Nearing noon, despite Fourth Master Qiao's repeated invitations to stay for dinner, Zhou Jiao still refused. These days, if you shamelessly eat a bite, you're essentially owing a favor to someone important.

Why make yourself feel guilty?

What's more, if the cart piled high with oranges and dried fruits is not unloaded and compacted, it will be almost destroyed in less than half an hour even if they are carefully stacked in baskets.

The three-cart truck carried nearly 2,000 kilograms of goods, and it only cost Zhou Jiao more than 60 yuan. After Uncle Qiao from the Qiao family left, Zhou Jiao couldn't help but sigh that the prices were really cheap.

While everyone in the fields ran back to have lunch, a truck drove by, raising a cloud of dust. Zhou Jiao quickly packed up the goods under the tree and left.

After walking for about twenty minutes towards the city, Zhou Jiao started eating some dry food while taking out her bicycle. She passed several villages along the way and collected as much as she could.

In this case, the price was actually lower than what she had just paid at Fourth Master Qiao's place. Occasionally, she would trade the iron pot and brown sugar stored in her space for other things.

When they were near a village at the city gate, Zhou Jiao found a place to put the bicycle away and got on the bus carrying a large bag of fruit.

Arriving at the guesthouse, the aunt from last night had already finished her shift and gone back to rest. Zhou Jiao still felt a little regretful. She was so cute, even though she was a bit talkative, but she couldn't hide her concern for her.

It was almost evening, and Zhou Jiao knew that she couldn't delay any longer without Yi Jiefang urging her. She went back to her room to tidy up, only to remember that she had forgotten something important.

What was inside the large package Cheng Ruzhu had given her? She took a quick look at it, the bag still open and untied. In her busy schedule, she had neglected it.

Besides food, this young lady treated Zhou Jiao very well. She prepared all the little girl's needs, even two sets of autumn overalls and pants. She also had a stack of local bills and industrial coupons folded into a handkerchief, which she stuffed into one of her trouser pockets.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao could only repack her things, putting the conspicuous items in the storage space and leaving a small part in the open. If she guessed correctly, many classmates would be curious when she returned.

When Yi Jiefang went out, he saw the troublesome girl carrying a shoulder bag on her back, a big bag on her back, and another bag in one hand. She was so tired that her face was flushed, and she was moving towards him step by step, panting.

"Auntie, what's the matter with you?"

Seeing him take it, Zhou Jiao didn't hesitate. She was really exhausted. She underestimated her ability to bear it. Ever since she checked out and got on the bus, she felt deeply regretful when she was squeezed by the crowd.

What do you want to gain by doing this?

"Don't be so hasty to speak. Take a breath first." Yi Jiefang looked at her and shook his head. "You are too weak. Which woman is as weak as you?"

Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at him.

"Auntie left these for you? She's really something. She knew you were weak, so why didn't she just send them here and let you take them?"

Zhou Jiao glared at him. How could anyone talk like that? Someone gave it to you, and you despised it? It's better than having it right in front of your mouth?

"Don't be so busy staring at me, what's wrong with little auntie?"

Zhou Jiao winked at him and gestured to the students in front.

Yi Jiefang laughed heartily.

"That bag is full of fruit. I just bought it. Take it home and enjoy it slowly. Did the teacher mention me?"

Yi Jiefang shook the small bag in his hand and shook his head: "You should keep it and eat it slowly. If I take it out, it will be gone soon. The professor is in a hurry to deal with the work at hand and has no time to take care of you right now. But the counselor asked about it, so I took a leave and planned to come to see you."

When Zhou Jiao heard this, her eyes turned and she immediately waved to He Benshan and the others. As soon as they approached, she snatched the two bags from Yi Jiefang's hands at the door and threw them on the ground.

"Sister-in-law Xiaowu, where are you going now?"

"What is this? Food?"

Zhou Jiao pointed to one of the bags and said, "This is the fruit we bought at the morning market. Eat whatever you like, but remember to leave a few for the two of us."

"Zhou Xiaojiao, what do you want to do now?" Yi Jiefang felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Zhou Jiao smiled and said in a gentle voice, "I'm not going out starting tomorrow. My aunt gave me a lot of bills, and I plan to buy some to take back as gifts. Dayi, Auntie is waiting for you to bring back gifts, so don't tell me you've spent all your money."

"Who among you wants to buy a gift? Tell me now. If you miss this opportunity, you'll miss it forever. Once you've used up all your money, there's nothing you can do."

He Benshan and the others were so surprised when they heard this that they couldn't resist going. They had originally planned to go to the department store to look for things that didn't require receipts and buy some souvenirs.

"By the way, little fart, please bring us to our room first. We'll walk slowly and wait for you to come back."

"Why me again?"

"Hurry up. If more people know about it, we won't have such a good chance."

Yi Jiefang looked at the excited people and shook his head: "Buy less. What we have here is not available in Beijing. It's troublesome to bring it back."

Zhou Jiao knew He Benshan's family background. How could someone who could afford a watch be short of a few dollars? She took out some of the bills she had picked out and stuffed them into Yi Jiefang's hands.

"You can buy it yourself."

Yi Jiefang saw that they were all vest and shoe tickets, as well as some cake tickets and industrial coupons, and he said nothing more. These things might be rare for others, but they were not lacking in them.

He kept a few and handed the rest to them.

Seeing them discussing the division, He Benshan took the initiative to put his arm around Yi Jiefang's neck and walked forward: "Do you remember what I told you that day?"

Yi Jiefang heard him lower his voice and suddenly realized: "He's contacted? Tonight?"

"Well, let's go there tonight and bring some for Xiaowu as well."

"Okay, let Zhou Jiao cover for us later. Keep quiet. Has the teacher asked for leave?"

"I told you, my dad will ask him for leave."

Zhou Jiao saw them whispering to each other but didn't pay much attention. But when she found out that evening, she regretted it so much. If she had known that He Benshan's father, a sailor, was returning home, she would have gone to see him no matter what.

Those were sailors, a whole ship of sailors.

She wasn't interested in foreign goods, but she enjoyed the fun. As for the legendary sailor's life, it would be even better if she could hear stories about encounters with pirates.

Yi Jiefang came back with a big smile on his face. He secretly told Zhou Jiao that He Benshan's father was a retired navy major and a very open-minded person.

The two of them didn't expect that He Benshan was so secretive. He was a low-key person. If they hadn't seen him wearing foreign brand sports shoes, they really wouldn't have known his background.

"He is a smart person, we can interact with him."

Yi Jiefang nodded. "Just because his father is a soldier and we are both descendants of soldiers, it's worth associating with him."

Zhou Jiao looked at him with amusement. This was the sentiment of their circle. Never mind factions or anything like that; the key point was that they still identified with their own kind.