“It’s just like choosing for us; he’ll like the taste of your peers,” Yuan Tingting said.
Fang Yu looked at the clothes on the rack. "How about this one?" she asked, pointing to a navy blue stand-up collar jacket.
"Sure, whatever you think looks good is fine."
"Boss, bring this down and let me see." Fang Yu took the clothes and placed them in front of her, looking in the mirror and imagining how Fang Dongqiang would look in them.
After some haggling, I finally bought the clothes. "Boss, he's not here yet. Just so you know, if the size doesn't fit after trying them on, come back and exchange them for a different size."
"You should change your size earlier, as many people buy clothes during the Chinese New Year. You still have your size now, but it will be sold out in a few days and you won't be able to change it."
“My brother tried it on when he got home in the evening, and if it didn’t fit, he came to exchange it immediately.”
"Okay." The boss packed up the clothes.
They spent the afternoon shopping outside, and when they returned to the wholesale department, they took out the clothes they had bought one by one to show Fang Meili and Yu Jihong.
"They're all very nice, very good-looking."
"Mom, there's still some money left." Yuan Tingting took out the remaining money from her pocket.
"You still have this much left?" Fang Meili took the money.
"Yes, Sister Fang Yu negotiated with them for the price."
"I'm afraid of overpaying, so I'll have to pay a little less than what I'm looking for," Fang Yu said with a smile.
“I feel at ease leaving anything to Fang Yu.” Fang Meili put her arm around Fang Yu’s shoulder. “When Tingting used to stay at my parents’ house, my mother would say that if she had to go out for a while, she would feel at ease having Fang Yu at home looking after her.”
"Meili, the shop is a bit quiet now, let's go home," Yu Jihong suggested.
"Have dinner before you go back."
"No, no, I have something to do back home," Yu Jihong declined.
"Don't lie to me," Fang Meili said, pulling Yu Jihong along.
"I'm not lying to you."
Fang Meili let go of his hand. "You've been busy all day, and you're not even eating dinner here."
"I can come and eat anytime I want."
"Welcome, I'm just afraid you won't come."
"Okay, let's go then." Yu Jihong took Fang Yu's arm and they came out together.
Goodbye, Aunt Meryl!
"Hey, goodbye, Fang Yu."
Yu Jihong pushed her bicycle and walked side by side with Fang Yu. "How did you get here just now?" Yu Jihong asked.
"Dongqiang brought me here."
"Oh, I thought you all went through the same thing."
"Mom, what do you want to ask?"
"I just rode my bike away and asked how you got here, and you reacted so strongly," Yu Jihong said reproachfully.
"No, no!" Fang Yu looked to the side.
"It's clear that Mei Li likes you quite a bit. Dong Qiang still has many years of schooling ahead of him, and there are many uncertainties in the future. We can't rush things, so let's just keep things as they are for now."
"What do you mean, 'virgin'? I don't have any virgins." Fang Yu retorted softly.
"I know, Mom can't see it yet. You have feelings for him, but Dongqiang, it seems like you're still undeveloped in love, what's that word called, love is still undeveloped."
"Is she still innocent and naive?" Fang Yu guessed.
"Yes, that's how it should be read. He hasn't started yet."
Fang Yu covered her mouth with the back of her hand and couldn't help but laugh.
Yu Jihong turned to look at her. "Silly girl, is it that funny?"
"That's funny." Fang Yu suppressed a laugh.
"Laugh if you want to, but don't hold it in too long." Yu Jihong laughed as she pushed her bicycle. "Fang Yu, things can change a lot in the future. You might meet someone who makes your heart flutter, and Dong Qiang might meet someone at school who opens his heart to you. No matter what, you can't hurt yourself."
Fang Yu nodded, but she was a little confused. When she was studying in Hangzhou, some male classmates pursued her, but she rejected them. She still thought about Fang Dongqiang. Fang Dongqiang was still innocent about love, but would he become romantic when he met other girls?
Will she meet other boys who make her heart flutter? Will Fang Dongqiang meet a girl who will open his heart to her? Is there any possibility that they will be together?
The sweet aroma of fried sugar cakes wafted through the streets. The setting sun painted the sky a pale orange-red, gilding the bare sycamore branches with a golden edge.
Red lanterns hung outside the shops on both sides of the street, some already lit, their warm yellow light reflecting on the faces of passersby. Inside the music store, Richie Jen's "Too Softhearted" was playing, its melody drifting far into the cool air.
Occasionally, the jingling of bicycle bells and the sputtering of motorcycles would pass by as everyone hurried home. Yu Jihong and Fang Yu also went back to their little nest.
"What are we having for dinner?" Yu Jihong asked.
"Something lighter, I had a greasy lunch."
"Okay, can I just cook some noodles?"
"OK."
For the next few days, Yu Jihong would go to Fang Meili's place to help out after lunch.
On the 29th day of the lunar calendar, Yu Jihong carried a snakeskin bag full of vegetables for the New Year, while Fang Yu carried the clothes she had changed over the past few days back to her home in the countryside.
Having been away from home for half a year, the weeds by the door were already ankle-high. When I pushed open the wooden door, the rusty hinges creaked loudly.
"Jihong, are you back for the New Year?" The aunt next door came over when she heard the noise.
“Yes, Auntie, we’re back for the New Year,” Yu Jihong replied.
"Okay, welcome back for the New Year."
"Let's clean up the dust first." Yu Jihong put down her things, put on a dust cover, and found a rag.
As Yu Jihong was wiping the table, her fingertips touched a cold metal object.
It was Fang San Di's old watch. The strap was worn shiny, and there was a faint scratch on the watch face.
Yu Jihong paused, put down the rag, picked up her watch, and gently touched the dial. The hands had long since stopped, forever frozen at a certain moment.
Yu Jihong picked up the watch and pressed it against her cheek. The coolness of the metal seeped through her thin skin, instantly bringing tears to her eyes.
"Jihong, these vegetables are freshly picked. They'll be delicious these days." The aunt next door came over carrying a basket of vegetables.
Yu Jihong turned around, blinked, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Auntie, we brought the vegetables with us."
"We grew them ourselves, so don't be picky. Where should we put them?"
Yu Jihong went to find an empty basket to fill it.
Fang Yu swept the cement floor with a broom.
Fang Huahua glanced at Fang Yu's house from a distance and saw that the door was open. She ran over excitedly and said, "Fang Yu, you said you were coming back today, so I came to see you."
"I was planning to come find you after I finished cleaning." Fang Yu swept the dust on the ground into a pile.
Fang Huahua went to the corner and grabbed a dustpan, saying, "I know where all your things are."
"Let me do it, it's all dust."
"It's okay, sweep it in." Fang Huahua placed the dustpan next to the pile of garbage.
"Huahua's here!" Yu Jihong came over with a rag.
"Yes, Fang Yu's mom. Fang Yu said she was coming back today, so I came to check on her."
On the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, the aroma of fish wafted from the kitchen. Yu Jihong, as in previous years, began cooking the New Year's Eve dinner.
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