The donkey cart started moving, gradually leaving Jin Xin's figure behind.
Fang Qiao picked up a bright red cherry and tasted it. It was indeed sweet, not sour at all.
She opened her eyes wide in surprise, then picked out a less red orange cherry to taste. Although it wasn't as sweet as the bright red cherry, it wasn't too sour either, and the sweet and sour taste was quite nice.
So I shared the cherries with everyone.
"Sister-in-law Guizhi, Brother Qian, please try these cherries, they're so sweet."
Then he grabbed another handful and handed it to Lan Ge and the other man who were driving the carriage ahead: "Eat together, everyone try some."
In mid-to-late April, it was the time when cherries were just coming off the market in the countryside. They were not a rarity for the villagers. Although the supply in the city was limited, the price was not expensive, and you could still buy them if you went to the market early in the morning. So everyone ate some and unanimously said they were delicious.
The donkey cart got onto the main road and headed towards the foot of Heshan Mountain.
On the way, they stopped at a grocery store. Qian Dechao got out of the car and bought a case of soda, nine bottles in total. He tore it open and handed it to Lan Ge and the other two, then to Fang Qiao.
Fang Qiao waved her hand: "It's too cold, I won't drink it."
Chen Guizhi didn't drink it either; she was reluctant to part with it.
Qian Dechao didn't drink it either, and put the bottle he took out back into the packaging bag.
Chen Guizhi's family home is also at the foot of Heshan Mountain, but it is some distance away from Heshan Pharmaceutical Factory.
The two brothers, Lan and his brother, delivered the sewing machine, and Chen Guizhi paid the money and left.
Before leaving, Fang Qiao asked him, "If I also want to order a sewing machine, how long will it take?"
Lan said, "I can only get one a month at most. The quota for next month has been filled. If you're sure you want it, you'll have to wait at least two months."
Fang Qiao nodded. "Okay, I'll think about it some more."
Lan Ge indicated that he understood: "If you've thought it through, just go to the black market to find me. I'll go for every single order."
"OK."
Not long after Lan Ge drove away in his donkey cart, Chen Guizhi and Qian Dechao also came out of their parents' home.
Her family originally wanted her to stay for dinner, but Qian Dechao had to go to work in the afternoon, so they didn't stay. Instead, they packed a net full of locust flowers for her when they left.
After returning home by bus, Chen Guizhi handed Fang Qiao a large plate of locust flowers: "My husband and I just ate a lot of your cherries, now it's your turn to eat my locust flowers."
She asked, "You know how to make steamed locust flower rice, right?"
Fang Qiao smiled and nodded: "Yes."
"That's good." Chen Guizhi said with a smile, "To be honest, this is my favorite food. Locust flower rice, locust flower cakes, and locust flower soup. As long as the locust flowers are in season, I can eat them every day and still not get enough."
Fang Qiao smiled and said, "I like the fragrance of locust flowers too."
"Finally, I've found someone who shares my taste. My husband, Lao Qian, just can't stand the same food as me. I'm the only one in the family who likes to eat." Chen Guizhi patted Fang Qiao's hand and made a promise with her: "After we finish eating, let's take our sickles and go fishing on Heshan Mountain. There's plenty of this stuff there."
"OK."
"Then let's agree on this."
Fang Qiao left Chen Guizhi's house with locust flowers in her hand. As soon as she entered her own house, she found that Li Dan from next door was also there.
She sat on a small stool at the entrance of her main room, folding a paper crane in her hand.
Sweetie squatted down in front of her, holding a creased hand in her fingers, her eyes fixed on the movements in the hand, saying, "Auntie, Auntie, slow down, I didn't see how it was folded."
Fang Qiao's eyes flickered slightly.
She brought the acacia flowers and cherries into the kitchen, washed some more cherries, put them on a plate, and brought them out.
At this moment, Li Dan saw her and said with a smile, "Xiao Qiao, where have you been? Why have you been gone for so long?"
Sweetie ran towards her calling out "Auntie, Auntie!"
"I went out and bought some cherries."
Fang Qiao patted Tian Tian's little head and gave her a few pieces. "Eat them."
He then handed the plate to Li Dan, saying, "Have some, it's quite sweet."
Li Dan picked one up, put it in her mouth, and nodded: "It's quite sweet."
She smiled and said somewhat shyly, "It's just a coincidence. I also bought cherries today and washed a small plate of them to bring to you."
The door to the main room was wide open. Fang Qiao looked over and immediately saw a plate on the dining table filled with bright red cherries.
"That's quite a coincidence." Fang Qiao smiled and simply moved a small stool over and placed the cherries on it.
"Let's eat together. Finish this plate first, then eat the one you gave me. I'm going inside to check on An'an."
“An’an is asleep again. She goes to bed at this time every day.” Li Dan said, standing up from the stool and following her into the room.
Inside the room, An'an lay obediently asleep in her cradle.
Xiao Jing was sitting on a stool sewing a summer hat for An An. When she saw Fang Qiao come in, she quickly stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, you're back."
Fang Qiao gave a soft "Mmm" and said to her, "I bought some cherries, go and have some. An'an, I'll take care of things here."
"Okay." Xiaojing took the unfinished needlework and went out.
Li Dan liked An An more and more as she looked at her. Fang Qiao wasn't home earlier, so she was too embarrassed to come in and see her. Now she finally had the chance.
"An'an is so pretty, the prettiest little girl I've ever seen." She said with envy, "Xiao Qiao, you really know how to give birth to children."
Fang Qiao had no way to respond to those words.
After all, Li Dan doesn't have children, and she's the type who's tried for many years without success. If you don't handle it well, you could easily touch a sore spot.
She could only smile.
Li Dan didn't expect Fang Qiao to respond. She sighed to herself and continued, "I wonder when I'll be able to have my own child?"
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