Zhao Zhenzhu held Zhou Yunyun's hand and walked forward with the crowd.
There were many street stalls on both sides of the street.
There were vendors selling bamboo items such as brooms, baskets, and hampers; agricultural products such as sweet potatoes, corn, soybeans, and peanuts; poultry such as eggs, chickens, ducks, and geese; and vendors pushing carts selling soy milk and fried dough sticks...
Most of the pedestrians at the market had smiles on their faces.
Most farmers are simple and honest. As long as they have surplus grain and a few coins in their pockets, they feel happy with their lives.
"Mom, it smells so good!" Zhou Yunyun sniffed and said.
The air was filled with the aroma of fried food.
Following the aroma, Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter walked forward and saw a small stall by the roadside.
A small iron pot was placed on a small tin stove, and several sizzling flatbreads floated in the pot, emitting a fragrant aroma.
There was a piece of paper pasted on the tin stove that read: "Fried dough cakes, three cents each, two for five cents."
"Mom, I want to eat this. Can I?" Zhou Yunyun pointed to the pancakes in the oil pan, her eyes full of longing.
Before leaving, Zhao Zhenzhu told Zhou Yunyun that she could choose to buy something she liked.
"Okay," Zhao Zhenzhu agreed.
Zhou Yunyun is only a little over three years old; loving to eat is a child's nature.
Zhao Zhenzhu took Zhou Yunyun's hand and walked to the stall.
The woman selling fried dough cakes looked to be in her sixties. She had gray hair and a slightly hunched back.
"Grandma Hua, give me two fried cakes." Zhao Zhenzhu took out five cents from her pocket and handed them to the old woman.
"Pearl, it's been a long time! Are you here for the market today?" Granny Hua greeted Zhao Pearl with a beaming smile.
"The busy farming season is over, so I'm taking the children back to my parents' home for a few days," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.
Zhao Zhenzhu and Granny Hua were very familiar with each other.
Grandma Hua's family also lived in the town. Her house wasn't far from the Zhao family's; they were just across an alley.
Making fried dough cakes is a family recipe passed down from Grandma Hua.
Before Zhao Zhenzhu got married, she would always run over to buy a fried dough stick whenever Granny Hua set up her stall on market days.
"Is this your daughter? She's so cute. The fried dough cakes are free, please have some." Grandma Hua waved her hand, wrapped two fried dough cakes in paper, and handed them to Zhao Zhenzhu.
"Grandma Hua, if you don't want the money, I won't take it." Zhao Zhenzhu insisted on paying.
Grandma Hua's family was not well-off.
Grandma Hua's son was weak and unable to do heavy work. Her daughter-in-law ran away not long after giving birth.
Grandma Hua is so old, yet she still sets up a stall to sell fried dough cakes on market days, all to save money for her grandson's wedding.
"Pearl, Grandma needs your help. If you don't eat Grandma's fried dough, Grandma won't be able to ask!" Grandma Hua blinked and said.
"Grandma Hua, I'll be staying at my parents' house for about ten days. If you need anything, just let me know. I'll definitely help if I can. But you can't refuse the money for the fried dough." Zhao Zhenzhu insisted on stuffing the money into the cloth bag hanging on Grandma Hua's chest.
Granny Hua only earns a meager living through hard work. Her life is already difficult enough; Zhao Zhenzhu can't take advantage of her.
Zhao Zhenzhu casually remarked that she had been staying at her parents' home for about ten days.
In those days, it was considered an exceptionally privilege for a married daughter to be able to return to her parents' home for ten days or so.
If Zhao Zhenzhu were to say on the street that she would be living at her parents' home from now on, people would gossip. In less than two days, the news that "Zhao Qingshan's daughter has been kicked out of her husband's family" would spread throughout Peach Blossom Town.
"Alright, I'll come find you tomorrow." Granny Hua took out some money from her pocket, intending to chase after Zhao Zhenzhu to return it.
