To get straight to the point, looking out into the distance, one could see that beneath the ancient pines towering over the green hills, there were seven or eight typical courtyards with white walls and black tiles, built in a well-arranged manner. Among them, the largest one faintly revealed pavilions and towers inside, elegant and exquisite. Just thinking about the cost of building such a residence in the countryside, the air of wealth was unmistakable. The other houses in the village varied in quality—some were as neat and tidy as his own, while others were dilapidated and low. But what drew even more attention was the vast stretch of fertile fields, and farther away, a wide river, across which another sizable village could be vaguely seen.

The countryside was not a wilderness—he had underestimated his own little Songming Mountain village!

“Little master.”

“Young Master Warren.”

Most of the villagers they met along the way would greet them, but Frank Warren didn’t recognize any of them. He could only ask James Gold to remind him from a distance who was who, so he could return the greeting.

After walking for quite a while, Little Sister Warren, who was trailing behind him like a little shadow, grinned and said, “In the past, when brother walked outside, he only cared about reciting books and thinking, never paying attention to who he met. He even missed seeing elders a few times and got scolded twice, so he went out less and less. But today, it’s like you’re a different person, greeting everyone.”

Frank Warren immediately broke out in a cold sweat, thinking that this bookworm’s disregard for others had really reached a certain level! He knew nothing of social niceties, and whenever he was troubled, he’d just jot it down in his Analects commentary. What kind of life was that!

So, he spoke earnestly to Little Sister Warren: “The past is the past, now is now. You learn from your mistakes—your brother has learned a big lesson this time and decided to turn over a new leaf!”

Rather than keep playing the bookworm, he might as well take this chance to be himself!

Little Sister Warren widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at Frank Warren for a long while. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pointed at the old peddler not far away, saying, “Alright then, brother, I want a candied hawthorn!”

What kind of logic was that?

Frank Warren was dumbfounded, watching as the little girl lifted her skirt and ran over to the old peddler, said a few words, and then happily accepted a skewer of candied hawthorn. He rubbed his forehead in exasperation and, leaning on James Gold, slowly followed. It was one thing to suddenly become a fourteen-year-old boy, but what he found even harder to bear was this weak body, just barely recovered from serious injury!

When he finally caught up to Little Sister Warren, the little girl flashed him a triumphant smile as she held up the candied hawthorn, then stretched out her free left hand and said, “Brother, three wen.”

Frank Warren had no choice but to reach into his robe, only to freeze. He used to carry money when he went out, but now things were different—he didn’t have a single coin on him! He immediately turned to look at James Gold, but the little fellow just looked back at him with a bitter face and whispered, “Dad, Second Mother didn’t give us any money when we left.”

Faced with this awkward situation, Frank Warren felt his face burn. Was this going to be a free meal... no, a free candied hawthorn?

He was about to send James Gold home to fetch money, but the old peddler, seeing the situation, immediately understood and said with a smile, “Little master became a xiucai recently, and this old man has nothing much to offer as congratulations. Let Third Miss have a skewer of candied hawthorn—no need to pay.”

“How can we accept that?” Frank Warren said, but his eyes glared at his little sister. Greedy little cat—let’s see if you can stand it! Be careful you don’t get cavities!

But Little Sister Warren ignored her brother’s look, munching on the candied hawthorn as she complained, “Ever since I was little, other people’s brothers would buy their sisters this and that, but you’ve never bought anything for me or Second Sister. Uncle Song’s candied hawthorn is the best—famous in all the neighboring villages, and he often sells them in Huizhou City. He’s a good man, and even though he knows he won’t sell much here in Songming Mountain, because so many people in the village love them, he still brings twenty or thirty skewers across the river every ten days or so. I’ve begged you several times before to bring one back from school, but you always ignored me!”

Frank Warren had only felt embarrassed before, but now he could only give a wry smile. At this point, he didn’t want to blame anyone or anything—he had already decided to accept his current identity, along with all the ties and consequences attached to this body, and live his life well. So, he reached out and ruffled Little Sister Warren’s head, saying softly, “I’m sorry for how I treated you before. From now on, whatever you like, I’ll buy it for you!”

Little Sister Warren had no idea about her brother’s change of heart, and immediately cheered with joy. Seeing her so happy, Frank Warren cupped his hands to the old peddler and said, “Thank you for your kindness, uncle, but you earn your money through hard work. How about this—next time you bring candied hawthorn to sell at Songming Mountain, please bring three skewers for my family each time.”

The old peddler selling candied hawthorn was actually from Xixinan Village across the river. He was skilled at making sweets, so he made candied hawthorn to sell. Most of the time, he went to Huizhou City, where there were more customers, but he also regularly sold in the villages near Xixinan. Villagers with spare money could have a taste, and many wealthy families liked this little treat as well.