The pancake-wrapped skewers had quite a few repeat customers.

Besides Zhu Xing, several other patrons had also arrived early in the morning.

However, for many, a pancake-wrapped skewer costing four or five wen was truly expensive.

Only someone like Zhu Xing, from a well-off family, could afford to buy several at once—and even do so two days in a row.

That would cost dozens of wen—enough to buy two jin of pork lard!

With money for pork lard, who would splurge on pancakes and tofu?

But these pancake-wrapped skewers were delicious.

Exceptionally delicious.

Spicy tofu puffs and large skewers paired with chewy pancakes—one bite brought pure satisfaction and indulgence.

They crave it, yet it feels too pricey.

But there was a workaround.

Two regulars from town arrived with bowls. They skipped the pancakes, buying only the tofu puffs and skewers.

They planned to sandwich them in homemade steamed buns.

This way, a bowl costs just a few coins.

Others brought their own flatbreads or steamed buns.

A nearby candy vendor, who yesterday couldn’t bring himself to spend three wen on the cheapest combo, today arrived with corn flatbreads he’d baked himself. He bought a large skewer for one wen and asked Liu Yi to add extra sauce.

Liu Yi smiled and happily obliged every request.

Whether they bought a lot or a little, as long as they came to his stall, that was enough.

Besides, his parents’ pancake stall was definitely making more money than before.

At the hour of the Snake, a ship docked.

After the ship came ashore, travelers and merchants disembarked, hiring carriages in Baxian Town to head toward Beiyang County.

Beiyang County had escort agencies and numerous carriage companies, large and small, from which travelers and merchants could hire vehicles to journey to various northern destinations.

Soon after, a small caravan approached from the wharf, its goods filling seven or eight donkey carts.

Over a dozen burly guards escorted the carts.

Several other assistants followed.

Their leader wore silk robes and sported a bulging belly—clearly no stranger to wealth.

This caravan chose to enter town now, likely seeking provisions.

Though Baxian Town had a full range of shops, it paled in comparison to Beiyang County. Many merchants and travelers would choose to rest and refuel in Beiyang County instead.

Spotting the small caravan approaching, Liu Yi quickly began hawking his wares loudly.

“Red oil sesame sauce tofu puffs! Delicious tofu puffs! Pancakes stuffed with tofu puffs! Baxian Town specialty! Only available here!”

The merchant heard the call and glanced toward the pancake stall.

Arriving in unfamiliar territory, most people instinctively look when they hear the word “specialty.”

Especially since this caravan had entered town precisely to eat some noodle dishes.

Shipboard meals were rice-based and rather monotonous; now ashore, they craved a change of pace.

But tofu puffs?

When did Baxian Town develop such a specialty?

Puzzled, the merchant stepped toward the pancake stall.

Upon reaching the stall and seeing the tempting appearance of the tofu puffs in the clay pot, he didn’t wait for Liu Yi to greet him. Instead, he asked proactively, “Are these tofu puffs?”

“Yes, these are fried tofu puffs. Spicy and crispy, three for a wen. They’re perfect with pancakes—everyone who tries them raves about them.”

Liu Yi explained enthusiastically.

Hearing this, the merchant swallowed discreetly. “Give me a pancake and two wen’s worth of tofu puffs.”

Liu Yi promptly handed him the pancake.

The six tofu puffs were quite a lot. The red oil not only soaked into the pancake but dripped excessively down its sides.

This sight whetted the merchant’s appetite. He opened his mouth wide and took a bite.

After just one chew, his eyes lit up.

At that moment, an assistant behind him couldn’t help but ask, “Boss, is it good?”

The merchant turned to find not just his assistants staring, but all ten burly men gazing at him too!

Well, today he’d be the generous boss. He’d just eat plain flatbread for the next few meals.

He swallowed his bite and stepped aside. “Try some yourselves.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the servants and burly men instantly swarmed the stall.

Liu Yi, along with his parents, beamed with joy.

By the time the caravan departed, the clay pots held only the dregs of tofu puffs, skewered meat, and spinach.

Each of them had eaten three cakes, yet they still claimed they weren’t full and wanted to go eat a bowl of noodles.

Ye Liang poured the contents of the three clay pots into one large pot. Then, carrying the two empty pots home, he prepared to head to Yezaopo to fetch tomorrow’s batch of tofu puffs.

At the Jiang residence, after breakfast, Ye Li dug out the soapberries his predecessor had bought in the county town. He also retrieved a clay stove from the pantry, placed the pot on it, lit the fire, and began boiling the soapberries.

After over an hour of simmering, he produced a large bowl of soapberry liquid.

Just then, the hot water in the large iron pot was ready. He began washing his hair.

Just as he finished washing, the two little ones, Jiang Mai and Ya-ger, returned carrying pig grass.

While drying his hair with a towel, he asked, “ Xiao Mai, Ya-ger, do you two want to wash your hair?”

“No.”

Jiang Mai set down the basket beside the vegetable garden and answered without hesitation.

Jiang Ya, however, scratched his head with his little hand. He hadn’t washed it in days, and it was starting to itch…

“Why not? You two haven’t washed in ages! Your hair’s greasy.”

Ye Li asked curiously.

“…”

Jiang Mai fell silent.

He just instinctively didn’t want to listen to Ye Li.

Truthfully, his head was itchy, too.

Seeing Jiang Mai’s silence, Ye Li turned to Ya-ger: “ Ya-ger, there’s hot water in the pot and soapberry liquid. Shall I wash your hair?”

Wash his own hair?

Ya-ger’s eyes widened instantly.

But then Jiang Mai tugged his small hand. Snapping out of his shock, he immediately shook his little head.

