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After stowing the cart, Shen Zhuo returned to find the agricultural market bustling with activity. The crowd had thickened considerably.
He suddenly remembered the boiled eggs he had prepared that morning and patted his cloth bag. Turning to Ye Xin, he asked, “Do you want to eat an egg now? They’re still warm.”
Ye Xin wasn’t hungry at the moment, but then she recalled that she hadn’t tasted her family’s eggs yet. She nodded, “Sure! You peel one for me.”
Shen Zhuo obliged, carefully peeling an egg. Once he finished, a playful thought struck him. He hesitantly extended his hand, offering the egg right to her lips, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Ye Xin shot him a quick glance, not intending to take it, but his eagerness was contagious, and she found herself opening her mouth to take a bite.
Seeing her compliance, Shen Zhuo beamed with delight. “Is it good?”
Ye Xin shrugged, “It’s fine.”
Truthfully, it didn’t have much flavor—it was quite bland. Fried eggs were much tastier. Still, she finished it in two or three bites. Eggs were a precious commodity during this time; wasting food was not an option.
After feeding her the egg, Shen Zhuo felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction. He asked, “Was it a bit dry? Do you want some water?” He reached for his thermos in his bag.
Ye Xin smiled and reminded him, “I brought my own water.”
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand and asked, “Would you like to eat another?”
“No, I’m full now. You can take the rest for lunch. You can share with your classmates, especially with Huang Zhihao and Li Guangyao; each of you can have one.”
At that moment, Shen Zhuo realized she had intended to bring him eggs all along. Warmth flooded his heart, but he also felt it was a bit wasteful to share such a good thing. “These are such a treat; we should enjoy them ourselves. You work hard feeding and cleaning up after those chickens every day. Just have one more!”
Ye Xin rolled her eyes, refusing to indulge his whims. “You can give them away if you want, but I’m done. Besides, you shouldn’t be dawdling here. You should hurry to school!”
“It’s still early,” he murmured.
“Still early? Go review what you’ve learned!” she urged.
Though Shen Zhuo was reluctant to leave right away, he ultimately agreed to meet her later, settling on their next class at 11:20 AM by the school gate, before finally heading off.
As he walked away, Ye Xin shot him an annoyed glance but quickly replaced it with a cheerful smile when new customers approached.
With the sun rising higher in the sky, the market grew increasingly crowded, teeming with people who jostled for space. The noise level escalated, with vendors shouting to haggle over prices.
Ye Xin started to feel a pang of anxiety. With so many people, how would she manage to navigate the market? She hoped she wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.
But as luck would have it, more people meant more sales. By nine o’clock, she had sold all the fresh vegetables and dried goods she brought, netting over five yuan.
Just as she finished, a late-arriving villager approached with a basket on his shoulder, eager to claim her prime spot. He smiled sheepishly, “Young lady, are you done selling?”
The man was weathered and worn, clearly someone who had worked hard, so Ye Xin smiled understandingly. “Yes, I am. Please wait a moment; I’ll be right out of your way.”
She quickly packed away her scale and the extra straw, stacking her two baskets together on her back before standing up to make room for him. The man thanked her profusely as he set up his stall, selling large cabbages, scallions, garlic sprouts, celery, and chunks of ginger—all common vegetables for this season.
As Ye Xin stepped into the throng, she prepared to leave but suddenly remembered her agreement with Wang Xiaowei. Had she arrived yet? If she left now, how would she find her later?
Lost in thought, she felt a tap on her shoulder, followed by Wang Xiaowei’s cheerful voice. “Ye Xin!”
Turning to see her friend, relief washed over her. “Xiaowei! You’re here!”
After dropping off Zheng Wenwen and Wang Youwei at the bus bound for the county, I came looking for you. Have you finished selling your goods?
Ye Xin nodded. “Yes, there were a lot of people today, so it was easier to sell.”
Wang Xiaowei smiled brightly. “Perfect! Let’s browse around and buy some things. Wow, there are so many people!”
