Chapter 205 You guys have a lively, homey atmosphere here, I like it.
In the car, Gu Yin looked at Chu Yan: "Are you going to participate in any performances for the school anniversary celebration?"
Chu Yan shook his head: "I won't participate, but I need to go with the venue, and I have to stay by the principal's side all day for the school anniversary celebration, to be a lucky charm."
The principal and my maternal grandfather had a very good relationship. He had watched my mother grow up since she was a child and knew his own identity. Therefore, he participated in all the procedures of this school anniversary celebration and had to accompany the guests!
Gu Yin asked in surprise, "Then aren't you very tired?"
Chu Yan sighed, "It's alright, things will get better after this period. How are you all doing with your dancing?"
Gu Yin noticed the dark circles under his eyes and figured he must have stayed up late again last night.
"You've learned enough. There's still some time before you get home. You should take a nap first, otherwise you might not have time to rest when you get home. My brother and the others will definitely take you out to play then."
Chu Yan had indeed stayed up all night and only managed to doze off for a while around 6 a.m., so he wasn't in very good spirits. It would be impolite to visit someone's house looking like that, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll take a nap first. If you're sleepy, you can close your eyes and rest too."
After Chu Yan fell asleep, Gu Yin also closed her eyes and then entered the space to study.
She didn't get out of the car until she heard some movement inside.
"Miss Gu, we've arrived in the county. How do we get there from here?"
The driver's voice came from the front. Gu Yin glanced at Chu Yan and, seeing that he showed no signs of waking up, she got up slightly and leaned forward, whispering, "At the intersection ahead, just go straight ahead. It will take about half an hour. I'll remind you when we get there."
Chu Yan wasn't actually in a deep sleep. He woke up when the driver spoke, and when he saw Gu Yin talking quietly, he closed his eyes again.
The small space was filled with a faint fragrance, somewhat like the late spring chill in Beijing, the thin mist, and the heavy snow outside the window—comfortable, clean, and not cloying, like a spotless, cool feeling.
Chu Yan fell asleep while pondering what perfume Gu Yin should use.
After speaking with the driver, Gu Yin sat back down and didn't enter the space again, since it wouldn't be good to miss her seat.
Half an hour later, the dilapidated sign for Wanli Town appeared faintly in the woods by the roadside. Gu Yin reminded him, "Uncle, just stop at the entrance up ahead."
The car slowly came to a stop. Gu Yin looked at Chu Yan and shook his arm. "Chu Yan, wake up, we're here."
When Chu Yan opened his eyes, he didn't immediately realize where he was. He only came to his senses after seeing Gu Yin: "We're here?" After saying that, he put his hat on and rubbed his temples. He hadn't slept for the first half of the journey, but he had fallen into a deep sleep for the second half. After such a nap, he was wide awake.
Gu Yin nodded: "We've arrived." Then she opened the car door and got out.
"Uncle, let's go eat something on the street before going back!" We left early in the morning, and it's just around nine o'clock now. The breakfast stalls on the street have already opened.
The driver waved his hand: "No need, no need, I've already eaten this morning. I can have lunch when we get back to the city. You guys go back!" He then looked at Chu Yan next to him.
"Young Master, I'll head back now. Call me when you're back and I'll come pick you up!"
Chu Yan nodded: "Drive slowly on the road, and be careful."
After the car left, Gu Yin led Chu Yan into the street.
“My family used to have a two-dollar store in town. During the summer vacation, my family opened a new store in the city, so we transferred this store to a family in our village. The boy in that family was my brother’s friend, and the girl was my friend. My brother and his friends rode their bicycles over and waited for us there. They asked, ‘Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something on the street before going back?’”
It was still early, and Chu Yan wasn't hungry, so he shook his head and said, "No need, let's go find them directly." Then, seeing that the sunlight was quite hot and glaring, he put his hat on Gu Yin's head without thinking.
Gu Yin looked at him in confusion: "What are you doing?"
"I'm wearing this to block the sun, I'm off." He then walked ahead.
Gu Yin straightened her hat and called out helplessly, "This way!"
Chu Yan, who had only taken a few steps, turned back and walked to Gu Yin's side without moving.
Gu Yin shook her head and took the lead.
Chu Yan touched his nose and followed behind.
As you walk into the center of the street, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares rise and fall, growing louder as you approach.
"Today is market day, so there are a lot of people. Have you never seen a place like this before?" Gu Yin introduced to Chu Yan as they walked.
