"Keep it as a pet? And not eat it?" Ren Xiaosu was baffled. "What a waste, this is good meat!"
"You don't understand the world of rich people," Old Wang laughed. "They say hundreds of years ago, rich folks used to 'train hawks' for fun. Now hawks are too big and too dangerous, so they've settled for training sparrows instead. Look at this sparrow—doesn't it look fierce? That's what the rich like."
Ren Xiaosu thought for a long moment. So even when most people couldn't get enough to eat, there were already people out there training sparrows for entertainment…
"But a live one costs extra," Ren Xiaosu said. "When these things are alive, one careless move and they'll scratch you to death! It's way too dangerous!"
Then he suddenly wondered: the refugees outside were contaminated—so how come the sparrows weren't contaminated? Or… did the barriers only need those refugees inside to work for them, while the walls naturally separated classes?
"Fortune favors the bold," Old Wang said smiling. "If you can stay up all night training one of these, it means you're not ordinary. If you put in a bit more effort and catch a live one, maybe you won't need to work for half a year. And have you ever thought of saving up some money… maybe getting a wife?"
"Get a wife, my *ss!" Ren Xiaosu snapped.
Old Wang lowered his voice mysteriously. "That daughter of Old Li next door… she and your little brother Liuyuan both go to school. She's a proper girl…"
"By your logic, shouldn't I just sell this sparrow directly to Old Li instead of you? Why would I need your matchmaking?" Ren Xiaosu turned to Yan Liuyuan. "Are you classmates with Old Li's daughter?"
"Yes," Yan Liuyuan nodded. "She's really sturdy."
"Go go go, get out of here," Old Wang grumbled. "Just pretend I never said anything. Good intentions wasted on you two!"
Seeing the two brothers start bickering like they were performing a comedy skit, Old Wang quickly cut them off and changed the subject. "Remember, if you ever catch a live one, come straight to me."
"Alright," Ren Xiaosu nodded. Catching a live one was dangerous, but not impossible. He glanced into the general store. "How much for the cotton-padded coat?"
"Just came in—500 each! You know the price. I buy them for 490, I don't make a cent on these," Old Wang said. "Saving one less person from freezing to death is still something."
"You really have a kind heart," Ren Xiaosu commented lazily. "Give me one. Check the size for Liuyuan."
"Brother, you should buy one too," Yan Liuyuan urged.
"Adults are talking. Kids don't interrupt," Ren Xiaosu frowned. "I'm not cold."
Money was a good thing. The corporations running the barriers issued currency to keep goods circulating. Convenient, yes—but without money, you couldn't move a step.
Winters here were harsh, but he needed to keep his money for emergencies. There was still over a month before winter. If he could catch another sparrow, it wouldn't be too late to buy a coat then.
Most importantly—Yan Liuyuan's tuition was due. Monthly.
Ren Xiaosu looked around the store again, and his gaze stopped on the counter behind Old Wang. "How much for the antibiotics?"
"You want medicine?" Old Wang finally noticed the blood on the bandage wrapped around Ren Xiaosu's hand. "You're hurt? Then you really need some, otherwise an infection could kill you!"
"I asked how much!" Ren Xiaosu said impatiently.
"Two hundred ten per pill," Old Wang said. "You need to take them for three days straight. Three pills will be 620. I'll throw in one dose of iodine. I'm down to my last ten pills."
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment. "How about you round it off…"
"If you mean rounding off the zero after 620, shut up," Old Wang snapped.
Ren Xiaosu smacked his lips and reluctantly looked away. "Forget it, I won't buy it. Wounds don't usually get infected in winter."
He turned and took Yan Liuyuan to school. Passing the grain store, he bought a long black loaf. It was mixed with who-knows-what, scratching his throat painfully as he swallowed.
Yan Liuyuan chewed on his piece. "Brother, why don't you pay the tuition and go to class too? You really want to learn."
"I still need to go hunting," Ren Xiaosu said. "And from what Old Wang said, there're a lot of well-off girls in your school, huh? Don't you go falling in love early."
"I heard in ancient times people married at thirteen or fourteen," Yan Liuyuan retorted. He wasn't actually thinking about romance; he just enjoyed bickering with Ren Xiaosu.
Finding joy in hardship was perhaps one of humanity's greatest strengths.
Ren Xiaosu flicked the back of his head. "Things aren't like they used to be. You're still a kid. Any girl you date now… will end up someone else's wife."He paused, then smacked his lips. "Someone else's wife… why does that sound kinda exciting…"
"Brother, what are you even talking about? I don't get it…" Yan Liuyuan blinked innocently.
"Get lost, stop pretending," Ren Xiaosu scolded.
…
The school was the cleanest, neatest place in town, and the only residence with its own courtyard.
Walking in from outside, you could see the yard full of neatly arranged… scallions, garlic sprouts, potatoes, cabbage…
Originally Ren Xiaosu thought a school courtyard should have bamboo or something elegant. But in these times when food was scarce, having a place to grow vegetables was a blessing.
So Ren Xiaosu's dream had always been for Yan Liuyuan to grow up and become a schoolteacher.
Not because he respected the profession, but because teachers were safe, had their own courtyard, could grow vegetables, and no one would steal from them.
What a wonderful life that would be.
In general, Ren Xiaosu's wishes were very "down-to-earth."
Yan Liuyuan went in to pay his tuition and attend class. Ren Xiaosu squatted on the wall outside, listening to the students read aloud. He couldn't afford tuition, so he had to listen this way.
Sometimes the teacher told stories about how glorious human civilization had once been. To be honest, the teacher had never seen that era either—everything was passed down by word of mouth, so half of it was probably inaccurate.
Even so, Ren Xiaosu listened with fascination.
He often brought questions he didn't understand to ask Yan Liuyuan later. This troubled Yan Liuyuan greatly—if he couldn't answer, it meant he hadn't paid attention in class. So whenever Ren Xiaosu was "auditing" from the wall, Yan Liuyuan listened extra carefully.
For some reason, Yan Liuyuan had to admit—his brother looked pretty handsome when he was studying seriously. No wonder Sister Xiaoyu was so into him.
Inside the classroom, the teacher looked down at several sleeping students, then looked out the window at Ren Xiaosu perched on the wall. He said to Yan Liuyuan, "Tell your brother he can come into the courtyard to listen from now on."