Chapter 390: Lady of Flowers

Xia Zhizhi strolled around the commune, took some photos, and prepared to leave with Ah Ju. After all, it was a remote and poor place and there was not much to do. She and Ah Ju were dressed too well and many members stared at them, which made people feel uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw the two sisters Xiaohua and Yezi coming over.

The two men, each carrying a backpack, followed a thin man.

The man was carrying a shoulder pole, at one end of which were some bamboo backpacks, baskets, winnowing baskets and a string of straw sandals.

At the other end was a basket, in which was a boy who was considered a fat boy today.

It should be the father of the two sisters Xiaohua and Yezi. He brought them and their younger brother Guoguo to the commune to sell some handicrafts and the mushrooms they picked yesterday in exchange for some household expenses.

The group entered the commune. The two sisters put down their backpacks while their father went to talk to the comrades from the supply and marketing cooperative to check the weight and count.

Guoguo was still a toddler, and this was probably not his first time at the supply and marketing cooperative. He made “ahhhh” and “ohhh” gestures in the direction of the counter.

Xiao Yezi carried him out with great effort, led him to the counter, stopped beside a counter, squatted down, and looked at the cargo boxes inside.

The basket was filled with large chunks of yellow rock sugar.

Xiaohua lowered her head, drooped her lips, and squatted outside in a depressed mood, immersed in her own thoughts. She seemed to be worried about something and did not notice Xia Zhizhi beside her.

The comrade next to him quickly weighed the money and gave it to the thin man.

The man took out half a pound of sugar coupons from his pocket and weighed out half a pound of yellow rock sugar at the supply and marketing cooperative.

He picked up the smallest piece and fed it to Guoguo, and carefully wrapped the rest in a small piece of cloth and put it in his pocket.

Xiao Yezi stared at the rock sugar and swallowed her saliva, with longing in her eyes, but she did not say that she wanted a piece.

The man warned: "Watch Guoguo, I'll be there soon."

Then I went to the office next door.

In this era, most girls in the general environment live an average life. If there are brothers in the family when they are born, it is better and the survival rate is high.

If a baby has a group of older sisters, there is a high chance that they will be thrown into the toilet and drowned after birth.

The three sisters of Huayeteng were lucky enough to live and grow up. They can all say that they were lucky to be born into a family that was not so heartbroken.

Xia Zhizhi sighed, walked over and touched the head of Xiaohua who was squatting in the corner, prepared to give the little girl some candies, say hello and leave.

The little girl looked up at her, somewhat surprised.

Xia Zhizhi grabbed a handful of fruit candies from her pocket. The colorful candy wrappers wrapped the small candies one by one. They were quite cute. She handed her hand over and asked softly, "Here, this is for you."

Seeing that Xiaohua didn't move, Xia Zhizhi thought she was embarrassed, so she stretched out her hand and said, "Here, take it."

Xiaohua took it with both hands and asked curiously, "What is this?"

There were no hard candies sold in the commune. The main sources of sweetness for everyone were brown sugar and rock sugar. Xiaohua had only eaten these two a few times in her life, so it didn't seem strange that she didn't recognize the candy.

Xia Zhizhi paused for a moment, picked up a candy and peeled it open, revealing a colorful gem-like candy inside, and stuffed the candy into Xiaohua's mouth: "It's fruit candy."

The sweet, fruity-flavored candy went into her mouth. Xiaohua's eyes widened in surprise, and then she felt a little embarrassed. She held a handful of candy, not knowing whether to keep it or give it back to Xia Zhizhi.

After all, in Xiaohua's heart, candy is a very precious item. Her parents are reluctant to eat it. The family will occasionally buy some, break it into small pieces, and give it to her younger brother as a snack. Even her younger brother will not be allowed to eat too much at one time.

Xia Zhizhi touched her head again, then leaned over to her ear and whispered, "Keep it, pack it up, and save it for you and Ye Zi. This is a thank you gift for bringing me down the mountain."

Xiaohua hesitated for a moment, but finally obediently stuffed the candy into her pocket and picked up the candy wrapper that Xia Zhizhi threw on the ground.

Xiaohua called to Ye Zi, who was taking care of her younger brother, "Ye Zi, come here!"

Ye Zi turned around and saw Xia Zhizhi. She felt happy and ran over with Guo Guo in her arms.

Xiaohua peeled a candy and stuffed it into Yezi's mouth when Guoguo wasn't paying attention. Then she covered Yezi's mouth and whispered, "Don't make any noise. Eat it secretly, or it will be gone in a while."

Ye Zi held the candy in her mouth and dared not move. Her eyes were shining and she nodded vigorously.

Xia Zhizhi felt that the two sisters were a bit pitiful and a bit cute. She patted their heads and asked Xiaohua with a smile, "Cheer up a bit. Why were you so depressed just now?"

These words seemed to have touched Xiaohua's sore spot. Her eyebrows, which had just been raised, drooped again in an instant, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Ye Zi next to her said, "Sister Xiao Cao from the next village has never had a brother. Her parents said they would take her to ask for a brother, but my sister and Sister Xiao Cao got along well, so she didn't want to let go."

Xiaohua looked at Ye Zi with a complicated expression, but didn't say anything, just nodded.

Although it was dilapidated these days, the slogans were shouted very loudly, and were only limited to the town and its surrounding villages.

Places like this, which can be called desolate mountains and wilderness, except for the location of the commune, have a bit of an old feel.

The village is completely pristine and simple.

Everyone is fine with what they do, whether it's the mountain god, the land god, or even the older trees, people still worship them.

The one hundred and eighty mile mountain road is enough to stop those passionate crowds.

Xia Zhizhi raised her eyebrows and asked Ye Zi, "Why is Xiaohua unhappy when Xiaocao's mother took her to ask for help from her brother?"

"After you go and ask for my brother's help, Sister Xiaocao will have to stay and serve the Lady of Flowers, so you won't be able to play with me anymore."

When Xiao Yezi said this, she said with a bit of envy: "But Sister Xiaocao can eat delicious food. It's a pity that I have a younger brother at home, otherwise I would also like to go."

Xiao Hua's face darkened, and she pushed Ye Zi vigorously, scolding him, "What do you know? Stop talking nonsense!"

After being scolded, Ye Zi felt a little unhappy. She pouted in grievance and stopped talking.

Xia Zhizhi frowned slightly, and patiently asked Xiaohua, "What's the situation at Xiaocao's home?"

Xiaohua wanted to cry whenever she mentioned Xiaocao. She knew it was not good to tell others about these things, but when Xia Zhizhi kept questioning her, she didn't know how to refuse.

She could only pout and speak with great grievance: "Xiao Cao is the only one in Xiao Cao's family. She is the oldest child. Her parents have always wanted a younger brother, but they always gave birth to younger sisters. The younger sisters after that were not raised. Her mother said she couldn't wait any longer and wanted to send Xiao Cao to the Hundred Flowers Goddess."

Xia Zhizhi asked again: "What is the Hundred Flowers Goddess?"