Jiang Ya’s hair was washed quickly.

Ye Li dried it with a towel, waiting until it stopped dripping before bringing over a stool and having Jiang Mai lie down on it.

Jiang Mai obeyed and stretched out on the stool bed.

Watching Ye Li carry the wooden bucket to the kitchen for hot water, he blinked, suddenly feeling like a pig laid out on the table awaiting slaughter during the New Year…

He shook his head, banishing the strange thought.

No way!

That blockhead really changed—he was so gentle washing Ya-ger’s hair just now.

He felt awkward, yet also hopeful.

Ye Li returned carrying the wooden bucket.

“Xiao Ya, pour slowly. Don’t splash water on your second brother’s face.”

Ye Li handed the dipper to Jiang Ya.

“Okay.” Jiang Ya nodded his little head earnestly.

His small hand gripped the dipper, scooping half a scoop of water. Then, holding the dipper with both hands, he let the thread-like stream of hot water slowly flow onto Jiang Mai’s hair.

He aimed down at the hairline, soaking it completely, yet not a single droplet touched Jiang Mai’s little face.

“So steady! Xiao Ya, you’re amazing.”

Ye Li couldn’t help but praise him.

Jiang Ya immediately felt a surge of pride, his little mouth pursed in a smile that spread across his cheeks.

He was so capable!

“Since Ya-ger is so skilled, you’ll get an extra egg for lunch as a reward.”

“Wow.” Jiang Ya’s eyes lit up instantly.

He loved eggs!

He nodded his little head eagerly: “Yes, yes!”

Jiang Mai couldn’t help but interject: “We save eggs to trade for money.”

Of course, that was before.

Ever since that good-for-nothing married into the family, they hadn’t managed to save a single egg.

They’d finally managed to save a few eggs these past few days, and now they were going to eat them?

“Now all three of us can earn money. We don’t need to worry about the cost of a few eggs.”

“Xiao Mai, you did a great job pouring water earlier—you didn’t splash water in Ya-ger’s eyes. You’ll get an extra egg for lunch as a reward. Don’t you want to eat eggs?”

Ye Li asked while lathering soap into his hair.

Jiang Mai: “…”

Of course, he wanted to!

“Second Brother, come on, eat! We both earn wages every day now.”

Jiang Ya urged.

“Exactly. What’s a few eggs? Just sell tofu puffs for two more days, and I’ll buy meat in the county town. We’ll stew it.”

Ye Li declared.

After days of nothing but bean curd residue and tofu, his mouth felt like it could grow birds from being so bland.

As a modern person, how could he endure this?

He needed to eat and drink!

Besides, too much tofu wasn’t good for him.

It could lead to kidney stones.

It was time to upgrade their meals.

He worked himself to death grinding grain every dawn. If he couldn’t eat and drink properly, he might as well be dead.

At the mention of meat, Jiang Ya’s eyes lit up even brighter.

Earlier, when Ye Li praised him, he’d pursed his lips, smiling shyly and reserved.

But now, he couldn’t hold back his excitement. His little face broke into a huge grin: “Brother Li, are we really stewing meat?”

“Of course. I want meat too. Your second brother definitely wants some, too.”

“Once we buy the meat, the three of us will gnaw on big bones to our hearts’ content.”

“It’s settled then. I’ll go buy the meat in a couple of days.”

Ye Li instructed Jiang Ya, “Xiao Ya, keep pouring water. It’s time to rinse.”

“Got it!” Motivated by the promise of big bones, Jiang Ya answered loudly.

Only then did Jiang Mai realize his hair was nearly washed.

He felt a bit dazed.

That scatterbrain actually washed his and his brother’s hair, and now he’s stewing meat…

“Alright, you and Ya-ger stand in the sun to dry your hair. I need to make lunch.”

Ye Li wrapped a dry towel around Jiang Mai’s head and helped him up from the stool.

Ignoring Jiang Mai’s puzzled and astonished gaze, he carried the wooden tub into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

The Jiang family kept five hens. In spring, the hens laid eggs diligently, yielding five eggs a day.