His second brother had said not to get too close to Brother Li.

Who knew if Brother Li might suddenly hit him?

“I won’t wash it,” he suppressed his inner desire.

But after saying that, he couldn’t help raising his small hand to scratch his head again.

It was so itchy.

“If you don’t wash it, then you won’t be Jiang Ya anymore, you know.”

Ye Li said meaningfully.

“Huh?”

Jiang Ya’s little face froze, his big, dark eyes staring at Ye Li: “Then who am I?”

“You’re stinky Jiang Ya.”

Jiang Mai: “…”

Ya-ger’s little face scrunched up like a steamed bun.

He didn’t want to become stinky.

Just as he was fretting, Ye Li beckoned to him: “Ya-ger, I have a new way to wash your hair. Not only is it very comfortable, but the soapberry liquid won’t get in your eyes. Want to try it?”

Soapberry liquid won’t get in his eyes?

There’s actually a way like that?

Jiang Ya immediately lifted his little stubby legs and walked toward Ye Li.

Soapberry liquid getting in your eyes feels awful.

But just then, Jiang Mai tugged at him again.

He lifted his little head to look at Jiang Mai: “Second Brother?”

Jiang Mai was conflicted, really conflicted.

“Xiao Mai, you can watch from the sidelines. If I hit Ya-ger, you can pull him away. I’m your brother, right? Does Ya-ger have to keep avoiding me forever?”

Just then, Ye Li spoke again, hitting Jiang Mai’s thoughts right on the nose.

Jiang Mai: “…”

He took Ya-ger’s hand and walked toward Ye Li.

Whether that good-for-nothing had changed or not—they’d find out soon enough.

Truthfully, with his short legs, Xiao Mai couldn’t outrun that fool. Worst case, he’d just stand in front of Ya-ger and let the fool hit him instead.

“That’s more like it. I’ll go fetch the stools.”

Ye Li said, tying up Ya-ger’s hair before heading into the kitchen.

His so-called new hair-washing method involved lying down.

He arranged three stools in a row, spaced apart, and had Jiang Ya lie down on them.

The little guy was short, so three stools were perfectly sufficient.

Next, he scooped hot water into a wooden tub, then added some cool water to balance the temperature.

Once the temperature was just right, he carried the tub with one hand and a dipper in the other as he stepped out of the kitchen.

Reaching Jiang Ya-ger’s side, he handed the dipper to Jiang Mai.

“Xiao Mai, scoop water and pour it slowly over Ya-ger’s head. I’ll take care of scrubbing his hair.”

Jiang Mai felt a bit flustered. Was he actually supposed to help?

Jiang Ya lay still, his big eyes turning toward Jiang Mai. He’d been fidgeting nervously, his little hands twisting and twisting at the hem of his shirt.

But now his second brother was helping wash him, too.

His heart settled considerably.

He even found the energy to remind Jiang Mai, “Second Brother, pour slowly. Don’t get water in my eyes.”

“…Okay.”

Jiang Mai scooped water with a ladle, holding it with both hands as he slowly poured it over Jiang Ya’s head.

Once Jiang Ya’s hair was completely soaked, Ye Li scooped soapberry liquid from the bowl and applied it, then began massaging, rubbing, and scratching.

The itchy spots vanished instantly as his fingers glided over them.

Moreover, his touch was just right—pressing against her scalp felt incredibly soothing.

Jiang Ya’s tense little body gradually relaxed. His big, dark eyes darted around, glancing at his second brother before straining upward to look at Ye Li.

Ye Li chuckled at his expression: “Ya-ger, does that feel good?”

Jiang Ya blinked and answered earnestly, “Comfy.”

“How about I wash you like this from now on?” Ye Li asked again.

This time, Jiang Ya didn’t answer. He just stared wide-eyed at Jiang Mai.

Ye Li turned to look at Jiang Mai too, smiling as he said, “ Xiao Mai, I’ll wash you like this later too.”

“…No need.”

He was old enough to wash himself.

But judging by Ya-ger’s expression, he really did seem to enjoy it…

“You and Ya-ger are brothers, only two years apart. What Ya-ger gets, you should get too.”

“Otherwise, when your eldest brother comes back, he’ll definitely accuse me of favoring one over the other.”

Ye Li’s expression turned worried. “By the way, are you just waiting for your big brother to come back so you can tattle on me?”

Jiang Mai’s eyes widened instantly. “No!”

He shot Ye Li a sullen look. He wasn’t going to tattle.

Big Brother worked so hard every day, studying and doing odd jobs.

If he went and said all sorts of nonsense, how could Big Brother concentrate on his studies?

Last time, his older brother had unexpectedly returned home and caught the good-for-nothing beating him and Ya-ger.

“So you’re not planning to tattle? Does that mean you’re going to praise me?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Mai: “…”

“Just telling the truth is praise enough. I want you to praise me more, so lie down nicely later, and Ya-ger and I will wash you too.”

Jiang Ya overheard this and quickly tugged at Jiang Mai’s sleeve with his little hand: “Second Brother, it’s so nice when we wash each other.”

Jiang Mai: “…”

He shot Ye Li a slightly awkward glance.

Seeing Ye Li smiling warmly at him, he immediately lowered his eyes.

After a long moment, he finally murmured a soft “Mhm.”

He did want to experience having his hair washed while lying down…

As long as Ye Li actually washed it for him, when Big Brother returned, he would definitely speak well of Ye Li.

Everyone in the Ye family was kind except Ye Li. His Big Brother wouldn’t divorce Ye Li.

He hoped more than anyone that his brother’s husband had truly changed.