"The chain on our bicycle broke, and I haven't had time to fix it, so it's just been sitting there!"

Lin Cuihua glanced at the old-fashioned bicycle and felt a headache coming on!

This is the only means of transportation in the house; it's time to take it to the street and get it repaired.

"Oh, no wonder!"

"Mom, what are we having for dinner today?"

Lin Xue followed Lin Cuihua into the house and watched her put away the things she had bought.

"Make some fish soup, and stir-fry some pork liver!"

What would you like to eat?

"Noodles, dumpling soup, or wontons?"

Lin Cuihua put the vegetables away, then took out a ceramic basin, ready to go out and catch fish.

"I want to eat rice, which is perfect because I can soak it in fish soup!"

Lin Xue followed Lin Cuihua around in circles, doing nothing but watching with her hands in her pockets.

"Okay, I'll make fish soup for lunch anyway, so I should be able to swallow it if I soak it in the soup!"

Lin Cuihua's words made Lin Xue realize what was going on.

No wonder they don't steam rice at home; it turns out the original owner had difficulty swallowing.

"Ding ding~ Ding ding!"

"Ding ding, ding ding!"

While the two were busy preparing lunch in the kitchen, they heard a clanging sound coming from the road outside the yard.

"Dingding candy, jingle bells!"

With the clanging sound, there were also shouts from behind.

"Want some?"

"Go into the rice bag, scoop out a bowl of rice, and exchange it with the candy seller for a piece of candy!"

In those days, there were still many people selling general merchandise, going from village to village and hawking their wares.

The person outside is selling Dingding candy, also known as "knocking candy".

Dingdingtang is maltose, also known as Guandong candy used by Beijingers for the Kitchen God Festival.

Make a large sugar cake with a diameter of more than a foot and a thickness of about an inch, and place it on a square wooden plate.

When someone offered to buy it, the candy vendor would wedge a blade-shaped piece of iron into the edge of the candy, and then strike the iron with a small hammer, and with a clang, a piece of candy would crack off.

That's why it's called "Dingding Candy"!

Although Dingding candy originated in Beijing, it is sold by candy vendors all over the country.

In rural areas, people are reluctant to spend money to buy things, so they will exchange their grain for them.

Whether it's rice or corn, you can exchange it for varying amounts of Tintin candy.

You can also trade hair and collected fingernails for these items. I don't know why they collect these things, but the author's friend from the south told me about it.

Lin Xue obeyed Lin Cuihua's words, took a bowl, scooped a bowlful from the rice bag, and left the house with it.

The middle-aged man who sells candy lives at the corner not far from her house.

A number of women and children had already gathered around him.

Most of these people are buying it for their children, but they are worried that if the children come alone, they won't be able to get enough candy.

That's why I came out with them.

When Lin Xue went over, she attracted the attention of several older women.

"Xiaoxue, are you here to exchange for Dingding candy too?"

The old lady next door saw Xiaoxue and happily called her over to her side.

That means this girl is under my protection, and if you dare to give her less, I'll wreck your stall.

The candy vendor chuckled as he took the rice from Lin Xue's bowl and gave her a rather large piece of candy.

Compared to the corn that some people scooped up, the Dingding candy she got in exchange for rice was noticeably larger.

"Thank you, uncle!"

When she took the bowl back, there was already a large piece of sugar inside, as wide as two of her fingers put together.

"Hey, what a polite little girl!"

Hearing Lin Xue thank him, the uncle, in a good mood, picked up a piece of candy about the size of his little finger and put it into her bowl.

This can be considered a reward.

"Uncle, you're such a kind person!"

"Your candy will probably sell out soon; all the kids in our village love your candy!"

Lin Xue spoke with a smile, which made the candy-selling uncle laugh heartily.

"Auntie, you replaced all these for your younger brothers, didn't you? You really love our brothers!"

Li Xue reached out and touched the little boy who was hugging his grandmother's leg.

He reached into the bowl, took out the piece of candy the uncle had given him, and handed it to the little boy.

In those days, families had many children, so exchanging such a small amount was definitely not enough to eat.

That means each person gets a tiny piece, about the size of a fingernail, to lick their lips.

Lin Xue doesn't need this treat; all she wants now is to get along well with the villagers so that she can call on them for help if anything happens at home in the future.

"Oh dear, why are you giving it to him!"

"We replaced our own!"

The old lady was touched by Lin Xue's actions, but felt embarrassed to let her grandson accept the money.

"Take this! If you eat my candy, you have to come play with me next time!"

Lin Xue stuffed the candy into the little boy's hand. The little boy, who was initially hesitant to take it because of his grandmother's serious expression, turned around and found that the candy was already in his hand.

He looked at the candy in his hand with some confusion, then at Lin Xue, and finally turned his gaze to his grandmother.

"Since your older sister dotes on you, you should take it!"

"Xiaoxue, is your dinner almost ready?"

"There are too many people here, hurry home and eat!"

The old lady was also worried that with so many people coming and going, the little girl might get bumped into, since the children in the village are used to being wild.

He walks with a wild, unruly gait, which might not bother others, but the person in front of him is not in good health.

It's best to let her go back early; she can already smell the aroma of food wafting from the Lin family's house.

"Then I'll head back now, Auntie. Come visit me sometime!"

Lin Xue knew the other party meant well, so after chatting for a few more minutes, she took the bowl of sugar home.

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