As time ticked by, the pile of pancakes in Su Shikuan’s bamboo basket dwindled, filling him with a sense of accomplishment. Watching his brother’s efforts, Su Shirong felt a surge of admiration and soon began calling out to customers as well.
Su Shikuan and Su Shirong enjoyed considerable success in the alleyway. Though their clothes were soaked with sweat, their eyes shone with joy.
After about an hour, the group had sold all the pancakes. They quickly gathered to return home and report the good news to Deng.
Deng was astonished. "I never expected you to sell them all so quickly."
Su Daya and Su Shikuan both chimed in, "It’s true! Quite a lot of people liked them."
Deng was already reaching for the carrying basket. "Then let's go gather wild vegetables now so we can make more to sell tomorrow."
Shi An hurriedly stopped her. "Mother, business was good today, but tomorrow is never certain. How about you prepare more flour and buy some soybeans instead?"
"We don't need more flour for now; your father’s grain allowance just arrived. But why buy soybeans?" Deng asked, puzzled. Soybeans were cheap—only three coins a catty—but bean-based rice was unpalatable and hard to digest. Families only resorted to it if they had nothing else to eat.
"They'll be useful, I promise." Shi An didn’t explain further, as she hadn't yet realized that in this time and place, tofu was considered a delicacy for the wealthy, and ordinary people didn't know how to make it.
Shi An scanned her family members and felt a wave of anxiety. She realized that few of them seemed capable of handling tasks on their own. She rubbed her fingers together, pondering, "Right, but we don't need to wait until tomorrow to start. We should get prepared now. In case..."
Su Shirong accurately sensed Shi An’s concern and asked softly, "Little sister, are you worried the pancakes won't sell?"
"That shouldn't happen, should it? A lot of people seemed to like them today," Su Shikuan interjected.
Shi An understood that pancakes were nothing rare; they had sold well today only because she had suggested frying them in sesame oil. However, she knew that competition was fierce, and once others saw them selling well, they would likely copy the idea. She was filled with doubt, but as a six-year-old child, how could she easily express her worries?
Instead, she cleverly changed the subject, took hold of Daya’s hand, and said, "Let’s go gather wild vegetables first!"
The others didn't object. Deng stayed behind with Su Shirong to buy supplies, while the other three went to gather vegetables. The work was busy but fulfilling; it felt as if their family suddenly had something to look forward to.
The next day, they rose long before dawn. The kitchen was filled with the fragrance of wild vegetables as the family worked in an orderly fashion to make the pancakes. Although the quantity was large and required much labor and sweat, their eyes were full of hope and anticipation.
By sunset, while they hadn't sold all hundred-plus pancakes, they were more than satisfied. The thirty or forty coins they had earned were the fruits of their hard labor, each one representing their sweat and effort. That night, the family sat around the dining table, enjoying a simple but warm meal. After eating, they didn't rest immediately, but instead lit an oil lamp. The faint, warm glow illuminated the room, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.
Su Yu, their father, gathered his children and carefully poured the copper coins onto their only small table. The children’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement as they stared at the coins, as if seeing their future hope. Su Yu smiled, his voice filled with patience and affection, as he carefully taught the children how to count. He told them that these coins represented their hard work and also the foundation for their future life.
In this small room, lacking luxury or valuables, there was an abundance of family affection and longing for the future. The children listened intently to their father’s teaching, their hearts filled with a thirst for knowledge and a desire for a better life. That night, they learned not just arithmetic, but the vital lesson that hard work could change their circumstances.
Though the family was poor, they possessed each other’s love and support. They struggled together through hard times, envisioning a better life ahead. The dim light of the oil lamp witnessed their perseverance, lighting the path toward their better future.
Seeing her chance, Shi An asked with an expectant face, "Father, when you are resting, could you teach us to read?"
Their father smiled and asked, "Does Xiaoya want to learn to read?"
Shi An nodded vigorously, her heart filled with a thirst for knowledge. To naturally demonstrate that she was educated and literate, she had to seek Su Yu’s help. Though Deng was educated, she was a traditional, devoted wife and mother, spending most of her time managing household affairs.
Shi An hadn't avoided the thought of asking Deng, but she worried that her mother would defer to Su Yu’s opinion anyway. She decided it was more appropriate to discuss it with him directly.
Su Yu turned his gaze to the other children and asked softly, "And you all?"
Su Shirong’s eyes shone with deep interest. He often peeked at what Su Yu was writing; even if he didn't recognize many characters, he read them with gusto. If he saw a drawing, he could be happy for half the day, as if it were his most precious treasure.
Su Daya hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. "Father, I don't want to." Her voice carried a hint of firmness, as if the decision had been carefully considered. She knew the family's situation; for her, education was perhaps an unattainable luxury.
Su Shikuan followed suit, saying, "Father, I don't want to either..." His tone was low. Unlike Daya, he didn't dislike studying, but he worried that the family couldn't afford to send them to school. He was willing to give up the opportunity to study for the sake of his younger siblings, knowing well the family’s hardships.
Su Yu looked at his children, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. He understood Daya and Shikuan’s concerns and felt Su Shirong’s thirst for knowledge. He made a secret vow that no matter how difficult it was, he would find a way for his children to be educated.
Deng parted her lips, her tone full of emotion. "Husband, you are well-read, and I certainly understand the value of knowledge." Her gaze revealed a longing for learning, but the reality of their plight pressed down on her like a heavy mountain, leaving her breathless. "It is just that things are so difficult for us right now... what can we do?"
Su Yu comforted her, his voice firm and gentle. "Do not worry, my wife. I have a plan. I will prepare paper and brushes to begin their tutelage. I will be responsible for assigning their tasks every day, and you, Xián'ér, will be responsible for checking their lessons." His eyes were filled with hope for the future.
However, Shi An blurted out, breaking the mood with a curious question: "Who is Xián'ér?"