Chapter 25: Fengwei Town

Fengwei Town wasn’t exactly a bustling metropolis, but it wasn’t far from Big Willow Village either.
By the time the entire Su family—old and young alike—had walked for over an hour, they’d finally arrived.

Xiao Tangbao, nestled on her second brother’s back, peered around with wide eyes, only to feel a little let down.

Sure, the townsfolk dressed better than those in Big Willow Village, and their homes looked sturdier. But even so, cracks in the walls and sagging roofs were everywhere.

This place? Probably didn’t even have a bank. Where would they find someone to鉴定 gold?

Xiao Tangbao quietly scrunched her tiny brows together.

Suo Erhu, full of excitement just moments ago, suddenly noticed the same problem.

"Dad," he asked, "where are we going?"

But experience had taught old men wisdom.

Suo Lao Tou already had a plan.

"We’re buying something," he said flatly.

"Buying?" Erhu blinked.

"Yeah. Buying!" His father declared, like a general plotting a campaign. "We’re going to the Treasure Pavilion."

Erhu stared.

…Did his dad lose his mind?

"Dad, do we even have money?" Erhu reminded him. He knew his dad had only taken twenty cash coins from Ma when they left—enough for snacks for the kid, maybe.

But the Treasure Pavilion?

Ha. They’d walk in, look around, and walk out empty-handed.

"Dad," Erhu teased, "you not thinking about selling yourself, are you? You’re too old—nobody’d take you." He grinned. "And don’t even think about selling us. Ma’d never agree."

"Damn brat! Shut up!" Suo Lao Tou swatted him hard across the head.

Xiao Tangbao giggled. That second brother really needed a good scolding.

Erhu, thick-skinned as ever, barely flinched. But he glanced at his father’s patched-up coat and tried one last time.

"Dad, how about we hit the tailor shop first? Get you a new set of clothes on credit?"

The man looked like he was about to walk into a nobleman’s parlor dressed like a beggar.

Suo Lao Tou paused.

No slap this time.

After a moment’s thought, he turned sharply—and stepped into a clothing shop.

Erhu: "...Dad, will they actually let us buy on credit?"

He hadn’t meant it seriously. Nobody did that—tailors didn’t hand out free clothes on trust.

But he was wrong.

When Suo Lao Tou picked out a plain blue cotton robe and pulled out that yellow lump to pay, the shopkeeper nearly dropped his ledger.

"Sir... sir, my little shop? We can’t handle gold like this!" The man looked panicked.

That piece weighed at least ten taels.

Even his most expensive garments cost no more than a few silver taels. Most were under a hundred cash coins.

How could he possibly have enough change?

And worse—something felt off about the gold itself.

The shopkeeper couldn’t be sure. Was it real? Or some cheap imitation?

But here’s the thing—he didn’t say *no*.

Just hesitation.

That small silence lit up the whole group like a spark in the dark.

Erhu’s eyes gleamed. He turned to his dad, grinning.

"Dad, should we go to the Treasure Pavilion now?"

A little shop couldn’t handle it. The Treasure Pavilion definitely could.

His dad was a genius!

Suo Lao Tou, unaware, suddenly seemed taller in his son’s eyes.

The shopkeeper, hearing Erhu’s suggestion, nodded eagerly.

"Yes, yes—gentleman’s right! Why not start at the Treasure Pavilion? Come back here afterward..."

Erhu, now confident as a king, leaned forward.

"Master, can you hold this outfit for my father? We’ll pay later—after we finish our business there?"

He’d been nervous before. Now? Full of swagger.

The shopkeeper hesitated, eyebrows knitting.

Then, a soft voice piped up.

"Buy... buy... dress."

Little Tangbao pointed at a deep purple dress.

Her mother would look stunning in it.

Suo Lao Tou’s gaze snapped to the dress.

And in that instant, he saw his wife—her smile, her grace.

"Good!" he boomed. "Buy it!"

But Xiao Tangbao wasn’t done.

She pointed again—this time at other clothes.

"Brother… sister-in-law… Pianpian…"

Her tiny fingers darted from person to person, counting every single one of them.