The young girl's eyes widened. Although she had only been here for two months, she had read many scriptures. One of them stated that Master Liquor was an exceedingly rare type of alcohol—one gourd of which was beyond any price, something money couldn't buy.

    She shook the gourd several more times but couldn't feel any liquid inside.

    "Is it empty?" she asked innocently.

    "Empty? Empty your nan! That crazy Liu Fuzhen used it for nearly twenty years and it didn't run out; how could it possibly be empty in your hands?"

    Hearing this, she couldn't help but stare in wonder at the gourd in her hand, thinking if this could be her path to riches.

    She was thrilled.

    "If you knew you had something this valuable, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yi You criticized.

    Crazy worm made me wait a month to tell me this.

    "Ugh, who would’ve thought that not only are you poor but you are also stupid. Even when I was still an egg, you just shook me around for fun, but you never bothered to check out the gourd. So, is it my fault then?" The worm then ignored her, sprawling out and falling asleep.

    The girl pouted at it once and then stopped caring, turning to look at the frayed cord on the gourd, feeling compelled to find a red string to re-tie it. She had been disabled once, having only one hand, and never had much experience with handicrafts.

    She then remembered Liu Yi Ya's mother,

    Aunt-in-law Ten.

    After cooking Hong Tao Guo, she intended to take them to Elder Three, but he wasn't in his house. She saved some in the kitchen and divided the rest into two small baskets, walking out.

    "You tiny worm, d…—" She didn't finish her sentence when the sharp voice of the worm interrupted her angrily.

    "I am a dragon, can’t you understand that?"

    "…" She wanted to ask where exactly it resembled a dragon.

    "How about this then, what’s your name?"

    "I am called Yilong (The top dragon)," it replied with utmost pride.

    Yi You's lips twitched, wanting to ask who dared to give it such a name.

    "Yilong? I think it’s more like 'Khainui[1]'," the girl muttered quietly, but the sharp-eared worm caught it.

    "Khainui? What does that mean?"

    "It means a dragon above all dragons, a title for the god of dragons," the girl replied earnestly, trying to look as sincere as possible.

    "Why haven't I heard of it?"

    "It's a name used for the most sacred dragon god, not something mere mortals would know about."

    "Fine, then I am Khainui," it said, posing as if it were hugging itself, looking even prouder.

    The girl's eyes wavered.

    "Then I've gotta go, I'll be right back" she said hesitantly, as if gritting her teeth.

    After walking away from the house, the young girl pursed her lips, her shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter; once she was sure she was far enough away, she let out a loud, unrestrained laugh.

    "Seventeen, what are you laughing about?" a sweet voice of a seven-year-old girl sounded next to her.

    Yi You took a deep breath to calm herself.

    "I made Hong Tao Guo today, brought some for Sixteen; didn't expect to meet you here first."

    "Really? Let me help carry it," Liu Yi Ya took one of the small baskets to help carry.

    Since Yi You had moved in with the old master, she had been making snacks more often, so Liu Yi Ya often had the good fortune to share these treats.

    For a child, besides playing, enjoying delicious food was another source of happiness.

    The two girls walked together, soon reaching Uncle Ten's house.

    Uncle Ten was Liu Yi Ya's father, but he wasn't at home now; only Aunt Ten was in the house.

    And Aunt Ten was precisely who she wanted to see.

    "Aunt Ten," Yi You bowed to the elder.

    "Little Seventeen, come in. Are you here to play with your sister Sixteen today?" Aunt Ten greeted them with a gentle smile, offering snacks and tea to the two children.

    "I’ve brought some treats to share with you," she handed a small basket to Aunt Ten, while Liu Yi Ya still tightly held the other small basket.

    "So kind of you, being so little and yet you cook so well," Aunt Ten couldn't help but admire the little girl, glancing at her own daughter and wondering why, being two years older, she only played all day.

    People are never satisfied with what they have. A seven-year-old like Liu Yi Ya is considered very smart already. How could she be compared to 'a child who is not just a child' like Yi You.

