The female shop assistant saw Liu Duo wearing the brocade garment and wondered, How could this girl afford that?
Liu Duo arrived downstairs and raised her brow. “Next time I come here, I have some suggestions for Miss Fang. She can’t employ just anyone to work here. She has to avoid offending potential customers!”
She had nearly forgotten. This shop assistant was undependable and too snobbish.
As the shop assistant saw them off, she could feel her eye twitching, like she might have bad luck soon.
“Liu, let’s go home. We got what we came here for.” It seemed to be almost noon.
“Little Duo, you and Mo can go first, maybe to Uncle Wang’s (Wang Tuozi’s) ox-cart, or anywhere else to shop around. I’m going to the alley to see if there’s any work I can do. Then I’ll come back to get you.” With that, Liu passed his money bag to Liu Duo.
Men gathered at the alley looking for work, so bringing Liu Duo there was inconvenient.
“Liu, you don’t have to look for odd jobs now. When Miss Fang makes and sells her products, we’ll have income.”
He patted her on the head, “That’s different. That’s your money, Little Duo. I am young and strong, so it’s a pity if I don’t work in my prime. Go on. I’ll be right back.”
“Then I’ll go with you.” She did not oppose Ye Liu’s persistence. After all a man’s dignity must not be crushed.
“Ah, Little Duo, would you miss me even for a while? Don’t rush, I’ll be back very soon, and I’ll stay with you tonight, alright?” He winked at her.
What conduct! It was his intention to go without her. She rolled her eyes and turned around. Fine then. She wasn’t going. He could have said so from the get-go. It wasn’t like she cared. Geez…
Ye Liu watched her leave, throwing a little tantrum, and smiled. “Mo, keep her company, and don’t lose her. She’s not familiar with the streets. And don’t anger her again. You hear me!”
He nodded in agreement and caught up with her.
After a short distance, Liu Duo looked down and checked the money bag. There was about thirty wen in there. Quite a handsome amount.
Is this my allowance? She thought happily, no longer upset.
Ye Mo followed beside her and watched her actions. Unknowingly, he said, “We don’t have money left at home, and Ling needs to buy his medicine.”
She tightened the money bag and placed it around her waist. Darn, how could she have forgotten the killjoy!
She eyed him once and ignored him, and she continued with her shopping. She was just checking how much money they had, not that she planned on buying anything. Why did he have to be so defensive and remind her!
Don’t want me to spend? Then I will! Determined, she got serious as she explored the shops.
Ye Mo realised she was ignoring him. What did he do? He didn’t even say anything!
The fool was rather stubborn. He walked behind her, wondering what he had done wrong.
In one stall, there were all sorts of hairpins carved from wood. This attracted Liu Duo, as she stopped in her tracks to look at them.
She picked one up to take a good look. The ones that Liu and his brothers wore to tie their hair were made of twine
“Miss, you can buy one if you like. It’s cheap, only five wen,” the vendor quickly came to great her. He saw her dressed in brocade and guessed that she must be rich.
The vendor was a young man and was quite good-looking, with black hair tied halfway with a wooden hairpin. It certainly looked better than the way Liu and the rest of them tied their hair.
The hairpins also came in different lengths. A longer one should be able to tie everything up.
Ye Mo saw Liu Duo gazing at the young vendor. Rage ensued!
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