Two things?!

“What two things?!”

Uncle Jiu was curious and gestured for her to go ahead.

“It’s like this—I wanted to ask you for some branches from the apple tree in your yard. I want to graft them onto the ground near our house. If they take root and grow, then Dabao and Xiaobao will have apples to eat in the future.”

She had her eye on Uncle Jiu’s apple tree, planning to plant it in the space.

So Qiao Jiuru used the two little kids as an excuse.

“Oh, so it’s this,” he thought. “I was worried it was something serious.” Uncle Jiu had been so tense earlier, but it turned out to be… just this!!!

“Plant what?! Dabao and Xiaobao come to our house to eat—how many apples do they want, they can have as many as they want.”

Uncle Jiu said casually, not caring much.

He had nothing else to give the two kids, but as long as the fruit grew on the tree, the little ones could eat all they wanted.

Still, though, after saying that, he quietly went to the yard and snipped off nearly twenty branches.

“There are apple trees here, pear trees, jujube trees—try planting these and see.”

Uncle Jiu’s yard had not only apple trees but pear trees and jujube trees too, which completely surprised Qiao Jiuru.

This, this was really great.

An unexpected delight.

Qiao Jiuru couldn’t help but smile, clearly very happy—it was obvious she really liked it.

“There are also walnut trees, plum trees, apricot trees, hawthorn trees in the village. Today, I’ll go get some branches for you to plant, so Dabao and Xiaobao will have lots and lots of fruit to eat.”

Unexpectedly, Uncle Jiu paused and then went on.

He had set his sights on everyone’s fruit trees in the village and was going to visit them later.

Anyway, he didn’t know if the little Qiao kids could manage to grow them, but the more branches the better—if just a few survived, it would be worth it.

Alright, alright.

She liked it.

Qiao Jiuru was genuinely surprised and pleased. She only wanted a few branches from the apple tree.

“Uncle, lots and lots of fruit!”

“I want some!”

“Lots and lots!”

“Fruit, sweet, very tasty!”

“Very tasty, and fragrant!”

The two little ones didn’t quite understand everything, but hearing that there would be lots of fruit to eat, they got excited and babbled happily about how much they loved fruit.

They had only eaten apples and tangerines, pears, and jujubes before—so sweet, so fragrant, so delicious. The two little ones couldn’t help but drool.

Uncle Jiu saw their big, sparkling eyes watering and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Uncle will find some for you, definitely let Dabao and Xiaobao eat.”

Apples and pears might not be available, but last year’s walnuts and jujubes would surely have some left over.

He was determined to make sure Dabao and Xiaobao could eat.

“Tasty!”

“Want tasty!”

Dabao and Xiaobao understood and jumped up excitedly, drooling even more.

“For Dabao and Xiaobao to eat, Uncle will find some for you.”

Uncle Jiu was also motivated, his heart melting from the cuteness of the two little ones.

He was ready to give them the moon if they asked for it, or the stars if that’s what they wanted.

The two little ones smiled brightly, eyes wide and shining, nodding adorably at Uncle Jiu, drooling even more happily.

Qiao Jiuru: “…”

No, wait, Uncle Jiu, I’m not done yet.

“Uncle, uncle, there’s one more thing.”

The three of them—a grown man and two little kids—were interacting with such warmth, she almost didn’t want to interrupt.

But if she didn’t finish telling him now, it might have to wait till another day.

“What else do you want?!”

Uncle Jiu stood up impatiently, interrupting the sweet interaction between him and the two little ones. No sense of subtlety at all.

“Uncle, I want to find some wood so Huaiyuan and Xiaoze can make a small cart-bed for the kids. Later, we can take it out to the fields so the kids can play or sleep on it—so they won’t be cold or tired.”

Qiao Jiuru hurried to explain her final request—it was important too.

Sure enough, as soon as Uncle Jiu heard it was to get wood for a cart-bed for the two little ones, his impatience vanished immediately.

“No need to make it yourselves, it’s too troublesome. You wouldn’t make it well. I’ll talk to Xiao Lin later; he’ll make a good one for the kids.”

But Uncle Jiu looked down on their ability to make one, thinking a professional’s work would be better.

Qiao Jiuru: “…”

No, Uncle Jiu, I don’t want to make it ourselves! Isn’t that the point?!

“Uncle, no, it’s not appropriate for us given our status. If the cart-bed is too nice, people will talk and think badly of us! If it gets reported to the commune or county, it will cause trouble for the production team and everyone else!”

“Also, the wood can’t be good wood. It’s best if it’s all old, not neat, big and small pieces mixed. We have to make it ourselves, and it shouldn’t be too good—just usable.”

She quickly reasoned with Uncle Jiu, explaining their current situation, so as not to cause trouble for others.

Uncle Jiu understood, sighed, and agreed to help.

“I’ll send it to you later. You tell Huaiyuan and Xiaoze to make it well.”

In the end, Uncle Jiu reminded her not to let the two little ones suffer.

Qiao Jiuru could only nod repeatedly, then led the two little ones home to make lunch.

By evening, not long after they returned from work, Uncle Jiu showed up with a young man pushing a single-wheel cart.

On the cart was a big pile of old wood pieces, various sizes, and a big bunch of dozens of branches.

“These are the materials and tools. Hurry and make the cart-bed for Dabao and Xiaobao. This is for Dabao and Xiaobao to eat—once they finish, I’ll bring more.”

Uncle Jiu put down a wooden box he was carrying, gave instructions while unloading a small basket from the cart, and then pointed at the basket as he spoke to Qiao Jiuru’s family.

Qiao Jiuru’s family: “…”

They’re really quick!