Some people like vibrant colors and big floral patterns, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

However, many girls prefer the fresh and simple style that matches their artistic temperament.

Cheng Dabao glanced at what she picked, then at what he held, and back at Jiang Lin’s head, thinking the big flower looked best!

Cheng Xiaobao pulled out all sorts of bugs and such, saying, “These are good.”

Zeng Hongjie replied, “They’re all good, they’re all good.”

She had already picked several items, but Cheng Xiaobao kept enthusiastically suggesting more.

When they finally tallied up, it came to a total of 11.8 yuan.

Jiang Lin was astonished.

She had been carefully tracking prices these days, and anyone who could casually pull out ten yuan must be quite well-off.

A real rich lady!

Jiang Lin noticed Zeng Hongjie’s white nylon stockings and leather sandals, and a faint fragrance lingering on her, which she couldn’t identify.

A few years ago, this would have been criticized as a sign of petit bourgeois tastes.

She expected Zeng Hongjie to haggle, but to her surprise, she didn’t.

Jiang Lin asked, “Are you taking all of these?”

Zeng Hongjie replied, “Yes, I’ll take them all.”

It wasn’t even enough to split among colleagues and classmates.

If she took them back, they would want some at full price.

Jiang Lin said, “Then I’ll give you a discount of thirty cents and ask for 11.5 yuan.”

Zeng Hongjie smiled and said, “No need. These two little ones are so sweet. I’ll buy them some snacks.”

Cheng Xiaobao sweetly said, “Thank you, pretty sister. Your dress is really nice.”

Zeng Hongjie was even happier and wished she could take the two kids to show off at work.

She loved beautiful children the most.

After Zeng Hongjie finished shopping, she casually glanced at her left wristwatch and saw that it was past eleven o’clock. “Oh dear, I have to go.”

She paid and packed the embroidered patches into her backpack, bid farewell to Jiang Lin and hurried off with the three of them.

Jiang Lin stared at her graceful figure and the olive green backpack, murmuring softly, “She still needs a nice bag.”

Cheng Xiaobao said, “The dress is really nice. Mom should get one too.”

Cheng Dabao nodded in agreement. “It’s nice.”

Jiang Lin couldn’t help but laugh at their words, feeling warm inside despite it.

These two little rascals knew how to encourage their mother to dress up. “With the money we have, let’s prioritize making warm clothes and quilts first, and then we can think about other things.”

She patted Xiaobao’s head and smiled, “As long as we’re smart and hardworking, and a bit lucky, we’ll definitely live a good life.”

She tidied up the remaining items and continued to stroll around with the kids, trying their luck.

However, they didn’t find any more customers afterwards, not even when they asked a few well-dressed women who showed no interest.

After all, these items were quite expensive, and only people with both money and a taste for luxury would consider buying them.

Still, earning over ten yuan earlier was a significant income; pork was only around 65-70 cents per pound.

Jiang Lin felt good about the situation.

The money would be enough to buy fabric and cotton.

She admired Yan Runzhi even more now—a capable elderly lady!

She planned to skip coming to the county tomorrow, instead going home to work on something more upscale.

Selling in the provincial capital later would surely bring in more profit.

She also thought of visiting the original owner’s parents with the kids, letting them see their grandson.

Of course, due to the strained relationship between the original owner and them, she needed to plan carefully to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

On her way, Jiang Lin noticed a fruit farmer selling underripe Guoguang apples from a cart at a very low price—only four cents per pound because they were sour due to not being fully ripe yet.

At noon, when the factory workers got off, many people gathered around to pick some.

Jiang Lin was concerned about squeezing the children, so she let them hold hands and wait aside.

As Jiang Lin was picking apples, she suddenly felt someone touch her buttocks.

She quickly turned around and saw a young man walking by, tall and upright, looking respectable and not like a bad person.

She gave him a suspicious glance before turning back to continue picking apples.

After she finished picking, she reached into her purse to pay.

It was crowded, and as she fumbled around, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that someone seemed to be holding her wallet.

She swiftly snatched her wallet back and declared, “This is mine!”

Luckily, the strap was still secured, and she hadn’t undone it yet.

The young man looked at her face, somewhat stunned. “You…”

Jiang Lin interrupted sharply, “What about me? Handsome as you are, you’re not doing anything good.”

He was quite a good-looking young fellow, but who knew what he was up to?

Some people, despite their advantages, have a penchant for theft. What if he was one of them?

Realizing her suspicion, the young man immediately turned to look for the pickpocket he had caught.

However, the slippery guy slipped away like an eel when he glanced at Jiang Lin’s face.

