Chapter 62: Buying Ducklings

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, which marked the first market day after the holiday, Ye Xin woke up early and told Shen Zhuo that she wanted to go to the market for some fun.

“Sure! Let’s ride our bikes today so we won’t tire ourselves out,” he replied, multitasking as he fried sweet glutinous rice cakes.

These rice cakes weren’t great on their own—too dry and chewy, sticking to your teeth and making you choke a bit. They were meant to be sliced and pan-fried. When fried to a golden crisp, they became hard on the outside but deliciously soft on the inside. Ye Xin loved them.

Standing by, she watched him cook, munching on the freshly made treats as he prepared more. She gestured eagerly, “Let’s bring some of these along today. They’re so tasty!”

Shen Zhuo sighed inwardly, realizing that for the past few days, she hadn’t eaten much else. Still, he couldn’t refuse her request. After all, once these were gone, she’d have to eat something substantial.

Since their outing was purely for leisure, there was no need to rush. They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, just like the day before, and packed snacks, drinks, and a flashlight before setting off on their bicycles.

The road was bustling today, much busier than it had been on previous market days leading up to the New Year. Being the first market day of the year, and with no relatives to visit just yet, everyone was eager to start the year with good fortune. They wanted to hit the market first, saving visits to relatives for the fourth, fifth, and sixth days. Some were also headed to a temple fair, and gradually the crowd began to disperse along the way.

With their bicycles, they sped ahead of the crowd. When they encountered larger groups of people, Shen Zhuo rang the bell on his bike, prompting adults to quickly pull their children aside to let them pass.

However, this drew attention, and as they zoomed past, Ye Xin couldn’t shake the feeling that they were causing a stir. She smiled and waved at familiar faces, suddenly struck by the sensation of being a movie star out on the town.

She chuckled to herself, thinking that their swift passage might have even stirred some envy.

Her instincts were spot on. Once they had passed, a few people began to mutter under their breath, clearly displeased:
“What’s so great about having a bicycle? Look at them acting so proud!”
“Out in broad daylight, all cuddly and affectionate—how shameless! And they call themselves educated youth!”
“Honestly, these two are so lovey-dovey all the time; it’s just annoying…”

Of course, not everyone was critical. Some people came to their defense:
“Having a bicycle is impressive! If you can’t stand it, buy one for yourself!”
“This mountain path is bumpy. Holding on is just to keep steady. Safety first; what’s shameful about that?”
“They’re a couple in love, going everywhere together without causing a fuss. Is that really something to criticize? Sounds like jealousy to me!”

Others just found it amusing:
“Last night after the movie, I saw Ye Xin so exhausted that she fell asleep and Shen Zhuo had to carry her back!”
“I saw that too! At first glance, she looked like a little kid, sleeping so soundly.”
“Ye Xin isn’t that big, so she might as well be a child! Shen Zhuo, on the other hand, keeps growing taller; you’d think he’d be worn out from carrying her, but he looks fine!”

As they made their way through the bustling streets, Shen Zhuo kept his head down, pedaling steadily. The weather was beautiful, and under the warm sun, he felt a light sheen of sweat form on his forehead by the time they reached the town.

Seeing the sweat, Ye Xin hopped off her bike and couldn’t help but wipe his brow, teasing, “Why are you in such a hurry today? We’re not rushing; you’re sweating buckets!”

Shen Zhuo lowered his head as she wiped his forehead, feeling a sweet rush of affection. “I’m not tired; this is just from the heat.”

Ye Xin quickly wiped Shen Zhuo’s forehead and, with a bright smile, turned to dash toward the market. Shen Zhuo pushed the bike after her but realized that riding wasn’t as convenient as he had hoped; unlike the day before, he couldn’t just hold her hand in the crowd.

“Hey, slow down! I’m pushing the bike here; we might get separated if you go too fast,” he called out.

Ye Xin glanced back at him, rolling her eyes. “You’re not a child! Do you really think I’d lose you in the crowd?”

