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"Loosening my brother's clothes in broad daylight—how was that innocent?"

"Because my hands were full."

Zhu Xiaojiu raised both little hands as he explained. One held a skewer of sizzling, juicy meat; the other held a small brush for sauce. "To celebrate your release, Brother, I suggested we have barbecue."

"..."

"Xiaonian even bought the meat. He's a young master with money and influence, after all. Right?" Zhu Xiaojiu nudged the stone-faced Nian Youyu beside him with his shoulder. "The young master of a mansion this big wore patched clothes every day and swindled me out of my lunch. You owe me, and you'd better pay me back properly."

Nian Youyu was unmoved. "I never meant to deceive Xiaojiu. You never asked about my background."

"You went around dressed in rags. How was I supposed to guess you came from a family like this?" Zhu Xiaojiu gestured at the corrupt official's sprawling mansion and shot Nian Youyu a sour look. "Of course I thought you had it worse than me. I gave you a couple of bites of my leftovers to give myself a reason to keep going."

"What sort of logic is that?" Nian Youyu frowned.

"My brother taught me. When you think your life is hard, look at someone who has it worse. Then you remember there are people above you, but plenty below you too, and you can hang on. Right, Brother?"

Seeing how familiar they were with each other, Zhu Bafu was utterly bewildered. "Will someone tell me what's going on?"

"Fill your stomach first, and Zhen will tell you everything." His Majesty pressed her down onto a stone stool from behind, pointed at the skewers Zhu Xiaojiu had been tending for some time, and asked, "Are they ready to eat?"

The skewers sizzled with meat