River shrimp kept in a bucket tend to die overnight. They weren’t large, only about two to three centimeters long. Boiling them directly in hot water and peeling them to eat was somewhat troublesome.
Lai Yi cleaned the inedible parts of the shrimp and crabs, heated oil in a wok, and fried them all at once. The fried shrimp and crabs were sprinkled with ground salt, making them crispy, crunchy, and fragrant with every bite.
Using the remaining oil, he then prepared a dish of greens stewed with mushrooms.
After stir-frying the greens, he cleaned the wok.
He added fresh oil, heated it, and caramelized sugar in it. Then, he tossed in the blanched and rinsed pork belly and began making red-braised pork.
Neil set the dishes on the table, arranged the bowls and chopsticks, and washed a few Kamaigua, placing them in a small woven basket as after-meal fruit.
Once the red-braised pork was ready, the two enjoyed a relatively hearty dinner with steamed buns and rolls.
After the meal, Lai Yi washed their clothes with water that had been sun-warmed during the day, while Neil fed the chickens and cleaned the dishes.
As dusk gradually fell, the two washed up with warm water and went to bed.
In the morning, Lai Yi rose early, poured the soaked mung beans into a pot, added cold water in proportion, and slowly simmered them.
By the time the sky was fully bright, the mung beans had finally softened and broken down into a sandy texture. He added some sugar and honey, simmered it a while longer, then removed the firewood and let it cool slowly.
“Brother, are you cooking so many mung beans to sell?” Neil followed Lai Yi, watching as he ladled the mung bean soup into a steamer pot, then placed the pot and soup into freshly drawn cold water to chill.
“Yes.”
“Brother, can this really be sold?”
Without further explanation, Lai Yi scooped a bowl and handed it to Neil.
“Try it.”
Neil sniffed it; a strong mung bean aroma wafted over, which he found somewhat unfamiliar. But his trust in his brother led him to take a tentative sip.
Neil’s slightly furrowed brow quickly smoothed out, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.
“It’s sweet?”
“Yes, I added sugar and honey.”
Neil took another big gulp, this time tasting some mung beans that weren’t fully cooked. With a light chew, he savored the soft, sandy texture of the beans.
“Can this be sold?” Lai Yi asked.
“Yes!”
“Brother, take me with you! I can help carry things!” Neil looked at him expectantly.
“Aren’t you going to class today?”
“It’s a day off!” Neil answered quickly, almost spelling out “Take me with you” on his face.
“Alright.”
“Great! Thank you, brother!”
“Brother, let’s sell it at a higher price,” Neil said slyly, winking at Lai Yi. “We added sugar and honey—it’s sure to sell well.”
“Okay.”
Lai Yi periodically replaced the cold water chilling the mung bean soup with freshly drawn well water. The used water was left in the yard to warm in the sun, to be used later for washing clothes or bathing in the evening.
As noon approached, Lai Yi prepared food early. After he and Neil ate, he carried the mung bean soup and some utensils on a shoulder pole and took Neil to the construction site.
The steamer pot containing the mung bean soup was tightly wrapped in a thick blanket to prevent the drink from warming up on the way.
The brothers walked for a long time before reaching their destination. From afar, they could see a makeshift awning and a group of workers resting after their meal.
Lai Yi carried their goods to the shade of a tree and arranged them neatly. Neil diligently placed the small stools they had brought beside the stall.
The brothers’ movements caught people’s attention.
“Lai Yi, what are you selling?” asked a villager from the small mountain village.
“Chilled Mung Bean Soup.”
The worst part of selling things was when no one asked—once someone inquired, there was hope for a sale.
“You can try a sample,” Lai Yi said with a smile.
Hearing that samples were available, over a dozen people immediately gathered.
Neil used clean, thick leaves to fold small cups, following the method Lai Yi had taught him. Lai Yi lifted the blanket and opened the pot lid, releasing a wave of cool air.
He quickly scooped some Mung Bean Soup, then promptly covered the pot with the lid and blanket, pouring the soup into the leaf cups.
