After coming out, Wang Qingsong looked around and said to Widow Feng, “Auntie, since we’re already in the city, I should go see my brothers. Let’s go together!”

“I won’t go. You go ahead.”

Widow Feng shook her head and refused.

“This…”

Wang Qingsong hesitated. After all, times were tough, and people rarely visited relatives anymore. It was almost unheard of.

When someone came, you had to offer them something, right?

If it were his own home, it would be fine, but this was his brother’s place, and there was also his sister-in-law to consider!
He couldn’t bring it up himself.

But leaving her alone, especially in her poor health, didn’t seem safe either.

After some thought, he said, “Auntie, let’s go together. You don’t need to feel embarrassed.”

He planned to go, not stay for a meal, and return immediately.

Widow Feng shook her head and still refused, “It’s fine. You go ahead. I’ll wait here or take the bus back first. I’m already very grateful for what you’ve done today. When I have the money, I’ll pay you back.”

Wang Qingsong thought for a moment and said, “Really, it’s no trouble. We won’t eat there, how about that? We’ll just take a look and come back.”

But no matter how much he tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t agree.

Seeing this, Wang Qingsong decided not to push further.

He asked her, “Alright, Auntie. We’re also taking the bus from Fuchengmen. Let me see you onto the bus, and you can walk slowly after getting off, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll take my time on that short stretch. It’s no problem.”

Widow Feng smiled indifferently.

Wang Qingsong didn’t insist further because he had already noticed it was almost ten o’clock.

The distance wasn’t far, and they each spent three fen to take the bus to the station.

Widow Feng felt a pang of regret, “It’s only two li, and it costs three fen! We could have walked. An egg is only five fen!”

The consignment store bought eggs, usually sold by the piece.

But there were size requirements.

There was a board at the counter with a round hole. Eggs that passed through it couldn’t be sold for five fen.

A pound of eggs was ten to twelve pieces, costing six mao two, which was over a mao cheaper than the city’s unified purchase and sales.

Wang Qingsong smiled and didn’t explain much.

He also felt the pinch.

But with two sickly people, there was no other choice. If they arrived too late, it wouldn’t be good either.

Today was Sunday, and it was also the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, Little New Year. His eldest and second brothers should both be off work.

If they were to visit both places, they needed to hurry.

Arriving at Fuchengmen, they handed the items to Widow Feng and saw her onto the bus back, paying two mao eight fen. Then they boarded the bus to his second brother’s house.

In the past, they would have walked.

But today, they had to take the bus.

The journey was a bit farther, costing another six fen.

By now, he only had one yuan four mao seven fen left in his pocket.

At least they had enough for the return trip.

His second brother lived near Nanluoguxiang.

About ten minutes later, the bus stopped at the bus station outside Nanluoguxiang.

They got off the bus.

Xiaomai looked at the towering Di’anmen and asked curiously, “Brother, does Second Brother live here?”

“Yes, he lives here. Come on, I’ll carry you.”

Wang Qingsong said, hoisting the little one onto his back, and walked into the large alleyway.

He carefully held onto his cloth bag.

This was valuable stuff.

They still needed it to exchange for money!
After winding through large and small alleys, they stopped at the entrance of a large courtyard.

“Alright, we’re here. Let’s go in.”

The courtyard houses in Beijing faced south, with the main gate usually at the southeast corner.

Based on the depth of the gate, they were classified as Guangliang gates, Jinzhu gates, Manzi gates, Ruyi gates, and small gate towers.

The deeper the gate, the higher the status.

Of course, there were also gates in the very center, but those were for princely mansions and princess residences. During the Qing dynasty, ordinary people couldn’t have a gate in the center, or they would be executed for overstepping their bounds.

In front of them was a Guangliang gate.

At the entrance was a drum-shaped stone with carvings he couldn’t understand.

Inside the gate was a screen wall.

After turning, they reached the inverted rooms where servants of the nobility used to live.

Beside it was a Chuihua gate.

In ancient times, young ladies were not allowed to step beyond the second gate, which referred to this Chuihua gate.

Beyond the Chuihua gate was the main courtyard.

Today was Little New Year, and everyone was busy washing quilts, changing bedsheets, swapping clothes, and cleaning the house to welcome the New Year.

The courtyard was bustling with young women and girls, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Who are you looking for?”

As soon as they entered, an elderly woman stopped them.

Wang Qingsong had only been here a few times, and he didn’t talk much with the people in the courtyard, so while some faces looked familiar, he couldn’t put names to them.

Still, he smiled and said, “I’m looking for Wang Qinghe. I’m his younger brother.”

“Oh, looking for Qinghe! He’s home. Should I call him for you?”

The woman pointed toward the west wing.

Wang Qingsong smiled, “No need, I’ve been here before. I know the way. Auntie, you go ahead with your work. I’ll head over.”

“Alright, go on.”

Hearing this, Wang Qingsong walked toward the west wing.

Just as he reached the door, he stopped.

Because there was an argument inside.

“Wang Qinghe, you’re going too far. Do you still want this life or not?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with sending some things to my brother? Besides some old clothes last year, what else have I given him? It’s just five yuan a month! Is that too much? It’s almost New Year. Is it too much to give him something?”

“Too much? Wang Qinghe, have you thought about me when you say that? You give them five yuan every month, and have I ever said no? I’m pregnant now! There’s not much food at home. If Dad doesn’t send anything, fine, they don’t care, but what about me? What about the child? Is this child not yours? Do you expect me to keep going home to bring things back? Where’s your face?”

At this, the room fell silent.

“Say something! Are you mute?”

“Not talking, huh? Fine, I’m going home. You can live by yourself.”

With that, she stormed off to the room to grab her things.

“Brother~~”

Hearing this, Xiaomai tugged at Wang Qingsong’s sleeve, asking what they should do.
Wang Qingsong hesitated.

He thought it might be better not to go in.

Causing a rift in his second brother’s family wasn’t what he wanted.

It seemed his second brother’s life wasn’t easy either.

He had been too optimistic.

As he pondered, he heard a rustling sound, and the bamboo curtain at the door was lifted, revealing a young woman.

She was visibly pregnant.

“Second Sister-in-law! “

“Sister-in-law!”

Seeing her, Wang Qingsong greeted her with a smile, and Xiaomai followed suit.

She was his second sister-in-law, Wang Huiru.

She was wearing a high-end wool coat, with a fur collar around her neck!
Her lower half was clad in leather pants.

It was common in the north to wear leather pants, but Wang Huiru’s were more refined, clearly bought from a department store.

Her oval face was very delicate.

Wang Huiru, seeing them, put on a smile and said, “Qingsong, when did you get here? You should have called out. Xiaomai, right? Come in, it’s cold outside.”

With that, she cheerfully lifted the curtain.

Wang Qingsong walked in, smiling warmly, “We just arrived. We were about to come in when you opened the door.”

Hearing this, Wang Huiru breathed a sigh of relief.

She had just gone inside to get her clothes, so they probably hadn’t heard.