He chuckled, “Try another one of Brother’s?”

Guan Guan obediently did as he was told, meticulously trying another one, then exclaimed in surprise and delight, “Brother’s is sweet!”

“Brother likes to eat sour ones.”

Wei Cheng smiled lightly as he watched him, “Guan Guan eats sweet ones.”

Guan Guan tilted his head, “Really?”

“Really.” Wei Cheng used a free hand to pat his head, “Eat quickly, Brother needs to go sell the frogs.”

Wei Cheng didn’t know which pharmacy or herbal shop was good, but he was quick-witted. He inquired along the way, first saying, “My family is poor, I need to buy medicine for my grandmother,” then adding, “This young boy doesn’t know if these two bundles of firewood can buy medicine, afraid of being chased away.” Soon, kind people told him which pharmacy’s shopkeeper was kind-hearted, which had low prices, and which were bullies who looked down on the poor…

Finally, Wei Cheng remembered a shop called “Jimin Tang.”

After more inquiries, he found the shop, leading Guan Guan, who had eaten himself into a little mess.

As soon as they entered, a strong scent of herbs filled the air. The shop was small, with only a few people waiting for consultations. A young boy behind the counter was reading a book.

The boy saw them and quickly greeted them, “Are you buying herbs or seeking a consultation?”

Wei Cheng looked around and whispered, “I want to sell some things, I don’t know if you accept them.”

The boy looked at him carefully, “Are you selling herbs? Tell me what kind of herbs you have.”

“Not herbs.”

Wei Cheng lowered his voice, “They are golden frogs.”

The boy’s eyes widened at the words “golden frogs.” He also looked around and said, “Come with me.”

Wei Cheng hesitated, but still led Guan Guan behind a curtain.

There were two smooth wooden chairs and a table in the main area, with four stools on each side.

“Please sit.”

The boy called out, “Master, Master, please come quickly!”

After a while, a woman’s voice was heard, “Coming!”

The wooden door opened, and Wei Cheng saw a woman in grey robes, about twenty years old.

The boy said, “This is our Jimen Tang’s junior shopkeeper, Zhong Langzhong.”

Zhong Langzhong glanced at them, her gaze falling on the wound on Wei Cheng’s forehead, then turning to the boy, “Are these two children sick?”

“No.”

The boy whispered something in her ear.

Zhong Langzhong smiled, “Really? Quickly take them out and let me see.”

Wei Cheng took out the firewood and dry grass, revealing a heavy willow basket.

Zhong Langzhong eagerly opened it and exclaimed, “Good quality, truly excellent.”

Zhong Langzhong looked at Wei Cheng, then at Guan Guan, seeming to want to laugh but holding back. She cleared her throat, “Where are your parents? This is valuable, I’m afraid you won’t understand.”

“My father isn’t convenient.”

Wei Cheng said, “Shopkeeper Zhong, do you accept them here? If not…”

“Accept, why wouldn’t I accept!”

Zhong Langzhong said, “Eighty cash for a male frog, two hundred for a female, is that clear?”

“Clear.”

Wei Cheng said, “Ten female frogs, thirty-six male frogs, a total of four taels, plus eight hundred and eighty cash.”

“Excellent, you can even do math.”

Zhong Langzhong looked at the boy, “Go get four taels and nine hundred cash.”

Wei Cheng looked at her in slight surprise.

Zhong Langzhong said, “I won’t ask where you caught them, or where they came from. I’m giving you twenty extra cash because this herb is currently in short supply, and it’s also a court tribute for winter. If you have more in the future, you can come find me, no matter how much, I’ll round it up for you. If the quality is even better, I’ll add ten cash for each male and female frog.”

Wei Cheng didn’t immediately agree, “I will tell my father what Shopkeeper Zhong said.”

While waiting for the boy to get the money, Zhong Langzhong told Wei Cheng about catching golden frogs, such as how these frogs are called snow frogs, with high nutritional and medicinal value, and are a favorite of the wealthy in the distant capital, with effects of longevity and beauty. Autumn and summer frogs are acceptable, but winter frogs, with oil in their bellies, are the most valuable. Winter frogs also have a harsh environment and are difficult to catch. Small ones should be returned to the stream; frequent catching should be avoided; and proper methods should be used…

After leaving the shop, Wei Cheng held one hand on Guan Guan and the other tightly on his stomach, his brow furrowed, as if in pain.

Actually, he was afraid of being followed, so he pretended to have a stomachache.

