Chapter 16: Giving Gifts to Friends

“That’s true,” Bai An said, feeling a bit bored while sitting in the room. She glanced at Lu Jin’an, who was also spacing out, and said, “Should we go check if Dad’s finished making dinner?”

Lu Jin’an looked at Bai An with an expression as if she were a fool and advised, “You’d better not disturb them.”

“Oh,” Bai An replied, rummaging through her small cloth bag and looking at the few little toys inside.

“How about I go deliver something to Da Zhuang and Cui Ju?” she suggested.

Lu Jin’an, noticing what was in Bai An’s bag, raised an eyebrow. “Did you prepare gifts for them?”

“Yeah.” Bai An picked up a large pancake. “Da Zhuang loves to eat, so he’ll definitely like this.”

She then picked up a chrysanthemum-shaped hairpin and a small notebook. “I’ll give this hairpin to Cui Ju, and this notebook was bought with the leftover money for Lin Zhixia.”

“You’re even giving something to Lin Zhixia?” Lu Jin’an asked casually, then added, “What about for your brother?”

Bai An looked up, staring at Lu Jin’an, and said coldly, “Why should I bring a gift for my brother?”

Lu Jin’an felt like his heart was pierced by a thousand arrows as he faced his usually obedient sister.

“You’re giving everyone else gifts, but not your brother?” he asked.

“I didn’t bring anything for Dad either,” Bai An replied, walking to the door. She turned around and said, “Brother, you went to the city with me, so if you like anything, you can buy it yourself.”

“You can’t rely on me too much,” she added.

Lu Jin’an stood there, watching Bai An’s retreating figure, feeling a mix of emotions.

Can’t rely on him too much.

His face slowly became expressionless.

He’d spoiled her too much.

“Da Zhuang,” Bai An called out as she ran to the entrance of Da Zhuang’s yard before it got dark. Seeing Da Zhuang eating, she hurriedly shouted, “I’ve brought you something!”

Da Zhuang, hearing this, grinned and rushed over, his big teeth showing.

“Bai An, what delicious food did you bring me from the city?”

“You’re so smart.” Bai An pulled out a large pancake wrapped in oil paper from her cloth bag and handed it to Da Zhuang. “It’s cold, but the taste should still be fine.”

Da Zhuang took the pancake and bit into it happily.

Seeing him eating joyfully, Bai An turned around and waved, “I’m going to deliver something to Cui Ju. I’ll come play with you again tomorrow.”

Da Zhuang finally swallowed his mouthful, then looked up at the sky.

He asked with some concern, “It’s almost dark, should I go with you?”

The sun was indeed setting, and Bai An was a bit worried about what had happened earlier. But after calculating the time, she figured she could still get home before dark if she was quick enough.

“No need, Da Zhuang,” Bai An said, giving a wave to the uncle and aunt who were waiting for him to finish eating.

Then, she turned back to Da Zhuang, who was still happily eating the pancake, and said, “You’d better go back and eat. Your parents are waiting for you.”

“Okay, bye.” Da Zhuang waved back at her. “Be careful on the way.”

After leaving Da Zhuang’s house, Bai An cheerfully walked down the small road.

“Why are you walking so fast?”

The familiar voice echoed in her ear, and Bai An silently rolled her eyes.

“I saw that,” Lin Zhixia said, walking up to Bai An with a smile. “Is it really so bold to roll your eyes like that?”

Bai An ignored him and rolled her eyes again.

This made Lin Zhixia laugh, and he gently patted her on the head. “You’re really not being good.”

Bai An didn’t bother to argue with him. “Where’s Cui Ju?” she asked.

“Cui Ju?” Lin Zhixia said casually. “Where can she be? She’s probably just at home.”

Bai An calculated the distance and time from here to Cui Ju’s house in her mind. With Lin Zhixia interrupting, she might not make it in time.

So, she took a hairpin and a notebook from her cloth bag and handed them to Lin Zhixia.

“Here.”

“What’s this?” Lin Zhixia took the items from Bai An’s hands and looked at the chrysanthemum-patterned hairpin, understanding immediately.

“You’re going to the city, so you brought Cui Ju a gift,” Lin Zhixia said as she carefully examined the hairpin and laughed, “It really suits her.”

Bai An, who was now eager to go home, said, “This hairpin is for Cui Ju, and the notebook is for you.”

Notebooks weren’t common in the village, as there were very few people who actually went to school.

Lin Zhixia was visibly surprised when she heard that the notebook was for her.

“For me?”

Bai An nodded, then turned around and ran toward home, shouting loudly, “Remember to give the hairpin to Cui Ju!”

Watching Bai An’s retreating figure, Lin Zhixia looked at the notebook in her hand.

So, I have a gift too.

Bai An leaned against the gate, panting and gazing up at the sky, where a sliver of sunset still lingered.

“Bai An, what are you standing there for? Come in and eat,” Lu Demin, holding a dish, called out when he saw her standing at the door.

Bai An wiped the imaginary sweat from her forehead and sat on a bench at the dining table. Just as she reached for her chopsticks, Lu Demin knocked her hand away.

“Wash your hands first.”

Bai An grinned sheepishly. “I’ll go wash them right now.”

Standing in front of the sink, Bai An scrubbed with soap a few times and casually rinsed her hands.

“That’s not going to get them clean,” said the voice of the boy in his voice-change phase, still somewhat hoarse.

Bai An was startled by the sudden voice from behind and involuntarily jumped. She was shaking slightly.

Lu Jin’an watched as Bai An wiped her wet hands on his clothes and helplessly said, “Why didn’t you use the towel next to you?”

“Well, you scared me just now,” Bai An muttered quietly.

“Alright,” Lu Jin’an said, patting Bai An’s head. “Giving gifts so quickly, I thought I’d have to pick you up again tonight.”

“Did they like the gifts you gave?”

“They liked them a lot.” Bai An said as she took something from her pocket and placed it in Lu Jin’an’s hand.

“Brother, you wanted a gift too, right? This is for you.”

Before Lu Jin’an could see what was in his hand, Bai An had already bypassed him and sat down at the dining table.

A bunch of flowers.

A small, white, lively bunch of flowers.

Lu Jin’an’s lips curled up slightly, and the joy in his heart made him want to show off.

Lu Demin had already prepared the meal, and Wanqing and Bai An were both seated at the table.

Wanqing was about to call Lu Jin’an, but he had already walked over, holding a small vase.

Bai An felt that the vase looked familiar. When she looked more closely, it turned out to be the one she had taken from her space a long time ago to decorate the room.

It had been sitting unused in a corner of the room, collecting dust.

But now, Lu Jin’an was holding it as though it were a treasure.

When Lu Jin’an placed the vase in the center of the table, Lu Demin curiously asked, “Where did you pick these flowers?”