    "Thank you, Aunt. Actually, I have a favor to ask today, if you don’t mind?" she asked tentatively.

    Usually, she liked to do everything herself, feeling a bit awkward having to ask someone for help.

    "What do you need help with my mother?" Liu Yi Ya asked with her cheeks full of treats, looking adorable as she chewed nonstop.

    The youngest girl took out a fraying belt from her father’s belongings and placed it on the table.

    "This belongs to my father. It's about to break, and I don’t know how to fix it. Could you help me, please?" she looked up at the elder with pleading eyes.

    The woman looked into her eyes and smiled broadly.

    "Such a small task, of course, I can fix it for you right now."

    For her, retying a cord was a simple task that didn’t require much effort and could be done quickly.

    Yi You handed over the old tuff belt for inspection, and Aunt Ten got up to fetch some string and sat down to weave it near where the two children were sitting.

    While waiting, Yi You found a piece of paper and started making a snakes and ladders game to play with Liu Yi Ya, who was easily tricked by the younger girl into losing.

    Eventually, the tuff belt was finished.

    "Little Seventeen, come see if this will do," the woman handed over the newly woven belt to the little girl, who had used the old belt as a template and only changed the string.

    Yi You passed the gourd to Aunt Ten to tie it securely, and with a little more weaving, it was all done.

    "Thank you so much, Aunt Ten," the girl said gratefully, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction as she immediately hung the gourd around her waist.

    The woman laughed at Yi You's actions.

    Children will always be children, capable of some things and not others. Initially, she envied this child for her knowledge, but upon reflection, her own daughter, Liu Yi Ya, was far luckier.

    A child so bereft of parents should be pitied rather than envied.

    "Little Seventeen, where did you learn this paper game?"

    Because it was fun, she wanted to play again and again. Once a round was over, she wanted to start a new one, but her sister seemed ready to return home, making it hard not to feel a bit disappointed.

    "Sister Sixteen, keep this paper to play later. Aunt Ten, I must leave now, or Grandfather Three will worry," she bowed to Aunt Ten again before getting up to leave.

    Upon returning home, she saw Grandfather Three eating some snacks and sat down to join him. However, because the chair was designed for adults, she struggled to climb onto it.

    "You’re back already, Little Seventeen?" the old man asked, not pausing his chewing.

    Yi You's mouth twitched slightly in amusement.

    Is everyone around her just focused on eating?

    "Yes, I'm back, Grandfather. Where have you been?" the girl poured tea into a cup, drank it all, and set it down.

    "I took your painting to the Sai Heng Tong Auction House." Despite continuing to eat, he seemed very enthusiastic when talking about her painting.

    "They were amazed by your painting. They've never seen anything so realistic before."

    "Does that mean it has been sold?" The girl felt extremely excited upon hearing this.

    "Not yet. It will be auctioned in three days along with other items. Prepare yourself; in three days, Grandfather will take you there too," the old man spoke and then choked a bit on his snack, his face turning red from coughing.

    Eating while talking, no wonder he choked. The girl watched the old man with narrowed eyes, then poured him another cup of tea.

    "Is Uncle Three at home?" a familiar male voice called from outside the house. Yi You walked over to open the door andkh bowed politely.

    "Welcome, Uncle Six," he nodded formally to her.

    "Is your Grandfather Three in the house?"

    The girl nodded, "He is," and then stepped aside to let her uncle enter more easily.

    "What brings you here, Six?" the old man rubbed his chest and took several sips of tea.

    "Father sent me to ask you to come see him," he said, glancing at the little girl who sat quietly.

    "Is it about Seventeen?" the old man noted the visitor's uneasy demeanor and asked directly.

    "Yes," he replied softly.

    "She doesn't take any money from the family anymore, and she's under my care. What more do those people want? Can't they leave a child alone?"

[1] ‘Khainui’ is a Thai nickname or slang, originally from Southern Thailand, meaning something or someone tiny or small.