Zi Yang opened the store at 7:30 a.m. as usual today.

Supporting his body with his elbow on the counter, he felt particularly tired today. But also, a little expecting.

It could be that this day represented something.

Past few days that he had spent working out details after his mother’s demise, on money, life, strength and his brother’s recovery.

Today he was going to implement many first steps.

With that thought in mind, he cleaned the store and put the energy stones in soil surrounding Euterpe berries sapling.

Collected the fresh dew from the rose daisies, put the bamboo shoots next to the sleeping panda cubs and went to his own little cub – Zi Ming.

Ah boy, and also cleaned his diaper.

There is one thing that worries Zi Ming a lot. Even though Mama Mei takes care of Zi Ming round the clock, Zi Ming is not very active.

He is worried that this might also be a sequela of origin deficiency. He is too quiet and sensible.

Zi Yang took Zi Ming to the counter and waited for Mama Mei to arrive while checking out his favorite website nowadays – bigbucks.

This website is truly created by a soulmate. This website suggests ways to make money and connects with like-minded people. This is more of a support group than a website, ha-ha.

Zi Ming was still sleeping, when a sound woke him up.

I looked at the door and sure enough, a husky was almost at the door.

“Oh, Don, is Auntie coming so early this morning?”

A plump middle-aged woman just happened to walk in and snorted softly, “Good morning Yang’er, let me check Auntie how you’re doing today.”

“Ah no, auntie….”

But his rejection was in vain, as the woman suddenly turned into a flash incarnate and picked up both brother and examined their hands, legs and faces.

She also summoned a peony flower fairy and cast a boost health skill. Flower fairies evolve from flowers and are cute little palm side beasts. Their skills vary and are very sought after.

Auntie Lan has always been concerned about our health. She has a health recovery pet and sometimes helps at the local clinic.

She was mother’s friend and supported mum during her era long pregnancy.

“You look better now, Yang’er. How about come three times everyday and help cast a spell? No, should I just leave peony here?”

“No Auntie, thank you. How’s uncle? Still the same – dew for tea?”, Zi Yang quickly changed subject while Zi Ming opened his eyes wide looking at the weird auntie who had grabbed him all over just now.

“Yes, Zi Yang and some berries to go too. Here’s the money”

“No need, Auntie. You also know who sells daisies dew. I guess you’re the only one buying it and at least let me repay at little.”, Zi yang quipped with his head lowered.

His eyes were a little red. This Auntie has supported Zi yang a lot.

Auntie Lan patted Zi Yang heavily and said, “Nonsense, this is trade. How can it be without money? Take care. Oh, and bring Zi Ming by my house later, let my little one also get to know him.”

With that said, Aunt Lan picked up the goods and left with the husky.

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Zi Yang looked and found there were a lot of stuff dropped by the counter and on the counter, were two 100 ancient dollar bills. Obviously, Auntie overpaid 50 ancient dollars.

Below the counter were all the baby essentials – some common (diapers, common, wipes), some uncommon (elite celestial cow milk formula, Tianxin’s latest baby oil) and some plain weird (baby clothes – some frocks, pink bows, t-shirts and pants)

I think Aunt Lan packed a part of her baby’s essentials for Zi Ming. Zi yang remembered this favor.

Mama Mei was also pleasantly surprised with the essentials. She had planned to buy all these later.

Mama Mei then took Zi Ming to feed and change clothes. She planned to still breast feed until a few months and use milk powder as a snack. Baby oil would come in handy as well.

He watched as Mama Mei handed the oil bottle to a panda cub and ordered him to massage the baby. A small panda’s hands were also very soft and they were ideal to massage this fragile little fellow.

That’s how Mowgli grew up in the wild. Huh, kidding.

Zi yang also served a few more customers with small packs of berries and it was already late in the afternoon. He had only sold four packs until now and time for evening classes is within a few hours.

Stuffing a few meat rolls into his mouth and putting on a wind jacket, Zi Yang packed his bag with notebooks, stationary, and some packs of berries and other products.

Then he strode out and called out a warning, “Mama Mei, I’m going out to market to see goods and then straight to the evening class. Do you need anything?”

“No, Zi Yang, I bought things yesterday while returning from the hills. Go, Be safe.”

Picking up his bag, he headed straight to the hawker’s market in fifth alleyway to the south of the town.

He came to the street and looked for a good place to hawk for the goods. Looking around, there are shrewd uncles and greasy aunties. He also saw some acquaintances – those who offered to buy Mama Mei to sell meat.

Zi Yang had no fear of these people here. Within the town premises, if they make any moves – town beast regiment will teach them how to be a human within seconds.

Finally, Zi Yang sat next to an old woman. She looked like a kind lady.

“Grandma, can I sit here next to you? I have something to sell.”

“Sure, sure.”

Short reply. Alright.

Zi Yang spread a sheet, and put on the goods: two pack of berries, a sheep horn, water raised bluegrass, a small bottle of honey sap.

“Kid, how do you sell this honey?”, the grandma asked.

“80 ancient dollars, Grandma.”

Zi Yang sold the honey bottle and starting hawking for other products like other hawkers.

He picked up the packet of berries and targeted pet beasts who were walking around with their wealthy-looking owners.

Following this tactic, he soon sold two packs of berries to a monkey and a chestnut-tailed minla. The owners were well-to-do and bought these berries as snacks. The remaining products were also sold for some loose change.

In all, business here was done and Zi Yang wanted to hurry up and set off for the evening class.

As soon as he passed through a firewood shop, his attention was attracted to the shop. The rainy days are still not fully over and sometimes, it does get a little chilly at night.

The pandas are still young and Mama Mei had mentioned the need to renovate sleeping sheds in the backyard. Zi Ming is young too. Getting some firewood would not be bad.

Zi Yang went in and bought a bundle of firewood and left his address to the shop to deliver it later in the evening.

Out of the shop, he was seen carrying a withered wood. Zi Yang noticed this wood in the pile of firewood and felt it was different.

This wood looks withered but he could feel electricity and some vitality like he had felt in the ancient leaf.

Maybe it is the truck of a great tree like life tree or the ancient peach tree. It still has vitality even after thunder struck it. That’s got to be something.

It was a whim that Zi Yang had it singled out and brought it out with him. Anyway, if this branch can grow into a tree, it would help if it’s leaves could be used for making the lotion for Zi Ming.

Or, if this turned out to be thunder struck peach, maybe it can be made into a peach sword to counter undead beasts – that might sell well too.

Or, in Zi Yang’s extreme fantasy, if a God Willow sprouts out from the tree – it would be wonderful to have an Immortal king level path protector.

She might also give out the original true solution scripture for cultivation.

Ah, who am I kidding?

Is this thing even remotely possible? Daydreaming has gone too far.

It has got to be at least a whole tree for God Willow to recover!

Well, never mind. Let’s try.

Anyway, all that’s needed is some more care. That’s all.

Work or not, a man’s got to try.