In the six days since his arrival, he had already saved up thirty eggs.

The garlic shoots in the vegetable garden were nearly picked clean, but the garlic shoots paired perfectly with eggs. He plucked a few more shoots and first stir-fried them with eggs.

The rich aroma not only filled the entire kitchen but also drew Jiang Ya inside.

Ye Li served him a tender piece of scrambled egg, making the little one grin with delight.

Today called for steamed corn cakes again, so Ye Li casually placed two eggs on the steamer rack.

This was a reward for the two little ones.

Lunch was barely ready when customers arrived to buy tofu.

By the time Ye Liang arrived, ten pounds of tofu had already sold.

Ye Liang was delighted—perfect timing. The remaining tofu would be fried into puffs and skewers.

But judging by today’s demand, even frying it all wouldn’t be enough.

He grinned at Ye Li and said, “Li-ger, make extra tofu tomorrow. I reckon even twenty pounds would sell out completely.”

“…I’ll try my best.”

Ye Li dared not make any promises.

Grinding the millstone was exhausting!

But such a good money-making opportunity couldn’t be wasted.

He suggested to Ye Liang, “Brother, besides fried tofu puffs and skewers, you could also boil eggs and make firm tofu. Buy a block of tofu when you pass through the county town on your way home.”

Ye Liang nodded immediately upon hearing this.

Firm tofu was doable.

But eggs carried some risk. He’d start with five tomorrow to test the waters. If unsold, they could just have one each.

After Ye Liang left carrying the tofu puffs and skewers, Ye Li began soaking the soybeans.

He added five extra pounds of soybeans to the wooden tub.

One pound of soybeans yielded one and a half pounds of tofu puffs. Five extra pounds meant seven and a half pounds more.

But it still wouldn’t be enough to sell.

Following Ye Li’s instructions, Ye Liang prepared some firm tofu and eggs.

These two items actually sold quite well.

But most customers came specifically for the tofu puffs and large skewers.

Delicious tofu and eggs could be found elsewhere, but tofu puffs and large skewers were unique to Liu’s Pancake Stall!

However, eighteen pounds of tofu puffs and large skewers per day was Ye Li’s absolute limit.

His body was that of a young boy, lacking the strength of a true man. Grinding the stone mill for over half an hour each day, starting at three in the morning, left him drenched in sweat, his arms trembling afterward. Increasing the output was impossible.

Even if Ye Liang discounted each pound by one wen, he simply couldn’t grind more.

Ye Liang felt deeply regretful.

He could indeed operate the mill.

But after grinding the soybeans into milk, he still had to make tofu. After the tofu was made, it had to be fried. Only after frying could he deliver the tofu puffs and large skewers to Darong Village.

Time-wise, he simply couldn’t complete this entire process within a single day.

Just as Ye Liang was fretting, that day, after breakfast, Ye Li stuffed two hundred coins into his pocket and headed to the county town in high spirits.

Today marked his ninth day since crossing over—finally, he’d get to explore!

Yezhaopo was only three li from the county town, so he soon reached the city gate.

The gate towered over ten meters high.

Two constables stood at the entrance, requiring visitors to state their purpose for entering.

The check wasn’t strict. Ye Li simply said he was shopping, and the constables let him through.

He headed straight for the butcher shop.

He arrived a bit late; the prime cuts like pork belly and lard had already sold out.

So he picked out four marrow bones.

Marrow bones were perfect for stewing. The meat was firm yet tender, offering excellent texture.

They were also cheaper than spare ribs.

Twelve wen per catty.

But the marrow bones had little meat, so he bought two catties of hind leg meat as well.

He asked the shopkeeper to chop the marrow bones into two pieces. He placed the bones and meat into his basket, then counted out over eighty copper coins with a twinge of pain and handed them to the shopkeeper.

The meat smelled delicious, but it was expensive!

A day’s earnings are gone.

The sting lasted only a moment. He hoisted the basket and went to buy some Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and black pepper.

Ginger wasn’t in season, so he bought a small jar of yellow rice wine instead, planning to use it to remove any gamey smell.