The four and a half taels of silver were hidden in his stomach pouch, with the remaining four hundred cash in the backpack, and some for Guan Guan.

Guan Guan was also a little nervous. Earlier, he asked how much five taels of silver was, and the beautiful Zhong Langzhong said it could buy several carts of sweet candied hawthorns.

“Buns! Buns! Hot buns! Three cash for meat, two for vegetable!” A street vendor was selling white buns.

Wei Cheng asked, “Guan Guan, are you hungry? Do you want to eat buns?” Seeing the crowd, he said, “Guan Guan, how many do you want? Go buy them.”

Guan Guan was a little scared, but seeing Brother’s encouraging gaze, he went to the vendor, raising a finger, “I want…”

The vendor smiled, “Little one, one bun?”

“No.”

Guan Guan said, “Ten!”

After Guan Guan got the money, he bought ten buns, five meat and five vegetable!

He wouldn’t throw them away!

The bun vendor exclaimed, holding a wooden board, sweeping across the buns, “Our vegetable buns have Chinese cabbage and pickled cabbage fillings. Our meat buns have scallion pork, Chinese cabbage pork, and tofu pork fillings. Little one, which ones do you want?”

Guan Guan was confused. He only knew about ground beans, not all these different fillings.

He looked back at Brother for help. Wei Cheng, seeing the crowd dispersing, quickly walked to the bun stand.

Guan Guan tugged Wei Cheng’s sleeve, whispering, “Brother…”

“Don’t know which ones to get?”

Guan Guan nodded.

“It’s okay.”

Wei Cheng looked at the steaming buns and said to the vendor, “Two of each kind, please wrap them up for us.”

Guan Guan wanted ten, so it had to be ten.

The vendor opened the steamer lids, and steam rose. He wrapped the buns quickly, exclaiming, “Got it! Two vegetable buns are four cash, six meat buns are eighteen cash, a total of twenty-two cash.”

As Wei Cheng bent down to get the money, Guan Guan offered his few coins to the vendor, saying, “Here!”

The vendor smiled, “Little one, this is only five cash, not enough.”

“Not enough?!”

Guan Guan looked at the vendor in shock, his voice trembling, “No, no, not enough, what to do?”

“If it’s not enough, you’ll have to stay here and help me wrap buns! You can leave after you finish.”

The vendor, seeing Guan Guan’s cuteness, teased him.

“Wrap, how long?” Guan Guan felt his world collapsing.

The vendor laughed, “Until dark, if not finished, then tomorrow…”

Guan Guan’s eyes welled up. He looked at Wei Cheng, 委屈又伤心，”Brother, Guan Guan won’t go home for dinner today.”

Wei Cheng, having counted the twenty-two cash, heard the vendor and Guan Guan’s conversation. Although he knew the vendor meant no harm, he was protective of Guan Guan, who was timid and couldn’t handle such jokes.

“Uncle is just joking, we have enough money, didn’t we sell firewood?”

He winked at Guan Guan and patted his head, “Even if not enough, Brother won’t let Guan Guan stay here alone.”

Guan Guan sniffed, his tears welling up, “Really?”

“Of course.” Wei Cheng gave the money to the vendor, saying, “My brother is timid, sorry to trouble you.”

“Yes, I like to tease children too much.”

The vendor felt embarrassed. He gave the buns and Guan Guan’s five cash to Wei Cheng, picking a smaller bun, “Here, little one, for the road.”

“No.”

Guan Guan hid behind Wei Cheng, avoiding the vendor.

The vendor chuckled, “A spirited little one.”

The vendor was kind, but Wei Cheng didn’t force Guan Guan to take it, “Uncle, no need, you work hard, and your buns are big enough for our family.”

“Okay.” The vendor put the bun back, looking at them, “Haven’t you sold the firewood yet?”

Wei Cheng nodded, and the vendor pointed to a street, “Go to the street behind the government office, wealthy families live there, and housekeepers often buy firewood and eggs. They might give you more because you are children.”

“Thank you, Uncle.” Wei Cheng thanked him.

He needed the firewood to hide his true purpose. He couldn’t sell it today.

But he could gather firewood and sell it to those families in the future.

Wei Cheng led Guan Guan away, noticing the little one was still holding an uneaten candied hawthorn.

He found a quiet corner and sat down with Guan Guan.

“Are you hungry?”

Ten white buns were together, indistinguishable between meat and vegetable. Wei Cheng picked one and gave it to Guan Guan, “Try it, is it meat or vegetable?”