In the south, winter days with sunshine are relatively warm. However, on rainy and cloudy days, its chilly everywhere, and there are more things to do. I need to prepare a fire basket for Shen Shi (its a bamboo basket with a small ceramic pot inside, containing some charcoal, and an iron mesh cover on top - almost every old lady in the southern countryside has one). I also have to help Shen Shi dry her washed clothes using the fire basket, and washing clothes has become a chore. The cold air is biting, and when going out, I need to wear thick, clumsy wooden shoes that are not very comfortable - theyre leftovers from Zifu, and dont fit well. Walking in them is like being a penguin, and Ive fallen many times. My resentment is deep because the south has more rainy days in winter, and Ive lost count of how many times Ive fallen.

  Zi Fu had a pair of boots said to be made of deer skin, which was very light and convenient to wear on rainy days. Zi Lu said that they were given by the late Xiao Lao Yezi to Zi Fu, who found it inconvenient to go to school on rainy days and was intelligent and eager to learn since childhood, so he won the old mans favor and gave him a pair of boots, which was also warm in winter. When he earned his own money, the first thing he wanted to do was to buy himself a pair of light boots, so, in order not to slip on the road, Zi Qing also had to find a way to make money quickly.

  Zi Qing was worried about how to find a way to make money, Zi Lu came over and said he wanted to go to the market. The three siblings, Zi Qing, Zi Lu, and Zi Fu, walked around the market, looking left and right. Zi Qing noticed that there were many stalls selling New Years goods, including various dried fruits, peanuts, melon seeds, dates, dried mandarin oranges, and pine nuts, as well as cured meats like bacon, duck, and chicken, and various game meat jerky. However, she didnt see any cured sausage, probably because the people here didnt know how to process the casing. There were also stalls selling fabric flowers, colored silk, firecrackers, and so on. Zi Qing felt that something was missing, and after walking around in a circle, she realized that she hadnt seen anyone selling couplets or red lanterns.

  "Big brother, why didnt I see anyone selling couplets?" Zi Qing asked.

  "Silly girl, scholars are all very particular, usually they pay people to write books and then sell them. Our town is small, theres no bookstore, we have to go to Anzhou city to buy. Or else we can ask the village scholar to write something for us in exchange for some gifts. Youve forgotten, every year Father helps others write quite a few things." said Zifeng.

  "Big brother, dont you want to help the family earn some small money?" Zi Fus eyes lit up, apparently also thinking of it.

  Back home, Zi Qing ran into Shens room, "Mother, can you lend me 100 coins? I promise to return it to you in a few days."

  "One hundred yuan? So much, whats a kid like you going to use that kind of money for?"

  "Mother, just lend it to him, brother said he wants to sell couplets, but has no money to buy red paper, he doesnt dare come and ask you for it."

  "Go ahead and make it up, you must have instigated your elder brother, what couplet would your elder brother write?"

  "Isnt your dad still around? Dont worry, I guarantee Ill return it to you."

  "Youre really something, Ill call your elder brother." Shen took out a string of money from the box. Zi Qing whispered a few words to Zi Fu and dragged him over, Shen instructed him for a bit before handing the money to Zi Fu, then Zi Qing pulled Zi Fu and was about to rush to the small grocery store on the street.

  "Qing Qing, how can you say that the wind is rain? Youre so naive. But surprisingly, you were able to get 100 cents from your mother, which makes me look at you in a new light." Zi Fu said.

  "Mother is giving you face, Ive given my word to her that Ill definitely return the money. Brother, think about it, in two days its the tenth, the Lunar New Years Eve, you should hurry up and write more couplets, the Spring Festival is just around the corner."

  Two people rushed to the grocery store, and Zi Qing only knew that ancient paper was not cheap. A complete red paper actually cost ten cents, equivalent to the price of two catties of early rice, while a red paper could write two pairs of couplets.

  "Boss, can you make it cheaper? Im buying a lot." Zi Qing asked.

  "This really cant be cheap, but there are five cents per sheet here, just some places are broken, with holes. Cutting a pair of couplets from one piece of paper is still no problem. You guys take a look and discuss."

  Zi Qing and Zi Fu opened the damaged red paper to take a look, some of which could be cut into a pair of couplets, and at worst, they could write several more "Fu" characters. The siblings chose twenty sheets, and Zi Qing also asked the boss for two broken brushes and an ordinary inkstone as gifts. As soon as they returned home, they put the things in Zi Fus room, and Zi Qing was about to start cutting the paper, but Zi Fu didnt dare let her do it, fearing that she would mess it up.

  "Big brother, dont cut them all at once. Cut one out and write on it first, then wait for the ink to dry before cutting more. Isnt that a way to save time?"

  "Little girl is quite clever, brother listens to you. But what shall we write?"

  "Write something more festive, if you dont know how, ask your father or look for it in his books."

  Ziying started browsing the books on the bookshelf, this time she could read with ease. After all, in these days, Zifeng had taught her more than a hundred words, although she could write fewer than she could recognize. Fortunately, Ziying didnt have high expectations for herself, it was better for a country girl not to pretend to be an elegant lady.

  Zi Qing found a book called "Notes on the Customs of Daxia", Zi Qing opened it and took a look, inside there were couplets, lantern riddles, famous rivers and mountains, Buddhist and Taoist holy sites, even local flavors and snacks, crops planting and so on. Its really a useful good book.

  Just as I was about to start writing, Zeng Rui Xiang came in and said, "I heard from your mother that youre planning to sell couplets. Fu Er, do you think your handwriting is good enough for writing couplets?"

  Zi Fus face turned red with shame, and Zi Qing hastily chimed in: "Father, Big Brother didnt plan on writing it himself. Big Brother was just cutting the paper. Weve prepared everything for Father to come over and write. I and Second Brother will be in charge of selling."

  Perhaps Zeng Ruixiang felt that there were too many places at home where money was needed, and he was very pleased with the childrens understanding. He quickly picked up his pen, and Zi Qing was fortunate that her father was not a stubborn person. With her fathers help, she finally finished writing 28 pairs of couplets before dark. Zifeng cut the remaining wider paper into diamond shapes and wrote "Fu" on them, and cut the narrower ones into strips, writing "Kaimen Dajie" and "Liuchong Xingwang".

  After breakfast on the tenth day, Ziqing hastily took a basket to pack the couplets, Zifu brought a small handful of straw, called Zilu out, and went to the market town to find the most lively place. Zifu spread out the straw, put up the couplets, and soon someone came over to ask. Because previously Rui Xiang had told them that generally bookstores sell couplets for ten cents a pair, they only need to sell eight or nine cents. Everyone saw three children selling couplets, all feeling a bit novel, and started discussing in a hubbub.