Chapter 6: Clean and Hygienic

Xu Meng remembered that in her previous life, Chang Xi hadn’t gotten into university. In the end, her mother took early retirement so that Chang Xi could take over her position.

After working for a few years, someone at the workplace introduced her to a young man. He was from out of town and willing to marry into the Chang family. He had a smooth and coaxing personality, always knowing how to sweet-talk people. Bit by bit, he charmed Chang Xi into surrendering.

Soon enough, the two of them got married.

But after the marriage, things changed.

While Chang Xi was in confinement after giving birth, the man brought his parents to the capital to take care of her. At the time, Chang Xi’s mother was also at home and fully capable of looking after her own daughter. But once his parents arrived, a whole extended family followed, and eventually, it felt like the Chang family no longer even carried the Chang surname.

The man kept pushing the boundaries, testing just how far he could go, step by step.

Later on, he even became a minor cadre at the station and went so far as to threaten Chang Xi, demanding that their child’s surname be changed.

In this life, if Chang Xi got into university, she might start working a few years later. By then, she might never meet that man at all. Maybe she would even start a relationship of her own in college.

But whenever it came to studying, Chang Xi always looked utterly defeated. “You know my English is terrible—”

In truth, Chang Xi’s foundation wasn’t that bad. Feng Yanwen had been her first English teacher.

But in the second year of middle school, Feng Yanwen stopped teaching. Her replacement was the daughter of a certain leader, and from that point on, Chang Xi’s grades took a nosedive.

Xu Meng had some confidence in her own English skills, and in that moment, she immediately thought of how she could repay Chang Xi. She put down her chopsticks, her eyes shining brightly. “Chang Xi, while there’s still time, let me tutor you properly. And besides, my mom’s here too. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask her.”

Chang Xi asked, “Is there still time?”

Xu Meng thought for a moment. “If you mean raising your overall English proficiency, I’m not too sure I can pull that off.”

Chang Xi: “Huh?”

Xu Meng: “But if it’s just to get through the college entrance exam and boost your score a bit, that I’m confident about.”

Back then, the general level of English wasn’t that high, and the college entrance exam questions weren’t as difficult as they would become later on. In her previous life, Xu Meng eventually grew her business to a considerable scale, even involving overseas projects. Her English level had long surpassed the standards of that time. Tutoring someone like Chang Xi and helping her improve her exam scores wouldn’t be too difficult.

“For example, take the essay section. We can prepare a few templates. During this period, you memorize more vocabulary, and when the time comes, just plug in a few impressive sentence structures. That should be enough to handle the college entrance exam essay.” Luckily, Xu Meng still remembered what the essay topics on the exam were, so she could open up a small cheat code.

Chang Xi was swayed. Seeing that Feng Yanwen also nodded, she instantly gained a bit more confidence. “Then what about the rest?”

Xu Meng pointed it out clearly. “It’s hard to suddenly improve your listening score by a big margin. Instead of struggling for a year to gain just five or eight points, it’s better to focus your energy on reading comprehension and essays, where the scoring potential is higher. Don’t worry, during this time I’ll be living here with my mom, and we’ll both tutor you. Mom, don’t you agree?”

Five or eight points could determine whether someone got into university or not.

Chang Xi was suddenly filled with motivation.

With Chang Xi’s guidance, the mother and daughter settled down here for the time being. Though the bed boards they slept on at night were a bit hard, both of them said they slept well. By the time they woke up the next morning, they were full of energy.

Chang Xi agreed to ask around about housing, while Xu Meng began planning for the coming month.

It was now July, and there was still more than a month left of summer vacation. She had to find a way to earn some money.

That morning, Xu Meng went out, bought some vegetable buns, and came back. She also asked around about the local rental prices—she wanted to find a place nearby.

As Chang Xi munched on her bun, her face full of satisfaction, she asked, “What are you two planning to do during the day?”

“I’m planning to go sell watermelons at the train station with my mom.”

Chang Xi said in surprise, “So yesterday you were selling watermelons at the train station?”

