“If something costs eighty cash, then thirty-six of them would cost…?” Wei Cheng asked.

The herbalist, unsuspecting, replied, “Two thousand eight hundred and eighty cash, plus two taels and eight hundred and eighty cash.”

“Why are you asking?” The herbalist didn’t realize Wei Cheng was talking about the male frogs. He laughed, “Want to learn math? Want to do business?”

Two taels and eight hundred and eighty cash! Plus two thousand cash from the female frogs, that’s four taels and eight hundred and eighty cash!

Almost five taels of silver! Five taels! Worth it!

With half more, he could buy an acre of land, ending their hunger! But he couldn’t use the money for land. He needed to buy Guan Guan clothes, food, and household items, and prepare for the New Year.

Wei Cheng, suppressing his excitement, said, “Yes, Uncle, I want to learn math. If I gather firewood, I won’t be cheated.”

The herbalist pondered. “Come to me when you’re free, I’ll teach you.”

Wei Cheng was grateful. “Thank you, Uncle, I’ll study hard.”

“Math is easy, you’re clever, you’ll learn quickly,” the herbalist said, throwing away the used herbs.

Wei Cheng lowered his head, clenching his fist.

He felt bad for deceiving the herbalist. He knew they were kind, but he hid the golden frogs. After Qin Shi’s deception, he felt that money was both good and bad. It could make even blood relatives turn against each other. He didn’t distrust the herbalist and Mo, but he didn’t want to talk about money.

He would buy them food and drink later.

Having decided this, Wei Cheng went to find Guan Guan, seeing him watching a boy his senior brushing his teeth by the well.

He needed to buy toothpaste and a brush.

He used willow leaves in summer and autumn, and chewed dry banana leaves in winter. He’d found some in autumn but Fang Pozi took some, leaving little. He’d used it all when he left the Wei family.

“Guan Guan,”

Wei Cheng called, “Let’s go home.”

Guan Guan ran to Wei Cheng, gesturing, confused and upset. “He said… his mouth is fragrant, mine isn’t.”

“Yes, you’re fragrant.”

He cleaned Guan Guan’s teeth with snow water after breakfast. This habit needed to change.

Wei Cheng patted the child’s head. “We have money, Guan Guan, Brother will buy you anything.”

“Toothpaste, a brush, fragrant cream, a coat, ground beans, lots of food.”

Guan Guan smiled upon hearing “ground beans,” showing his white teeth. “Beans!”

Wei Cheng shook his head, tapping his head. “Your head is full of beans!”

“No.”

Guan Guan looked up at him. The morning sun shone on his face. He hugged Wei Cheng’s leg. “And Brother, Brother is much better than beans.”

Wei Cheng’s heart warmed. He picked up Guan Guan and went to their hut.

Wei Cheng carried a backpack with dry grass and firewood, also carrying a bundle of firewood. He didn’t have an axe, so he gathered branches and broke them with a pickaxe. It took a lot of effort.

The village had two ox carts, one belonging to the village head, the other to Old Chen, whose ox was too old to plow. It cost one cash per person, two cash round trip.

Many people were already on the cart. Old Chen looked at them. “Going?”

Wei Cheng nodded. “Yes.”

He was about to put Guan Guan on the cart when a woman shouted, “Wait for me!”

Old Chen said, “No more room! Come early tomorrow!”

Wei Cheng helped Guan Guan sit down, holding the firewood. He saw Quan and his mother.

Quan pretended not to see them.

“Old Chen, you didn’t ask Cheng if he had money! If he can’t sell his firewood, you’ll have wasted your trip!” Quan’s mother panted. “We have money!”

Old Chen hesitated, looking at Wei Cheng.

Wei Cheng took out two cash and gave them to Old Chen. “I only have two cash, we’ll walk back.”

They needed money for things, and couldn’t rely on the villagers.

They couldn’t let anyone know about the frogs.

Old Chen put the money away and shouted, “Let’s go!”

Quan’s mother tried to catch up. “This…”

“Mother, forget it. Remember the child Wei Cheng found…” Quan pulled his mother.

Quan’s mother stomped her foot, cursing, “Let’s see if they have an accident!”

The ox cart reached town in less than half an hour.

It was Guan Guan’s first time in town. He stared at the bustling streets, vendors, and long streets, his eyes wide, but also scared. He held Wei Cheng tightly.

“Don’t be afraid, stay with Brother.”

It was Wei Cheng’s second time in town. He felt nervous.

But he was the brother, he couldn’t show fear.

They couldn’t go directly to the shop, so they strolled along the street.

They saw a sugar figurine vendor, bright colors, lifelike animals; a candied hawthorn vendor, red hawthorns on sticks, glistening in the sun, smelling sweet; and a vendor selling hot rice cakes, red, yellow, and white, with nuts, smelling delicious.

Many adults and children surrounded the vendors.

Mo had given him twenty cash.

Six to Doumiao’s mother, two for the cart, eight total, leaving twelve.

They needed two cash for the return trip.

Ten cash for food.

“Guan Guan, what do you want?”

Guan Guan swallowed, shaking his head. “No, no, buy beans.”

He was still thinking about beans?

Maybe beans were the cheapest and most filling.

Wei Cheng looked around, whispering, “Choose one, we’ll buy more later.”

“Really?” Guan Guan’s eyes shone.

“Of course.”

Guan Guan pointed at the candied hawthorn. “This.”

“Okay, Brother will buy it.”

Wei Cheng asked, “How much for a string?”

The vendor said, “Five cash for two, three for one.”

Wei Cheng hesitated, paying, “Two strings.”

The vendor happily accepted the money. “Choose which ones.”

Wei Cheng picked up Guan Guan. Guan Guan chose the two largest hawthorns.

The vendor was surprised. He usually placed the large ones in the middle, but this child was clever.

Wei Cheng put Guan Guan down. They left the street.

Wei Cheng held the firewood and backpack, so Guan Guan held the candied hawthorn.

Wei Cheng saw he wasn’t eating. “Why not eat?”

Guan Guan swallowed. “Wait for Brother, it’s tastier together.”

“Try one, if you don’t like it, we’ll find another vendor,” Wei Cheng said.

Guan Guan took a bite. “Sweet.”

He bit into the hawthorn. His face twisted. “Sour.”

Wei Cheng couldn’t stop laughing.