Chapter 12: Bought Eel and Water Chestnuts

In the end, it was just a thirteen-yuan deal. The vendor felt like his time was wasted and looked a bit upset and displeased.

He muttered to Zhou Huifang, “Buying such a small one and still wanting wholesale prices. I only sold it to you out of respect for you.”

“I know, I know. I understand you do wholesale business, thank you. But this red eel is cheaper than the white eel. The young girl came all the way here to buy it for her sick grandmother. You’re doing a good deed, and good people will be rewarded,” Zhou Huifang smiled as she took the eel and explained to the vendor.

The vendor felt a bit embarrassed and only took ten yuan when accepting the money, returning three yuan to Xiaomei: “If your grandmother eats well, come again.”

Xiaomei happily took the three yuan and bowed to the vendor.

“This eel is only ten yuan each? Then we’ll all buy! Sisters, come pick!” At that moment, a voice nearby rang out. Xiaomei looked over and saw several elderly ladies.

Each of them held a bag, but the bags were really well designed, with wheels at the bottom so they could be pulled along the ground without getting dirty and without much effort.

“Boss, see? I told you, good deeds bring rewards. Now look, business has come,” Zhou Huifang said to the vendor with a smug smile.

“Let’s go.” With that, Zhou Huifang pulled Xiaomei’s hand and squeezed through the crowd. “These old ladies are really something.”

Xiaomei looked back. The vendor’s stall was crowded and noisy; it seemed the vendor didn’t want to sell, and the old ladies wanted to buy, so they were bargaining over the price.

“Never seen this scene before, right?” Zhou Huifang asked with a smile. “These are retired city elders who don’t spend money on the bus, so they come here every day to wholesale vegetables together. They split what they buy later, and the prices here are cheaper and fresher than the local market near home. This wholesale market is already crowded with people and cars, and these old folks add to the chaos.”

Xiaomei thought to herself, if she could buy cheap stuff, she’d shop here too.

In her world, saving money was the top priority.

“The vegetable section is at the far west. We’ll go there later. First, let’s buy what Auntie wants, okay? It’ll be quick,” Zhou Huifang asked for Xiaomei’s opinion.

“Okay, Auntie,” Xiaomei smiled gratefully.

So, Xiaomei followed Zhou Huifang and almost went through the entire market, amazed by the vast amount of goods.

They also bought the long-desired water chestnuts, which cost 5.70 yuan. Xiaomei didn’t dare buy too many for fear they would spoil.

On the way back, Xiaomei learned how to take the bus to the vegetable basket market and found out where the small goods wholesale market for sewing supplies was.

She secretly decided to take the bus there by herself next time.

Back at Zhou’s lunchbox shop, it was just past ten o’clock. Zhou Huifang told Xiaomei to go inside the shop and said, “Wait for me,” then hurried off.

Xiaomei took a sip of water and saw the three helpers busy preparing food, so she helped pick and wash vegetables.

While working, she marveled inwardly: cooking wasn’t done on a stove but with three round devices connected by a cord plugged into an outlet. She knew the village secretary’s family and others had electricity, but after plugging it in, no one had to watch it? The delicious rice was made by an electric rice cooker.

Also, the potato slicer was so handy — no need for knives. Just pull a slicer, and the strips come out quickly and easily.

Washing things didn’t require going to the riverbank; the water faucet ran freely, saving a lot of effort.

Cooking didn’t need a traditional fire; the heat was instant and could be adjusted. The seasonings were many, which explained why the dishes smelled so good.

The most incredible thing was frying eggs without a pan—just a flat iron sheet with plenty of oil, frying four or five eggs at once in a row like soldiers.

It was very wasteful of oil.

Eggshells left lots of egg white on them. At Xiaomei’s home, they collected the egg whites in one shell and slowly cooked it over a low fire, which was very fragrant.

Aunt Zhou’s shop had half a basket full of eggshells with egg white dripping out.

If collected, that would at least be half a bowl.

Xiaomei struggled hard not to pick up the shells.

The small kitchen showed Xiaomei a big world.

After forty-five minutes, Zhou Huifang returned with many things.

20 meat buns: “Take these home and eat with your family.”

10 apples: “For grandma to eat. Apples, apples—safe and sound.”

Two bags of preserved plums: “Sick people’s mouths lose taste, so let grandma suck on these when she has no appetite.”

She instructed Zhou Xing, “Take the leftover shredded pork from the freezer and let Xiaomei bring it home.”

Then she handed Xiaomei more items: “These are two sets of clothes for you and your brother. Also, two cans of potato chips for snacks.”

“Anything else, I’ll give you next time. These are already heavy.”

Xiaomei was about to cry from gratitude: “Auntie, I’ll take the plums and apples to grandma. I can’t take the rest; grandma and my parents will scold me.”

She then took out the remaining money: “There’s still 14.30 yuan left. Take it.”

Zhou Huifang waved her hand and pushed the money back: “Keep the money for your family or yourself. If grandma needs anything the town can buy, buy it directly there so you don’t have to come all this way.”

She went inside a small storeroom, brought out two big plastic bags, packed the items, and checked if the girl could carry them.

“Auntie won’t make you stay for a meal. Go home and quickly prepare food for grandma. Xiao Mao, see Xiaomei off.”

Xiaomei wasn’t about to let Xiao Mao accompany her to the park. When they passed a bus stop, she said she’d take the bus and let Xiao Mao leave.

Xiao Mao gave some reminders and left.

When she could no longer see him, Xiaomei tied the two bags together, slung them over her shoulder, and hurried to the small park.

It was almost eleven, and the elders in the park had gone home. The park was quiet.

Xiaomei was quite experienced by now, said “Going home,” and successfully made it home.

She woke up with a start, “Ah!”

She saw her grandmother sitting on a small stool, staring straight at her.

“Grandma.”

Xiaomei had just spoken when Grandma Wang got up from the stool with a long exhale.