"My wife is beautiful!"
Xie Sui said in a low voice, knowing her skin was thin. He quickly moved away and continued selling canned goods.
Dou Dou and Ding Ding exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously. Why was their father so annoying?
Like the black dog kept at home, always picking fights with roosters and then running around the yard pecked, only then would it behave.
Half of the canned goods were sold, earning more than forty yuan. Lin Wanwan held a stack of money, still finding it hard to believe that she could actually make money!
"Let's go buy White Rabbit candy, two each, Dad's treating."
"Treating what? A White Rabbit candy costs a dime. We can buy one to try, it's not like it can feed us."
Lin Wanwan felt the pinch of money. Even after earning some, she still had to buy white sugar and pay for the peaches. When calculated, there wasn't much left.
"Oh, come on, wife, save me some face. I can't go back on my word to the kids. Can't I even decide on a piece of candy?"
Xie Sui was unhappy. If he promised the children something, he had to deliver.
Lin Wanwan gave him a sidelong glance and finally nodded, her face slightly flushed.
It had to be said, Xie Sui's face was a great asset. Combined with his pleading expression, very few people could refuse him.
When they arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative, Lin Wanwan took the children to buy things while Xie Sui stayed outside to watch the cart. There were still canned goods on it; what if someone stole them?
Just then, Chen Qiang arrived. "Xie Sui, still selling canned goods? How much can you earn?"
Xie Sui's gaze darkened. Why was he here again?
He sensed trouble and quickly put on a smiling face. "Brother Qiang, I'm just trying to make a living. Would Brother Qiang like to try some?"
"No, Brother Qiang doesn't like this. If you're short of money, just tell your brother. Why degrade yourself like this? Where's that white shirt? Wearing this doesn't suit our Young Master Xie's temperament."
Xie Sui was currently wearing a green t-shirt, washed until it was faded, bought by his father a long time ago.
In his previous life, he had worn countless designer and custom-made clothes; he no longer cared about superficial things.
He chuckled awkwardly and said nothing, waiting to see what ill intentions Chen Qiang had up his sleeve.
Chen Qiang slung an arm around his shoulder and said, "Your two little brats are quite something. How about it? Two hundred yuan each, four hundred yuan in total. Enough for you to live it up for two years. Don't blame your brother for not thinking of you when there's good news!"
Xie Sui's body instantly stiffened. He thought he had misheard. "What did you say? What two hundred yuan?"
"Don't play dumb. Someone wants a pair of twins. Ordinary children would fetch fifty at most. This is already a sky-high price."
Xie Sui's spine grew cold, and his whole body trembled. A bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes as he stared coldly at Chen Qiang. He actually wanted to sell his own children?
Chen Qiang felt uneasy under his gaze. "What? You're not willing? Xie Sui, don't push your luck. I'm discussing this with you out of respect. Without spending a cent, I can still get them."
Xie Sui calmed down instantly. That was true; if he acted maliciously, Xie Sui wouldn't be able to guard against it. He hesitated, "But they are my own sons."
"When can't you have biological sons? With money, you can remarry a young virgin and have a good life again. Your wife has such a foul temper. Why don't I help you get rid of her too?
You won't lose out on the price."
Xie Sui's hands trembled as he took Chen Qiang's cigarette, which Chen Qiang lit for him with a smug look. "Tomorrow is the big market day, lots of people around, the best opportunity. I'll be waiting for you.
This is a deposit. Your brother is really looking out for you."
He stuffed a wad of banknotes into Xie Sui's hand, one hundred yuan. Xie Sui looked at the money in his hand and let out a scoff. He had originally intended to ignore this scoundrel, but now that he had set his sights on his wife and children, he wouldn't be blamed for being ruthless.
He looked up and saw Lin Wanwan standing at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, looking at him with complex eyes. Xie Sui instinctively hid the money in his hand, feeling guilty. "Wife, I'm done buying. Let's go home."
"Mm, let's go home."
Dou Dou and Ding Ding hopped onto the cart. They had bought one White Rabbit candy and used the remaining dime to buy ten fruit candies. The White Rabbit candy was delicious, but there weren't as many as the fruit candies. They could give them to their little friends and eat them together.
"Mommy, you try the White Rabbit milk candy too. Dou Dou will share half with you. We'll eat it together."
Lin Wanwan looked at the half-piece of milk candy covered in Dou Dou's saliva and was touched. "You eat it, Dou Dou. Mommy has already tasted it. It's very delicious."
"Mommy is lying. If you had tasted it, you wouldn't have kept it from Dou Dou. If Mommy doesn't eat it, Dou Dou won't eat it either."
"Mommy isn't lying to you. When we were at Grandma's house, I ate it. There was also delicious chocolate candy. When we have the chance, Mommy will buy it all for you."
"Okay, Dou Dou is eating it now!"
With a gulp, he stuffed it all into his mouth, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
Xie Sui waited for a long time, but no one even asked him. Little brats, had they forgotten who earned the money?
"Alas, poor Daddy worked so hard to earn money, and I haven't even tasted the milk candy. How miserable!"
Ding Ding hesitated for a moment, then extended his small hand and offered him the milk candy. Xie Sui smiled; raising sons was indeed useful.
Before he could refuse, Ding Ding said, "Then Daddy, just lick it, just a little lick. Don't lick too much, that counts as tasting it."
Xie Sui: "..."
Damn it, he was truly his father's good son!
"I don't want to eat it."
"Then Ding Ding will eat it all. It's because Daddy doesn't want to eat it, not because I'm not giving it to him. Big brother is my witness."
With another gulp, he stuffed it all into his mouth, as if afraid Xie Sui would change his mind.
Xie Sui was so amused he laughed. Once he managed to please his wife, he'd have a daughter. As for this brat, whoever wanted him could have him.
They chatted and laughed all the way home, arriving just as dusk fell. Xie Sui unloaded the cart and placed the canned goods in a water bucket, which he then lowered into the well. It was a natural refrigerator, so there was no need to worry about spoilage.
Once he had earned enough money, he would go to the canning jar factory in the county town and buy specialized jars for canning. This would extend the shelf life to six months, allowing him to sell in winter, which would be when he truly made big money.
For now, even basic sustenance was a challenge, so thinking about that was too far off.
"Wife, did you buy eggs? I'll make steamed eggs for the children."
"No need to buy them in town. We have villagers who raise chickens and sell them cheaper than in town. I'll go to Aunt Wu's house to buy some. Xie Sui, do you have anything you want to tell me?"
Xie Sui had intended to keep it a secret, but looking into Lin Wanwan's clear eyes, which seemed to see right through him, he knew she suspected him.
Honesty was the most important thing between husband and wife. Xie Sui sighed. "I didn't want you to worry. Since you're asking, I'll tell you, but promise me you won't get angry, okay?"
Lin Wanwan didn't realize it herself, but the anxiety she had been holding onto finally subsided. As long as he was willing to be honest, it meant that his recent behavior wasn't just an act, but that he truly wanted to change for the better.
"As long as you say it, I won't get angry."
The two of them talked for some time. Lin Wanwan went from surprise to anger, and finally to deep worry. Her entire body was trembling.
Xie Sui hugged her. "Wife, don't worry. If anyone dares to harm you and the children, I'll risk my life to protect you."