Liu Duo bought two long hairpins for each of the four brother. She paid and they were ready to leave.

Wang Tuozi's bullock-cart was waiting for them at the town entrance. When he saw Ye Yang and Ye Mo carrying so many bags, he thought, Did the Ye brothers recently make a fortune?

They had purchased quite a lot last time too, with many bags, and this time was no different. So he was really curious about where their money had come from.

"Uncle Wang, this is the fare for all four of us," Ye Mo handed the money to Wang Tuozi while Liu Duo got busy arranging the things she had bought.

Wang Tuozi accepted the money with a nod, "Mo, did you guys get rich?"

Hearing that, Ye Mo came up with an excuse, "They're for our third aunt."

He didn't want to say anymore and went to sit on the cart. After all, the money wasn't theirs, but Liu Duo's, and if Liu Duo didn't say, then it wasn't his place to do so.

She placed her things nicely and smiled at Ling, "You can play with them when you're free at home, but we can have the snacks together."

Ye Ling nodded. They had bought a lot, and he felt guilty about the money they had spent. But it had all been paid for, and they could not return it. On top of that, they were tokens of Liu Duo's kindness, so he also replied happily, "Thanks for buying all this, Duo Er."

"No need for that. Who are we? We aren't strangers, so don't ever say stuff like that again." She giggled, feeling great.

Then, Ye Yang took out a hairpin. It was made of jade, not the finest colour, but at the top there was a carving of an orchid, which was nicely done. He reached out and placed it on Liu Duo's head. He nodded at the sight, "Wonderful."

Liu Duo felt something propped upon her head and heard his compliment, so she reached up to feel it with her hands, "When did you buy this hairpin, Yang?"

Ye Mo and Ye Ling were also eager to know. They had all been walking together, yet they hadn't known he had bought something.

Ye Yang just stared at Liu Duo, admiring her brows on her face. Between them, there was gentleness. "Just now."

When Liu Duo was buying hairpins for them, he had also bought one for her, because she had not bought one for herself.

Hearing that, Liu Duo pulled a face and began to interrogate, "Where did your money come from? Everyone's money is with me so... do you have a private stash?"

Liu Duo was furious at the thought of Ye Yang keeping a secret stash. Not because he hadn't given everything to her, but because she hated being lied to! She had clearly said that she would manage all their finances, so how did he suddenly have money to buy other things?

Ye Yang, with his unreadable expression, saw that Liu Duo's interrogative look resembled a lion ready to strike, and he found it very funny. He patted her on the head, "I didn't hide. The money came from Mr. Zhu. He bought some game a while ago, so he owed me money."

Some villagers would occasionally pay him a few days later after buying meat from him.

"Yes, Duo Er. Yang would never hide a private stash from you. That day Mr. Zhu came by for some pheasant and wild hare, he didn't pay. He said he would have to pay a few days later," Ye Ling came to his brother's defence.

Ye Mo added, with an air of arrogance as he stood up for his brother, "So what if Yang really hid some money? It was still spent on you anyway! When I have money someday, I won't give it to you, because you are an over-generous wasteful woman! You spend money like water!

After hearing Ye Yang's explanation, Liu Duo wasn't upset anymore. After all it was perfectly normal for men to have some money to themselves so that they could use it in times of emergency.

But Ye Mo's mannerism was so annoying! What did he mean by saying she was "wasteful" and "spending money like water"?