Chapter 286: Goodbye, We Are Strangers
In the spring, the orchard was opened to the public and the event was a great success.
Tourists had a great time and merchants made a lot of money.
So, after receiving the notice, the merchants immediately started preparing to move into the orchard.
Workers from major factories and citizens who received flyers were also looking forward to picking fruits.
Wei Dalong registered the list of merchants who were going to move in and said to Lu Mingfeng, "Mr. Lu, there are many more merchants moving in this time than last time."
Lu Mingfeng said, "With so many people, we need to strengthen management and not cause chaos."
"Don't worry, the patrol team organized by Dahu will patrol 24 hours a day and solve any problems immediately."
…
Guan Xiuhua was preparing things in the store. Fang Chuanshui came back and asked, “Xiuhua, why are you packing these cartons when you are so pregnant?”
Guan Xiuhua said happily, “Teacher Shen’s orchard is open to the public again. The last time I saw Chen Dachun, she said that she made a lot of money in the orchard in ten days.
I missed it that time, but I can’t miss it again this time. I have to go to the stall.”
Fang Chuanshui quickly stopped Guan Xiuhua and said, “My ancestor, you are going to give birth in another month. Why are you joining in all this excitement?”
Guan Xiuhua said, “You can make a lot of money!”
"Which is more important, money or people? The orchard is open to the public, and there are so many people. What if you are squeezed or bumped into? Brother Mingfeng will not let you go."
Xiaobai, a clerk who was helping in the store, said, "The boss lady has rented a stall, I will take good care of her."
Fang Chuanshui still refused.
This was the first time the couple had argued since they got married.
Guan Xiuhua felt wronged, but still asked Xiaobai to go to the orchard and return the stall.
In order to make up for his wife, Fang Chuanshui agreed to accompany her to the orchard to pick fruit.
Guan Huaxiu said angrily, "Aren't you afraid of being squeezed this time?"
Fang Chuanshui said, "I'll say hello to Brother Mingfeng and rush in before the orchard opens. There are fewer people inside, so you won't be squeezed, and I'll be with you."
Her husband was indeed thinking about himself. Guan Xiuhua was a very good-tempered person, so she didn't care.
...
The day before the orchard opened, the vendors had already set up their stalls.
This time, it was different from the spring opening.
If tourists pay 50 cents, they can eat as much fruit as they want, but the uneaten fruit they take out will be charged by kilogram.
Children under 1.2 meters tall do not have to pay, and each tourist is limited to one child.
The price of apples in the market is 47 cents per kilogram. Spending 50 cents, you can eat as much as you want, and children can eat for free.
This alone attracted many tourists.
Eat two apples, then go out and buy some cheap fruits to take home, it's a good deal.
The fruits in the Lu family orchard are better than those sold outside. While the tourists haven't come yet, the vendors also go to pick some fruits to take back.
Fang Chuanshui held Guan Xiuhua and Fang Xuedong's hands and came to a date tree.
They saw Shen Jiale was also there with the children.
Lu Yongfu knocked the dates on the tree with a bamboo pole, and the children picked them happily below.
Fang Xuedong immediately joined the ranks of picking dates.
He picked up a handful and gave it to Guan Xiuhua.
Guan Xiuhua took out a handkerchief to wipe it, took a bite: "It's so sweet!"
She wiped another one and put it to Fang Xuedong's mouth.
Fang Xuedong ate one: "This date is so sweet, let's pick more."
Shen Jiale gave him a cloth bag: "Don't rush to pick too many, other fruits are also delicious, pick some of each."
Shen Jiale led everyone to pick pomegranates.
"Dad, that pomegranate is so big, I want that one!" Fang Xuedong pointed at the pomegranates on the branches and shouted excitedly.
Zhao Meili, who was tidying up the stall, heard her son's voice and looked over here.
Seeing her husband, who once took good care of her, now picking fruits in the orchard with another woman, Zhao Meili felt mixed emotions. Seeing
Guan Xiuhua with a big belly, her son picked pomegranates and handed them to her, just like a family.
And she became an outsider.
Regret? If she
had to do it again, she would still choose to go back to the city.
I can only blame myself for my bad luck and not looking far enough.
...
Guan Xiuhua was infertile in the past, so she can only rely on Fang Xuedong in the future. The son's status in the Fang family is very stable.
Once Guan Xiuhua gives birth to a child, the son will not be the only child in the Fang family.
Zhao Meili herself has been a stepmother. Putting herself in her shoes, how could a stepmother love the previous child?
Moreover, Guan Xiuhua is about to have her own child.
Zhao Meili really hopes that Guan Xiuhua is still the infertile woman.
How great it would be if there was no such child.
With this thought in mind, Zhao Meili stared at Guan Xiuhua's belly.
The stall next to Zhao Meili sells bananas.
Zhao Meili went over to buy a handful of bananas, peeled the bananas and ate them, and then threw the banana peels away.
The banana seller hurried over and picked up the banana peels: "Boss Zhao, you can't throw banana peels around. If the patrol team sees you, you won't be allowed to come next year."
Zhao Meili said, "I'll be careful next time."
...
Fang Chuanshui took Guan Xiuhua and Fang Xuedong to another place to pick fruit. Zhao Meili couldn't see her son, and she felt very upset, so she followed them.
When Fang Chuanshui saw Zhao Meili coming, he said to Fang Xuedong: "Your mother is here, go talk to her, and come back soon."
When Fang Xuedong saw Zhao Meili, although he had a smile on his face, it was not the kind of excitement that came from not seeing his relatives for a long time.
When he came to Zhao Meili, Fang Xuedong asked: "Mom, are you here to pick fruit too?"
Zhao Meili said, "I'm selling clothes at a stall in the orchard. I'll get you one."
Fang Xuedong shook his head and said, "I have clothes to wear. I'm growing up. I don't need to buy too many clothes. They will be too short after one season. Mom, you can keep the money and sell them." Zhao
Meili handed the banana in her hand to her son.
Fang Xuedong took the banana and said thank you.
It's good for children to be polite, but between mother and child, being too polite will make them look strange.
Zhao Meili wanted to say a few more words to her son, but Fang Xuedong always turned his head to look at Fang Chuanshui. Zhao Meili had to say, "When you go back, come and find me. I'll buy you something."
Fang Xuedong didn't refuse. He nodded in agreement and ran towards Fang Chuanshui.
Zhao Meili saw this and thought her son was worried that being too close to her would cause Fang Chuanshui and Guan Xiuhua to have opinions.
...
Fang Chuanshui brought his wife and children to pick a lot of fruit, weighed them and paid for them.
Fang Xuedong remembered what Zhao Meili had told him and went to say goodbye to her.
Zhao Meili saw that he came alone and asked, "Has your father's attitude towards you changed after your stepmother got pregnant?"
Fang Xuedong nodded: "Yes, my father is stricter about my studies."
Zhao Meili said: "It's a good thing to be strict in studying. You should stay away from your stepmother at home in the future."
"We all live together, how can we stay away from her?"
"When your father is not home, just stay in your room to do your homework and don't be with her."
"But my father has to go to school every day, and it's my mother who takes care of me, cooks for me, washes clothes, and tutors me in my studies. If I leave her, I'm still so young, how can I live?"
"Xuedong, you live with your mother, right?"