“Do you have an extra coat?” Wei Cheng said. “Let me borrow it for two days. Here’s the rent.”

He offered six cash.

He had to try catching golden frogs, even if he didn’t catch any, the six cash would be wasted. But he was worried about leaving Guan Guan alone in the hut at night. Some villagers had bad intentions towards Guan Guan. What if someone stole him? The flimsy door wouldn’t withstand an adult’s kick.

“Cheng, what are you doing? I don’t need it,”

Doumiao pushed the coins back. He scratched his head. “I think I have a coat I wore as a child. The fabric is good, a gift from a relative in town. My mother didn’t want to make it bigger or add cotton, saying she’d save it for my younger siblings.”

Cotton was precious. Many villagers lacked winter coats. Few had a second one. Doumiao’s father was a butcher, and his mother was a skilled seamstress; Wei Cheng thought they might have extra clothes.

Wei Cheng didn’t want to borrow something so precious. “Forget it, Doumiao.”

“No! You rarely ask for help. Let’s ask my mother!” Doumiao sometimes secretly gave Wei Cheng leftover pork innards, but Wei Cheng rarely accepted them.

Doumiao pulled Wei Cheng home. He was sturdy, and Wei Cheng was dragged along.

The smell of boiling pork innards filled the yard.

“Mother! I’m back!”

Doumiao shouted.

Doumiao’s mother poked her head out from the pot, scolding, “You’re finally back.”

She saw Wei Cheng. “Wei Cheng.”

Wei Cheng explained about borrowing a coat, offering the six cash.

Doumiao’s mother frowned. “You’re borrowing a coat for that child? For two days? Where are you going?”

Wei Cheng said, “Yes, for two days. I’m going to the mountain, and I’m not comfortable leaving him alone. He doesn’t have a coat, and I won’t make him work. Even with the coat, he’ll wear an autumn jacket over it. He won’t wear just the coat.”

“Fine, borrow it.”

Doumiao’s mother took the coins, wiped her hands, “Doumiao, get the coat from the chest on my kang.”

“Cheng doesn’t have money, Mother…” Doumiao hesitated.

Doumiao’s mother waved her hand. “Hurry up!”

Doumiao ran into the house.

Doumiao’s mother said, “It’s okay if it gets dirty, but don’t tear it. I’m lending it to you because I trust you.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Wei Cheng said. He didn’t want to borrow something so precious, afraid of damaging it or not being able to repay it. But he couldn’t risk Guan Guan being harmed by the Wangs or Weis.

“Mother, here it is!” Doumiao ran out with the coat.

Doumiao’s mother gave the coat to Wei Cheng. “Take it.”

Wei Cheng thanked her. As he left, Doumiao wanted to follow, but his mother pulled him back. “Stay here, help me with the innards. You’ll have to do this when you grow up. Don’t be like your father, leaving all the work to your wife.”

A gruff voice protested, “I’m helping you knead the dough!”

“Mind your business!”

Doumiao’s mother scolded.

Doumiao’s father was silent.

Hearing “wife,” Doumiao, despite his age, diligently added firewood to the stove, smiling at Wei Cheng. “Cheng, I’ll find you on the mountain later.”

“Okay, help your mother,”

Wei Cheng smiled.

Leaving the house, Wei Cheng heard Doumiao’s mother scolding, Doumiao’s father laughing, and Doumiao chattering…

He hurried up the mountain, sweating. He started jogging uphill, smiling.

He had family and a brother waiting for him.

He needed to hurry.

Wei Cheng breathlessly opened the hut, hearing soft sobs. He saw Guan Guan under the quilt, his face red, sobbing and rubbing his eyes.

“Guan Guan, what’s wrong!”

Wei Cheng picked him up, patting his chest. “What happened? Tell Brother.”

“Bro… Brother…”

Guan Guan hugged Wei Cheng’s neck, his eyelashes wet with tears. “You… where did you go? Guan Guan woke up… alone…”

“Brother borrowed a coat. Aren’t we going to the mountain tonight?”

Wei Cheng wiped his tears. “Don’t cry, you’ll get cold.”

“I thought… Brother… didn’t want Guan Guan.” Guan Guan sobbed.

“I want Guan Guan. Why wouldn’t I want Guan Guan?”

Wei Cheng smiled. “Look, the coat.”

He held Guan Guan, unfolding the red coat. “It’s from the butcher’s wife. Wear this tonight, with an autumn jacket. Don’t run around, be careful not to snag it.”

Guan Guan nodded, staring at the coat. “Guan Guan likes it, it’s pretty.”

“You know what’s pretty.”

Wei Cheng pinched Guan Guan’s nose. “A fashionable little man, you’ll be wearing jewelry someday.”

Guan Guan blushed, hiding his face in Wei Cheng’s shoulder, but his eyes were still on the coat.

As it grew dark, Wei Cheng, holding a torch and Guan Guan’s hand, went into the mountains.

He was afraid of wolves, but also of poverty.

He had a plan. If he didn’t catch golden frogs, he could gather firewood and take a cart to town to sell it.

“Tired? Brother will carry you?” Wei Cheng asked Guan Guan, who was struggling behind him.

Guan Guan was bundled up, only his eyes showing.

“Not tired.” Guan Guan was energetic. “Earn money, buy fragrant cream!”

Wei Cheng patted his head. “Amazing.”

Wei Cheng remembered the tree where he’d hidden the tools. He quickly found them, a trap, a pickaxe, and a basket.

Guan Guan wanted to help, but he promised not to damage the coat, so he clenched his fists, encouraging Wei Cheng.

Wei Cheng got up, putting the tools in his backpack. Guan Guan brushed the snow off Wei Cheng’s knees and legs.

He laughed, “Guan Guan is helpful.”

Guan Guan worked harder, almost pushing Wei Cheng into the snow.

Wei Cheng held him. “Okay, okay, we’ll go further.”

Guan Guan obeyed. “Okay!”

Following some footprints, they reached the stream.

He’d heard Gou Sanshi say this was where two rivers met, with running water, a good place for frogs.

It was freezing. Wei Cheng rubbed his hands to warm them. “Guan Guan, stay by the torch.”

Guan Guan stayed obediently.

Seeing Guan Guan stay put, Wei Cheng began chipping the ice. After twenty swings, a crack appeared. The ice was already weakened from before.

After twenty more swings, the ice broke. He broke the remaining ice and began setting the traps.

The traps were made by Fang Shi, with fine mesh. The frogs would enter but couldn’t escape.