Selling a Handkerchief

"Big sister, I got it! Give me the piece of cloth that you used to wrap the handkerchief. My hands are dirty. If Sister Meizi sees me holding it, it won't be worth much," Ye Qingfeng said.

"You're so smart. You're right." Ye Qingyu smiled and folded the handkerchief again before handing it to him.

Ye Qingfeng immediately scurried away like a monkey. He ran very quickly, afraid that he would not be able to catch the ox cart later.

Later, he ran back from outside, panting. His red face was filled with excitement. As soon as he entered Ye Qingyu's room, he said in a low voice,

"Big sister, guess how much I sold that handkerchief for?"

"Ten copper coins?" Ye Qingyu asked with a smile.

"No! I sold it for 30 copper coins! Hehe…" Ye Qingfeng raised three fingers and said with bright eyes.

As he spoke, he took out the money from his pocket and showed it to Ye Qingyu. He was not lying.

"How did you sell it for this much? What did you say?" Ye Qingyu was surprised.

"Big sister, I didn't make an offer myself. I knew this handkerchief was good. We bought it from the county city three years ago. You couldn't bear to use it. Moreover, there was a red plum embroidered on it. It's the most compatible with Sister Meizi. If she uses this handkerchief, the other girls in the village will be envious.

Then, Sister Meizi asked how much it was. I asked her to pay as she saw fit and praised her for being magnanimous and that she definitely wouldn't shortchange me. Then, she gave me 30 copper coins…"

Ye Qingfeng repeated what he had said to Ye Qingyu. Ye Qingyu kept smiling as she listened. She looked at Qingfeng with sparkling eyes, as if she had discovered a huge treasure.

"Qingfeng, you're really good at selling things. You're really talented!" Ye Qingyu gave him a thumbs-up and praised him with a smile.

Ye Qingfeng was a little embarrassed by his big sister's praise. He scratched the back of his head and said,

"Big sister, let's go quickly. If we don't go now, we won't be able to catch up to the Zhao family's ox cart."

"Alright, you still have to do two more things. The first is to inform our grandpa. Don't mention that you're going to town, just say that you're going to the mountains to pick firewood and we won't be back by noon. Tell him that I'm asleep, so you asked Auntie Liu next door to send him lunch and take care of him.

Second, give two copper coins to Auntie Liu and tell her to take care of our grandpa. You don't have to hide the fact that we're going to town to sell our dowry from her. You also have to tell her not to tell our grandpa about it first. Do you understand?"

Ye Qingyu instructed Ye Qingfeng in detail.

"Big sister, Auntie Liu is kind-hearted. She's doing well and doesn't lack these two copper coins. She'll send food to Grandpa even if we don't pay her." Ye Qingfeng couldn't bear to part with these two copper coins. After all, their family was really poor.

Two copper coins could buy half a catty of coarse flour. It was enough for a meal at home.

"Qingfeng, our family is poor, but we can't always get Auntie Liu to help us and never return the favor. If we do it too many times, she will feel uncomfortable. Two copper coins aren't much, but it shows our sincerity. It can also make Auntie Liu take care of Grandpa more, understand?"

Ye Qingyu bent down and placed her hands on her brother's shoulders. Her gaze was level with his, and her eyes were filled with gentleness and wisdom, which touched Ye Qingfeng very much.

"I understand, big sister." Ye Qingfeng nodded. "You should hurry up and pack up. We'll go out after I'm done with these two things. I'll leave this money with you."

Ye Qingfeng took two copper coins and gave the rest to Ye Qingyu.

Ye Qingyu took out another two copper coins for the ride and put the rest of the money into her purse. After making sure that it would not fall, she wrapped the wedding dress and blanket in another bag.