He turned back to explain to Jiang Lin, but was surprised to see her running faster than the thief had escaped!

Of course Jiang Lin was going to run!

He actually tried to get closer to her.

What if he got angry and slapped her out of embarrassment?

She couldn’t afford to take that risk! He might be tall and imposing, not someone she could handle if things turned physical.

Leading Dabao and Xiaobao, Jiang Lin hurried into an alleyway.

The boys immediately sensed her tension.

Cheng Dabao asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Lin reassured them, “It’s nothing. Someone just tried to steal my wallet.”

The two children immediately stood guard on either side of her, nervous and protective.

The money they had worked hard to earn was meant for making quilts and warm clothes at home, and they couldn’t afford to lose it.

Seeing their worried expressions actually relaxed Jiang Lin.

She smiled and said, “It’s okay. With the militia patrolling around, no one dares to steal. Let’s go, I’ll buy you both an ice cream.”

Ahead was an elementary school, and at the intersection, an old lady pushed a white wooden box with wheels, painted with the words “Big Ice Cream” in red.

At this time, ice creams were one cent each for big ones and five cents each for popsicles.

Compared to the current prices of food, they were quite expensive, especially since the creamy ice cream had no cream at all.

But they were cool, sweet, and refreshing, making them a favorite for children in summer.

Moreover, such treats were rarely seen or tasted in the countryside.

Jiang Lin felt that a child’s childhood couldn’t be without candies and ice cream!

She had to buy them! Both the big ones and the popsicles!

Dabao and Xiaobao had only heard about them but never seen or tasted them before.

Now, they were actually seeing real ice cream.

The two little ones tiptoed, their small hands clutching the edge of the wooden box, their big curious eyes staring at the large wooden box.

The old lady lifted the lid of the box, and suddenly, a burst of cold air escaped along with the heat wave, vaporizing into visible steam, which startled both children.

When she lifted the quilt cover, even more cold air escaped, causing both children to shiver with excitement.

How magical!

The old lady took out a fat ice cream cone wrapped in paper and a rectangular popsicle from under the quilt.

“Wow, ice cream under the quilt!” Cheng Xiaobao was amazed.

Cheng Dabao pursed his lips, equally curious. “Under the quilt, isn’t it hot? Will it melt?”

They only covered themselves with quilts in winter, but ice cream was for summer.

Weren’t they afraid of the heat?

The old lady selling ice cream laughed heartily, “If it’s not covered, it melts. If it’s covered, the sun can’t melt it.”

Jiang Lin took the ice cream and popsicle, and while they walked to a shady spot nearby, she briefly explained to the boys why ice cream was kept under a quilt.

Once they were settled in the cool shade, she unwrapped the ice cream and popsicle and gave one to each of them.

They were to eat half of one and then switch.

The two boys both offered the ice creams to Jiang Lin first, saying, “Mom, you go ahead and have it.”

Jiang Lin took a small bite from one corner of the ice cream and said, “You go ahead and eat.”

Although it was just a popsicle made with sweetened water and artificial flavors, on a scorching hot day with nothing else to eat, it was pure bliss to enjoy the cool sweetness.

It was the boys’ first time trying it, so neither wanted to eat too much.

Cheng Dabao took a small bite and held it in his mouth before handing it back to Jiang Lin for another bite.

Cheng Xiaobao was content with just licking it a few times and squinting his eyes happily. “Wow, it’s so cold, Mom! It’s freezing my belly!”

Jiang Lin laughed and reassured him, “It’s okay. If you get too cold, you can go out in the sun for a bit.”

The boys agreed with her reasoning.

Dabao took another bite of the ice cream and passed it to Xiaobao, who then handed his popsicle to Jiang Lin.

They ran into the sunlight to warm up once their treats had melted a bit.

They repeated this pattern—each taking a bite and then sunbathing until their treats melted more.

The boys were incredibly happy, and Dabao’s laughter echoed as loudly as Xiaobao’s.

Watching them enjoy themselves so much, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but feel a pang of maternal pride, almost imagining them as her own sons.

When drops of melted popsicle dripped onto her leg, she jolted out of her reverie. ‘Oh dear, Jiang Lin, you’re losing it. Stop this nonsense about having your own sons!’

“Let’s finish the popsicles and then go eat,” she suggested.

They arrived at a restaurant where all seven or eight tables were already occupied, and two more were set up near the entrance.

Jiang Lin glanced around and spotted a young man sitting in a corner, eating noodles.

He had a round face with a prominent widow’s peak and long legs stretched out into the aisle.

It was the person who had taken her wallet!

“Oh my, he’s even dining out. He must be well-off! What a small world!”