Xiao Lingyu had confidence that her harvest would sell well.
Xiao Lingyu smiled. “Granny, you’ve given me such a great deal. How can I give you leftovers? Granny, if you need any vegetables and fruits, feel free to come to me.”
“Okay!” The old lady grinned. The two elders had no idea Xiao Lingyu had magical vegetables and fruits. If Xiao Lingyu didn’t promise to reserve her stock for them, they would never get to taste Xiao Lingyu’s harvest. Of course, that was something for the future.
After Xiao Lingyu gave them half a year of rent, she pondered and went to buy a tricycle that could move through the small alleys. She spent almost all the money she brought. Xiao Lingyu didn’t ride the tricycle home. She kept it at the rental home.
After that, Xiao Lingyu went to a toy store to buy a transformer for Xiao Xiaohui and took the bus home. She didn’t delay in case she missed the last bus. She spent quite a long time looking for a warehouse and buying the tricycle.
When she reached Taoyuan Village, it was already dark.
Her parents were worried. Mother Xiao said, “I should have accompanied Yu ‘Er to the county town. It’s already so dark, why isn’t she home yet? Do you think something might have happened to her?”
Father Xiao comforted. “Don’t worry. Yu ‘Er has never made us worry, other than the issue with the Chen Family kid. She probably got delayed on the road.”
Once Xiao Lingyu got down from the bus, Xiao Xiaohui pounced on her. He reported to Xiao Lingyu, “Eldest cousin, I went to herd the cows today.” His eyes moved all over Xiao Lingyu until they settled on the bag Xiao Lingyu was holding. He jumped up in joy. “Eldest cousin, is that for me?”
Xiao Lingyu tapped the kid’s forehead and laughed, “You only care about your toy and nothing else.”
Xiao Xiaohui rubbed his forehead and laughed. “It’s because transformers are fun. One of my classmates has it. And everyone is envious.” He stared at the item with burning eyes.
Xiao Lingyu handed the toy to Xiao Xiaohui. “Okay, here you go!”
“Thank you, eldest cousin!” Xiao Xiaohui cheered. The pair of cousins walked home.
Xiao Xiaohui followed Xiao Lingyu to his second aunt’s place. Xiao Xiaohui held his transformers high and said happily, “Second aunt, second uncle, eldest cousin bought me a transformer!”
Mother and Father Xiao smiled. “That’s wonderful. Xiaohui, you have to take good care of the toy, okay?”
“Of course!” Xiao Xiaohui nodded. “I will treasure it.”
Mother and Father Xiao turned to Xiao Lingyu with concern. “Girl, why did you come back so late? Did something happen?”
Xiao Lingyu shook her head. “Nothing happened. I spent some time looking for a house. Then I bought a tricycle to start my vending business!”
Mother Xiao was surprised. She asked, “Yu ‘Er, you really plan to farm and sell vegetables and fruits?”
Xiao Lingyu nodded. Mother Xiao fell silent. Father Xiao was also silent before saying, “Come, let’s eat first.”
Xiao Xiaohui gasped like he had heard some big secret. “Eldest cousin, you’re going to stay to farm and sell vegetables and fruits? You’re not going back to the big city?” In Xiao Xiaohui’s mind, his eldest cousin always worked in the big city. She would only come back during the new year. She always brought him gifts. They were expensive and rare. They were not available even in the county town.
Xiao Xiaohui’s parents always told him to work hard so that he could work in the big city like his eldest cousin. Then, he could buy all the toys he wanted. However, that same eldest cousin was moving back to the village to farm. It confused him.
Xiao Lingyu said, “Yes, I’m staying. I’m not going back to the big city.”
“Oh!” Xiao Xiaohui nodded. He asked in puzzlement, “But eldest cousin, why don’t you want to go back to the city?”
“I’m tired and I miss home.” Xiao Lingyu said with a smile. “I realize home is the best place to be!”
Xiao Xiaohui nodded in confusion. Then he wrinkled his nose, and his eyes sparkled. He exclaimed, “What smells so good?!”
He turned his head and saw the dishes on the table. There was a large plate of cabbage, a plate of fried eggs with chives, a big bowl of braised pork feet with soybeans, and a plate of shredded celery.
Mother Xiao had prepared more than enough for three people.
The kid jumped on the chair and lay on the table, drooling. “Everything looks so delicious.” He looked at Mother Xiao and claimed openly, “Second aunt, I want to stay for dinner!”
Mother Xiao laughed seeing the saliva slip down Xiao Xiaohui’s lips. “Okay, I’ll go get you a bowl!”
“Thank you, second aunt!” Xiao Xiaohui said.
“You brat, I knew you’d be here!” Suddenly, Liu Chunhua’s voice came from outside. “What are you sitting at other people’s dining table? Haven’t you already had dinner? Why are you here again?” Then, she rushed into the house to give Xiao Xiaohui a quick smack on the head. “You rascal!”
Xiao Xiaohui rubbed his head and protested, “Mom, stop hitting my head or I’ll be stupid.” Xiao Xiaohui noticed that everyone liked to hit his head, including his eldest cousin.
“You’re already not that clever. How else can you be so bad at studying?” His mother knocked his head again.
“I inherited my brain from you. Mom, I heard that you and dad didn’t like to study when you were young either.” Xiao Xiaohui rubbed his head indignantly.
At this moment, Mother Xiao appeared with bowls and chopsticks. “Chunhua, have you eaten? Come join us!”
Liu Chunhua said, “Sister-in-law, I’ve already eaten. We can’t impose.”
Xiao Xiaohui added, “But mom, the food at second aunt’s place is so delicious!”
Liu Chunhua took a sniff and she swallowed her saliva. ‘It does smell good! Second Sister has always been a good cook but not to this level. Has her skill improved recently?’
Even though Liu Chunhua had already eaten, when she smelled the fragrance, she could hear her stomach grumble.
Liu Chunhua’s hands unconsciously went to her stomach. She wanted to refuse but her stomach growled. In the end, she took the bowls and chopsticks from Mother Xiao. She said with an embarrassed smile, “Second sister-in-law, your food smells so good that even those who have eaten will gain an appetite.”
Mother Xiao smiled, “Join us then. I’ve made a lot. It’s enough for all of us.”
“Alright then!” Liu Chunhua started to eat. Those who didn’t know might find Liu Chunhua and her family rude. However, the reality was the two families were very close. The brothers and even the sisters-in-law were good to each other. Liu Chunhua was a straightforward person. In Taoyuan Village, Liu Chunhua was closest to Mother Xiao.
The atmosphere during dinner was lively. There were five fighters in the food war.
“These dishes are delicious! Second sister-in-law, you’re such a good cook!” Liu Chunhua praised between bites.
“Mom, you stole my food.” Xiao Xiaohui grabbed a piece of the beef tendon but it was snatched away by his mother.
His mother countered, “I’m your mother, you rascal. Never mind, I’ll find another one.” The pair of mother and son loved beef tendons. Liu Chunhua surrendered the piece to her son.
Xiao Xiaohui reached for more before his mother swiped the rest.
Xiao Lingyu’s fourth uncle watched the television alone at home. He waited but his wife and son didn’t come home. He felt lonely. After some thought, he turned off the television and went to his second brother’s house.
When he arrived, he was rendered speechless by what he saw.