“Sometimes there are more people selling at the night market than there are people browsing it.”
“People will do anything to sell their goods these days. Chasing down customers and grabbing the best spots are the tame stuff. What really worries me is when they drop prices even lower than the wholesale cost.”
Yue Mingde waved his hand. “Let me see how things go this year. If it’s not working out, I’ll stop setting up a stall and rent a proper storefront instead.”
“The night market is getting more and more chaotic. I figure it’s only a matter of time before something happens. If the higher-ups suddenly ban street stalls, a storefront would be more stable — and it keeps you out of the wind and rain.”
“Brother, if there’s anything you need help with, please don’t be a stranger,” Ye Zhiqiu said.
“Don’t worry, I definitely won’t stand on ceremony with you two.”
Yue Mingde noticed Ye Zhiqiu kept glancing toward the courtyard and guessed, “Zhiqiu, did Xiaoxiang come with you?”
“I told him to come and get to know the place.”
“Then let him in!”
Yue Mingde went out, found He Bin, and pulled him inside. He repeated everything he’d just said to Ye Zhiqiu.
“Thank you, Brother Yue.” He Bin bowed deeply to Yue Mingde, overcome with emotion.
And just like that, the matter was settled. By the time Ye Zhiqiu and He Bin returned to the He family home, it was already dark.
He Weijun was definitely supportive of He Bin. To him, having He Bin back by his side was already a blessing. As long as it wasn’t illegal, He Bin could do whatever he wanted — he had no demands of him.
But Ye Jiawu couldn’t accept it. He believed that good brothers should stick together through thick and thin, and He Bin’s decision to quit was nothing short of betrayal — giving up halfway.
Back at Fu’an Alley, Ye Jiawu was still fuming.
Wang Shuying couldn’t help asking Ye Zhiqiu, “What’s gotten into him?”
Ye Zhiqiu gave her a brief rundown of what had happened. Wang Shuying slapped her thigh. “Oh, I thought it was something serious. It’s just kids not playing together anymore.”
“Xiaowu is a kid who takes friendships to heart.”
Ye Zhiqiu wanted to talk some sense into Ye Jiawu, but she knew he’d gotten himself into a mental rut. Nothing she said would get through to him right now. He needed time to cool off on his own.
On the third day of the New Year, Ye Zhiqiu brought Yaya and Huo Jiusi to visit Dong Hesong.
“Great-Grandpa!” Yaya waved enthusiastically at Dong Hesong from a distance.
Dong Hesong’s injuries had completely healed. He and Dong Xiaomei quickly walked forward to welcome Ye Zhiqiu and the others.
“Oh my, Yaya’s gotten so big! Kids really do change day by day — they grow up so fast.”
“Last time she came, she couldn’t even talk or walk yet.”
Dong Hesong scooped Yaya up in his arms. Yaya wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Great-Grandpa, Happy New Year! I wish you happiness every day, and may all your wishes come true.”
“Yaya, do you know who I am?” Dong Xiaomei pointed at herself.
Yaya called out sweetly, “Auntie!”
“Hey!”
Dong Xiaomei took Yaya from Dong Hesong and brought her face close to Yaya’s. “Give Auntie a kiss too.”
“Mwah!”
Yaya gave Dong Xiaomei a big kiss. “Auntie smells so nice! Yaya likes Auntie!”
“Auntie, Happy New Year! I wish you happiness forever!”
“With Yaya’s blessing, Auntie will definitely be happy forever!”
Dong Xiaomei kissed Yaya and pulled a big red envelope from her pocket, handing it to her.
Once inside, Dong Hesong asked Yaya whether she could understand the books he’d given her and if there was anything she didn’t understand.
He knew Yaya was still young and didn’t expect much from her. As long as she loved traditional Chinese medicine and was willing to sit down and read, to memorize the basics, he was already happy.
He’d asked to check on Yaya’s progress, but she was doing far better than he’d expected.
From what Yaya said, he could tell she’d been reading the books he gave her very carefully and thinking about them seriously on her own.
Whether it’s Western medicine or traditional Chinese medicine, neither is simple. They require a lifetime of study and constant reflection.
Of course, that’s true of any field. Those who are good at delving deep and thinking things through learn better and go further than those who just memorize by rote.
“Great-Grandpa, let me tell you something — in September I’m going to elementary school!”
Her family had agreed to let her go to school, and Yaya was overjoyed. She wanted to share the good news with everyone she met.
Yesterday she’d told Ye Yunlin and Wang Shuying, and today she was telling Dong Hesong.
Dong Hesong didn’t think Yaya would lie, but her going to school at this age still shocked him. He looked at Ye Zhiqiu for confirmation, and Ye Zhiqiu nodded.
“Well, that’s fine. She’d have to go to school sooner or later anyway — early or late makes no difference. I think Yaya’s level can keep up.”
Yaya’s thinking was very clear, and the fact that she could understand the medical books he’d given her showed she could not only read the characters but also grasp their meaning.
Their family’s introductory medical books, though simple and easy to understand, still required a certain level of comprehension.
Back in his day, his family had started teaching him characters and arithmetic at three, and medical knowledge at six. He didn’t start reading the set of books Yaya was now reading until he was about eight.
“Yaya, Great-Grandpa wants to discuss something with you, alright?” Dong Hesong asked, looking down at Yaya.
“Great-Grandpa, what is it?”
“Could you come stay with Great-Grandpa during your winter and summer vacations every year? Great-Grandpa will take you up the mountain to gather herbs and teach you how to identify medicinal plants.”
Yaya was now at a level where she could start learning to identify herbs.
There are many kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs — you could say everything in this world can be used as medicine.
And the processing of herbs is a deep field of knowledge. Different methods of preparation produce different medicinal effects.
He wanted to pass on all his medical skills to Yaya while he was still in good health.
Not just teaching her to identify herbs — he’d also take her along to see patients, letting her feel the different types of pulses.
After lunch, Ye Zhiqiu took Yaya and Huo Jiusi back to the compound.
They’d barely gotten home when Lu Shuangshuang came to find Ye Zhiqiu.
On New Year’s Day, Lu Shuangshuang had come with Feng Wan to pay New Year’s calls. There’d been a lot of people that day, so the two of them hadn’t had much chance to talk.
Lu Shuangshuang had completely cut ties with Lu Guangrong now. Lu Guangrong had been somewhat affected by the Lu Xu situation, but fortunately he’d sent Lu Xu to the borderlands — sacrificing Lu Xu to save himself.
Lu Xu was the apple of Sun Lanzhi’s eye. Lu Xu turning out the way he did had everything to do with Sun Lanzhi.
However much Lu Xu had suffered, that’s how much she hated Lu Shuangshuang.
She was convinced that Lu Shuangshuang had ruined her precious son’s life.
Though she hadn’t come after Lu Shuangshuang again, her desire for revenge hadn’t faded — it had only grown stronger.
“Shuangshuang, is there something you want to ask me?”
Ye Zhiqiu noticed that Lu Shuangshuang would stop mid-conversation, distracted, and had hesitated several times as if wanting to say something.
The two of them were close friends now who shared everything, and they knew each other well. The only person who could make Lu Shuangshuang act like this was one person.
Ye Zhiqiu ventured a guess. “Shuangshuang, do you want to ask about Xiaoxiang?”
“What? Why would I want to know about him?”