“Yeah,” Xu Meng replied. “Over the next few days, help me keep an eye out, see if there are any suitable places for rent. My mom and I are short on money, so it’s best if we can find a separate room. There aren’t any adult men in our family.”

This was also for Feng Yanwen’s sake. Two women living outside on their own was already enough to get people talking. If word got out that Feng Yanwen was staying at someone else’s home, there would only be more unpleasant gossip.

Chang Xi agreed.

After finishing breakfast, they left today’s review assignments for Chang Xi as usual, and the mother and daughter headed out the door.

Last night, Xu Meng had already discussed a money-making plan with Feng Yanwen. She still wanted to sell watermelons, and as for where to buy them—there was already someone she could go to.

The area near the train station had easy access to everywhere, and the market where Zhang Guifen sold her watermelons was only about two kilometers away. It wasn’t too hot in the morning, so it took less than half an hour to walk there.

As soon as the mother and daughter finished breakfast, they set off. When they arrived at the market, they immediately saw Zhang Guifen, who was sitting on her tricycle, selling watermelons.

——————

Feng Yanwen’s maiden family came from the same village as Zhang Guifen. The two of them had gotten along quite well as children.

Later, Feng Yanwen married into the city and became a teacher, enjoying a moment of prestige among the girls she grew up with. Zhang Guifen’s family, on the other hand, had been allocated a few mu^[1]Mu (亩) is a traditional Chinese unit of area commonly used in measuring land.

1 mu ≈ 666.7 square meters, or about 0.165 acres. of farmland and, besides growing grains, also planted watermelons to sell.

There was no other choice—ways to make money in the countryside were limited. After the reform and opening up, everyone started scrambling to earn a living. Just farming alone barely kept food on the table.

When the mother and daughter arrived, Zhang Guifen had just set up her stall. The market wasn’t under standardized management yet, so arriving early meant you could still claim a shaded spot.

“Guifen,” Feng Yanwen called out from a distance.

Zhang Guifen had just parked her tricycle. Seeing Feng Yanwen, she smiled. “Just got here. It’s getting hotter with each passing day.”

“How’s business?”

“It depends on luck. If a workplace comes by to make a bulk purchase, I can sell a bit faster. But generally, I can sell everything. What brings you here?”

Feng Yanwen hesitated for a moment, but then told Zhang Guifen about their current difficulties. She mentioned that she and her daughter didn’t even have money to buy a few watermelons, but she was frank about it. “Xu Meng wants to try doing some business. We’re hoping you could front us a couple of watermelons on credit. If we can get the cost back quickly, we’ll pay you when we pick up the next batch.”

She felt a bit embarrassed as the words left her mouth.

But since the conversation had already reached this point, she could only bite the bullet and finish what she had to say.

Zhang Guifen immediately understood, and her smile was just as natural as it had always been. “It’s nothing. Everyone goes through tough times. Do you remember when I gave birth to my eldest? It was a difficult labor, and my mother-in-law refused to take me to the clinic. It was you who gathered a few people and took me there. We all have moments like this, don’t feel too bad. Look at your daughter—so filial and sensible. You’re bound to have good days ahead.”

She pointed to the watermelons in the back of her tricycle. “Just go ahead and take some first. Pay me whenever you have the money. I’ll charge you the bulk purchase price—two mao per jin (0.2 yuan per 0.5 kg).”

At the time, the market price for watermelons was two mao five per jin (0.25 yuan per 0.5 kg). If Feng Yanwen wanted to run a business, she’d definitely need to leave herself some profit.

Of course, a bulk purchase usually meant buying ten or eight at a time, and Feng Yanwen didn’t need that many. Still, she expressed her thanks.

The two of them decided to take four watermelons. Feng Yanwen carried one in her arms, and they also brought along a woven basket, which could hold the other three.

Zhang Guifen helped them pick out four large watermelons. After weighing them, they came out to a little over eighty jin (40 kg). They counted it as eighty jin. Carrying the watermelons, the mother and daughter headed back. The whole way, they were extra careful, afraid of bumping or damaging the fruit. They brought the watermelons to the train station first, where Feng Yanwen stayed to watch over them while Xu Meng went back home to get their tools.