Zhao Zhenzhu quickly pulled Zhou Yunyun away.
Just then, someone else came to buy fried dough sticks.
Granny Hua could no longer chase after the money, so she put it back into the cloth bag and exclaimed, "Pearl, this child, has been kind since she was little."
Zhao Zhenzhu took her daughter's hand and walked to a less crowded place before they started eating the fried dough.
Grandma Hua's fried dough cakes are palm-sized, filled with scallions, and fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. One bite, and you'll find them so delicious you could swallow your tongue.
"Mom, the fried dough is so delicious!" Zhou Yunyun exclaimed after taking a bite of the fried dough.
"This is Grandma Hua's special recipe, you're in luck today!" Zhao Zhenzhu reached out and tapped her daughter's nose, smiling as she spoke.
"Yes, Yunyun is lucky to have good food. Mom is lucky to have good food too." Zhou Yunyun didn't understand what "lucky to have good food" meant, but she knew it was a compliment. While praising herself, she didn't forget to mention her mother as well.
“Yes, Mom is lucky too, we’re both lucky.” Zhao Zhenzhu smiled.
Two lifetimes later, Zhao Zhenzhu is still able to eat the delicious food she remembers. She is very satisfied.
The mother and daughter laughed and chatted, taking turns eating, and soon finished off the fried dough in their hands.
"Mom, I want to eat more fried dough sticks, can you go buy another one?" Zhou Yunyun blinked at Zhao Zhenzhu, her eyes filled with longing.
"Sweetie, no way. You can only have one fried dough stick today," Zhao Zhenzhu refused.
Fried foods are prone to causing internal heat, so for the sake of health, Zhao Zhenzhu certainly couldn't let Zhou Yunyun eat as much as she wanted.
"Mom, but my tummy says it's still hungry," Zhou Yunyun pouted.
“There are so many delicious things at the market! If you eat too many fried dough sticks, you won’t be able to eat anything else later. How about Mom takes you to eat wontons later?” Zhao Zhenzhu asked.
"Is it tastier than fried dough?" Zhou Yunyun still longed for her fried dough.
"Almost the same, just as delicious," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.
"Okay, okay! Time to eat some wontons!" Zhou Yunyun clapped her hands happily.
Zhou Yunyun is very satisfied with her current life.
Grandma's house has lots of delicious food. There's also lots of delicious food on the street. And I can no longer hear Grandma Ding Ermei scolding anyone.
After wiping her and her daughter's hands clean with a handkerchief, Zhao Zhenzhu continued to hold her daughter's hand and walk forward.
Not far away, Zhou Jiaxiang stared wide-eyed at Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter.
Zhou Jiaxiang saw Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter eating fried dough cakes.
During the few days Zhao Zhenzhu returned to her parents' home, Zhou Jiaxiang was scolded a lot by Ding Ermei. He also heard Ding Ermei scold Zhao Zhenzhu quite often.
Last time, Zhao Zhenzhu slapped Zhou Jiaxiang, which made Zhou Jiaxiang feel very humiliated.
Zhou Jiaxiang couldn't bring himself to ask someone he disliked for food.
Watching Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter enjoying their meal, Zhou Jiaxiang's mouth was practically watering.
After Zhao Zhenzhu and her daughter finished eating the fried dough, they left, and Zhou Jiaxiang was about to follow them.
He's finished his fried dough sticks, but maybe his aunt will see him later and let him have a small wonton?
Not far away, Ding Ermei, who was setting up her stall, turned her head and saw Zhou Jiaxiang walking away. She hurriedly shouted, "Jiaxiang! Zhou Jiaxiang! Come back here!"
Zhou Jiaxiang had no choice but to turn around and slowly walk to Ding Ermei's side.
“I told you not to run around at home, why didn’t you listen? Are your ears just for decoration?” Ding Ermei stretched out her finger and poked Zhou Jiaxiang’s forehead hard, scolding him.
Zhou Jiaxiang pursed his lips and remained silent.
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