Since they were already at the agricultural market, they decided to explore the stalls instead of squeezing through the crowd again. Ye Xin focused on seeds and saplings but found little to catch her interest. However, she did manage to buy a small bamboo basket—lighter and smaller than the one she had at home, making it just right for her. She also picked up three small ceramic pots, intending to use them for making tomato and chili sauces. Wang Xiaowei was on the lookout for some chicken and duck eggs but came up empty. Instead, she bought some vegetables that Ye Xin hadn’t grown.
After that, they headed over to the supply cooperative, where the throng was so dense it felt overwhelming.
This time, Ye Xin had her own shopping to do and couldn’t just stand by. She squeezed in alongside Wang Xiaowei, nearly losing her balance with the jostling.
Concerned for her friend’s safety, Wang Xiaowei grabbed her hand, whispering, “With so many people around, be careful! Keep an eye on your pockets; you don’t want to get pickpocketed.”
Although she appreciated the warning, Ye Xin was already alert, tightly clutching the money in her pocket.
The two girls struggled for over an hour, finally purchasing their items before hastily retreating from the chaotic scene—it felt like they had just survived a battle!
With all their New Year’s essentials in hand, they had no other purchases to make. They decided to stop by the post office. It was just as crowded there, and they didn’t spot any letters or packages for themselves. However, there was a letter for Jiang Jingyu. Wang Xiaowei mentioned that Jiang Jingyu was also at the market today and didn’t need help picking it up.
Ye Xin glanced at the clock in the post office; it was already eleven o’clock. She informed Wang Xiaowei about her plans to meet Shen Zhuo, and they turned to head toward the school.
Arriving at the school gate, they still hadn’t heard the dismissal bell. Ye Xin sought out a quieter corner and began to transfer some of her newly bought items—ceramic pots, bottles, salt, sugar, a set of white porcelain teacups, two sheets of rough paper, and two bottles of ink—into an empty basket for Shen Zhuo. The items she had purchased in the morning remained packed away, as they were cumbersome to carry.
Wang Xiaowei stood nearby, creating a buffer against the crowd, and asked curiously, “Are you taking these back to Shen Zhuo tonight?”
Ye Xin nodded. “It’s too heavy for me to carry alone.”
Wang Xiaowei chuckled. “It’s only fair that he helps out a bit. You’re small; carrying all that is tough work.”
Ye Xin wholeheartedly agreed.
Not long after they finished packing, the school bell rang, and Shen Zhuo emerged, scanning the crowd for Ye Xin. With so many people, he had trouble locating her at first.
Fortunately, Ye Xin had been watching the entrance and called out, “I’m over here!”
Shen Zhuo spotted her and hurried over, taking the bamboo basket from her arms. A mixture of regret for not being able to shop with her and concern for her well-being washed over him. “With so many people, you must be exhausted.”
Ye Xin exhaled in relief. “It was quite the squeeze, but thankfully we got everything. Just take care of this tonight; be gentle with the ceramic pots and glass jars so they don’t break. Wang Xiaowei and I will head back now.”
Only then did Shen Zhuo notice Wang Xiaowei standing beside her, and he felt a little awkward. Not wanting to leave just yet, he quietly asked, “Are you hungry? I have some eggs for you.”
“I’m not hungry. You should head back before you waste time. We’re leaving now,” Ye Xin replied, waving as she and Wang Xiaowei began walking toward the town entrance.
Watching them depart, Shen Zhuo turned back and headed to his classroom, carrying the bamboo basket. His classmates eyed him curiously.
Huang Zhihao couldn’t help but ask, “Did you go buy New Year’s goods? So soon?”
Shen Zhuo shot him a glance, speechless as he entered and carefully placed the basket under his desk.
Li Guangyao chimed in with a grin, “I bet it’s the stuff that Shen Zhuo’s fiancée bought for him, right? With so little time, how could he manage to buy anything? He wouldn’t even be able to push through the crowd!”
Huang Zhihao’s eyes widened in realization.
Ye Xin confirmed with Shen Zhuo, “Is that right?”
Shen Zhuo nodded.
Huang Zhihao couldn’t help but exclaim, “That’s amazing! Your fiancée takes care of everything at home all by herself—what a capable woman!”
Hearing this, Shen Zhuo softly replied, “She’s really working hard.”
