"Why have you come to town at this time? Have you eaten?" Xu Nianji asked as he walked.
Xu Nianji first wiped a rock under the big tree with his sleeve, and then the three siblings sat down together.
"We have eaten, my second brother and I ate before coming over."
Xu Nianhua said with a smile.
As soon as Xu Nian’an opened the lunch box, the delicious meatballs, braised meatballs, looked appetizing.
"Big brother, eat quickly."
Xu Nian’an came forward, smelling the scent of the meatballs. Even though he had already eaten two sweet potatoes and two meatballs, he couldn’t help but salivate.
"You should have left it at home to eat, why did you bring it for me?" Xu Nianji glanced at the meatballs. Although he wanted to eat, thinking of his parents and younger siblings at home, he looked away.
"We have already eaten at home, these are specifically for you, big brother," Xu Nianhua said cheerfully. "Big brother, please eat, we walked here. If you don’t eat now, it might spoil from the heat."
"Did you eat too?" Xu Nianji suspiciously sized up Xu Nian’an, then turned to Xu Nianhua. Seeing them both nodding in unison, he still felt a bit doubtful.
He knew they were poor at home.
"We even had bone stewed with flat beans yesterday. If it wasn’t likely to spoil, we would definitely have saved a bowl for you," Xu Nian’an added. "We really have eaten, these are left for you."
"You eat first, otherwise, I won’t eat."
Xu Nianji still felt unsure.
Eventually, Xu Nianhua ate another one, and Xu Nian’an ate two.
Xu Nian’an cautiously looked around, ensuring no one was nearby and that no one was coming. Then he lowered his voice, "My little sister and I have been selling Mung Bean Jelly in town. In three days, we’ve made more than twenty-four yuan."
As Xu Nianji was tasting a meatball, which was very tasty, he was startled by Xu Nian’an’s words, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Xu Nian’an and Xu Nianhua shared how they had been selling Mung Bean Jelly these past few days. Xu Nianji, after a long silence, praised, "You have both grown up, and you did very well."
"Big brother, selling Mung Bean Jelly is just a temporary thing. If, if my second brother and I can find more stable jobs, you shouldn’t go to the brick factory anymore."
Seeing the look in Xu Nianji’s eyes, clearly skinnier and darker than even Xu Nian’an, who was only two years younger, Xu Nianhua’s heart ached. Seeing the food he ate today, Xu Nianhua felt even more pity. Such terrible food, and yet such hard labor.
"Yeah, big brother, I think doing business is quite profitable. It would be great to have a long-term business," Xu Nian’an, tasting the sweetness of success, was eager to find a long-standing business opportunity.
"Alright, as long as there’s a suitable opportunity, I will definitely quit the brick factory."
Xu Nianji felt motivated, his younger siblings were so sensible, and he, as the eldest, could not lag behind.
"By the way, who made these meatballs? They’re delicious." Xu Nianji felt especially pleased with this meal.
He finished every last bit of the meatballs and rice, finally feeling full for once.
Xu Nianhua stood up happily and said, "Big brother, if you like them, I’ll make them for you again next time."
Although making meatballs was a bit of a hassle, it was quite convenient to bring them for Xu Nianji to eat.
"No need to go through such trouble, I have food and lodging here, you don’t need to worry about me. Instead, you two be careful on your way back and forth. It’s very hot now, don’t get heatstroke."