Chapter 25: Planting Fruit Trees

It was just past eight in the morning, and the sun shone brightly over the town, casting a golden hue on everything. The market was already bustling with people, and the atmosphere was becoming lively.

At the post office, Shen Zhuo waited outside as he had done before. Ye Xin quickly dropped off the letters she had brought to help with and then sat down to write her own. Yes, she hadn’t written it beforehand—she intended to compose it on the spot.

With each visit becoming more familiar, she picked up her pen and began to write swiftly. She expressed how she was gradually getting used to life in Fengshui Brigade and how her relationships with the villagers were improving. She had learned a lot about farming and felt confident that she could support herself, urging her sister not to worry.

Next, she mentioned that she had grown many vegetables in her personal plot, too many to eat all at once, so she had dried some and sent them home for her sister to try, hoping she wouldn’t complain.

Finally, she wished her sister success at work and good health.

The letter was short and sweet. After checking for typos, she slipped it into an envelope, affixed a stamp, and sent it along with the dried vegetables.

Exiting the post office, Ye Xin turned to Shen Zhuo. “Let’s go buy some meat.”

Shen Zhuo paused for a moment, then realized they were headed to the black market again. Instinctively, he glanced around but didn’t object; instead, he silently pushed the cart alongside her.

As they walked, Ye Xin began discussing their shopping plans. “This time, let’s buy more. The last batch didn’t last us long enough.”

Shen Zhuo reminded her, “We just bought quite a few eggs.”

“Eggs alone aren’t enough! We should have meat and eggs every day. Eggs for breakfast and meat for dinner—or vice versa. Of course, having both at every meal would be even better!”

Shen Zhuo fell silent at that. Eating meat at every meal seemed extravagant—something he couldn’t even fathom.

Ye Xin continued, “We also need to buy some rice; our supply is running low.”

Shen Zhuo started to mentally calculate if the few coins he had would be enough for their shopping trip.

When they arrived at their destination, Ye Xin knocked on the door, mimicking what she had seen the previous vendor do. Before long, the familiar, burly man opened the door.

“Ah, it’s you two! Come in!” Chen Er recognized them right away; after all, they were an unusual pair and had purchased quite a bit during their last visit.

They left their bicycle in the yard and made their way to the left room, feeling at ease since no one else was around. Chen San greeted them with a friendly smile. “You’re back! What are you looking to buy this time?”

Ye Xin replied with a grin, “We’re here for meat again and some grain.”

She wanted to buy more, but her limited budget held her back, so she had to be prudent with her spending.

She carefully selected two pieces of cured meat, a smoked chicken, and a dried duck, plus twenty pounds of rice. Without the purchase of eggs and oil this time, the total was similar to their last visit, and Chen San even gave them a slight discount.

When it was time to pay, Shen Zhuo pulled out his money first.

Ye Xin looked at him, surprised. “You’re paying?”

“I’ll take care of it this time,” he insisted stubbornly.

Of course, Ye Xin wasn’t opposed to him paying; she just knew how much money he had—barely enough to cover this, after which he would probably be left with nothing.

Seeing him so determined, she decided not to argue. Young men often had their peculiar pride, and it was nice to let him feel like he was taking care of things.

She was also relieved not to have to spend her own money. Initially, she had about twenty bucks on her, including what she had earned from selling vegetables today. The plan was to spend half now and save half for later, but since Shen Zhuo was covering this trip, she could stash her twenty bucks for the future.

After paying, Shen Zhuo felt broke again, but he also experienced a wave of relief wash over him. He had always relied on Ye Xin’s resources, but for once, he had spent his own money. It felt like a small victory, and he stood a little taller, his posture straightening.

Once they finished shopping, Ye Xin took the opportunity to ask what they were buying today. She didn’t need to inquire about vegetables since she had tried selling them today and knew they were in demand.

Instead, she asked, “Brother Chen San, do you buy dried vegetables?”

Chen San replied, “We do buy them, but dried vegetables are common and don’t fetch much. We only accept the good stuff.”

Ye Xin nodded, then followed up with, “What about dried chili peppers?”

Chen San said, “We buy those. We take dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and such. If you have any, bring them next time. Good quality can fetch a decent price.”

Ye Xin smiled. “I see. I have some drying at home, and I’ll bring them next time.”

She then asked, “Do you sell seeds here?”

Chen San shook his head. “We don’t sell seeds.”

“Not any kind of seeds?” she pressed.

He looked at her curiously. “What kind of seeds are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for medicinal herb seeds or other hard-to-grow plants that have a good market value. To be honest, although we spend quite a bit each time we come, we’re still quite poor. The more we spend, the less we have left, so I’m looking for ways to earn more,” Ye Xin admitted.