As the final class ended, it was lunchtime. Once everyone returned with hot water, Shen Zhuo pulled out three eggs—one for Huang Zhihao and instructed him to pass another to Li Guangyao.
After everything that had happened, Shen Zhuo felt less need to maintain the camaraderie of their little group. He decided to avoid contact with the female trainees altogether; it was just better that way. Besides, Ye Xin had said it was fine to share with Huang Zhihao and Li Guangyao, but no one else—after all, he hadn’t had any himself.
Huang Zhihao’s eyes lit up at the sight of the eggs. “Wow, you really eat well!” He couldn’t contain his excitement. “Good buddy! You think of me when there’s good food—you’re officially my best friend from now on!”
Li Guangyao noticed only one egg being passed his way and quickly understood what was happening. He glanced at Meng Chunlan beside him, grabbed a chair, and joined the two. He accepted the egg without hesitation, thanked Shen Zhuo, and then asked, “What’s the occasion for such generosity today?”
Shen Zhuo replied, “My fiancée gave them to me.”
At first, he felt a bit shy mentioning Ye Xin in public, but after talking about her more often, it became second nature, and he felt at ease. Plus, he relished the surprise and envy on others’ faces, which only made him prouder—just like now.
Huang Zhihao looked like he might burst into tears of envy. “Your fiancée even buys you eggs to nourish you? She’s so good to you!”
Shen Zhuo’s normally cool demeanor softened with a hint of a smile. “They’re not bought; my fiancée’s chickens laid these eggs.”
Li Guangyao couldn’t help but shake his head. “Just hearing about it makes me jealous.”
Huang Zhihao added, “Who wouldn’t be? At this rate, I might as well get engaged myself…”
Meanwhile, Ye Xin and Wang Xiaowei were making their way back, laden with goods. They encountered a multitude of people along the way. As expected, it was the end of the year, and everyone was out shopping. On these mountain paths, where they usually wouldn’t see a soul, now clusters of villagers chatted and laughed together. Even those who rarely ventured out were strolling around, and some only came to the market once a year were finally making their appearance.
They spotted several familiar faces from Liangshui Pond, with both adults and children mingling in the bustling atmosphere. Ye Xin and Wang Xiaowei, wary of the potential for gossip in large crowds, merely exchanged smiles and greetings with acquaintances without lingering too long.
They walked side by side, stopping occasionally to catch their breath.
Wang Xiaowei filled Ye Xin in on the situation with the educated youth: “This year, only Zheng Wenwen and Wang Youwei returned home for the holidays. Sun Weiqiang came back the year before last and didn’t return last year, so he’s not here this time either. Zhang Kangming was last here two years ago and missed last year, but he planned to return this year—though I suspect he wants to stay to accompany Jiang Jingyu, so he isn’t coming back. That leaves Jiang Jingyu, Liu Hongxia, Zhao Zhonghua, and you. None of us have been able to return home this year.”
After sharing this, she sighed. “This year feels the most lively I’ve ever seen since I came here.”
Ye Xin tilted her head and asked, “Is it good to have so many people around?”
Wang Xiaowei replied, “The more, the merrier! New Year’s is all about the hustle and bustle, so overall it’s nice. Sure, there are some gossips here and there, but just ignore them.”
Ye Xin nodded thoughtfully. “Sister Xiaowei, you’re so open-minded. I need to learn from you.”
Wang Xiaowei laughed and looked at her warmly. “You’re already doing so well with how you treat people, even at your young age. Many older folks could learn a thing or two from you.”
Ye Xin sighed. “I’ve just come to accept reality. I know I need to be kind to others. After all, what can I do? I can’t just leave.”
Wang Xiaowei admired how quickly Ye Xin had adapted, thinking about how different her personality had been between the first and second half of the year. “You’ve adjusted really fast—better than I did back then.”
Ye Xin smiled, “Sister Xiaowei, you’ve always had a good temperament. I’m sure you weren’t as annoying back then as I was.”
Wang Xiaowei chuckled softly, offering her a few words of comfort.
As they walked and chatted, they arrived back at Liangshui Pond just past one o’clock and headed home to organize their things.