CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 33: MALT CANDY

The four siblings of Da Lang took the copper coin and went straight to Liu Huolang’s house.

The shopkeeper hasn’t returned yet, and his wife Yun Niang is attending to the stall.

This was the first time the siblings stood beneath this stall, knocked on the door board, handed money inside, and bought malt sugar.

Seeing them, Yun Niang was a bit surprised as she had never seen the four with money before. They were always dressed in tattered clothes, not only disregarding appearances but also dirty and smelly, resembling beggars.

Now they not only brought copper coins to buy sugar but were also tidied up neatly. Yun Niang was even surprised to find that the four children of Liu Ji’s family appeared quite decent.

For the first time here, Da Lang was a bit reserved, and the remaining three were even more afraid to speak, eagerly looking at their elder brother.

Yun Niang took the four copper coins, uncertainly asked, "Do you want four?"

"Yes, four," replied Da Lang.

Yun Niang nodded, opened the sugar jar, broke four small sticks, and stirred four sugars to hand out.

Da Lang distributed one to each of his siblings, the last one he held in his own hand, and the four of them smiled in surprise, eagerly sticking out their tongues to lick it—a sweet and malty flavor, better than imagined.

No wonder everyone loves eating it. Da Lang happily thought to himself.

Second Lang quietly said, "If Dad asks us how to cook tomorrow, that would be great."

"He will ask again," Da Lang was very knowledgeable about his father and extremely certain.

But trying to scrape together copper coins from his dad won’t be so easy.

"Hey, Da Lang, wait a moment!"

Yun Niang suddenly remembered the straw sandals Qin Yao had consigned earlier, hurriedly called the four siblings back, took out twenty-five cents to give to Da Lang, and advised him to keep it safe not to lose.

"This is your mother’s money from selling straw sandals, tell her all the sandals are sold, totaling twenty-five cents, understand?"

This incident the siblings were aware of, they promptly nodded saying they knew, Da Lang tucked the money into his bosom and asked Yun Niang if there was anything else, once confirmed there wasn’t, then they left.

Halfway home, Si Niang and Second Lang had finished their sugar.

Da Lang saved a mouthful, seeing both of them looking eagerly at him, smiled helplessly and handed them the remainder.

However, the two sensibly shook their heads, Si Niang’s eyes shining brightly as she said to her elder brother, "You eat, Big Brother."

Second Lang swallowed greedily, but also insisted on letting his elder brother finish it.

Finally, only Sanlang was left, one small hand clutching the stick, the other hand lightly shielding the sugar, having only licked twice unwilling to continue.

Second Lang curiously asked him why he wasn’t eating, he said, "I want to eat slowly."

So they didn’t bother him further.

While passing by the riverbank, Second Lang wanted to stay and collect stones with Jinbao, essentially wanting to play.

Sanlang immediately declared he also wanted to play here.

Da Lang turned to ask his sister, Si Niang shook her head, so the two went home first.

As they left, Da Lang told Second Lang to make sure to watch Sanlang carefully and prevent him from falling into the river.

However, it’s currently the dry season, and most of the river water has dried up, with so many people around, there’s nothing much to worry about.

Everywhere was exposed riverbeds, filled with all sorts and sizes of stones, Liu Fei and Jinbao, they were collecting these stones.

Qin Yao was responsible for picking up all these stones to bring back for Uncle Jiu to use as a foundation.

She was busy, just glancing at Second Lang and Sanlang playing by the riverbank with Jinbao collecting stones, carrying heavy stones up the bank, crossing the wooden bridge, walking along the sloping road to the doorstep, single trip taking twenty minutes, over half an hour back and forth.

By the riverbank, Jinbao saw the sugar Sanlang was shielding with his hand, wanted a taste, but Sanlang refused silently.

Jinbao swallowed with envy, but as Sanlang didn’t intend to share, he embarrassedly hummed, "I don’t care, my mom just bought me one yesterday, I am tired of eating it!"

Then seeing Sanlang still ignoring him, angrily pulled Second Lang to flip those round stones.

These stones were the most beautiful for paving, interesting to collect too, the two kids enjoying playing and collecting, extremely happy.

Sanlang however was slightly worriedly watching the distant wooden bridge, glanced at the sugar in his hand which was almost melting, hurriedly stirred it twice, fixed it, then continued watching the wooden bridge.

Qin Yao carrying an empty carrying pole returned, but Sanlang was too small, curled up under a willow tree, the surrounding weeds growing taller than him.

Qin Yao didn’t notice, continued passing through the grass to the riverbank, put down the empty basket, picked up the stone basket filled by Liu Fei and other young men.

Seeing her walk past him again, Sanlang seemed to realize his position wasn’t ideal, moved to the bridgehead, standing by the bridge pier.

After another twenty or so minutes, this time Qin Yao finally saw him, surprised asked, "Sanlang, what are you doing here?"

The small person facing away immediately turned around, big eyes instantly flashing with light, handing the sugar in his hand to her.

Unexpectedly, after such a long time, the sugar had somewhat melted, looking all messy.

Before Qin Yao could react, the little guy lowered his head in disappointment first.

"Did you save the sugar for me?" Qin Yao squatted down in front of him, put down the basket and pole, reaching to hold the malt sugar in the little guy’s hand, surprisingly asked.

The dejected little guy immediately lifted his head to look at her, nodded affirmatively.

Qin Yao curiously asked, "Then aren’t you eating it yourself?"

Sanlang shook his head, said, "You eat."

The small mouth unwittingly moved slightly, swallowed.

This messy looking sugar, in Sanlang’s eyes, was already the best thing.

His first time eating it too, so how could he possibly not want to eat it?

"Did you specially save it for me?"

Sanlang shyly nodded.

Qin Yao looked at this expectant little face, smiled lightly, "Then let’s eat it together."

Sanlang refused, insisted on giving it to Qin Yao, Qin Yao couldn’t possibly compete with the child for food, took a symbolic taste of his malt sugar, then returned the remainder to him, saying she’s eaten enough, requesting him help to finish the remainder sugar.

Sanlang innocently took back the remaining malt sugar, licking and eating little by little, trailing behind Qin Yao, occasionally giving her satisfied yet shy smiles.

Qin Yao could see the little guy just wanted to stick to her, but embarrassed to say, advised him to watch his step and not fall, and let him be.

Retaking another load of stones home, Sanlang followed her to the wooden bridge this way, waiting for her return, then followed her to the riverbank, repeating this process.

The malt sugar was finished long ago, but the joy persisted.

The little short legs didn’t walk quickly, Qin Yao didn’t deliberately slow her pace for him. A large and small person, separated by at least a mile of distance, far away looked like Qin Yao had a little tail behind her.

As the sky darkened, relatives and clansmen helping with the work were busy throughout the day, when Uncle Jiu called a stop, they tacitly took their tools home for dinner.

In the kitchen, Liu Ji nervously carried a big bowl full of meat into the main room, set up the bowls and chopsticks, put down a slightly burnt pot of rice, inviting the children to sit down, just waiting for Qin Yao to arrive to start eating.