Chen San nodded in understanding. “Right now, we don’t have any. But it’s possible someone might bring some to sell. If I come across anything, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

That was exactly what Ye Xin wanted to hear. The black market was filled with a variety of goods, and you never knew what rare seeds could be found there. She thanked him with a smile before leaving with Shen Zhuo.

Once they were outside through the back door, Shen Zhuo finally asked, “Are you planning to grow medicinal herbs?”

Ye Xin nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! Look how hard we work to gather herbs; it would be so much easier to just grow a patch ourselves.”

Shen Zhuo frowned slightly. “Herbs aren’t that easy to grow. And cultivated herbs might not have the same potency as wild ones.”

“I know it’s not easy,” Ye Xin said. “I’m just thinking out loud. But our garden soil seems quite fertile—look at how well our vegetables are growing! Herbs should thrive too.”

Shen Zhuo paused, considering her words. “That’s true. At first glance, that patch behind the house looks like ordinary yellow earth, but the vegetables are exceptionally lush.”

Ye Xin smiled, not wanting to elaborate further. If they decided to plant herbs in the future, she wanted to keep it casual for now, just to plant the idea in his mind.

But Shen Zhuo continued pondering, actually getting excited about the prospect. “How about we check out the herbal medicine shop? Sometimes they sell seeds or dried fruits that can be planted.”

“Are you talking about Doctor Xu’s shop?” Ye Xin asked.

Shen Zhuo nodded. In fact, there was only one herbal shop in town.

Ye Xin thought for a moment and shook her head. “Let’s hold off on that for now. I meant to have you bring some vegetables for Doctor Xu today, but I forgot. We can do it next time.”

There was no rush; she was already busy growing vegetables in her space and preparing to cultivate a rice paddy. She didn’t want to overwhelm herself by trying to manage multiple plots all at once.

Shen Zhuo was puzzled. Why did she want to give vegetables to Doctor Xu?

But Ye Xin quickly shifted the topic. “Let’s go back to the agricultural products market and see if you noticed any fruit saplings for sale?”

This caught Shen Zhuo off guard; he had been too focused on finding eggs and duck eggs to pay attention.

It was worth noting, though, that even with their knowledge of the black market, they still preferred to buy eggs from the villagers. The prices were slightly higher on the black market, and they couldn’t be sure how long those eggs had been kept. Freshness mattered, and the villagers always brought in their produce just that morning.

The two of them returned to the market and took a quick look around, eventually finding a stall selling fruit saplings. They had grapevines, orange seedlings, and tangerine seedlings—all common local fruit trees, and the prices were quite reasonable. Ye Xin loved these fruits, so she bought them all. However, since her basket couldn’t hold everything, she bundled the saplings with straw and carried them in her hands.

With their shopping nearly done, it was time to head back. But as they walked out, Ye Xin spotted a stall selling bamboo and straw crafts. Suddenly, she remembered her earlier intention to buy a raincoat and straw hat. She stopped in her tracks.

“What do you need those for?” Shen Zhuo asked, raising an eyebrow. “They’re not necessary.”

Ye Xin countered, “What if it rains? It’s inconvenient to be caught without any rain gear.”

Not wanting her to spend more money, Shen Zhuo replied, “Well, if you really want them, just buy a set for yourself.”

Ye Xin nodded. “That works! Anyway, I won’t go out on rainy days, so I can get one for you instead.”

Shen Zhuo opened his mouth to clarify that he meant for her to get a set for herself, but she had already decided she wouldn’t be going out. If it did rain and something came up, it would still be him going out to handle it.

Just then, he spotted a familiar face and called out, “Uncle Rong!”

It was an elderly man with a wrinkled face and a shock of white hair, still sprightly despite his age. Looking up, the old man replied, “Shen Zhuo, you’re here for the market too?” He glanced at Ye Xin but didn’t acknowledge her further.

Shen Zhuo gave a curt reply, his brow slightly furrowed. Uncle Rong, or Li Xingrong, was a senior member of the village, closely associated with the village leader, Li Xingguo. Given his seniority and reputation, Shen Zhuo greeted him out of politeness but didn’t want Ye Xin to feel belittled, especially after the awkwardness they had previously experienced.

Upon hearing the familiar title “Uncle Rong,” Ye Xin immediately recalled what Lin Meihua had said—that this was the grandfather of Li Guangrong. She felt a bit awkward but decided to put on a brave face and act as if nothing had happened. “Uncle Rong, how much for your raincoat?” she asked directly.

Uncle Rong hadn’t expected her to inquire about his goods. With a slightly annoyed tone, he replied, “A raincoat for a yuan, and a hat for three jiao. No bargaining!”

Ye Xin picked up a raincoat and felt its weight; it was made from palm tree fibers. Though rough to the touch, the weaving was tight and sturdy, clearly made with care. She examined the hat, noting that it was tightly woven from bamboo, perfectly structured for both sun protection and rain. Trying it on, she discovered it had adjustable ties for a perfect fit—far better than the old, worn-out one she had at home.