Chu Yan found it quite novel, watching an aunt next to her buy chili peppers, where she could not only select the peppers but also get a discount.
He laughed and said, "I've never seen anything like it. Places like yours have a more lively atmosphere, and you can bargain and choose what you want. Supermarkets and shopping malls have fixed prices, which is not very interesting."
"Is that a termite mushroom?" Chu Yan saw an old man setting up a stall by the roadside. A burlap sack was spread on the ground, with a small basket of termite mushrooms on it. There were other kinds of mushrooms next to it, which he didn't recognize.
Gu Yin turned around and pulled him over: "Grandpa, how much are the termite mushrooms and milk cap mushrooms?"
People around stopped to watch as the two young men asked about the price.
Before the old man selling mushrooms could reply, the onlookers spoke up.
"This stuff is very expensive, more expensive than meat!"
"Don't buy this for little kids, or your mom will beat you when you get home!"
"It's been raining on and off these past few days, and the temperature has been rising. Mushrooms are sprouting up in the mountains, so they shouldn't be too expensive!"
"There are plenty, but they're all worthless. These termite mushrooms are hard to find; I've been up in the mountains for days and haven't found a single one! This one, old man, is good; it's just sprouted and hasn't even flowered yet, so it's not old. We can make soup with chicken or stir-fry it; it'll be delicious!"
"If you're so good at this, why don't you buy it?"
"Even if this stuff tastes good, can it compare to meat? I'd rather spend this money on meat!"
"That's true!"
Seeing everyone's comments, the old man was a little worried that Gu Yin wouldn't buy it. This stuff is delicious, but it's a bit expensive. He'd been sitting here for an hour, and many people had asked about the price, but no one wanted to buy it. Once the sun was high at noon, the mushrooms would wilt, and then even fewer people would want them!
"Little girl, do you want some? These are ten yuan a pound, just picked from the mountain this morning! They're so fresh!" The old man said, looking at Gu Yin with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
The current price of meat is 7 yuan per jin (500g). This 10 yuan per jin price is indeed a deterrent for many people. After all, this is not the future. Many people pursue pollution-free and green food. Now, people are pursuing being able to eat their fill, preferably with meat!
The old man's trouser legs were still wet, covered in mud and weeds, and his canvas shoes were also covered in mud. The marks on the soles showed that he had wiped them on the grass.
"Yes, I'll take both of these! Is this beehive over there yours?" Gu Yin had already seen the beehive over there; thick, golden honey was flowing inside, and you could smell its sweet aroma even while standing there.
As the old man packed the mushrooms into a bag for Gu Yin, he said, "They weren't farmed; we found them in the mountains. We were lucky to find three nests! We kept one for ourselves, and we're selling these two!"
Everything at the market was available for tasting. Seeing that Gu Yin was interested, the old man cut two small pieces and gave them to Gu Yin and Chu Yan as a thank you for buying things there: "Try it, it's sweet, and this stuff is good for your health!"
Chu Yan took one first, and Gu Yin, seeing that his expression was normal and that he showed no impatience or disgust, smiled and took the other one.
"It's delicious. I'll buy it all, no matter how much it costs." Chu Yan tasted a piece, and it was indeed very good, similar to what he ate at home. It seemed that the old man hadn't lied.
Seeing that Chu Yan wanted it, Gu Yin didn't say anything.
The old man paused for a moment: "There are three jin here, but it costs 150! You can't let the little one waste money!"
Chu Yan shook his head: "Please pack them up for me, I'll take them all." He then took out his wallet.
Seeing that he wasn't playing a trick on him, the old man nodded happily, "Okay, okay, I'll install it for you right away! Right away! Just wait a minute!"
Seeing this, someone nearby laughed and said, "What are you pretending for! Just give him that big bottle back! It's not worth much!"
The old man then realized what was happening and handed the large glass bottle to Chu Yan: "Just take it! Make sure it's tightly closed and put it in a cool, shady place at home!"
Chu Yan nodded: "How much would it cost, including the termite mushroom and the milk mushroom?"
"The mushrooms are 35 yuan, and the honeycomb is 150 yuan! That's 185 yuan in total!" With a daily income of 185 yuan, the old man's smile never faded!
Chu Yan handed him two hundred yuan: "With the remaining 15 yuan, you can weigh out some other mushrooms for me."
Seeing him like this, Gu Yin smiled but didn't say anything. The kindness and soft-heartedness unique to young people are especially precious and charming in this turbulent environment!
After buying their items, the two did not linger. Amid the old man's gratitude, they walked towards the small shop.
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