going," not wanting to linger in the shop, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, accompanied by Lian Manman and Xiao Qi, made their way out.
Zhao Wencai ca out from behind the counter to send them off to the entrance, his face always wearing a warm smile.
"...My shop has everything you need. Whenever you want to buy sothing, just co here. We’re all family here, I can’t be making money off you," Zhao Wencai called out loudly from the doorway.
*****
Here’s one more Chapter, hoping for so pink. (To be continued. If you like this work, your recomndations, votes, and support at Qidian are the best encouragent for .)
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