With a smile, she said, “Uncle Rong, your craftsmanship is impressive; it’s worth the price. I’ll take one raincoat and two hats.”

Seeing that she genuinely wanted to buy, Uncle Rong was a bit taken aback but had no reason to refuse. After all, he had worked hard to bring these goods to market to sell them. As he handed them over, he muttered, “If you’re buying, why not just do it at home? Why drag them back and forth?”

Ye Xin kept her smile intact, replying, “I didn’t know you sold these before. It’s great that I found you today!”

She had intended to add that buying them saved him from having to haul them back, but then realized that might sound like she was wishing him a slow day in sales. So she held her tongue and paid him.

Though he had said he wouldn’t negotiate, Uncle Rong knocked off a jiao from the price, charging her only one yuan and fifty cents.

Ye Xin thought to herself that he was tough on the outside but soft-hearted on the inside. Her smile became more genuine as she said, “Wishing you prosperous business! We should head back now.”

With that, it really was time to go; they couldn’t carry much more. Shen Zhuo was a bit surprised at how unfazed she was about buying the raincoat and hats from Uncle Rong. It seemed she had a relaxed attitude that helped her get along better with the village ladies, while he, on the other hand, was still filled with concerns that felt unnecessary.

As they were about to leave, Ye Xin stood on her tiptoes and playfully tried to place one of the hats on Shen Zhuo’s head. She whispered, “Good thing we came early! We sold the vegetables quickly; otherwise, we might’ve run into more villagers.”

Shen Zhuo lowered his head and encouraged her to put on the hat. “Yeah, if anyone sees us selling vegetables, the village will surely have a field day gossiping.”

On the way back, Ye Xin, who had carried the heavier load on the way here, took advantage of the situation and put the heavy items in Shen Zhuo’s basket without hesitation. Shen Zhuo didn’t complain at all; instead, he shouldered the burden and headed down the countryside path, basking in the warmth of the sun that was gradually growing stronger.

As they walked, he recalled her antics during their vegetable sales and asked, “Why did you always try to get rid of me before?”

Ye Xin hadn’t expected him to notice and remember it for so long. She replied sheepishly, “It was my first time selling something, and I wanted to see if I could manage it on my own.”

She occasionally spoke with a drawn-out tone at the end of her sentences, her voice rising slightly. Shen Zhuo wasn’t sure if she was being playful or just sounded cute, but he found her soft voice quite pleasant to listen to.

Noticing his silence, Ye Xin added, “You didn’t think I was trying to hide the money from selling vegetables, did you? I only made a little over two yuan. If you want, I can give you half.”

Snapping back to reality, Shen Zhuo frowned. “I wasn’t thinking that at all; don’t put words in my mouth. You can keep the money. After all, you bought the seeds, and you take care of the garden.”

“Your efforts count too! You plow the soil, build fences, set up trellises, weed, and water the plants. You’ve contributed a lot!” Ye Xin enumerated his contributions, not letting any of them slip by. “But you can keep the money here since whatever we buy, we share anyway.”

“Okay.” Hearing this made Shen Zhuo feel at ease.

Then Ye Xin suddenly chimed in, “But you know I was trying to get rid of you on purpose. Just stick to what you’re doing and be a good listener, okay?”

Shen Zhuo’s face flushed. “If I’m not listening to you, then who should I listen to?”

Ye Xin giggled and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “You’re so sweet!”

Once they returned home, they hurriedly organized their haul. They had gathered quite a lot: meat, eggs, rice, a raincoat, a straw hat, fruit saplings, kitchen supplies like knives and spices, and a few assorted glass jars. The weight of it all had made their shoulders ache.

As Ye Xin unpacked, she discovered Shen Zhuo had bought a box of mooncakes—those traditional five-nut mooncakes wrapped in oil paper, emitting a delightful aroma.

“Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon,” Shen Zhuo remarked.

Ye Xin suddenly remembered, “Wow, it’s almost here! Time really flies!”

After they set everything down, they planted the fruit saplings at the edge of the vegetable garden. They also tended to the vegetable patch, where leftover greens and stems from their earlier harvest were strewn about. They needed to clear the area promptly.

They worked hard until noon and then returned home to eat. After a short nap, they headed back into the mountains to gather herbs.

Money spent quickly, so they needed to work harder to earn more.

Shen Zhuo focused on collecting herbs, while Ye Xin kept her eyes peeled for wild fruits and seedlings. As she searched, she stumbled upon some wild bamboo shoots. Even more thrilling was the discovery of a wild peach tree, which excited her immensely.

She shared the news with Shen Zhuo, and together they dug up the seedlings to take home.

In her mind, she pondered that her space was the real treasure trove. As long as there were fruit trees in the backyard, once they bore fruit, she could use the seeds to cultivate new plants. Given some time, she wouldn’t have to worry about not having her own orchard.