With no need to go to work or prepare breakfast for the kids, Bonnie is now on a complete vacation.
When I woke up, the sun had already been working for half the day.
"Father, Mother, where are Grandpa and Grandma?"
"They went to the vegetable garden in the back, saying they'd check on the lotus roots they planted later?"
Bonnie's mother had already prepared the meal. She had thoroughly familiarized herself with the kitchen yesterday, and this morning she tidied it up again according to her own habits, since Bonnie couldn't cook anyway.
"Then I'll go take a look."
Bonnie also went to the vegetable garden, where her grandparents were pruning the tomatoes and removing the bottom leaves from the eggplants.
"Grandpa, how are my vegetables growing?"
"Hmm, not bad, you haven't disgraced the farmers."
The grandfather looked very proud; his eldest granddaughter was truly remarkable.
"Come on, let's go see the lotus roots I planted, and I even raised fish there."
Bonnie helped her grandmother, while her grandfather followed slowly behind them.
Bonnie pushed open the small door and walked along the path towards the pond. Many unidentified flowers and plants had grown on both sides of the path.
"Bonnie, what kinds of flowers and plants are these?"
"Grandma, I don't know either. When I came back last year, there were tall weeds everywhere, so I cut them all down. This one sprouted on its own this year. It doesn't flower, so I really don't recognize it."
Bonnie doesn't know many flowers. She recognizes common ones like roses, lilies, and carnations, but she can't really distinguish the others.
"These lotus roots look great, what variety are they?"
"I don't know, someone gave me some, so I just planted it. I didn't expect the germination rate to be so good."
Bonnie was afraid the plants wouldn't survive and didn't have much hope.
Grandpa walked around the pond, and every now and then small fish would leap out of the water.
"Grandpa, let's go back for dinner, I'm hungry."
"Let's go back and eat."
Grandpa slowly walked back, following behind Bonnie and Grandma.
"Mom, let's make some pancakes for dinner tonight. It's been so long since I've had your pancakes."
"Okay, do you have any tools?"
"Yes, I specifically went looking for it before."
What Bonnie saw at the recycling station must have come from her fellow villagers in Shandong Province; it was very authentic.
After finishing her meal, Bonnie took out the griddle for making pancakes, washed and dried it.
"This griddle is indeed quite good; it's thick and heavy, and it's been around for a while."
Grandpa took a look around and gave it a very high rating.
Bonnie led her mother to stroll around the small market here. It was run by small vendors and wasn't as big as the one near the military compound, nor did it have a complete selection of goods.
"Mom, the market here doesn't require tickets. After I start working, you can just come here to buy whatever you need."
"Now it's not called speculation anymore, and ordinary people can start their own small businesses, so life is better."
Bao Ni's mother whispered to her daughter about the lingering effects of those years; she would never speak loudly in public, afraid that others would hear her.
"Things will get better and better in the future. You should take care of yourselves and stay healthy so that you can witness the prosperity of our country."
"Yes, let's live well. We've suffered so much in this life, and now that we're about to taste the sweetness, we should live a few more years!"
Your dad also said that our task from now on is to take good care of ourselves and Grandpa and Grandma's health, and we won't worry about anything else.
You brothers and sisters have all grown up, started your own families and careers, and are living your own lives. We don't need to worry about you.
Once Lin Bo and his wife graduate and the kids come to pick them up, my mission will be completely accomplished. Your dad said he'll take me to see different places sometime in the future.”
Bao Ni's mother looked on with longing, and a rare shyness appeared on her face.
"Yes, that's the right way to think. The world is so big, go out and see it!"
Bonnie thinks her father is open-minded; he can't spend his whole life serving his children and grandchildren. In the end, his children and grandchildren might not even be as good as him.
If there are many sons, the daughters-in-law will feel that the elderly are biased, even if they treat everyone equally.
"What kind of world is this? I'd be content just to travel around within China."
Bao Ni's mother was overjoyed, feeling that life was wonderful! The two chatted and laughed, buying some fresh vegetables they didn't have at home. They ate pancakes for dinner, and also bought some pork belly to make meat sauce.
Bonnie bought some fresh pork bones to make soup.
As they strolled around, the mother and daughter unknowingly bought quite a lot, filling their baskets to the brim.
"Alright, why did you buy so much?"
Bao Ni's mother felt like she was dreaming these past two days. She ate two chickens in one meal, with both bones and meat. She had never eaten like this during Chinese New Year before!
"Mom, everything we buy is usable. Nothing that goes into our stomachs is a waste. Being able to eat is a blessing."
Bonnie's spending habits haven't changed. Although she's not as extravagant as she was in her previous life, she's not stingy either, to the point that her two younger siblings are also willing to spend money.
"Oh, you don't have money to buy it?"
Bonnie's dad was also startled when Bonnie came in carrying a large basket of things.
"Don't worry, I won't eat your daughter out of house and home."
Bonnie smiled happily, and her father didn't say much. He wouldn't interfere and teach his child how to do things. She's so grown up now, so he let go completely.
"Grandpa, today is Friday. Let's go watch the flag-raising ceremony the day after tomorrow. The children will have the day off that day too."
"Okay, no rush. Your grandma and I will rest too. Our old arms and legs are getting old, so we need to be careful."
Grandma went to the vegetable garden again. It's her habit to not just lie around in the house when she's at home; she likes to wander around in the vegetable garden.
Bonnie thinks it's great; she's nimble-fed, and moving around more is good for her—life is about movement.
I'll take another day off today, and tomorrow I'll take a stroll around the compound and familiarize myself with the area.
In the evening, Bao Ni greeted Teacher Zhai and invited her to eat authentic Shandong pancakes.
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