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Initially, the salesperson upon seeing Tang Zhinian’s clothing, knew he was from the countryside and would presumably be unwilling to spend so much on clothes for a child. But in the end, Tang Zhinian did fork out the money without batting an eyelid. The banknotes he handed over were whole bills, but without any change.

Later, he lifted Tang Yuxin up and sat her on top of the tricycle. The brothers went on to buy sunflower seed candy, peanuts, and other New Year goodies, as well as spring couplets. As they passed a department store, Tang Zhijun paused.

“Bro, we should buy a TV. It’s not sustainable to keep going to the village center to watch one,” he suggested.

Tang Zhinian pondered – a television was a considerable expense nowadays. Previously, they could only dreamt of owning one, let alone buying it. But now, they were financially capable. With more than ten thousand at hand, a television could last them over a decade. Even if they didn’t watch, Yuxin would. Thinking of his daughter’s future, he braced himself and decided to get one.

The decisive looks on Tang Zhijun and her father’s faces clued Tang Yuxin in on their plan to buy a TV. Yet she was resolute that it was not the time to do so, and it would be a waste.

“Father, I don’t need a TV. I really don’t…” Tang Yuxin pulled at Tang Zhinian’s sleeve. She desperately tried to appear tired, to make her father and uncle reconsider the expenditure. With their hard-earned money at stake, she was prepared to push every button she could to change their minds – shame, tears, and all.

Tang Zhinian was at a loss. Other children enthusiastically craved a television, but Yuxin. She found it too noisy and was vehement in her refusal for them to buy one.

Eventually, Tang Zhinian had to relent, and they left empty-handed.

“Bro, perhaps it’s better to buy it later,” suggested Tang Zhijun.

“You see, we’ve just sold the coriander. Without a doubt, the villagers estimate we made several thousand from it,” reasoned Tang Zhijun as they continued their journey.

“Indeed,” agreed Tang Zhinian. Concealing their monetary success seemed impossible. Buying the television would unsettle the other villagers and their close neighbors. It wasn’t unusual for villagers to resent another’s sudden wealth, regardless of how hard-earned it was.

They hadn’t become overnight millionaires.

Months of tireless work had paid off, but to their fellow villagers, the sum they had earned was something a whole family might take more than a decade to accumulate.

The plans for the television and a new build were scrapped for now.

After much thought, Tang Zhinian decided to postpone the construction of a new house until the next year or the year after. Tang Zhijun was young enough to wait a few years for his marriage. At Tang Zhinian’s age, he should have been wed by now. But his previous engagement fell apart after his bride-to-be fell ill and passed away before the wedding.

The villagers were superstitious, claiming that Tang Zhinian was jinxed, that his fate would bring harm to his wife. And even with the diminishing values of a maiden, no one was willing to offer their daughter to him, especially given Tang family’s poverty. Tang Zhinian resided in the last of the clay-brick houses in their compound, whereas Tang Zhijun lived in the small shack in the field, which made it even impassable for Tang Zhijun to find a wife.