Chapter 3: Ready for Market Wahala

She tie wrapper firm, shift chair for corner, step outside with confidence, like person wey get target for market. The smell of early morning harmattan dey enter small.

Cao Cao stand up, wear cloth. The cloth dey smell smoke and kitchen wahala, e bone face.

He sniff am, squeeze face like person wey smell ogiri. But no time for plenty wahala, e just brush am down, shake shoulder, ready for anything.

E find one scissors wey Aisha Jinlian dey use sew, hide am for chest, waka go downstairs.

He pack am inside shirt, the way old village men dey hide better money, just in case. Mind dey alert, body dey ready for anything, even if e no know which kind wahala dey wait outside.

Aisha Jinlian don already set the carrying pole.

She balance am well for doorpost, arrange masa basin, wipe sweat from face. That pole, na real village style, the kind way people use for market runs.

Cao Cao point the pole, then point himself. "Na me?"

His voice low, as if e dey try dodge destiny.

"Who else?" Aisha Jinlian snap.

She no get time for play, face hard, hands on hips, one eyebrow raise. She point the pole like say she dey direct traffic, meaning "no be today wahala start."