Chapter 25: Can’t Understand What Others Are Saying

Luo Qiao nodded in agreement and replied, “Yes, it’s not that everything is lacking. I sold some herbs and bought some daily necessities.”

Zhao Xiaomei asked, “What did you buy? Let your second sister take a look.”

After saying that, she couldn’t wait and hurried into the house. When she saw the Liberation shoes on the kang and the enamel basin on the ground, her eyes lit up.

“Oh, newly bought Liberation shoes?”

Zhao Xiaomei picked them up and felt them for a while, saying, “Luo Qiao, our feet are almost the same size. Can you lend these shoes to me for a few days?”

Luo Qiao replied with a half-smile, “I haven’t worn these shoes yet. Besides, our shoe sizes are different. I wear size 36, and you can’t fit into them.”

Zhao Xiaomei looked at them for a while, not sure what she was thinking. “It’s okay, I wear size 37. I have slim feet, so I’m sure I can fit into them.”

She acted as if she couldn’t understand what others were saying, lost in her own world.

Looking again at the enamel basin on the ground, she said, “This enamel basin looks really nice. Luo Qiao, can we share using it? I really love the color of this basin.”

When buying them at the supply and marketing cooperative, there were only two types available: one was a large red design for weddings with a double happiness pattern, and the other was this blue basin with two fish patterns on the bottom. Luo Qiao had to choose the blue one.

Feeling speechless towards such shameless people, Luo Qiao said, “These things are all personal belongings. It’s not appropriate to share them around.”

Just then, footsteps approached the yard again. It was Zhao Xiaotao coming in, and Luo Qiao thought there was someone else assisting them.

Without waiting for Luo Qiao’s agreement, Zhao Xiaomei left the yard with her things in hand, saying, “Sis, why did you come over?”

Zhao Xiaotao said, “Mom sent me to ask if Luo Qiao needs vegetable seeds.”

Luo Qiao snorted inwardly. Zhao Xiaotao was indeed clever; this reason sounded more plausible compared to Zhao Xiaomei’s.

Luo Qiao didn’t want to waste more time chatting with them. “I don’t need seeds. Auntie Qiao from the captain’s family has already helped me find them. If there’s nothing else, you should go back first. I need to go out and dig some wild vegetables.”

Now Zhao Xiaotao’s eyes were fixed tightly on what her younger sister was holding. Zhao Xiaomei didn’t fail to notice her sister’s gaze, but these things were brought out by herself. She couldn’t let her older sister take advantage of her.

Zhao Xiaomei’s eyes darted around and she said, “Alright, we won’t disturb you then. Just let me borrow these things for now. I’ll return them to you later.”

Luo Qiao, aware that the people from the hillside were approaching, raised her voice and said, “Second sister Zhao, that’s not possible. When I came to the village, I didn’t bring much with me. These are the only shoes I have. So today, I went to town specifically to buy these new shoes because I’m not working.

How can I lend you something I haven’t even worn yet? We’re not close relatives or friends. Do you feel justified in taking things from an orphan like me?”

Zhao Xiaomei became anxious and replied, “Don’t be so stingy. I just want to borrow them to wear. I’ll return them to you. Look at how petty you are.”

Hearing that the people had already arrived at the gate, Luo Qiao raised her voice even more, “I’m not being petty. I bought these things after much difficulty with the money I earned from selling medicinal herbs. I didn’t even have clean clothes to change into when I went to buy them. I need to wear them for work tomorrow.

How can I lend them to you? Besides, the shoes are too small for you to wear, and I can’t lend you the basin either. I just arrived in the village and didn’t have anything. I’ve been borrowing a bowl from Auntie Qiao to wash my face these days. I had to grit my teeth to buy this basin. So it’s not that I’m being petty; these things are necessities. I really can’t lend them to you.”