The morning sun had barely risen when Xu Ming arranged the small basket he had prepared. Inside were neat rows of pale soap bars, each wrapped in pieces of clean cloth he had cut from old garments. Their faint fragrance of mint and herbs lingered even in the cool dawn air.
Xu Ming adjusted the basket's weight on his arm, excitement and nervousness tangling in his chest. This was the first time he would present his creation to others. Would they laugh at him? Or would they see its worth?
Behind him, Shen Li secured the gate of their small courtyard. "You're certain about this?" His deep voice carried both caution and quiet trust.
Xu Ming turned, meeting his eyes with a steady smile. "If I don't try, I'll never know. Besides…" He lifted one bar, holding it up between them. "This is useful. Once people try it, they'll understand."
Shen Li studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "I'll go with you."
Xu Ming blinked. "To the market?"
"En," Shen Li replied, already picking up his hunting knife and strapping it to his belt. "You'll be carrying something new. People may not welcome it right away. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I'll be there."
The warmth that surged through Xu Ming at those words startled him. He lowered his gaze quickly, hiding the flush in his cheeks. "Then… let's go."
The village market was already bustling when they arrived. Farmers laid out their vegetables, hunters displayed fresh game, and women hawked bundles of cloth and dried goods. The air was full of voices, laughter, and bargaining.
Xu Ming found a small empty corner near the well and laid out his basket. For a while, no one paid him much attention. A few villagers glanced at the strange wrapped bars but didn't approach.
Xu Ming's palms grew damp. He forced himself to remain calm, patiently waiting. Eventually, an older woman carrying a basket of eggs stopped in front of him.
"What are you selling, little ger?" she asked, peering down at the cloth-wrapped bars.
Xu Ming offered her a polite smile. "This is soap. It cleans the hands and skin better than ash soap. Smell it."
He unwrapped one bar, holding it out. The woman sniffed, her eyes widening slightly. "It has a scent… fresh."
Curious now, she rubbed a corner of the bar between her fingers. Xu Ming poured a little water from the well onto her hands, instructing, "Rub like this."
The woman gasped softly as foam rose quickly, smooth and white. After rinsing, her rough palms felt softer than they had in years. "Oh my… this really works." Her eyes lit with excitement. "How much for one bar?"
"Five coins," Xu Ming answered carefully. He had calculated the cost of oil, herbs, and labor—it was fair.
The woman considered, then nodded. "Give me two." She fumbled with her pouch and handed him the coins.
Xu Ming's heart leapt. His first sale!
After that, more villagers came over, curious about what the commotion was. They too tried the soap, exclaiming over the smoothness and fragrance. By midday, Xu Ming's basket was half empty.
Behind him, Shen Li stood quietly, his arms crossed. Though he didn't say much, his imposing presence kept away those who might have mocked or bullied Xu Ming. Several villagers eyed the hunter with caution, lowering their voices when they realized he was guarding the delicate-looking ger selling soap.
When Xu Ming finally packed up, his pouch jingled with coins. His smile was bright, though his hands trembled slightly with excitement. "We did it, Shen Li. They liked it!"
Shen Li's lips curved in the faintest of smiles. "I told you. If you believe in it, others will too."
Xu Ming looked at him, warmth swelling in his chest. For a moment, the noisy market faded, and all he saw was Shen Li—steady, unwavering, his quiet strength a shelter he didn't know he had needed.
But news in a small village traveled quickly.
By evening, word of the "scented soap" had reached the Liu household. Madam Wang was fanning herself irritably when a neighbor dropped by, gossip dripping from her tongue.
"Did you hear? That ger you cast out is selling soap in the market now. People say it smells like herbs and makes the skin soft."
Madam Wang froze, her fan snapping shut. "What?"
The neighbor chuckled. "I didn't think much of him, but it seems he has some skill. He sold quite a bit today. Perhaps he'll make money."
As soon as the neighbor left, Madam Wang slammed the fan onto the table. "That useless thing dares to make a name for himself? After leaving our family? How shameless!"
Old Liu looked up from his cup of tea, frowning. "Enough. Why waste energy on him? He's no longer ours."
But Madam Wang's eyes gleamed with malice. "If he succeeds, people will laugh at us for pushing him out. That ger was raised in our family for years—what if he becomes someone of worth? Do you think I'll let him turn his back on us?"
She tapped her fingers against the table, a cold smile curving her lips. "No. If he earns silver, it should be ours. He owes us for raising him all these years."
Her words rang harsh and greedy, but no one dared contradict her. The children kept silent, while Old Liu sighed heavily, knowing he could not stop her when she set her mind.
That night, back in the quiet courtyard, Xu Ming counted the coins again, arranging them neatly in a small wooden box. His face glowed with contentment.
Shen Li sat opposite him, sharpening his hunting knife. The steady scrape of stone against metal filled the room.
Xu Ming glanced at him, hesitated, then spoke softly. "Thank you… for staying by my side today. I couldn't have done it alone."
Shen Li paused, meeting his eyes. "You don't need to thank me. This is your effort. I only stood guard."
"But that means everything." Xu Ming's voice trembled faintly. "Without you, I'd have been too nervous. You give me courage."
The words slipped out before he could stop them. His cheeks flushed crimson, and he quickly lowered his gaze, fiddling with the coins.
Shen Li's chest tightened. He wasn't good with words, but in the silence that stretched between them, he felt something growing—something fragile yet powerful. Slowly, he set down the knife and reached across the table, his calloused hand brushing against Xu Ming's slender fingers.
Xu Ming froze, breath catching. His heart hammered as Shen Li's touch lingered—awkward, hesitant, but warm.
"Liu Ziyu," Shen Li murmured, his voice low and rough. "With or without silver… I'll stand beside you."
Xu Ming's eyes lifted, wide and shimmering. For a heartbeat, neither moved, the air thick with unspoken feeling.
Then Xu Ming smiled softly, his hand trembling as he turned it, letting their fingers entwine. "En."
The night around them was quiet, the candle flickering gently, as if blessing the tender moment.
Far across the village, Madam Wang was already plotting, her sharp eyes fixed on the road ahead. "If that ger thinks he can escape, he's sorely mistaken," she muttered.
And so, while Xu Ming's soap venture bloomed with the first seeds of hope, shadows of greed and trouble began to stir once more.