Chapter 12: Going to the City to Sell Cantaloupe

On Wang Juying’s side, the moment Jiang Peiyu left, she couldn’t rest easy. She immediately ran to the village office to call her son, Lu Huaijin, hoping he could come back quickly and meet Jiang before it was too late. She was worried that such a good daughter-in-law candidate might slip away. But it was another wasted trip — her son was still out on a mission. Disappointed, she returned home with a troubled face.

Seeing her mother like that, Lu Shuangyan couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, why are you so insistent on having Uncle Jiang’s daughter marry into our family?”

Wang Juying answered matter-of-factly, “Do you even need to ask? She’s beautiful, has a great figure, and she’s educated. College students are so rare these days — if we miss this one, where are we going to find another?”

“She matches your brother well, and this girl… she’s got that soft, delicate look that just makes people like her.”

“I can tell she’s not a pushover, but she’s not a malicious person either.”

“If she really marries your brother, she’ll treat those two kids well.”

“I’m telling you all now, if she really becomes your brother’s wife, no one in this house is allowed to bully her. If anyone dares, I won’t let it slide.”

After laying down the law, Wang Juying shot a warning glance at the village head Lu Dacheng and her daughter Lu Shuangyan, then turned to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Watching her mother’s behavior, Lu Shuangyan couldn’t help complaining to her father, “Dad, the new daughter-in-law hasn’t even entered the house yet and Mom’s already obsessed. If she does marry in, will we still have any status left in this family?”

“We don’t have any say in this house even without a new daughter-in-law,” Lu Dacheng replied as he grabbed a hoe and went out to the fields.

Thinking it over, Lu Shuangyan realized it was true — their household had always been ruled by her mother.

“Sigh…”

“Sigh…”

“Sigh…”

“Auntie, what’s wrong?”

By the time Jiang Peiyu sighed for the 120th time, Jiang Qiyang finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

“Yangyang, your aunt is just so bored…”

Eat, sleep, repeat — no phone, no tablet, no posting, no short videos. This kind of life? Unbearable.

“Little sis! Come quick…”

Just as Jiang Peiyu was sighing away in boredom, her second brother Jiang Yanwen’s voice called from outside. Soon enough, she saw him pulling two baskets of muskmelons on an ox cart.

“Wow, melons! Second Brother, I want some!”

Seeing the melons, Jiang Peiyu’s eyes lit up.

“Okay, hang on. I’ll wash one for you. Tomorrow I’m taking these to the city to sell. I’ll buy you some meat when I come back.”

The moment she heard “go to the city,” Jiang Peiyu perked up.

“Go to the city? Second Brother, take me with you! I want to go too!”

“Uh…” Jiang Yanwen hesitated. He was going to sell melons — what if he lost track of her? If anything happened, their parents would skin him alive.

“Little sis, maybe you should stay home. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll bring it back for you…”

“No! I want to go! I’m going moldy from staying home all the time!”

“Second Brother, please please please bring me!”

Unable to resist her pestering and puppy eyes, Jiang Yanwen finally gave in. “Fine, but you talk to Dad. If he agrees, I’ll take you.”

“Okay! I’ll talk to him tonight!”

Seeing how excited his little sister was, Jiang Yanwen could only sigh in resignation.

That night, after much pleading and sweet talk, their father finally agreed to let Jiang Peiyu go with her second brother to the city to sell melons.

The next morning, before dawn even broke, Jiang Peiyu was still fast asleep when her second brother woke her up. The two set off for the city on the ox cart. Along the way, Jiang Peiyu leaned against the melon baskets, dozing off.

When they arrived in the city, Jiang Yanwen nudged her awake. “Little sis, wake up. We’re here.”

Jiang Peiyu opened her eyes. The ox cart had stopped under a big tree. The street was bustling with people, lined with vendors and street stalls.

There were stalls selling dumplings and wontons, soft drinks and popsicles, noodles and buns. Others were selling vegetables, fruits, even clothes, bags, and shoes.

Half an hour passed — not a single melon sold…

An hour passed — only two people asked about the price, and both walked away…

Jiang Peiyu couldn’t take it anymore. “Second Brother, are we just going to sit here like this?”

Jiang Yanwen scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “What else can we do?”

“Shout! Call out like the popsicle and bun vendors!”

Jiang Yanwen looked uncomfortable. “Little sis… that’s kind of embarrassing…”

“You mean you always sell melons like this? Just sitting here?”

He nodded shyly. “Yeah…”

“Do you actually sell anything that way?”

“If I’m lucky, maybe one or two baskets. If not… sometimes none at all…” The more he spoke, the softer his voice became.

Jiang Peiyu stared at him in disbelief. No wonder you can’t sell anything…

So she cleared her throat, coughed a couple of times, and started shouting:

“Come take a look, freshly picked muskmelons! Big, sweet, juicy, and crisp!”

“Cheap! Only 0.3 yuan a jin, 0.5 yuan for two! You won’t be cheated, you won’t regret it!”

“Buy some and your wife will praise you, your husband will love you!”

“Fresh melons, fresh fruit! No need to search or pick — every one is top quality! King of kings, best of the best, take any and it’s a winner!”

“Auntie, fresh muskmelons! Buy a jin (half a kilo)?”
“Big brother, these melons are sweet, crisp, and fragrant—take a jin home and try it!”

Off to the side, Jiang Yanwen was stunned. His little sister was amazing—smooth talker, totally at ease without a hint of nervousness.

“Miss, want some melons? Only 0.3 yuan per jin, 0.5 yuan for two! Guaranteed sweet—if not, no charge!”

“You cheeky girl,” said a woman Jiang Peiyu had just called “Miss.” “Calling me ‘Miss’? My daughter is probably older than you!”
Although she said that, the grin on her face couldn’t be hidden—she was clearly delighted.

“Aiya, I really couldn’t tell. I’d feel awkward calling you Auntie, so Miss it is!”
“Miss, just one look at you and I can tell you live a good life—your husband and kids must love you. You must not get angry often—you look twenty years younger! Don’t even need skin care!”

Hearing this, the woman was tickled pink. The smile on her face grew even bigger.

“Haha, you little girl, you’re such a character. Alright, give me two jin of muskmelons.”

“Got it! Second Brother, quick, weigh two jin for this beautiful lady. Nice big ones!”

“Okay.”
Seeing a customer ready to buy, Jiang Yanwen immediately took out the scale, weighed two jin, and handed the bag to the woman.

“Miss, here are your melons. That’s 0.5 yuan.”

The woman took the bag of melons, handed over the money to Jiang Yanwen, then turned to leave.

Jiang Peiyu waved after her with a bright smile. “Miss, take care! If they’re tasty, come back for more. My brother and I sell melons here every day!”

The girl was so warm and adorable, the woman walked away feeling genuinely happy.

“Alright, if they taste good, I’ll come back to buy more from you two.”