Lin Xiaohe didn’t quite know what to say—her mind was stuck on even the dog won’t eat it!!
Was life really this good over here?! Back home, any meat at all would have people fighting over it!
Even a hint of meat flavor was saved for holidays and guests—you’d never get it on an ordinary day.
Wasn’t it a good thing that chickens grew fast? Think of how much meat you could eat in a year!
She didn’t understand, but she respected it—and hey, more money for them!
She agreed without hesitation. “Sure thing! I’ll ask around when I get home, and if there are any, I’ll bring them for you!”
Before she’d even finished speaking, a few people nearby chimed in.
“Don’t just save them for her—we want some too!”
“Exactly! Little girl, we trust your goods. Count us in for local chickens and eggs too!”
“Alright, alright—but let me be clear, I don’t know how many there’ll be. Aside from what I save for this customer, the rest will be first come, first served.”
Lin Xiaohe quickly tried to calm everyone down—if she didn’t, they might tear her stall apart.
After all, this customer had been loyal and patient, so she deserved a little extra consideration.
It turned out chickens and eggs were hugely popular over here. She wondered if Aunt Chen Fang wanted some too—she’d ask later.
After selling the last bits of stock and collecting a thick wad of crumpled cash, the sisters’ faces were practically splitting with smiles.
“Sis, what should we buy now?” Xiaogu was bouncing with excitement.
“First, let’s go to the supermarket and get two jin of lard—Aunt Xiang still has to help us make clothes. Then we’ll buy some salt and white flour, and head home. I’m craving some flour-based food today.”
“Yay!”
Xiaogu strutted ahead cheerfully. “Let’s hurry and buy it! Hehe, I want flatbread too.”
At the supermarket
Lin Xiaohe grabbed a basket as usual.
She didn’t even glance at the entry section—that was all snacks and treats, way too expensive for now.
“Sis, look how cheap these eggs are!”
Today, since someone had asked about buying eggs, Xiaogu was especially focused on egg prices.
A whole row of shelves was stacked with eggs. The cheapest were 15 yuan for 30, with various higher prices for fancier options.
“So cheap?” Lin Xiaohe frowned.
“Yeah—only 50 cents each. But people are willing to pay 2 yuan for our eggs. Why is that?”
Xiaogu couldn’t figure it out either. “These eggs look great—even bigger than the ones back home.”
“Let’s buy some and find out what the difference is!”
The eggs here were huge—one of them looked about the size of two back home!
Xiaogu licked her lips hungrily. “Hehe, how about we make egg drop dough drop soup for lunch?”
“Sure—let’s crack in a few extra eggs and add some meat.”
She bought 30 eggs and two jin of lard. She noticed fruit hard candies were especially cheap today—only 6 yuan per jin—so she bought a pound. The colorful wrappers were irresistible.
“Let’s check out and go home. We can grab salt at the shop across from Aunt Chen’s on the way.”
“Yay!”
“Uncle, we’re back!” Lin Xiaohe called out from the entrance of the grain and oil shop—it was empty inside.
An inviting aroma wafted from inside—someone was cooking.
Yuan Zhiqiang came out holding a spatula. “Xiaohe, finished selling already?”
“Yeah! Today someone asked if we had local chickens and eggs. They seem pretty popular, so I thought I’d ask if you and Auntie would want some too.”
“Oh, and we got a few jars of honey—would you like some, Uncle?”
“Yes, yes!! I’ll take them all! That would be great—I’ve been wanting some!”
He hadn’t even thought to ask before—such good stuff, how could he refuse?!
“Bring an extra share for my sister-in-law next door too. She’s not open today—went to some newly opened farmhouse restaurant with your Aunt Fang. They’re having fun together.”
He would’ve gone too if he hadn’t had big customers coming to pick up goods today—what a shame.
“Alright! We’ll bring them over tomorrow.”
“Great, great—I’ve got to go, my stew’s still on the stove—don’t want it to burn!”
With that, he dashed back to the kitchen. Perfect timing—the sauce had reduced to just the right thickness, and the food was fine.
The sisters exchanged helpless glances, picked up their things, and headed home. Uncle Yuan was always in such a rush.
“Shoot—we forgot to get that soap for Sister Wu Zhiqing today.”
The moment they got home, Lin Xiaohe remembered.
When she needed to remember, it completely slipped her mind—and as soon as she didn’t need to, it came rushing back…
“It’s okay—we’re going back tomorrow, aren’t we?” Xiaogu didn’t think it was a big deal.
“True. Go gather some firewood—we’re running low. Just pick up some small branches.
I’ll come find you, and we’ll bring it back together. I need to go see Aunt Xiang first.”
In broad daylight, if she carried the fabric over, half the village—even the dogs—would know by noon.
She’d first talk it over with Aunt Xiang, then wait until dark to move the stuff over bit by bit, not all at once.
“Okay! I’ll go to the little grove on the east side and pick up some branches for burning.”
Xiaogu agreed readily, put down her things, pocketed two pieces of candy, and ran off.
Lin Xiaohe also stuffed a few fruit candies in her pocket and headed over to Auntie’s place.
“Xiaohe! Come in, come in!” Wu Xiang saw her and warmly invited her inside.
“Auntie, I came to ask for a favor. We got some fabric and want to make winter clothes before it gets cold.
But as you know, no one at our house can sew. I was hoping you could help—and I won’t let you work for nothing.
I’ll bring you a jin of lard and half a jin of sugar. What do you think? If that works, I’ll bring the stuff over after dark.”
“What are you saying, child? There’s no farming to do this half of the year anyway. I’ve got nothing but time—helping you a bit doesn’t cost me anything. There’s no need for you to bring things.”
Wu Xiang pretended to be upset—the kid was being too polite!
“Auntie, one thing at a time. We’ve got a lot of clothes to make—I can’t have you working for free. It’s settled. When you have time to help us, I’ll bring the lard over.”
Lin Xiaohe wouldn’t take no for an answer. “I’ll head home now—I still need to make lunch.”
“This kid—always so polite!”
“Hehe, it’s not being polite—it’s just the right thing to do.”
Auntie’s family didn’t owe them anything. She couldn’t keep asking for free help.
She’d come and gone in a flash.
Lin Deshan came out with a cup of water—by then, she was already gone.
“Why’d she leave so fast? I was going to offer her some water.”
“Oh, that kid was afraid we’d argue with her, so she bolted. She said she got some fabric and cotton and wanted me to sew some winter clothes. With our relationship, of course I’ll help—no question about it.”
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