Chapter 23: Missing Out

"Sister, what do we do, we're out of water," Xu Zhicheng said with a worried look on his face.

That's less money we'll make.

Xu Niannian also felt it was a pity, but there was nothing that could be done, the water had all been sold. She could only hope that Zhiqiang would hurry back, but waiting for his return would take at least another two hours.

He had already been gone for over an hour.

Then another person came asking. Xu Niannian said with embarrassment, "I'm really sorry, we've sold out. I've sent my brother back to get water, you can come back in two hours to buy some."

People come to buy water because they are thirsty, who can wait another two hours?

But with none left, there was no other option but to go buy some fruit to make do.

In this weather, even the fruit being sold was a bit warm from the sun. It could relieve thirst for a moment but wouldn't last long and didn't cool you down.

It wasn't nearly as refreshing as drinking iced water.

Several more people came to ask, and Xu Niannian dismissed them all with the same explanation.

Watching the disappointed people walk away felt like watching banknotes fly out of her pocket. Xu Niannian was extremely reluctant to see them go.

Xu Zhicheng also felt incredibly distressed and couldn't help but ask, "Sister, how much longer before brother comes back?"

"I don't know, just wait a little longer."

Xu Duoyu had been sitting quietly in the back all this time until his stomach began to growl.

The little one bashfully hung his head in embarrassment.

Xu Niannian slapped her forehead, realizing she had been too busy selling water and had forgotten to buy something for her brothers to eat.

Xu Niannian quickly took out a fifty-cent piece and gave it to Xu Zhicheng, "Zhicheng, go to the street and buy a few meat buns."

This was the first time Xu Zhicheng had ever held so much money. He was afraid he'd lose it, clutching the coin tightly in his hand. Hearing Xu Niannian mention meat buns, his face turned bright red with excitement, "Mhm."

Once Xu Zhicheng left, Xu Niannian scooped up Xu Duoyu to hold him, pinching his chubby little face, her smile full of joy.

Xu Duoyu was not as afraid of Xu Niannian as before. Held by Xu Niannian, his little hands wrapped obediently around her neck. He asked in a soft voice, "Sister, are we going to eat meat buns later?"

"Yes, we're eating meat buns, does Duoyu like them?"

Hearing Xu Niannian's affirmative response, Xu Duoyu nodded vigorously, "Like."

After all, they were meat buns. How could he not like them?

It wasn't long before Xu Zhicheng returned, carrying several large buns in his hand.

The buns were two fifty apiece, quite expensive, but one fifty was just enough to buy six big meat buns.

The meat buns sold now were much more substantial than those in the future, almost as big as a bowl, and filled with lots of meat.

Xu Niannian hadn't expected the buns to be so large.

She handed one each to Xu Zhicheng and Xu Duoyu.

Xu Duoyu's tiny hands struggled to hold the large bun, which was not only hard to grip but also hot.

Xu Zhicheng kept switching hands because of the heat, while Xu Duoyu, seemingly unaffected by the temperature, clutched the bun tightly, afraid it might accidentally slip to the ground.

Seeing Xu Duoyu's little hands turning red from the heat, Xu Niannian simply put her own bun back in the bag and took Xu Duoyu's bun. "Here, let sister feed you."

Xu Duoyu's eyes roundly fixed on the bun, didn't cry or fuss when Xu Niannian took it away but said in a tender voice, "Sister eat."

After saying this, the little one's face turned bright red, utterly adorable. Xu Niannian couldn't help but give Xu Duoyu a kiss.

Xu Duoyu was almost scared stiff because Xu Niannian used to like biting him, and he thought that the sister who used to hit him had come back.

His little body tensed up in an instant.

The anticipated pain didn't come. Instead, a soft touch pressed against his face. Xu Duoyu was obviously stunned, staring blankly at Xu Niannian.

Sister didn't bite him!

And she had kissed him, too.

Xu Duoyu immediately became shy and nestled her head into Xu Niannian's embrace.

Xu Niannian pinched off a bun, tenderly fed it to Xu Duoyu's mouth, bite by bite. The little one had a small mouth but not a small stomach, and surprisingly managed to eat an entire large meat bun.

Xu Zhicheng had finished his meat bun a while ago, his face flushed red and shining with grease.

Unable to resist, he licked his lips. Seeing that, Xu Niannian asked if he was still hungry and if he wanted another one.

Xu Zhicheng looked up excitedly, "Sister, can I really have another one?"

Xu Niannian laughed, "What are you talking about? Of course, you can."

Then Xu Zhicheng ate another big bun. Xu Duoyu wanted to eat more too, but Xu Niannian didn't let him; his little stomach was already bulging.

The children had never eaten pork buns before. They only knew they were greedy and didn't understand the feeling of fullness. It wouldn't do to let them overeat.

Several people came by during this time to ask if there was still water, and Niannian told them there was none.

After a while, Xu Niannian finally saw Xu Zhiqiang returning with the ox cart.

He had rushed back so quickly that his face was covered with sweat. Niannian handed him a handkerchief, "Wipe off your sweat."

Without much thought, Zhiqiang took it and wiped his face, only realizing afterward that the handkerchief was Niannian's, which made him feel a bit uneasy.

In the past, his sister had always disdained him. She wouldn't even let him touch things she had discarded, let alone use her cherished handkerchief.

"Thank you, sister." Xu Zhiqiang discovered that his older sister had really changed.

However, this change felt very good to him.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Zhicheng, give a bun to our brother."

"Eh, alright," Xu Zhicheng agreed cheerfully.

He had wanted to give his older brother a meat bun earlier but since the buns were bought with the money his sister had earned, he didn't dare to presume without her permission.

As Xu Zhiqiang ate the precious and rare meat bun, he felt a warmth in his eyes. Afraid that Zhicheng would struggle to carry the ice blocks, Niannian sent Zhiqiang to fetch the ice while he ate.

People who had come to watch the competition left and came; some had been playing since morning. Seeing that Niannian had brought a few more buckets of sugar water, they hurried over to buy water, dying of thirst.

The water in the buckets was still warm, and Niannian apologized, "Gentlemen, I'm very sorry, the water hasn't cooled down yet, it's a bit warm."

The young man had been waiting a long time just to quench his thirst, his throat almost smoking. He didn't care if it was hot or not.

"It's alright, give me a cup."

Since the customer didn't mind, Niannian had no reason to complain about making money. She quickly had Zhicheng pour a cup of water for the young man.

The young man drank three cups in a row, and Niannian charged him twenty-four cents.

Zhiqiang returned with several large blocks of ice in his hands.

Niannian hurried to put the ice in the water buckets.

In about ten minutes, the sugar water turned icy cold.

Even when the water was still warm, quite a few people bought it.

That afternoon, quite a number of people came by, not as many as at noon, but still quite a few.

Zhicheng washed the cups, Zhiqiang was in charge of pouring water, and Niannian handled the money and change.

The water sold out around the time the sun was setting. It would take an hour to walk from the town to their home, and by the time they got there, it would be dark, so Niannian didn't dare to stay longer.

She hurried back with her younger brothers.

As they rushed through the entrance of the town, a dark green jeep drove by. It was the only car on the whole street, and Niannian couldn't help but take a second look.

A very ordinary driver; there was no one else in the car.

Niannian withdrew her gaze, and just then, Jin Yu, who was sitting in the back seat, straightened up and asked, "Have you found the person I'm looking for?"