This time, Xu Meng was much better prepared than the day before. She brought an old, worn-out bucket to hold watermelon rinds—since trash couldn’t be thrown around carelessly. She also brought a clean bucket filled with fresh water, in case anyone wanted to wash their hands after eating. Along with those, she carried a watermelon knife, a thermos, and a towel.

By the time she got back to the train station, it was already getting hot.

Feng Yanwen opened the thermos and took a few sips of water, then sat beside Xu Meng. Neither of them had ever done business before, and calling out to customers in front of so many people was something Feng Yanwen still felt shy about.

Today wasn’t the same as yesterday. Yesterday, that young girl’s mother had approached them first, and Xu Meng simply went along with it to make the sale. But today was the start of a new day—they had to actively call out to sell. Still, Xu Meng had done things like this in her previous life.

Still, the spot where the two women were sitting was shaded, and there was a steady flow of foot traffic. With a few large watermelons displayed in front of them, they naturally drew quite a bit of attention.

Xu Meng took a deep breath and began calling out loudly, “Watermelons for sale! Freshly cut watermelon slices, only five mao (0.5 yuan) each. In this heat, nothing beats a slice of watermelon—refreshing and thirst-quenching. Uncle, would you like to buy a slice? Auntie, it’s so hot, have a piece of watermelon!”

She had good looks to begin with, which gave her an edge right away.

Her way with words had been trained in the alleyways, where she greeted everyone—Grandpas, Grandmas, Uncles, Aunties—on a daily basis. She wasn’t the least bit embarrassed addressing strangers. Once she got going, she realized it wasn’t such a big deal after all. Just treat these unfamiliar faces like the neighbors from the alley. Bit by bit, she started to loosen up.

Before long, someone noticed her.

And to be honest, the area around the train station really was a mix of all kinds. There were migrant workers coming to the city, tourists visiting the capital, rich and poor, men and women—people from all walks of life. As long as you were thick-skinned enough, you could do a fair amount of business in a single day.

The locals aside, it was the out-of-town tourists who first noticed this novel way of selling watermelon.

In this era, anyone who could afford to travel to the capital wasn’t exactly penniless or fleeing hardship. No one skimps on themselves when visiting a new place. Some of these tourists had spent days on the train before finally arriving in the capital. On the train, they’d been short on water and hungry—by the time they got here, the first thing on their minds was one thing.

Food.

Have a bite first, get comfortable, then worry about everything else.

Xu Meng and Feng Yanwen happened to be in just the right spot—where the most tourists disembarked. A few watermelons laid out might not attract much attention, but someone actually selling slices? That was a rare sight. And once people inquired and learned that the watermelon was being sold by the slice, it got even more interesting.

People back then loved to join a lively scene. A man dressed like a minor official came over and asked, “Selling it by the slice, huh? You really know how to run a business. There are three of us in my family—cut us one slice each. Oh, and where do we throw the trash? I’m from out of town, and I heard if you litter around here, those folks with red armbands will catch you and issue a fine.”

Xu Meng quickly cut three slices, just like she did the day before. She left one end of each slice uncut for people to hold—this made it easier to bite into, and also made it easier to dispose of the rind. Once the customers finished eating, she tossed the leftover rinds into the small bucket she had prepared.

“That’s right. They’re strict about sanitation nowadays. If the folks from the neighborhood office see it, they’ll give you a talking-to. Some cases even come with fines. Once you’re done, just toss the rind into the little bucket. I’ll take care of it.”

The man thanked Xu Meng. Seeing how she not only cut the slices but also handled the trash, he thought her setup was quite clean and hygienic. So he stood in the shade to eat his watermelon and, while eating, asked her where the good places to visit and eat were. Xu Meng answered everything without holding back.

After all, she had grown up in this area and knew the place like the back of her hand. Their conversation ended up drawing even more tourists, who gathered around to listen.

Gradually, more visitors became willing to buy a slice to try. A single watermelon only yielded a few slices, and before long, the first one was sold out. Then she started cutting into the second.

But in the end, more people were just there to watch the commotion, and business started to slow down.

