Near noon, after Mr. Qiao insisted three tis for her to stay for a al, Zhou Jiao still declined. These days, eating soone’s al shalessly amounts to owing them a big favor.
No need to make herself feel guilty inside.
What’s more, the piled-high cart of oranges, fruits, and fruit snacks must be unloaded soon; otherwise, in just half an hour, no matter how carefully they’re stacked, they would be almost destroyed.
The goods on the three carts weigh nearly two thousand pounds but only cost Zhou Jiao over sixty yuan. After Uncle Qiao from the Qiao Family left, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but sigh at how cheap the prices were.
While the people in the fields ran back for lunch, as a truck drove by kicking up dust, Zhou Jiao quickly packed the goods under the big tree and hurried away.
After walking for about twenty minutes toward the city, Zhou Jiao started eating so dry food while seizing the opportunity to take out her bicycle. Passing by several villages on the way, she collected as much as she could.
In such circumstances, the prices were even lower than those from Mr. Qiao. Occasionally, she exchanged things with iron pots and brown sugar stored in her space.
Nearing a village at the city gate, Zhou Jiao found a place to store her bicycle again, carrying a big bag of fruits onto the public bus.
At the guesthouse, the aunt from last night had changed shifts and gone back to rest, leaving Zhou Jiao a bit regretful. She was adorable, though a bit talkative, and couldn’t hide her concern for Zhou Jiao.
As evening approached, without Yi Jiefang urging her, Zhou Jiao understood she couldn’t delay any longer. Sorting things back in her room, she rembered she had forgotten sothing important.
What was in the big package Cheng Ruzhu gave her? She had glanced at it and didn’t even tie up the bag opening. Busy with many things, she had neglected it.
Besides eating, this little aunt was really nice to Zhou Jiao. She prepared all the necessities for a young girl, even two sets of autumn clothes and pants, leaving a stack of local vouchers and industrial coupons wrapped in a handkerchief stuffed inside a pair of pants pockets.
Seeing that, Zhou Jiao had to repack and put the conspicuous items into her space, leaving only a small part out in the open. If she guessed correctly, many classmates would be curious when she returned.
When Yi Jiefang went out, he saw the troubleso girl carrying a satchel, a big bag strapped to her back, and single-handedly dragging a bag along, her face flushed red, breathing heavily, and moving step by step.
"Missy, what trouble are you up to now?"
Seeing him take over, Zhou Jiao didn’t hold back. She was truly exhausted, having underestimated her own endurance. Ever since checking out from the place and getting on the bus, she felt deeply regretful being squeezed by the crowd.
What was she thinking?
"Don’t rush to talk, catch your breath first." Yi Jiefang shook his head, "You’re too weak, what woman is like you, looking like a little chick?"
Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at him.
"Did the little aunt leave these for you? She’s sothing else, knowing you’re weak, why didn’t she deliver it here and still let you carry it?"
Zhou Jiao glared at him. Who talks like that? Soone gives you sothing, and you’re ungrateful even if it’s delivered right to your mouth?
"Don’t be busy glaring at , what’s with the little aunt?"
Zhou Jiao squinted at him and pointed to the classmates ahead.
Yi Jiefang burst into laughter.
"That bag is all fruit, I just bought it, take it back and enjoy. Did the teacher ntion ?"
Yi Jiefang shook the small bag in his hand, shaking his head, "You keep it to enjoy. If I take it out, it’ll be gone soon. The professor is rushing with work now and can’t focus on you. The counselor asked about you; I took leave planning to find you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao’s eyes shifted, imdiately calling out to He Ben Shan and the others, and as they approached, she snatched the two bags from Yi Jiefang’s hands at the gate and threw them on the ground.
"Sister Xiao Wu, where are you planning to run off to again?"
"What is this? Is it food?"
Zhou Jiao pointed to one of the bags, "These fruits are from the morning market, eat them if you like them, but rember to leave a few for the two of us."
"Zhou Xiao Jiao, what are you planning now?" Yi Jiefang felt a throbbing pain at his temple.
Zhou Jiao smiled, speaking warmly and slowly, "Starting tomorrow, I don’t plan to go out. My little aunt gave quite a few coupon slips, I plan to buy and bring them back as gifts first. Da Yi, Aunt is waiting for you with gifts, don’t tell you spent all your money."
"Who wants to buy gifts? Speak up early, once you pass this village, there’s no store. Once the coupons are out, there’s nothing I can do."
He Ben Shan and the others heard and quickly decided to go. They were planning to visit the departnt store to see what didn’t require coupons and buy so as souvenirs.
"By the way, Little Brat, take this to our room first, we’ll wait for you to co back more slowly."
"Why is it again?"
"Hurry up. If people know too much later, we won’t have such good opportunities."
Yi Jiefang, watching the excited group, shook his head, "Buy less. What’s here that Beijing doesn’t have? Carrying stuff back is a hassle."
Zhou Jiao knew He Ben Shan and the others had solid family backgrounds, able to afford watches, lacking a few dollars? She took so coupons out, handed them to Yi Jiefang.
"Buy as you see fit yourselves."
Yi Jiefang saw there were tank top coupons and shoe coupons, along with so pastry coupons and industrial coupons, so he said no more. These things are rare for others, but truly not lacking for their two families.
He casually kept a few, handing the rest to them.
He Ben Shan, seeing them distributing things, pulled Yi Jiefang’s neck and walked ahead, "Rember what I told you that day?"
Yi Jiefang heard him lower his voice, and suddenly realized, "Got in touch? Tonight?"
"Yeah, tonight the two of us will go, and we’ll bring sothing for Xiao Wu too."
"Alright, later let Zhou Jiao cover for us, keep it quiet. Did you get the leave from the teacher?"
"ntioned it, my dad will ask for leave."
Zhou Jiao saw them whispering and didn’t pay much attention. Later, knowing what happened, she regretted so much; had she known He Ben Shan’s dad, the sailor, returned ho just now, she would’ve insisted on going to check it out.
That’s a sailor, a whole ship of sailors.
Foreign goods, she wasn’t keen, but seeing the excitent was okay. About the legendary sailor life, hearing stories of encountering pirates and such would be even better.
When Yi Jiefang returned, he was smiling widely. He secretly told Zhou Jiao that He Ben Shan’s dad was a retired naval officer, still a major, very open-minded.
The two hadn’t guessed He Ben Shan kept it so tight, so low-key that if not for seeing him wearing foreign brand sneakers, they wouldn’t even know his background.
"A smart person, worth interacting with."
Yi Jiefang nodded, "Just since his dad’s in the military, and we’re all offspring of military families, it’s worth interacting with."
Zhou Jiao smiled, looking at him. That’s the voice from their circle; never mind the factions or whatnot, the key point is they still recognize their own kind.
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