Several people raised the cups and drank the Mung Bean Soup in one go. The unique, refreshing aroma of mung beans filled their mouths, carrying a sweet, cool taste that left them wanting more.
“How much is it?”
“Five copper coins per bowl. This soup not only quenches thirst and relieves heat but also clears heat and detoxifies.”
Some hesitated. A bowl of barley tea cost only two copper coins—though not as cool or tasty as the Mung Bean Soup… it was cheaper!
“Give me a bowl!” Kelly didn’t overthink it and bought a bowl directly.
His family had many children and plenty of farmland, and his parents didn’t require them to earn money by working during the off-season. Working under the scorching sun, having a cool drink was a real treat.
Lai Yi had Neil take the copper coins Kelly handed over, then served him a large bowl of Mung Bean Soup. He added a spoonful of honey-sweetened mung bean paste from a small earthen jar.
“What’s this?” Kelly pointed at the small jar.
“Honey-sweetened mung bean paste.”
“That’s good.”
Under the envious gazes of others, Kelly took a big sip, his proud expression brimming with satisfaction.
Other young men around Kelly’s age, seeing his purchase, also came forward to buy a few bowls. Meanwhile, the middle-aged men with families and children quietly drank some of the lukewarm mountain springwater that had been brought from the village earlier in the day.
In a short while, Lai Yi sold about ten bowls of Mung Bean Soup.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
Neil happily hugged the money pouch, afraid it might be stolen.
The sun hung high overhead, reaching the peak heat of noon. Those who could afford it spread grass mats on the ground to rest, while others simply lay down on piles of dry grass, sprawling out to take a break.
Lai Yi folded two large leaves into hats for himself and Neil, using another leaf to fan themselves.
About an hour later, people began arriving from the village one after another, and those sleeping on the ground got up, ready to resume work.
Lai Yi perked up and started calling out to attract customers. A few people who sampled the soup ended up buying several bowls. However, most still headed to the barley tea stall. The villager selling barley tea had arrived after the noon break, half an hour later than Lai Yi.
“You’re selling Mung Bean Soup?” asked a middle-aged man with graying hair.
His exposed skin was tanned dark, and deep wrinkles lined his forehead. He stood straight, full of energy. Lai Yi wasn’t sure of his exact age.
“Yes, try a sample—it’s free.” Lai Yi handed him a small cup.
The Mung Bean Soup wasn’t as cool as it had been earlier, but the flavor was still good.
“Not bad. Did you make this yourself?”
“Yes, I simmered it over a low fire all morning.”
“Give me a cup.”
The middle-aged man retrieved a cup from the only fully enclosed stall, and Lai Yi ladled the soup and added red bean paste as usual.
“I’ll give you two more copper coins if you add extra red bean paste.”
“Alright.”
Lai Yi added another large spoonful of red bean paste, and the middle-aged man left satisfied.
Inside the stall, Simon took a sip of the sweet Mung Bean Soup, his face full of enjoyment as he continued sketching on paper with a charcoal pencil. Several apprentices watched Simon drinking the dark green liquid with curiosity.
“Teacher, what are you drinking?”
“Mung Bean Soup.”
“It’s sold outside. Go buy some yourselves.”
“Ah, sure thing!”
The apprentices brought cups and each bought a serving from Lai Yi’s stall. Upon tasting the sweet Mung Bean Soup, they were all pleasantly surprised.
The commotion at Lai Yi’s stall quickly drew everyone’s attention.
Everyone knew Simon and his apprentices came from Eaton City, and people constantly monitored their movements. Seeing them purchase Mung Bean Soup from Lai Yi’s stall, curious onlookers followed suit. The stall suddenly became bustling.
Worried about unsold inventory, Lai Yi hadn’t prepared much, but to his surprise, everything sold out within hours.
After packing up, Lai Yi carried the benches and a heavy load of copper coins back home. Even though they stuck to shaded paths along the way, both brothers were drenched in sweat from the heat.
The water in the courtyard had been warmed by the sun. Setting down his load, Lai Yi removed his shirt and directly scrubbed himself with a towel dipped in the water.
