Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing took their own two mud-covered boys home as well, removing the strings of Guangbing hanging around their necks along the way.
"How did you manage to get yourself filthy all over without getting the Guangbing dirty?"
"Whenever he fell, he held his head up high and braced his hands against the ground," Ye Chenghu answered for him.
Ye Chengyang smiled shyly. "If they got dirty, we couldn't eat them."
"Silly boy. That was thoughtful of you, though. Good thing you didn't get lost." Ye Yaodong smiled and flicked his forehead. "Go have a bath with your mother."
He gathered both sons' Guangbing together and counted them. There really were quite a few-twenty-five between the two boys. Running all over the hills for an entire day had been quite a feat for those two little fellows. They really had worked hard. He would find time to give them a proper treat.
The Old Lady rummaged through the bamboo baskets by the door. After finally finding two that looked a little cleaner, she dragged them toward the back door.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking these out back to scrub and wash them. Once they're dry, we can use them for the Guangbing."
Ye Yaodong took the two baskets from her hands. "I'll wash them. You carry on folding."
The Old Lady smiled at him and did not argue.
Early the next morning, the whole family got up at first light, ready to finish breakfast early and leave when it was time.
The Old Lady also dragged two large burlap sacks out of her room.
"What have you got there?"
"Paper gold ingots. I bought lots of bundles yesterday and spent ages folding them. We'll take them up the hill later and burn extra for your grandpa.