“What kind of fruit is this? It looks a bit like cherries.”

Qin Bin popped a cherry into his mouth. The sweet and slightly sour taste satisfied his love for tangy flavors, and he sighed internally with contentment.

“This is called a cherry or big cherry. How does it taste?”

Squatting by her basket, Shen Zhihuan spoke while stuffing a few more cherries into her mouth.

Qin Bin frowned at the sight. Before her hand could reach into the basket again, he swiftly grabbed the old clothes lying nearby and covered the basket.

“Are you here to talk business or eat fruit?!” Qin Bin glared at the cherry pits accumulating near her feet, his tone displeased.

“Let’s talk then. How do you want to proceed?” Shen Zhihuan withdrew her hand, showing no hint of embarrassment.

“What else do you have besides cherries and lychees?” Qin Bin asked in a low voice.

“As long as the price is right, I can get you any summer fruit. It all depends on your offer.” Shen Zhihuan shrugged with a smile.

Qin Bin thought for a moment. “Apples, peaches, watermelons, plums, and apricots—40 cents per pound. Lychees and cherries, I’ll give you 2 yuan per pound. What do you think?”

“Cherries must be at least 4 yuan.” Shen Zhihuan shook her head, lifting a finger and waving it slightly.

“No way. Four yuan is too high,” Qin Bin immediately rejected.

Was she joking? Even the best fatty meat cost only 60 cents a pound. Four yuan could buy over six pounds of meat—enough to feed a large family.

“How about we meet halfway? 3.5 yuan, no less,” Shen Zhihuan bargained, her lips curling slightly.

“Three yuan, no more,” Qin Bin gritted his teeth.

Pretending to deliberate for a long time, Shen Zhihuan finally sighed. “Fine, three yuan it is.”

“…”

Qin Bin felt a sinking sensation in his chest. It seemed he had walked right into her trap.

As it was getting late, the two finalized the time and place for the next transaction. Shen Zhihuan picked up her basket and caught the bus back to the small town.

The rice, flour, cooking oil, brown sugar, soap, and shampoo she had exchanged from Qin Bin were all discreetly stashed into her space as soon as she left the courtyard.

If she weren’t worried about shocking her new mother and little brother, she would have bought them new clothes and even some milk powder and malted milk.

Passing the supply and marketing cooperative on her way home, Shen Zhihuan couldn’t resist buying a few pounds of pork ribs.

Walking and resting along the way, she finally arrived at her village. From a distance, she spotted two figures—one tall and one short—waiting by the courtyard gate. Her eyes instantly grew misty.

In her past life, every time she came home late, her grandparents would stand by the door just like this.

Later, after they passed away, no one had waited for her at the door ever again.

“Third Sister!” The sharp-eyed Xiao Weidong spotted her at the end of the path and came bouncing toward her, hopping with excitement.

Seeing this, Li Qiuhua also hurried to follow him.

Shen Zhihuan quickly composed herself, calming her emotions as she quickened her pace to meet them.

“Third Sister, I earned two work points today and even caught a whole tube of caterpillars for Xiaohua and Xiaohei. Do you think they’ll lay eggs tomorrow?” Weidong said happily.

“They definitely will!” Shen Zhihuan laughed, ruffling his round little head.

One work point was worth five cents; two points made ten cents. At this rate, they could buy quite a few essentials like fruit candies, pencils, matches, or even a steamed bun.

“You must be tired.” Li Qiuhua scanned Shen Zhihuan up and down, ensuring she was unharmed. She reached out to take the basket off her back, but the weight startled her.

“Mom, it’s just a few more steps,” Shen Zhihuan gently squeezed her hand, casting a meaningful glance toward the men and women washing clothes by the river. Her look signaled that they should speak at home.

Li Qiuhua, slightly flustered, withdrew her hand and walked stiffly alongside Shen Zhihuan, while Weidong joyfully ran ahead.

Once they entered the courtyard, Li Qiuhua immediately shut the gate with a loud “bang.” She didn’t just bolt it but also dragged a thick wooden stick from the nearby firewood pile to brace it securely.

Shen Zhihuan stared in disbelief at her mother’s flurry of defensive actions. Even Weidong realized something was amiss and quietly stood by her side.

“Mom, what are you doing?” Shen Zhihuan couldn’t help but whisper.

“Let’s go inside first,” Li Qiuhua said nervously, peeking through the gate’s cracks to check outside.

It wasn’t until they closed the main room’s door that Li Qiuhua, still on edge, asked, “What’s in that basket?”

Wild vegetables couldn’t possibly weigh that much.

Shen Zhihuan uncovered the old clothes on top, revealing rice, flour, and five large meat buns. She decided against taking out the cooking oil and left it in her space for now.

“Where… where did you get all this?” Li Qiuhua stammered, her words faltering as she stared at the pristine white flour and shiny rice in shock.

“I sold my hair at the market and bought it,” Shen Zhihuan said calmly, her face unchanging.

As she spoke, she unwrapped the meat buns and handed one to Weidong.

Somehow, after being stored in the space, the meat buns were still warm.

“Buns!” Weidong’s eyes lit up.

“Go ahead, eat it!” Shen Zhihuan teased, lightly tapping his nose.

“Third Sister, I’m not hungry. You eat it,” Weidong said, his mouth watering as he tried to resist, hiding his hands behind his back.

“I already ate. These are for you and Mom. Eat up!” Shen Zhihuan firmly placed the bun in his hands.

She then handed one of the grapefruit-sized buns to Li Qiuhua.

“I’m not hungry. Let’s save them for dinner,” Li Qiuhua said. She quickly tried to put it back.

“Mom!” Shen Zhihuan’s voice deepened as her brows furrowed.

Seeing her daughter’s displeasure, Li Qiuhua relented, saying cautiously, “I really don’t feel hungry.”

“I already ate, and if we save them, they’ll spoil by tomorrow. Might as well toss them out now,” Shen Zhihuan threatened, standing up as if to do just that.

“My little ancestor! Fine, I’ll eat! Happy now?” Li Qiuhua hurriedly pulled her back.

In the end, under Shen Zhihuan’s watchful eye, all five meat buns were finished by Li Qiuhua and Weidong. Li Qiuhua had wanted to save two for Shen Zhihuan’s dinner but quickly backed down under her glare.

“Third Sister, Su Zijie came by today,” Weidong whispered after Li Qiuhua left to deliver Su Ziyu’s money to the Su family.

“What did he want?” Shen Zhihuan raised an eyebrow.

Based on the original host’s memories, Su Zijie was a decent person with good looks and a boyish charm. Unfortunately, his parents were… a different story.

Thinking about it, Shen Zhihuan couldn’t help but sneer.