For breakfast, I had Zhang Da Niang's newly made egg pancakes, along with millet porridge and pickled vegetables. It was absolutely delicious.
After dinner, the family of four, dressed in thick cotton-padded coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, set off fully equipped.
Lingzi was arranged by Liu Zi to stand on the front step, while Aunt Zhang held Qiqi and sat in the back.
Liu Zi rode very slowly, partly for safety reasons and partly because it was too cold and she was afraid of making her child sick.
The market in Songzhuang was much more lively than Liu Zi remembered. She even saw Hao Ziwei setting up a stall to sell her goods.
After greeting Sister-in-law Song, Liu Zi and the others started shopping on their own.
The fabric stall is Zhang Da Niang's favorite place to come. Buying scraps of fabric to make little things has always been her hobby.
While they were picking out fabrics over there, Liu Zi went to the place selling large vats.
It was the same old man. His business wasn't doing too well, but he didn't seem to care. He chatted with the people next to him, his hands clasped behind his back.
It was only after someone pointed it out that I noticed someone had come to buy something, and then I ran over to greet them.
"Young lady, buying a fish tank?"
"Grandpa, I only need one middle school and one elementary school this time." Liu Zi pointed to two similar-sized items placed to the side.
"Okay, where do you live? I'll deliver it to you at the market," the old man said warmly.
"You delivered it to me last time; it's the house I rented from Song Yan's family." Liu Zi pointed in the general direction.
"Okay, I understand. I'll definitely deliver it to you." The old man smiled and nodded, understanding.
Liu Zi gave him the money, and as usual, the old man gave her a card with something written on it in words she couldn't understand.
After packing her things, Liu Zi slowly moved forward on her motorcycle.
With both children with her, Aunt Zhang felt much more at ease while strolling around.
Lingzi sat in the back, holding her, while Qiqi stood in front. The two children looked around with great interest.
When we usually go out with Grandma Zhang, she's always afraid we'll get lost, so she goes straight home after we buy what we need and doesn't want to linger.
This is the first time I've ever walked from beginning to end slowly!
Liu Zi bought pork, ribs, chicken legs, chicken wings, and finally picked up two unwanted beef bones.
Since we've already bought beef bones, let's add some tripe, liver, cheek, and heart. Simmer it all afternoon, and then add some glass noodles in the evening. This heartwarming and nourishing beef offal soup will be perfect for a cold day.
Liu Zi unexpectedly spotted a stall selling bicycles and tricycles at one end of the market. There were quite a few elderly people gathered around, pointing at the dark red tricycle and discussing something.
Liu Zi's eyes lit up. This thing was great; it could carry both people and goods, and it was stable to ride.
"How much is this car?" Liu Zi asked, raising her voice.
The elderly people watching all turned around to see whose car it was.
"Five hundred, no bargaining."
The boss, with a stern face, said something.
The elderly men and women who had been surrounding the shop just moments before started criticizing the owner again after hearing his price quote.
They sell them for cheaper in the city!
Your quality is substandard!
You're a terrible boss!
The boss is a total rip-off!
...
Liu Zi finally understood: these people weren't there to buy tricycles; they were there to disrupt other people's business.
They subtly hinted that the boss should lower the price and sell them the cars cheaper.
Liu Zi had seen similar tricycles when she was browsing motorcycles in the county town before. If she remembered correctly, they cost 700 yuan in the county, but the owner here was only selling them for 500 yuan, which was already cheap.
Since they said they wouldn't negotiate the price, these people are just trying to force a sale on us!
Liu Zi circled the tricycle twice, touched it to feel its quality, and felt it was pretty good. Just as she was about to ask the owner to give her one, an old lady standing next to her spoke up first.
"Girl, don't be silly. This car is too expensive. We can't let the boss make a dirty profit!"
Liu Zi looked the old lady up and down. She had never seen her before, so she must not be from Songzhuang.
"Grandma, since you've already gotten a good deal, that's enough. I think the boss is unwilling to budge, and he'd rather take it back than sell it to you. It's so cold outside, and it's not easy for him to do business. Why are you making things so difficult for him?"
Liu Zi offered a word of advice, mainly because she wanted to take advantage of the situation. She asked if they could give her some land if they didn't want to buy it.
"Where did this little wench come from? Meddling in our business? You're a worthless brat who was raised by a mother but not by one. You dare to interfere in men's affairs? I advise you to get lost." A middle-aged man standing next to him suddenly cursed.
Liu Zi sneered, glanced at Aunt Zhang who had just caught up with them, signaled her to keep an eye on the child, and then turned to look at her with a sharp gaze.
"Where did this old bastard come from, spewing filth? Didn't your mother teach you to respect women?" Liu Zi retorted without backing down.
"Are you looking for death?!" The middle-aged man was enraged and threw a punch at Liu Zi.
Liu Zi had already prepared herself for the other party to become violent when she started retaliating with insults. She quickly pulled something out of her bag and flicked it to swat away the fist that the other party was throwing.
"ah!"
The middle-aged man cried out in surprise and took two steps back, clutching his hands.
Liu Zi shook her slightly numb hands, then said to the man, "Want to try again?"
"You dare hit me? Do you know who I am?" the middle-aged man said in disbelief.
“I don’t care who you are. You hit someone and don’t allow them to defend themselves. Even if you take it to the capital, I’m not afraid.”
By this time, a crowd of onlookers had gathered around. Some people seemed to recognize Liu Zi and quickly rushed out of the crowd to report to the Song family.
"Bah! I, Zhao Lao Er, have been in and out of the police force three times. Who have I ever been afraid of? You bitch, kneel down and apologize to me right now, or you believe me, I'll come after you later." The middle-aged man was quite proud of his past experience in jail.
Liu Zi rolled her eyes. Was there something wrong with this man's head?
"No need to look back, let's do it now! Let's see how you settle accounts with me."
"you……"
Zhao Lao Er hesitated for a moment. The punch he had just thrown was quite powerful, and in theory, the stick shouldn't have been able to block it. But in fact, the stick not only blocked it, but also made his hand numb.
"Where did this piece of trash come from, daring to hit my son? I'll tear you apart!" The old woman, who had just been standing by watching the commotion, rushed over as soon as she saw her son being bullied.
Liu Zi didn't take the old woman seriously at all. She activated the electric current and gently touched the old woman's arm.
The old woman immediately screamed and jumped aside, clutching her arm and groaning in pain.
Everyone was puzzled. What had happened?
Just then, a group of people rushed in from outside the human wall, led by Song's second sister-in-law.
"Which bastard came to our Song Village to cause trouble and bully my sister? Be careful, I'll tear him apart!" Sister-in-law Song stood there with her hands on her hips and shouted loudly. Behind her were three or four strong young men, their imposing manner intimidating.
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