Sunlight reflected off his inverted triangle physique, making his skin appear radiantly pale. Only his arms and neck were sunburned red, with some peeling skin.
Neil imitated his brother, briskly washing his short-cropped hair with handfuls of water.
Lai Yi retrieved several Kamaigua melons cooled in the well. With a forceful punch, a crisp crack sounded as a melon split in half. He shared one half with Neil.
The melon was ice-cold, sweet, and refreshing.
After finishing the Kamaigua, Lai Yi brought the heavy coin pouch and sat with Neil in the living room to count their earnings.
They stacked twenty coins per pile, arranging thirteen neat stacks on the table with twelve leftover coins. They had sold fifty-four bowls total, earning 272 copper coins.
“Brother, we actually sold so much today!”
Neil sounded excited.
“Are we selling again tomorrow?”
“Yes, we still have some mung beans at home. But we’re running low – we’ll need to buy more in town soon.”
“Mm.”
Mung beans cost fifteen copper coins per pound, while the honey was self-harvested. Sugar was more expensive in town at fifty copper coins per pound. After calculating all expenses, they still made a profit today.
Lai Yi mentally tallied the day’s earnings.
He placed ten stacks of coins in one bag, then pushed the remaining twelve coins toward Neil.
“Your allowance.”
Neil looked at Lai Yi with bewilderment.
Village children typically only received enough for full meals from their families, with allowances limited to a few coins during Harvest Festival for buying biscuits.
Why was his brother suddenly giving him spending money?
“I don’t want it.”
Neil shook his head in refusal, his eyes filled with deep confusion.
“Keep it for buying snacks.”
Lai Yi insisted firmly, pressing the coins into Neil’s hand. Neil stopped refusing and quietly put the money in his pocket.
“Thank you, brother.”
“Mm.”
Lai Yi had noticed long ago that Neil acted somewhat reserved around him.
Though he relied on his older brother, he would carefully observe his expressions. The moment Lai Yi showed any firmness, he would immediately change his mind, deferring to Lai Yi in everything.
Cautious, like a little rabbit.
This wasn’t how a twelve-year-old should behave. The loss of his parents and his brother’s severe injury had left deep scars in his heart. He was afraid of losing his last remaining family.
This issue wasn’t exactly major, but it wasn’t trivial either. Lai Yi knew it was a psychological wound that would take time to heal gradually.
“I’m going to gather honey this afternoon. Want to come along?”
Lai Yi awkwardly changed the subject. He wasn’t very good at handling children, especially someone as obedient and well-behaved as Neil.
“Yes!”
Neil brightened up again.
Lai Yi cleaned the steamer used for the Mung Bean Soup, rinsed the mung beans several times, and soaked them in fresh water. Then, grabbing his tools, he took Neil into the woods to search for beehives.
It was Neil’s first time venturing so deep into the forest, and he stuck close to Lai Yi the entire way.
Wild beehives were a matter of chance, not something one could easily find. The last time Lai Yi had managed to gather honey was pure luck. He brought Neil to the same spot, but as expected, the bees had already moved away.
There were animal footprints on the ground from passing creatures. Lai Yi set up two traps in suitable locations and marked them to prevent villagers from accidentally stepping on them.
“Brother.”
Neil spoke softly, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s.
“Speak normally. It’s fine.”
“There are wood ears over there.”
Lai Yi followed Neil’s pointing finger and indeed spotted wood ears, though they weren’t as good as the ones they had gathered last time.
“Should we pick them?”
Neil asked.
“Yes!”
The two brothers began gathering wood ears.
“Brother, there are more over there!”
Neil spotted some more.
It just goes to show how sharp young people’s eyesight is.
Lai Yi marveled inwardly as he and Neil cleared the area of wood ears.
The brothers wandered around, stopping here and there, and gathered two baskets full of wild vegetables and berries. But they still couldn’t find a beehive. Seeing that it was about time, Lai Yi brought Neil back home.
The honey would have to wait for another time. Lai Yi thought it would be more reliable to just buy sugar from the town.