Inside, Shen Zhuo thought, I’m worried you might get lost instead. After all, she was so stunning; what if someone with ill intentions took advantage of the chaos? Bad people thrive in crowds.

With that thought, he kept his gaze fixed on her, not daring to look away. Fortunately, Ye Xin was mindful; she knew he couldn’t keep up if she dashed ahead and stayed close, never straying too far.

The town was bustling, packed with people celebrating the first market day of the New Year. Stalls lined the streets, shops had their doors flung wide open, and everything was freshly cleaned, adorned with red couplets that added to the festive atmosphere.

They strolled through the crowd, enjoying the vibrant sights and hoping to discover new treasures and treats. With so many people around, what usually took them thirty minutes stretched into over an hour.

Along the way, they bumped into Lin Meihua, who greeted them with enthusiasm, “Ye Zhqing! You’ve been wandering around for a while, I spotted you on the way here!”

Ye Xin smiled back, “Aunt Lin, you’re here too!”

Lin Meihua was with her husband, Li Jianye, and their three kids, all joining the family outing. A small boy clung to his father’s back, while two girls trailed alongside. Ye Xin recognized the older girl as Ni Mei and the younger one as Yao Niu; both looked thin and pale, with sun-bleached hair and clothes that seemed a bit worn. Yet, their faces were lit up with the joy of being out and about.

Seeing the two girls reminded Ye Xin of her early days in town. She pulled out the malt candy she had bought yesterday but hadn’t eaten. “Do you want some?” she asked.

Lin Meihua quickly replied, “No, no! Ye Zhqing, you should eat it yourself!”

Ye Xin laughed, “I bought it yesterday, but I’m not that fond of it. It’s better for the kids to enjoy it.”

She handed a few pieces to each girl. They were thrilled, clearly unaccustomed to treats like this, and they politely murmured their thanks. Seeing the boy on Li Jianye’s back looking on, Ye Xin also gave him a few pieces, then they parted ways with Lin Meihua’s family.

Afterward, Ye Xin and Shen Zhuo wandered over to the square where they had watched the movie the previous night. Although there wasn’t a film showing in the daytime, the screen was still up, and there was a performance taking place. A man and a woman sat playing traditional instruments, narrating and singing a tale from The Sui and Tang Dynasties. Ye Xin and Shen Zhuo stood for a while, listening intently.

Rumor had it there would be a shadow puppet show later featuring The Monkey King’s Havoc in Heaven, and the movie would resume in the evening, once again showing The Railway Guerrillas. However, since she had already seen the film, Ye Xin wasn’t particularly interested.

She tugged at Shen Zhuo’s shirt, signaling him to step outside. It was too crowded and noisy to have a proper conversation.

Once outside the town square, it was still just noon.

“Are there any other fun places to visit? Let’s explore some more!” Ye Xin suggested eagerly.

Shen Zhuo thought for a moment. “If we go to the temple fair, it might be tough to ride the bike. How about we check out the next town over? It should be similar to this one, but you haven’t been there before—it might be interesting!”

Ye Xin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “What’s the name of the next town? Is it far?”

“It’s called Yangxi Town, and it’ll take about forty minutes by bike to get there,” Shen Zhuo replied.

“Let’s go!” Ye Xin exclaimed, hopping back on her bike, ready for their adventure to Yangxi Town.

Along the way, they stopped under a shady tree in a less crowded area to enjoy some of the glutinous rice cakes and pancakes Shen Zhuo had made that morning, sipping hot tea as they relaxed. After they had eaten their fill, they hopped back on their bikes and continued their journey.

When they arrived at Yangxi Town, they were greeted by an equally bustling scene—people packed the streets, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere.

As they wove through the crowd, Ye Xin noticed that this town was slightly larger than Hongze, although the stalls offered much of the same fare—mostly agricultural products. To her surprise, she spotted a vendor selling adorable puppies.

