Chapter 23: Buying Books in the County (Part 1)

Mu Mian had expected that answer.

It would have been great if Shi Xiaolian had more, but since she didn’t, Mu Mian wasn’t disappointed.

She grinned and nudged Shi Xiaolian, whispering, “Thank you!”

Shi Xiaolian replied, “No need to thank me. You found it yourself.”

After all, they both got what they wanted from the deal.

Since it was dinnertime, Mu Mian didn’t follow Shi Xiaolian any further. After exchanging a few more words, she turned back toward home.

On the way, she spotted her father riding with Gutou and Xiao Chengzi. Xiao Chengzi sat in the front, beaming with joy.

Even from a distance, Mu Mian could see his eyes squinting happily.

She couldn’t help but doubt herself for a moment. Was she the only one who found the seat uncomfortable? Or was it just because she didn’t have enough padding?

But that didn’t matter. Next time, she was definitely taking the back seat.

By the time she got home, Mu Fugui had already returned with his two nephews.

The people of the brigade who had been watching the excitement had long since dispersed. After all, this wasn’t the only bicycle in the brigade—people were just looking for something new to see.

Mu Xinglong and his brother, along with Xiao Chengzi, were still hanging around.

Mu Fugui started shooing them away. “Hurry up and go home! My wife didn’t cook for you.”

Mu Xinglong grinned cheekily, “Isn’t my mom right here?”

Zhao Meihua: “……”

Mu Xinglong pretended not to see his mother’s exasperated expression.

He leaned closer to Mu Fugui. Even though there were no outsiders, he still lowered his voice, “Big Brother, did you really get that bicycle ticket by doing a big favor for someone?”

Family knew each other best—he saw right through it.

Mu Fugui remained calm and asked in return, “How else would I have gotten it?”

Mu Xinglong clicked his tongue. Although his curiosity wasn’t satisfied, he didn’t press further. Thinking about the two daughters at home who still needed him, he didn’t stay any longer.

Once the two brothers left with their children, the courtyard finally quieted down completely.

Mu Fugui took a cloth and started wiping the dust off his bicycle. It was brand new, after all, and he cherished it.

Standing beside him, Mu Mian sized it up. The bicycle seat reached her chest, making it look tall and bulky.

Mu Fugui said, “Want to learn? You’d have to ride it by standing inside the frame. If you want to sit on the seat, you’ll have to wait a few more years.”

For kids who weren’t tall enough, this was the usual way to ride—one foot on a pedal while the other leg stretched through the frame to step on the opposite pedal. The only problem was that the handlebars were a bit difficult to control.

Mu Mian shook her head. “I don’t want to learn. I’m just looking.”

The bicycle was so big, and the rural roads weren’t smooth. If she fell, it wouldn’t be a small matter.

By the time Mu Fugui finished wiping down the bicycle, dinner was ready.

Mu Mian was more concerned about their trip to the county than the bicycle. She turned to Mu Fugui and asked, “What time are we leaving tomorrow?”

Liu Shuangcui replied, “Just a little earlier than your usual wake-up time. I’ll call you when it’s time.”

Mu Fugui added, “I can take both of you on the bike. It’ll take half an hour to reach the commune, just in time to catch the bus. We won’t be late.”

Mu Mian felt reassured. She then looked at Zhao Meihua and asked, “Grandma, are you really not coming with us?”

Mu Fugui chimed in, “You can come too. My wife can sit in front, and you can sit in the back with Mian girl.”

Zhao Meihua shook her head. “No, it’s already enough of a ruckus with your younger brothers going along. I’m too old to risk falling.”

Mu Fugui protested, “My riding skills are great! I got the hang of it right after buying the bike. Even the store clerk praised me. How could I possibly make you fall?”

But Zhao Meihua remained firm. “I’m still not going.”

The old lady didn’t want the hassle, and Mu Fugui didn’t insist.

—

The next morning, Mu Mian woke up before her mother could come to call her.

She put on the new clothes that Liu Shuangcui had made for her—a short-sleeved blouse with ruffled edges. She hadn’t worn it before since there was never an occasion for it. Running around the mountains every day, she would have been heartbroken if it got snagged on a tree branch.

For pants, she chose a pair without patches. They were a little short, exposing her ankles, making them look like cropped pants.

Mu Mian also carefully did her hair. After nearly three months, it had grown quite a bit—long enough for her to braid.

She tied two small braids on each side, making her look lively and playful.

Just as she finished getting ready and stepped outside, Liu Shuangcui was on her way to wake her up. Seeing her daughter’s appearance, her eyes lit up. “You already did your hair? I was just about to do it for you.”

Mu Fugui was even more dramatic. “Hey! Which child from the city wandered into my house?”

Zhao Meihua gently stroked her granddaughter’s head. “She looks lovely. The braids are done well, and your mother made a fine outfit.”

Mu Mian beamed. “Everything looks nice! Dad looks good, Mom looks good, and Grandma looks the best!”

Her parents had also dressed neatly for their trip to the county. After all, they had to look presentable when going into town.

Mu Fugui puffed up with pride. “Of course! If we’re talking about the most handsome man around, I’m definitely among the top in this area!”

Liu Shuangcui rolled her eyes, too lazy to entertain him, and urged the father and daughter to hurry up and wash up.

The county bus wouldn’t wait for them, so they couldn’t afford to delay.

Breakfast was kept simple, and soon, the three of them set off on the bicycle.

