Chapter Eleven: The Market

  "Father is really something! How could he flog Sixth Brother again?"

  In the room, after Zhe Saihua and other women left, Ba Mei looked at Liu Yanzhao lying on the bed and finally couldn't help but whisper her complaints.

  "It's not Dad's fault, is it? Six Ge's beating was well-deserved. It's just as well that we can take a break for a few days and stay at home to accompany you, isn't it?"

  After listening to Liu Yan Zhao's words, Ba Mei's small face relaxed a lot. "I don't understand things in the military camp, but Sixth Brother, your injury is really nothing serious?"

  "You don't know your sixth brother's physique? This little injury is nothing to worry about, Dr. Luo also gave him medicine just now, and he'll be able to get out of bed and move around soon!"

  Liu Yanzhao smiled as he spoke, but soon his smiling face wrinkled up. Just now, he accidentally moved the wound, and the words had already left his mouth. He didn't dare to cry out in pain, so he could only endure it silently, not daring to move his body again.

  Liu Yanzhao was able to get out of bed and move around after two more days, while Qi Lang got out of bed a day earlier than him. However, because his injury had not fully healed, he did not go to the camp for training.

  For this, Liu Yanzhao had secretly wondered that the seventh brother was only two years older than him, how could his physical strength be so different? It seems that in the future, he will have to train Seventh Brother well.

  Qilang suddenly felt a chill in his heart as he walked towards Liu Yanzhao's residence, and was very surprised. In this hot season, how could he have such a feeling?

  Perhaps it was the heavy dew of last night, shook his body and felt much more comfortable, then continued to walk towards Liu Yanzhao's courtyard.

  "Sixth Brother!"

  As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, Liu Yanyi saw three figures sitting on the steps, they must be talking about something interesting, so he hurriedly walked up with a quickened pace, which was also what he discovered when he came to visit yesterday out of boredom.

  At first, Qi Lang was not interested in the affairs of this daughter's family, but after listening to it, he found it had a different flavor. Now that he couldn't hear the rest, he felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

  "Didn't even wait for me to start, what were we talking about again?"

  Sat beside Liu Yanzhao, Qilang slightly resentful, but it attracted the dissatisfaction of Bajie, just as he was listening intently, he was interrupted by someone, and immediately puffed up his face to glare at him.

  Liu Yanshu hastily covered his mouth, shrunk his neck and pretended not to argue with him, while Liu Yanzhao lost interest in continuing the conversation.

  "Never mind, let's stop here for today, Fish and Pai Feng should go to their mother's place to do their homework."

  "Why did Sixth Brother stop talking as soon as I came?"

  Qilang's words were tinged with a hint of loss, while Bajie was tugging at Liu Yanzhao's sleeve. "Sixth Brother, tell us another story! Recently, the young lady taught by our mother doesn't like the 'Admonitions for Women' as much; instead, she finds your 'Romance of the Western Chamber' more interesting."

  What's wrong with girls?

  This book Liu Yanzhao hasn't read, but from the name can guess what it says, this is also embarrassing for Eighth Sister's temperament.

  Looking at her reluctant appearance, Liu Yanzhao pinched Ba Mei's small face, "Since mother has taken the trouble to teach you, Yu Er and Pai Feng should learn well, but whether to follow what is said in the book later can be decided separately."

  "Is the young master saying that this woman can be ignored?"

  After being in contact with Liu Yanzhao for a few days, this straightforward person's character gradually unfolded, and he was no longer as reserved as before.

  "I didn't say that," Liu Yanzhao winked at the two of them, "How about this, since Sixth Brother is free today, take them out for a walk, and Fishy won't be pouting anymore, right?"

  "Really? Brother Liu?"

  When Liu Yanzhao said he wanted to take her out for a walk, Ba Mei was overjoyed and Qi Lang also looked very excited. "Sixth brother, bring your younger brother along, I've been lying in bed for several days, it's suffocating me."

  "Alright, let's go!"

  Seeing the two like this, Liu Yanzhao was also somewhat happy in his heart. After all, he had been here for some days and hadn't really gone out to play yet. Now it's just right to take advantage of the injury to rest and go out to see things.

  "Let's go with the wind, and at noon, I'll ask He Shu to send someone to help your mother with the chores."

  With these words, the distant Baofeng's face suddenly revealed a sweet smile, and she ran up with small steps to catch up with Bamai.

  Liu Yanzhao took a few people and left, but before leaving the mansion, he specially instructed Liu He, the housekeeper, to avoid causing inconvenience to the family because they couldn't find them.

  He rummaged through his pouch and pulled out some silver, shaking it. Liu Yanzhao was like a nouveau riche, "If I see something I like, I'll just buy it, my brother doesn't lack money!"

  One sentence made Qilang and Bamei laugh endlessly, they rushed out first, heading towards the street where goods were sold, at this time, they didn't care about the hot weather in June.

  "Lei Feng, why didn't you go with them?"