That cost him another forty-odd coins.

He wasted no time and hurried home.

Arriving home, he had only one iron pot, so he first stir-fried the hind leg meat with garlic shoots.

Only after finishing that did he begin blanching the marrow bones.

As the water came to a boil, Ye Li was just skimming the scum from the surface when Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya returned.

Jiang Ya tossed his grass-filled basket onto the ground the moment he entered the courtyard, then scampered toward the kitchen: “Brother Li, Brother Li! Did you buy meat?”

Seeing this, Jiang Mai set down his own basket.

He followed slowly.

Just then, Ye Li’s voice drifted from the kitchen, tinged with a smile: “I did.”

At those two words, Jiang Ya let out a cheer and ran even faster.

Once inside the kitchen, he hurried over to the stove with his short legs, then stood on tiptoe to peer into the iron pot.

Seeing the bones inside, he looked surprised. “You bought so much?”

“Your eldest brother is coming back tomorrow. I bought four marrow bones, and the butcher chopped them into eight smaller pieces. That’s two pieces each for the four of us.”

Ye Li explained with a warm smile.

Two pieces each?

Jiang Ya’s eyes instantly widened. He lifted his little head from the pot and looked up at Ye Li: “Can I have two, too?”

“Of course. You’re part of this family too.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ya’s little face instantly lit up with a huge smile.

Overwhelmed with joy, he scratched his head shyly and asked, “Brother Li, can I tend the fire for you?”

“Sure, you can tend the fire.”

Ye Li nodded.

Just then, Jiang Mai finally appeared at the kitchen door.

Jiang Ya immediately waved at him. “Second Brother! There are eight big bones in the pot—two for each of us!”

Jiang Mai had actually heard Ye Li’s words.

He felt pleased inside, though his expression remained calm. “Then tend the fire well. I’ll go chop some pig grass.”

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Jiang Ya nodded like a chick pecking at grain.

He loved tending the fire!

Ye Li, however, felt a bit amused.

This Jiang Mai was actually willing to let Jiang Ya be alone with him.

Not bad. His efforts hadn’t been in vain.

Still, he called Jiang Mai back and asked him to take a bowl of garlic shoots stir-fried with pork hind leg to Jiang Dahe.

Jiang Dahe was his creditor and, in a way, the foster father of the two youngsters. Now that his family was eating meat, Jiang Dahe couldn’t be left out.

The large bones needed a long stew. When the villagers came to buy tofu, Ye Li, Jiang Mai, and Jiang Ya still hadn’t eaten lunch.

Seeing the Jiang family eating meat on a non-holiday day, the villagers couldn’t help but feel a bit moved.

The Jiang family’s fortunes had truly turned for the better.

By the time Ye Liang arrived, the bone broth was simmering.

Ye Li poured him a large bowl of broth and offered him one of his own bones.

Ye Liang refused to take it, fearing Ye Li would insist, so he simply carried the broth out of the kitchen.

But Ye Li felt he’d worked hard these past days, walking nearly fifty miles daily. He needed some meat to replenish his strength.

Ye Li grabbed half a marrowbone, trying to force it into his bowl. He had no choice but to keep dodging, and the brothers ended up circling each other in the courtyard.

Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya, the two little ones, stood at the kitchen doorway, gnawing on bones while watching the commotion.

Just then, a lean figure appeared at the courtyard gate.

The figure was tall, commanding attention. All four turned toward the gate simultaneously.

Recognizing the figure, Ye Liang gasped, “Xiao Ji? Why are you back now?”

Ye Li blinked, slowly lowering the bone he held aloft.

Jiang Mai and Jiang Ya burst into delighted shouts, “Big Brother!”

Forgetting their bones, they clutched them tightly and dashed toward the figure at the gate.

Jiang Ji stood silently by the entrance, his gaze drifting slowly toward the courtyard gate.

Yes, this was indeed his home.

The Spring Festival couplets he’d personally written still hung on either side.

The two little ones running toward him were undoubtedly his younger brothers.

But what happened?!