The most important people involved in the incident had already left, and the crowd had lost their enthusiasm for discussing it and slowly dispersed.

Shi Yue looked at He Lixuan and said, "Shall we go?"

He Lixuan nodded, then handed over a bamboo tube that he had been holding.

"Hot water, just got it." He added, "I've already showered."

This is the one Shiyue gave him when he got on the mule cart; he took it directly to get water.

Shiyue took it and smiled, "It's nothing."

With that, he took the bamboo tube and walked ahead.

He was fine when he didn't remember it, but once he did, He Lixuan suddenly couldn't look at the bamboo tube directly.

A burning sensation ran through my heart, and my face began to flush again.

He Lixuan walked behind Shi Yue with his eyes down, and when she wasn't paying attention, he quickly punched himself!

He felt that there was probably something wrong with him, and he couldn't help but think about all sorts of things.

But Shiyue slowed down at this moment.

A mule cart was parked in front of them, and the driver was gripping the mule's bit with both hands, trying to control it.

It's obviously the car that was startled earlier.

Seeing them approach, the young man driving the carriage shouted loudly, "Shiyue, are you alright? Were you scared just now?"

Shiyue was taken aback.

She looked closely and realized that the person opposite her was a member of the Guangming Brigade next door.

The two had never crossed paths before, never exchanged a single word, and she didn't even know the other person's name.

She knew this man because he probably had relatives in the Qianjin brigade, and she had run into him a few times in the village before, so he looked somewhat familiar.

Shiyue didn't know why he knew her name.

But since they had already taken the initiative to greet her, she couldn't just stay silent.

So she raised her face, smiled at the person, and shook her head: "It's nothing."

Before the man could speak again, Shiyue pointed to the bus station in the distance and waved to him.

The man quickly waved to Shiyue and said, "If you need to catch the carriage, then hurry up and go."

Shi Yue and He Lixuan continued walking forward.

"Do you know that person?" He Lixuan couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I don't know her." Shiyue shook her head.

How can someone who doesn't know you take the initiative to say hello?

He Lixuan turned around and glanced at the man, only to find that the young man was still turning his head and looking in their direction.

When the two arrived at the bus station, there were already several people waiting, but the bus had not yet arrived.

Shiyue found a sheltered spot to stand, then opened the bamboo tube He Lixuan had given her and took a sip of water.

Seeing this, He Lixuan handed over another enamel mug.

Shiyue took it in surprise, opened it, and saw that there were two white steamed buns inside!

She was startled and quickly closed the lid again, asking in a low voice, "Where did you get this?"

Even state-run restaurants shouldn't be selling large white steamed buns at this time, right?

She had heard Sun Xiaohong boast about how her father had bought two steamed buns made from two different types of dough from a restaurant in the city, which was considered a very good thing!

"The commune canteen," He Lixuan said.

Shiyue's eyes widened suddenly: "How did you get to the commune canteen?"

He Lixuan smiled and said, "There are no restaurants around here, only the commune canteen is open, so I went in and bought two."

"You think they'll just sell to you just because you want to buy it?"

Shiyue shook her teacup: "You're selling the teacup along with the tea?"

He Lixuan pushed the teacup towards her again: "Isn't this obvious? If you're not going to sell it to me, what are you holding in your hand right now? Hurry up and eat, otherwise it won't be convenient to eat on the bus when it arrives."

He pursed his lips regretfully as he said this: "The porridge isn't ready yet, otherwise it would be best to buy some more porridge."

"You have such high standards." Shiyue was amused by him.

She handed the teacup back to her, saying, "You take it first."

He Lixuan took a step back: "You eat, I've already eaten."

"Who are you kidding?" Shiyue took out a steamed bun from inside and stuffed it into his hand: "Eat together if you want, otherwise I'll feel bad eating alone."

He Lixuan did not refuse this time.

The two of them went to a corner where they wouldn't be seen and quietly began eating their steamed buns.

When Shiyue took another steamed bun out of the teacup, she discovered that the bun had been broken open and had shredded pickled radish sandwiched in the middle.

The food served to the commune cadres was definitely different; the pickled radish shreds were even mixed with sesame oil!

It smells incredibly delicious!

Even though she had just drunk the noodle soup, she still ate with great relish.

Shiyue had no idea that He Lixuan had bought those two steamed buns at a high price.

It cost him a whole pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, plus a dollar.

No, two pieces!

The chef even charged him a dollar for that broken enamel mug; a brand new one would only cost 25 cents at the supply and marketing cooperative.

That's outrageous!

There was nothing we could do; it was too early, and the state-run restaurants weren't even open yet.

He Lixuan followed the light and found the commune canteen. At that time, the canteen had just finished cooking the food and it was not yet time to officially open for meals.

In order to get a bite to eat, He Lixuan gritted his teeth and pretended to be a relative of the head chef, and had someone bring him in.

Fortunately, the chef was a savvy man; although he overcharged him, he at least gave him some food.

And he wasn't a bad person; he even gave us white steamed buns!

He Lixuan glanced at Shiyue, who was standing next to him eating a steamed bun, and the annoyance of being blatantly extorted slowly faded away.

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