Xu Meng eventually found herself surrounded by a crowd—some asking for directions, others just spectating. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Just as she was explaining a route to someone, a family suddenly pushed their way back through the crowd. Xu Meng saw that it was the same family of three who had bought the first slices of watermelon. She couldn’t quite understand what was going on.

Feng Yanwen was even more startled, worried that something might have gone wrong with the watermelon and they were coming back to cause trouble.

But the watermelons were freshly picked, just brought over that morning—they hadn’t even sat overnight.

The woman beside the man was straightforward and cheerful. She smiled and said, “Is that all the watermelon you have?”

There was a whole group of people behind the woman.

It was clear at a glance that this was a company-organized tour. Some of the employees had brought their entire families along. Earlier, after eating watermelon and getting directions, they had gone back and told their coworkers about the kind and helpful young woman. Everyone agreed they wanted something refreshing before heading off again.

Seeing such a large group, Xu Meng’s heart lit up with joy—she realized she had run into a company tour group.

“There’s plenty, plenty. I’ve still got more watermelons back here. No problem at all, even if more people come,” she said.

“Then don’t cut the slices too small. They need to be the same size as before,” the man in the cadre’s uniform added.

“I’d never shortchange you, don’t worry,” Xu Meng said. “I’ll cut each one the same as before. If it’s not enough or you’re not satisfied, I’ll give you extra to make up for it. How’s that sound?”

“Alright then, there are thirty-four of us. Just cut thirty-four slices, and I’ll collect the money for you.”

Having someone collect the money was perfect. Xu Meng focused on cutting the watermelon, while Feng Yanwen helped on the side. The two of them worked quickly. The group had just gotten off the train, tired and thirsty, and worried they’d have to wait a long time. But seeing how swift and efficient Xu Meng was, they happily paid and grabbed their slices to eat while standing nearby.

After they finished, Xu Meng reminded them to wash their hands with the clean water and dispose of the rinds in the trash bucket.

With more people around, sales sped up even more. Feng Yanwen was counting the money until she felt dizzy.

She didn’t even need to do the math—she could already tell this business was definitely profitable.

And the watermelons sold out quickly, too. In less than two hours, all four were gone.

Xu Meng looked up at the sky. “Mom, I’m going to look for Aunt Zhang. You take care of the watermelon rinds, and bring back some clean water while you’re at it.”

Feng Yanwen replied, “Got it.”

So Xu Meng slung the basket onto her back and hurried off toward the market.

———

At that moment, a motorcycle was slowly making its way along the roadside.

The young man riding the motorcycle had a strikingly handsome face, with sharply defined features. His almond-shaped eyes tilted slightly upward, giving him a hint of impatience. “So slow. Why are there so many people around here now?”

In the sidecar sat a girl around seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a white sun hat. Even with the hat, her face had turned red from the sun. Bored from the traffic, she was casually looking at the roadside when she suddenly spotted Xu Meng, who was walking with a basket on her back.

“I think I just saw someone I know. Drive a little closer over there,” the girl said.

“I can’t,” the young man replied, his face full of impatience. “Just look at how many people are packed over here.”

The girl tugged on his arm and shook it hard. “Look, look, isn’t that Xu Meng walking by the roadside?”

Afraid he might not remember, she quickly added, “Xu Meng, you know, she used to come to our house all the time when we were kids. You even took her out ice skating once, remember?”

“Did I?” The young man’s voice still lacked any real energy. He thought for a moment, and a vague figure surfaced in his mind. “Can’t recall.”

Relying on just her legs to move through the crowd, Xu Meng quickly disappeared from view before the two of them.

The girl rested her chin on her hand and let out a sigh, muttering to herself, “Typical you. I told you to drive faster. I wanted to say a few words to Xu Meng. She’s gotten so pretty now—no, she’s always been pretty. I haven’t seen her in years. This is all your fault. If you’d just gone faster, I would’ve caught a glimpse of her. She really is beautiful, I’m not making it up.”

The young man clearly scoffed at her idea of “beautiful.”

Knowing Han Lingling’s taste, she could go on and on about just about anyone. The motorcycle turned a corner and headed down another road.