The bicycle stopped in front of the wholesale store, and Fang Meili was loading things for customers. "Aunt Meili, let's have lunch at your place," Fang Yu called out to her.
"Come on, I'm glad you came to eat. There's nothing fancy, just a simple meal."
"Is there anything I can do for you?" Fang Yu asked.
"It's alright, it's alright, I'll make it in time. You and Dongqiang haven't seen each other for half a year, you old classmates can have a chat."
"Sister Fang Yu, you can sit here." Yuan Tingting had a box of soap at her feet, and she was taking it out of the box and placing it on the shelf.
Fang Yu walked over and helped her set it up.
"You all stay in front and watch, I'll go to the back and cook with Fang Yu's mom." After the customer left, Fang Meili saw that there were no more customers in the shop, so she immediately went to the back.
"Brother, where are you going this afternoon?" Yuan Tingting asked Fang Dongqiang.
"I'm going to meet up with my high school classmates."
"When are you going to the countryside?"
"tomorrow."
"Where's Fang Yu? Where are you spending the New Year?" Yuan Tingting turned to ask Fang Yu.
“We’ve also gone back to the countryside, but we’ll probably go back again in the last few days. Tingting, where are you spending the New Year?”
"I don't know yet, but I won't go to the countryside so early. I'll be helping out at the shop. My mom said last time that Fangfang and her brother should go back first."
A customer came into the store. "Looking around, what would you like to buy?" Yuan Tingting went over to greet them.
Yuan Fangfang was playing in front of the cashier, while Fang Yu and Fang Dongqiang stood beside her. "Have you tried that scallion pancake place I told you about in my last letter? It's the one on the corner of the alley, and the owner is an old man," Fang Yu said, trying to start a conversation.
"I went there. I searched for a long time before I found the place you mentioned. I went with my classmates and everyone said it was delicious."
Fang Yu was happy to hear Fang Dongqiang say it was delicious.
When Fang Damiao returned from delivering goods, he saw Fang Yu chatting with Fang Dongqiang in the store and immediately grinned, "Fang Yu, are you on vacation?"
"Yes, it's just the start of the holiday, Dongqiang's dad," Fang Yu replied obediently and politely.
"Come visit often when you're on vacation!"
Fang Meili came out from behind and said, "You're back. Dinner's ready."
Fang Damiao walked to the back and saw Yu Jihong, and was surprised. "Jihong, are you cooking today?"
"We came here to have some fun during our holiday." Yu Jihong brought the dishes to the table.
"Good, good, really good!" Fang Damiao washed his hands and took out bowls and chopsticks to serve rice.
Yuan Tingting took Fang Yu's arm and they went to the back to eat together.
Yuan Xinkang went to the countryside to deliver goods and wouldn't be back for lunch. Fang Meili picked up some food, held her bowl, and went to the front. "Jihong, Fangyu, please help yourselves with whatever you like. I'm going to watch the shop."
“Okay, we’ll serve you. We’re both so informal, eating here together,” Yu Jihong said apologetically.
"Oh, it's nothing, it's just a meal. There's nothing fancy here. You guys can eat slowly."
Fang Yu sat next to her mother, with Yuan Tingting on the other side, Yuan Fangfang next to Yuan Tingting, Fang Dongqiang next to Yuan Fangfang, and then Fang Damiao.
Fang Damiao picked up a piece of meat, intending to give it to Yu Jihong, but hesitated for a moment before putting it in her own bowl. "Jihong, Fang Yu, don't be shy, help yourselves, eat more."
"Mm!" Yu Jihong nodded and lowered her head to eat.
Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu didn't say much at the dinner table.
"Fang Yu, are you busy this afternoon?" Fang Meili asked Fang Yu after lunch.
"Aunt Mei, it's alright."
"How about we go with Tingting and Fangfang to help them choose a new outfit for the New Year?"
"Okay, let's go this afternoon."
Yuan Tingting was delighted to hear this, "That's great! The clothes Fang Yu bought are beautiful. Can you come and help us choose some this afternoon? Brother, will you go shopping with us?"
"I'm not going, I have plans with my classmates."
"Dongqiang, why don't you invite your classmates to come along? It doesn't matter where you go. You should go home tomorrow and buy yourself a new outfit for the New Year," Fang Meili said.
"No need to buy, I have clothes to wear." Fang Dongqiang said as he walked towards the door. "Fang Yu's mom, Fang Yu, you guys play here, I'm going out."
“Boys and girls are just different; boys don’t care about their clothes,” Yu Jihong said with a smile.
"Yes, they're so old and they still don't know how to be close."
"Mom, we're going shopping too!" Yuan Tingting called out.
“Okay,” Fang Meili took out some money from the drawer and gave it to Yuan Tingting. “Fang Yu, thank you for picking out these for them. Also, take a look at them for Dongqiang.”
"It's not tiring at all, shopping is just for fun!"
"Tingting, keep an eye on Fangfang," Fang Meili instructed.
Fang Yu took Yuan Fangfang's hand and said, "It's okay, Aunt Mei Li, I'll take it."
"Dongqiang is the same age as Fang Yu, but he's not as sensible as Fang Yu. He's tall and big, but he's still like a child. Boys don't mature as early as girls." Fang Yu and the others went out, and Fang Meili and Yu Jihong chatted.
“Dongqiang is already very well-behaved and sensible.”
Fang Meili leaned forward slightly. "Sister Jihong, what do you think of Dongqiang as a young man?"
"Yes, he's great. I've thought he was great since I was little."
"I think Fang Yu is better." Fang Meili glanced at Yu Jihong, who understood her meaning and smiled.
"Boss lady!" A regular customer came in and interrupted their conversation.
"Hey, have you had lunch yet?" Fang Meili hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.
Yuan Tingting tried on a long, pale yellow cotton coat, while Yuan Fangfang tried on a bright red ski jacket with cute cartoon patterns printed on it and a soft faux fur trim on the hood.
"Sister Fang Yu, let's go look at clothes for my brother now." Yuan Tingting pulled Fang Yu towards the men's clothing store.
"I've never bought clothes for boys before, and I'm afraid I won't choose well." Fang Yu's heart pounded again at the thought of choosing clothes for Fang Dongqiang.
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