On the way back, Lin He finally learned about the two children. The girl was named Ling'er, and the little boy was Qing'er. Their father had died some time ago. Their mother claimed they were coming to stay with relatives, but the relatives’ home was long gone. The mother didn't know what to do, abandoned them a few days ago, and disappeared. The children hadn't been looked after for days, waiting in a ruined temple outside the town for their mother. But the younger brother fell ill, so the little girl brought him into town, planning to find her mother, which is why they were staying in that corner.

“But if you come back with us, what if your mother returns looking for you and can't find you?” Lin He asked.

“She won’t come looking for us. She’s not our real mother. Our real mother died when we were very young. She’s our stepmother, and she never treated us well. Since we couldn't find our relatives, she was only too happy to abandon us; she won't come looking,” Ling'er replied.

“What are your relatives’ names? Perhaps I can help you find them. If I do, I’ll arrange for someone to send you over,” He'er added.

“Mother said they were distant relatives. I don’t know their names. We’ve never met them before,” Ling'er said, lowering her head.

“Miss, I beg you, please buy my brother and me. I can be a maid. I can do many things—laundry, cooking, sewing—I know how to do all of it. I’ve always done these things at home. I don't need anything, as long as I can support my brother. Besides, even if we found my relatives, I wouldn’t have money to repay you.” Ling'er suddenly knelt before He'er and the others with a soft thud.

Lin He was an orphan herself. Although she often felt that she wasn't as easily moved by such matters as ordinary people, she still harbored a soft spot in her heart for those who shared similar fates with her, though she rarely allowed herself to touch upon it. Looking at Ling'er and her younger brother, Lin He truly could not bring herself to refuse. She said, “Get up first. I agree.”

Ling’er had only knelt down to beg Lin He because she thought Lin He was refusing to take them in when she mentioned sending them to their relatives. Hearing Lin He agree in person now, she finally felt relieved.

At home, Madam Huang was surprised to see the two children they had brought back. She pulled Lin He aside to inquire. Lin He told Madam Huang the story of Ling'er and her brother. Madam Huang, being a mother herself, felt a pang of sympathy seeing how pitiful the two children were—hungry and poorly dressed, with such a tragic background. Especially soft-hearted, she instructed the maids to prepare two bedding sets in the servants' quarters and told them to take good care of the little boy.

Ling’er had likely seen many different expressions over the years. Though she wasn’t entirely familiar with the etiquette for servants, seeing Madam Huang and hearing Lin He and the others call her ‘Mother,’ she knew how to bow. She also asked Lin He what she should do. Lin He told her not to come to the front courtyard to work for the time being, advising her to focus on caring for her brother, saying that once her brother recovered, they would arrange work for her.

When Da Bao returned, Madam Huang, unusually, did not hold the two little ones close. She handed them over to the maids and went to the kitchen, announcing she would cook something delicious for Da Bao and the others. Da Bao looked at his twin brothers. Children grew so fast; they seemed to change daily. When Da Bao left last month, the brothers seemed to spend most of their time sleeping. Returning at the end of the month, the brothers were already gazing at him with wide, round eyes.

Xiao Bao and Chen’er saw their elder brother staring at the two younger ones and laughed, asking, “Big Brother, do you know which one is Da Xiong and which one is Xiao Xiong? You’re not allowed to look at the strings on their wrists!”

After saying this, the two pulled down their brothers’ sleeves. In fact, wearing so many layers in winter, one wouldn't be able to see the strings even without pulling the sleeves down. Da Bao knew they often played this game. These two little fellows couldn't even tell the difference between their own parents without looking at the strings on their wrists. How could he recognize them after only seeing them once a month?

Da Bao pointed randomly and said, “This one is Da Xiong, and that one is Xiao Xiong.”

“Big Brother, you’re so silly! You can’t even recognize your own brothers. I know,” Xiao Bao teased Da Bao.

“Right, Big Brother. See this one whose eyes are always darting around? That’s Xiao Xiong. The one staring right at you is Da Xiong,” Chen’er chimed in with a smile.

Da Bao listened, then laughed too, asking, “How did you know? Did you figure it out yourselves?”

“No, Big Sister told us. And if you look this way, you’ll never mix them up. Don’t believe me? Look at the strings on their wrists,” Chen’er said, lifting the sleeve to show them.

Indeed, Da Xiong wore a red string on his wrist, and Xiao Xiong wore a green one. When Lin He walked in from the courtyard, she saw Chen’er and Xiao Bao laughing at their Big Brother, calling him silly. He’er shook her head. Ever since Da Xiong and Xiao Xiong were born, these two little ones had been playing this game daily, never tiring of it. If you guessed correctly, they’d say you looked at the wrist strings; if you guessed wrong, they’d call you silly. Lin He herself had been told off countless times before she resolved to pay closer attention.

After the Lin He siblings shared a laugh, Xiao Bao and Chen’er left with the maids. Lin He then briefed Da Bao on some recent family matters. Upon hearing that their family had bought a mountain, Da Bao immediately wanted to go see it. Lin He said they would go tomorrow and that she had other things to discuss with him.

Lin He asked, “Big Brother, you’ve been studying in town for several years now, and you’ve spent a good amount of time at He Cai Wa Wa’s place. Do you have any thoughts about the future?”

Da Bao said, “Actually, I was planning to discuss this with the family even if you hadn't asked. I don't plan to continue studying in town. I’ve learned quite a few characters over the years, and since I don't intend to pursue official ranks, recognizing some characters is enough. I’m not cut out for scholarly pursuits; I’m not very interested in studying. Continuing would be a waste of time. I’d rather open a small shop in town and manage it myself slowly. If I don't know something, I’ll ask Uncle Wen.”

Lin He agreed with what Da Bao said. Her elder brother wasn't overly clever, but he was very clear about his shortcomings and willing to accept them. He didn’t stubbornly pursue things he wasn't good at, which was also a strength. Moreover, his desire to open a small shop in town wasn't an unrealistic fantasy; it showed he knew when to do things appropriate for him and didn't harbor impractical dreams.

Lin He said, “Well, since Big Brother dislikes studying, a few years should be sufficient. Don’t go to the academy next month. Also, don’t go to He Cai Wa Wa’s place for now. Tell Uncle Wen later. Stay home for a few months. I already mentioned the matter of opening a shop to Uncle Wen last time; he will keep an eye out for us. We'll wait until a suitable shop is found.”

“Also, Big Brother hasn’t been home much these past few years. Mother misses you greatly. A period of rest at home—I’m sure Father, Mother, Xiao Bao, and Chen’er will all be very happy,” Lin He added.