Ye Yaodong wandered back and forth through the market as though money meant nothing, carrying more and more purchases in his hands.
At first, he had only planned to buy a few things to eat and take home. Having lived through years when food and clothing were scarce, everyone appreciated food most. Nobody disliked edible gifts, especially the children.
There were plenty of assorted local specialties here, and he turned nothing down. Whenever he spotted something they did not have back home, he bought a little of it. He had made money, so of course he ought to get his money's worth spending it.
Fortunately, they had each brought a basket when they came out shopping, but his was already packed full of food, along with a few little toys.
Everyone else had quite a few things to eat and play with in their baskets too. Even Father Ye had bought a patterned silk scarf, something so unprecedented that all three brothers found it amusing.
Ye Yaodong even took it out of Father Ye's basket to have a look. "Well, well, well... Dad, I never knew you had such a romantic streak. You even thought to bring Mom a silk scarf?"
Father Ye flushed with embarrassment and hurriedly snatched it back. "I'm buying my own things. What's it got to do with you? You have to rummage through everything. Why can't you keep your hands to yourself?"
"Can't I even look? I'm helping you see whether it looks nice and suits Mom. Let Second Sister-in-Law have a look too. Women have a better eye for these things. Otherwise, if you buy an ugly one, you'll have wasted money and get a scolding."
"Who asked you to worry about it? Who said I bought it for her? Can't I buy it