As they reached the entrance of the marketplace, the sky had just brightened.
Bai Zhi’er, wearing a hood, stood there in a small bundle.
She blinked her big, watery eyes, watching as her brother Bai Yaoyu first took out a long piece of cloth and spread it on the ground.
Then, he moved two baskets of potatoes from the cart and dumped them onto the cloth.
Bai Zhi’er’s long eyelashes fluttered, her voice soft and sweet: "Brother, are we just selling potatoes?"
Bai Yaoyu didn’t look up, arranging the potatoes neatly on the cloth with his hands.
"Yes, they’re not easy to sell."
After all, potatoes were something every household had.
Wealthy families didn’t lack potatoes to eat.
And slightly poorer families grew them themselves, so they didn’t lack them either.
Bai Yaoyu had no choice; the money he had left could only be used to buy some cheap potatoes and then sell them at a slightly higher price.
Otherwise, if he went to do odd jobs or work as a waiter in a tavern, with his impatient and quick-tempered character, he couldn’t do it.
Looking at his little sister’s tender, fair little face, Bai Yaoyu reached out and pulled her close to his side.
The only small stool they had brought was left for Bai Zhi’er to sit on.
"If you get tired, tell me, and I’ll hold you. Potatoes are hard to sell. Every time I come, I have to stand for most of the day, sometimes even without selling out by the day’s end."
Bai Yaoyu said, touching Bai Zhi’er’s little face, noting her nose was already red from the cold.
"Later, you can sit in the cart; don’t stay out here with me in the wind," Bai Yaoyu said, feeling distressed.
Bai Zhi’er shook her little head, very obedient: "Zhi Bao is not afraid of the cold; I want to stay with brother."
The marketplace gradually became more crowded with vendors, and there were more shouts.
Bai Zhi’er’s eyes were fixed on a stall across the way that sold buns.
Each time the steamer was opened, steaming hot vapor dispersed, revealing buns with thin skin and substantial filling.
Bai Zhi’er licked her lips with her pink little tongue.
Her little stomach grumbled loudly without manners.
She hadn’t had a chance to eat breakfast since getting up this morning.
Seeing this, Bai Yaoyu felt even more guilty.
He took out the day’s ration of dry food he had prepared for himself from his waist pouch.
A hard, thin piece of naan bread.
"Sister, eat this to fill your stomach. Once we sell some potatoes, I’ll take you to eat first."
He broke off a small piece and handed it to Bai Zhi’er.
The little one used her chubby fingers to pinch it.
First, she put it under her little nose to smell it.
Hmm, it only had a sesame fragrance.
She opened her mouth but found her little teeth too tender to bite through the cold piece of bread!
Bai Zhi’er used all her strength, pulling hard, and only then managed to bite off a small piece.
She chewed with effort, her eyes starting to water at the edges.
Seeing his sister’s pitiful state,
Bai Yaoyu couldn’t bear it in his heart.
He walked over to the bun stall across the way: "Boss, could you let me have a meat bun on credit? As soon as I sell some potatoes, I’ll pay you back immediately."
The vendor at the bun stand saw that such a strong young man was asking for credit for a bun!
Instantly waved his hand: "Go, go, don’t make trouble. A meat bun is only five cents, and you still want credit! Why don’t you just go beg instead!"
These words were so harsh, Bai Yaoyu’s brows furrowed, and he was about to become angry.
Suddenly, a soft little hand tugged at his sleeve.
Bai Yaoyu turned around to see Bai Zhi’er lifting her little face, her big watery eyes bright and black.
"Brother, I’m not hungry. Zhi’er can eat the bread, no need for buns."
At this moment, the steamer opened again, and Bai Zhi’er cast another longing glance, then turned her gaze away.
Her little face puffed up, deciding to be strong and no longer crave meat buns!