Money gave a hero courage. That saying held true at any age.
The simplest way to build a child's confidence was to give them money-and more of it than other children their age.
In the original drama, Zhuang Xiaoting had been a sensitive, delicate girl who lacked confidence. Now that she was his own younger sister, he naturally could not let things stay the way they had been in the story.
The adults and children chatted among themselves. Before long, another street vendor's cry rang out outside.
A peddler had pushed a handcart into the alley.
At the sound, quite a few households promptly shut their doors tight, afraid of having any connection to a "profiteer."
"Spittoons, washbasins, enamel mugs-"
The peddler stopped his cart at the corner of the alley and kept calling out his wares.
Listening to him, Huang Ling could not resist going over to peek through the crack in the door. Through that narrow gap, she could just make out the colorful goods on the cart, and she could not help feeling tempted.
She called Zhuang Tunan over and told him to go out when the alley was empty and ask how much a washbasin cost.
Zhuang Chaoying had his reservations. Hearing this from beside her, he could not help offering Huang Ling a warning.
"What's there to be afraid of in asking?" Huang Ling shot him an irritated look.
"I'll go." Zhou Cheng rose from the stool.
"All right!" Huang Ling agreed readily.
Zhuang Tunan looked blankly at his younger brother, who had snatched his errand away, unable to understand why Zhou Cheng was suddenly so eager this time.
Zhou Cheng slipped outside and soon returned carrying a stack of things.
Three enamel washbasins and three enamel mugs.
The adults in the courtyard were all