In a bamboo basket, a few tiny pups, barely a month old, looked up at her. Aside from their little black mouths and caramel-colored ears, their fur was a soft, earthy yellow, clearly identifying them as local mutts. They were surprisingly clean, fluffy, and round, exuding cuteness.

Ye Xin couldn’t resist and squatted down, cooing, “Aww, look at you!” The moment the puppies heard her, they excitedly turned toward her, paws scrambling at the edges of the basket, their wet eyes gazing up at her, tails wagging enthusiastically. They were utterly charming.

The vendor, a middle-aged man, smiled and said, “These pups were born last year; I’m just selling them now. They’re well cared for, see how plump they are? They’ll grow into great watchdogs—smart and obedient. How about taking one home? Just five yuan!”

Shen Zhuo frowned slightly, but seeing her face light up with joy, he quietly asked, “Do you want to buy one?”

Ye Xin loved the puppies, but she hadn’t prepared to raise a dog, so she shook her head and stood up, her eyes still lingering on the adorable little creatures, who were wagging their tails at her. Oh, they’re just too cute!

Seeing her reluctance to leave, the vendor eagerly grabbed a puppy from the basket and pushed it toward her. “Come on, take one! Look how strong and cute it is! It’s not picky about food; just give it a bowl of rice! It clearly wants you to be its owner!”

Ye Xin rolled her eyes inwardly. These puppies are friendly with everyone, not just me.

Still, they were undeniably adorable! Shen Zhuo, noticing the longing in her eyes, suggested, “If you really like it, just get it. We have a yard, and it’ll have plenty of space to play and watch over the place.”

But Ye Xin remained firm. “No, it’s not the right time to get a dog.”

With determination, she tore her gaze away and hurried off, leaving Shen Zhuo to push the bike behind her.

Not far ahead, Ye Xin’s eyes lit up as she spotted another vendor selling ducklings!

Now this is something I can buy! She darted forward to inquire about the price.

Shen Zhuo was taken aback. Just moments ago, she had been completely enthralled by the puppies, and now she was all about the ducklings. Although ducks were common, he reminded her, “We already have chickens. Ducks are hard to take care of; we shouldn’t get them.”

But Ye Xin was adamant. The hens were busy laying and hatching eggs, and soon they would have a flock of chicks. If they had chickens, how could they not have ducks?

It’s time to expand the farm! A flock of chickens and a flock of ducks—that’s the bare minimum, right? I’ve prepared so much feed already!

With a gleam in her eyes, she turned to him, trying to persuade him, “Duck soup is delicious, and salted duck eggs taste great too!”

Shen Zhuo felt his resolve softening under her hopeful gaze but reminded her, “Ducks love water, and we live on a slope. We won’t have the time to take care of them properly.”

Ye Xin quickly calculated the space behind their house and shot back, “You could dig a small pond in the backyard!”

Shen Zhuo wanted to say no. For one, digging a pond wasn’t easy. Secondly, it would reduce the vegetable garden’s area, which wouldn’t be practical. Lastly, digging a pond on a slope didn’t guarantee it would hold water well.

Yet, despite all his rational arguments swirling in his head, he found it hard to deny her hopeful expression. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally nodded, “Alright.”

Ye Xin’s face instantly brightened, and she turned to snatch up the ducklings.

There weren’t many ducklings available, and with the crowd gathered around, she knew she had to act fast. With quick hands, she paid for five, specifically asking for one male and four females.

After the purchase, she realized she had no way to carry them home. The vendor didn’t offer packaging, as plastic bags were still rare; farm vendors typically used bamboo baskets or woven grass.

Ye Xin quickly bought a small fishing basket and had the seller line it with straw, allowing her to secure the five little ducklings inside.

Now fully satisfied, she turned to Shen Zhuo and declared, “Alright, let’s head home!”

It was already past three o’clock, and Shen Zhuo hoisted her onto the bike for the return journey. After all, they were in the neighboring town, and it would take them over an hour to get back home.