Xu Ning had already bought everything needed for the New Year and planned to take Xu An and Xu Mo into the city for a day of fun. The two boys, who had been cooped up at home all winter, were thrilled to hear they would be going out with her.

They were going to ride in an ox cart. That day, Jianmin, Da Lin, and Er Dan were also heading to the city with their families, and many villagers planned to go as well. Since there weren’t enough ox carts, the village chief arranged for two men who knew how to drive ox carts to go to the barn and fetch two more.

Xu Ning dressed the boys warmly, putting thick clothes on them, cotton hats on their heads, and wrapping scarves around their faces so that only their eyes were visible.

As the three of them reached the village entrance, they saw three horse-drawn carts parked there. Jianmin spotted Xu An and waved at them, calling out, “Xu An, Xu An! Come ride this cart with us!”

Aunt Dashuan also called out to Xu Ning, “Xu Zhiqing, come sit here! With you all, this cart will be full.”

The three of them hurried toward the cart. Aunt Dashuan turned to Xu Ning and said, “Isn’t this the boy from the barn? Last time, Xiao An brought him to my house to play, and I thought he was from another family in the village.”

Xu Ning nodded and replied, “Yes, it’s him. There’s too much work in the barn, and no one looks after him. Granpa Qi let him play with us, so I brought him along today.”

Aunt Dashuan sighed and said, “He’s a poor child. Jianmin told me he’s very sensible.” She then gently patted Xu Mo’s head.

Xu Mo winked at Aunt Dashuan with a smile, making her quite fond of him. She picked him up and sat him on her lap to shield him from the wind.

Xu Ning took a coat from her backpack and covered Xu An, Jianmin, and a six- or seven-year-old boy on the cart. The boy’s grandmother thanked Xu Ning, saying, “Xu Zhiqing, thank you! I forgot to bring something to shield the child from the wind.”

Xu Ning smiled and replied, “Auntie, it’s nothing. Who could think of everything when going out? I even forgot my backpack when I left and had to turn back halfway to get it.”

They chatted as they entered the city. As they approached the city gate, the ox cart could no longer go through, so they all got down and continued on foot. The crowd was thick, and Xu Ning held Xu An with one hand and pulled Xu Mo along with the other. She reminded them, “If you get lost, just come back here to the gate. All the village ox carts are parked here.”

The two boys listened attentively as they walked, their eyes wide with wonder at the sights around them. Villagers from nearby areas were selling mountain goods, and the black market was busier than usual with the New Year approaching. Everyone needed to stock up for the holiday. The authorities also had to prepare for the festivities, so during this time of year, nearby villagers were allowed to bring their goods into the city to sell, as long as it wasn’t excessive; no one would intervene.

Xu Mo stopped in his tracks, staring at an old man selling candied hawthorn. Xu Ning bought a skewer for each of the boys. As they ventured further in, the crowds thickened. Since Xu Ning didn’t have much to buy, she decided to wander with the two boys. Just as they reached a narrow alley next to the black market, they spotted Lin Miao carrying a backpack as she entered.

Xu Ning then led her younger brothers toward the state-run restaurant. Despite having lived there for so long, they had never been to the restaurant, and she thought today would be a good day to treat them.

The state-run restaurant was bustling, nearly filled to capacity. Xu Ning found a table and noticed the day’s specials: vegetarian dumplings, braised pig’s trotters, and shredded pork noodles.

She ordered one of each, totaling eighty-five cents, along with four liang of grain tickets and four liang of meat tickets. When the server brought their food, the three of them shared it. Having had plenty of oil and fat throughout the winter, they ate rather modestly. Xu An commented, “This pig’s trotter isn’t as tasty as the pork head meat that Sister makes, and these dumplings aren’t as good as the wild vegetable ones you make.”

Xu Mo chimed in, “And this shredded pork noodles aren’t as good as the noodles Sister makes.”

Xu Ning thought to herself, despite how delicious the food was, it still couldn’t satisfy their picky appetites. She resolved to cook them corn porridge for a few days when they got home.

After a full day of play in the city, the two younger boys lay down on the kang and fell asleep as soon as they got home. Xu Ning wiped their hands and faces before heading to the barn to tell her parents they were back, knowing they would worry about the three siblings going into the city.