For the sake of her backside, Mu Mian firmly refused to sit on the front crossbar and squeezed onto the back seat with her mother instead.

When they arrived at the commune, Mu Fugui didn’t head straight to the bus station. Instead, he first stopped by the slaughterhouse to leave his bicycle there, planning to pick it up when they returned in the afternoon.

Even though he had a lock on it and the frame was marked, there was still a risk of theft if left outside. Keeping it at his workplace was much safer.

Mu Mian and Liu Shuangcui had been near the slaughterhouse before but had never gone inside.

There wasn’t much to see, really. The place smelled terrible—animal waste and the stench of blood mixed together, making for an unbearable odor.

Because the animals were kept there, someone was always on duty. Today, it was Pan Daqiang.

As Mu Fugui pushed his bicycle inside, he called out before even spotting anyone. “Old Pan, I’m leaving my bike here. Keep an eye on it for me.”

Pan Daqiang pushed open the door of the small duty room on the left and stepped out. “Just leave it under the window. It won’t get stolen.”

Only then did he notice Mu Mian and her mother.

Pan Daqiang let out a surprised “Oh!” and said, “Is this your wife and daughter?”

Mu Fugui grinned. “That’s right! Isn’t my daughter beautiful?”

Liu Shuangcui greeted him, and Mu Mian followed suit. “Hello, Uncle Pan.”

Pan Daqiang was built like Mu Fugui—sturdy and strong. When he wasn’t smiling, he looked a bit intimidating, but once he did, he had a simple and honest air about him.

“Good, good! She’s really pretty!”

Then, he leaned toward Mu Fugui and lowered his voice, thinking he was being discreet. “Are you sure she’s really your daughter? You didn’t steal some worker’s kid from the city, did you?”

Mu Fugui was offended. “Of course, she’s mine! Look how much she resembles me. You need to get your eyes checked.”

Pan Daqiang: “………………”

Who exactly needs to get their eyes checked?

Just look at them—one big and burly, the other fair and delicate. Where did they look alike?

Mu Mian held her mother’s hand and stifled a laugh. If she was being honest, she really didn’t look much like her father.

Her face shape took after her mother’s—round and soft. Mu Fugui, on the other hand, had a square face. By today’s beauty standards, it was considered rugged and manly, which wasn’t a bad look at all.

Her eyes resembled her father’s, with large double eyelids and rounded eye sockets, making them look big and bright.

According to the old lady, she had inherited the best features from both her parents.

Pan Daqiang didn’t bother arguing with anyone. After casually exchanging a few words, he discreetly pulled out some money and ration tickets from his pocket. “See if there’s any good tobacco. Bring back a couple of rolls for me.”

Mu Fugui took them with a smirk and raised his eyebrows. “Didn’t you hand everything over to your wife? Since when did you secretly stash so much? And your wife didn’t even notice?”

Pan Daqiang clicked his tongue. “You know me. I just can’t quit. If I don’t smoke a little, I get antsy. I hid it in my underwear, so my wife wouldn’t find it. Didn’t you set some aside too?”

Mu Mian, who had been listening nearby and understood everything clearly: “…..”

Um… wasn’t it a bit inappropriate to discuss this right in front of her mom? And so loudly too.

Mu Fugui, who belatedly realized his wife was right beside him, quickly turned his head. “I didn’t hide anything! Old Pan, what nonsense are you talking about?”

His expression and tone were so guilty that he might as well have had the words “Nothing to see here” written all over his face.

Pan Daqiang nodded repeatedly. “Right, right, my mistake. Old Mu is the most honest man around.”

Liu Shuangcui: “…”

Mu Mian couldn’t hold it in and burst into laughter, nearly making a sound like a goose.

—

After leaving the slaughterhouse, Mu Mian took advantage of the fact that Liu Shuangcui was walking ahead and secretly whispered to her father, “Dad, how much have you stashed away?”

Mu Fugui glanced at his wife, then lowered his head and signaled with his fingers—eight.

Mu Mian guessed, “Eight yuan?”

Mu Fugui nodded.

Mu Mian commented, “That’s quite a bit.”

Mu Fugui chuckled. “You think your mom doesn’t know? She’s just pretending not to see it. Otherwise, how else would I have the chance to bring meat home for you guys?”

Mu Mian nodded. “Mom is good to Dad, and Dad is good to us. It goes both ways!”

Mu Fugui held his daughter’s hand. “Such a little girl, yet you see things so clearly.”

Mu Mian lifted her small face. “I’m smart, just like Dad.”

Mu Fugui smirked. “Don’t think I didn’t hear you say the same thing about your mom last time.”

Mu Mian almost spilled the water she was holding and hurriedly corrected herself. “Like both of you! Like both of you!”

Liu Shuangcui, who had walked five or six meters ahead, suddenly stopped and called out, “What are you two dawdling for? If you miss the bus, it’ll be a wasted trip!”

Hearing this, Mu Mian immediately let go of her father’s hand and dashed forward. “Coming, coming!”

As it turned out, Liu Shuangcui had a great sense of timing. They arrived just as the ticket seller opened the bus doors.

The moment the doors opened, the crowd surged forward, pushing and squeezing their way in. Before Mu Mian could even react, she suddenly found her viewpoint rising—her father had scooped her up in his arms. The broad-shouldered man held his daughter tightly while pulling his wife along, forcing their way onto the bus.