  Liu Yanzhao smiled and asked a question, but the other just lowered his head, twisting the hem of his clothes with his small hand, not making a sound.

  Holding onto the small hand of Piao Feng, Liu Yan Zhao led her forward, "The words I said earlier aren't just applicable to those two guys, but also to you. If you see something you like, just take it. Can't you spend all the silver here?"

  As he spoke, Liu Yanzhao placed a silver ingot in front of Piaofeng, pretending to be one of those rich young masters, making her laugh and reveal two lovely small dimples again.

  "The slave thanks Sixth Master, but the windbreaker is for the well-being of life in the mansion and does not lack things to use."

  Although he was adapting with great effort, Liu Yanzhao still couldn't get used to the people close to him calling themselves slaves. So he spoke in a serious tone, "From now on, don't use the words 'slave' or 'servant' in front of me again. You and Eighth Sister are about the same age, you're both my younger sisters, understand?"

  "Sixth Master, I understand... it's clear as wind..."

  The wind was blowing gently, and her voice was extremely soft, Liu Yanzhao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, this little girl was still so reserved.

  He looked her up and down, her skirt was clean but had been washed white by water, and the hairpin that tied her hair was a yellowed bone pin. He roughly knew what to buy for Pai Feng, but Liu Yan Zhao didn't say it out loud, he just pulled her along to find Qi Lang and Er Lang.

  Although there were dangers of being attacked by the Song Dynasty, the number of merchants and travelers had decreased a lot. However, the market in Dai Prefecture City still existed. Of course, it couldn't be compared to its former prosperity, but even this could make Liu Yanzhao feel a sense of emotion for the first time.

  All around were vendors calling out their wares and shopkeepers opening up their stalls, the sounds of hawking and bargaining, as well as the clear, high-pitched voices of children, filled the air.

  Everyone's face is filled with joy, occasionally a few brightly dressed young women walk by with their heads down, and many people stop to watch along the road.

  Qilang and Bajie were weaving in and out of the market, before long, they started eating steamed buns in their hands. Liu Yanzhao also asked for a piece, strolling around must be done while eating, otherwise where is the fun of strolling?

  By noon, they had finished browsing the market on several streets. Liu Yanzhao's silver was almost spent. Whatever Seventh Brother and Eighth Sister liked, he would unhesitatingly spend his money on.

  For Pai Feng, I bought a skirt with a light yellow body, green lining and embroidered with several red lotus flowers. It's very fresh and beautiful, and it also matches Xiao Yatou's fair skin perfectly.

  Why are there so many wrinkles?

  No sooner had he finished speaking than he was met with disdain from Eighth Sister and Seventh Brother, "Sixth Brother, why are you making such a fuss? This is only six pieces, there are still twelve more pleats!"

  One sentence made Liu Yanzhao suddenly appear embarrassed, and he immediately cleared his throat twice, no longer speaking.

  As they passed by a jade shop, Liu Yanzhao strongly urged Pai Feng to go in and choose a hairpin, while Ba Mei and Qi Lang also thought it was fun, so they all went into the shop together.

  Looking at the hairpins on display, there weren't many styles to choose from, but the prices were also not expensive, probably made of lower-grade jade. Even so, Pingfeng still chose the cheapest one, which made Liu Yanzhao somewhat appreciate her thriftiness and cleverness, but he took charge and bought a mid-range one instead.

  "Now, this is what I'm giving you, use it for now, and when your family's young master has more silver in his pocket later on, he can give you a better one."

  Pai Feng reached out to take it, but for some reason lowered his head. On the other side, Qi Lang pointed at another style of jade hairpin that wasn't bad either and said, "Yu Er, look at this hairpin, it's quite suitable for you. Why don't we get Sixth Brother to buy it too?"

  Ba Mei shook her head repeatedly, "I don't want to, Mother has prepared several hairpins for Yu Er, and they won't be used up in a short while."

  As she spoke, Ba Mei pulled Ping Feng towards the outside of the store, while the latter seemed to still be in a daze, almost tripping over his own feet. Liu Yan Zhao quickly reached out to support him, but Ping Feng hastily dodged away.

  What's going on?

  Liu Yanzhao looked at Qi Lang with some confusion, the latter also had a puzzled expression. Forget it, it's hard to guess what those young girls are thinking, might as well just laugh it off.

  "Sixth brother, I'm a bit tired."

  Sweat beads on her forehead, Ba Mei said in a low voice. Although she had been practicing martial arts with her mother and sisters since childhood, after all, she was still an eight-year-old girl. After walking for several hours, it's no wonder that even Liu Yanzhao would be tired.

  Looking at the sky, it was already noon, and it was time to eat. Lifting his head to look around, there happened to be a wine shop not far away, so he immediately took the three of them over.

  Entering the wine house, I chose a seat by the window and threw down my last piece of broken silver to order some small dishes at the wine house, which can be considered as using up all my family's property.