On the second day, Chen Fengjiao spent the day taking Gu’er to many places, helping her learn the roads and get familiar with the city.
On the third day, Gu’er didn’t go out with her mom anymore. She was familiar with the city; she told Chen Fengjiao that she had sold popsicles in the city before, so Chen Fengjiao didn’t need to worry.
Gu’er went out by herself. She was going to check on the storefront Sun Jiaming had gotten for her.
Looking at the empty room, Chen Fengjiao felt a little unsettled. She had thought she would be showing Gu’er around for several more days. She’d assud Gu’er would be with her for the whole week, but after only two days, Gu’er had run out the door on her own. Chen Fengjiao felt a little disappointed.
Gu’er found the storefront. She used the key Sun Jiaming had given her to open the door.
Storefronts back then weren’t very big, nothing compared to the comrcial shops of later years.
The storefront before her was quite nice. Although it wasn’t large, only about ten square ters, it was tidied up very neatly. The corners and the ceiling were swept clean.
Along one side of the room were wooden shelves. They could hold a lot of things. If she were to sell goods in the future, she could place all her stock on them.
There was also a counter with an abacus on it. Gu’er smiled. ’Sun Jiaming really prepared everything. Too bad I don’t know how to use an abacus.’
There was also a full set of a table and stools. They looked new; Sun Jiaming must have bought them.
After looking over the storefront, Gu’er was very satisfied. It might be small, but it was perfectly ford. This little shop was just what she wanted.
’I wonder how Sun Jiaming and Grandma Sun are doing. Have they been thinking of ?’
Thinking of Sun Jiaming, a smile involuntarily appeared on Gu’er’s face, and she felt a warmth spread through her heart.
’I wonder when he’ll co to the city.’
It hadn’t rained recently. After the next drizzle, mushrooms would start sprouting on the mountains in the village. Then, Uncle Zhao and the others would co to deliver goods. ’I wonder if Brother Jia Ming will tag along. It would be great if he did; I could see him.’
They had only been apart for a few days, but Gu’er found she was already starting to miss Sun Jiaming.
On the fifth day, Gu’er bought a few things and rode her bicycle back to the village.
Sun Jiaming was inside doing his accounts when he heard the ring of a bicycle bell from the courtyard. His heart suddenly clenched. It was just like the old days, when Gu’er would always ring her bell whenever she ca back.
’Did I mishear?’
’Gu’er is in the city now.’
Sun Jiaming’s expression darkened, but then he suddenly perked up his ears. This ti, he heard the pleasant ring again.
’It’s Gu’er.’
’It must be Gu’er. She’s back.’
Sun Jiaming put down his pen and stood up. In his excitent, he used a bit too much force and knocked over his stool, but he didn’t even notice. He strode to the doorway.
Who else could the lovely person standing in the courtyard be but the Gu’er he had been longing for?
Delight flooded Sun Jiaming’s eyes. His Gu’er was back.
"Gu’er,"
In just a few strides, Sun Jiaming was in front of Gu’er. He opened his arms and pulled her into a hug.
Gu’er hadn’t expected Sun Jiaming to be so passionate, so bold as to hug her like this in broad daylight.
Gu’er’s face flushed bright red, but she could also feel Sun Jiaming’s affection and how much he had missed her.
"Brother Jia Ming."
Gu’er called out softly, her face blushing.
Sun Jiaming felt the blood roaring in his veins. He desperately wanted to pick Gu’er up and spin her around a couple of tis, but seeing her shy, crimson face, he held back.
’But her blushing cheeks look like big apples, so tempting. I really want to steal a kiss.’
’Would Gu’er hit ?’
Sun Jiaming swallowed hard.
Gu’er took the opportunity to slip out of Sun Jiaming’s embrace. It was the middle of the day, after all. Forget the fact that they weren’t married; even if they were, she would still be too embarrassed.
"Let’s go inside and see Grandma."
Gu’er lowered her head and picked up the things from her bicycle.
"Okay."
Sun Jiaming nodded. Despite his strong desires, he restrained himself. He took the things from Gu’er’s hands and followed her into the inner room.
Grandma Sun was also very happy to see Gu’er. She held Gu’er’s hand and asked one question after another: how things were at the Lin Family’s ho, if her parents were treating her well, if she was getting along with her sister and brother, if she was getting used to it. She asked endlessly, as if Gu’er had been gone for a very long ti.
Gu’er answered each question one by one, showing no trace of impatience. She knew that only people who cared about you would be this fussy, wanting to know every little detail because they were worried about you.
"As long as you’re all getting along, that’s good. From what you’ve said, your younger brother sounds really nice. If you have the chance later, bring him back for to see."
Grandma Sun was relieved. She had taken an interest in Gu’er’s younger brother, Lin Zheng. As for Lin Sui’er, she didn’t ask. Gu’er hadn’t said much about her, so she was probably the only one in that family who didn’t get along with Gu’er.
"Okay. I’ll bring him to see you later, Grandma."
Gu’er nodded. After spending the last few days with him, she had discovered that Lin Zheng was a very sweet and kind kid. If you were good to him, he was good to you. He wasn’t scheming at all, unlike Lin Sui’er.
"Your parents didn’t say anything about you coming back?"
Grandma Sun asked, a hint of worry in her eyes. Even though Gu’er’s parents in the Lin Family had said all the right things, she was genuinely worried that they would control Gu’er in the future and not let her return to the village.
"Not at all. My parents even asked to say hello to you for them. They said they’ll co visit you too, Grandma, when they’re not busy."
Of course, Gu’er knew what Grandma Sun was implying.
"That’s good enough. They’re busy as can be, so they don’t need to co see . As long as they let you co back, that’s all that matters."
Grandma Sun was relieved.
Gu’er smiled.
At noon, Gu’er went to the kitchen and made lunch. The three of them ate happily. Afterward, Grandma Sun took her afternoon nap, while Gu’er and Sun Jiaming sat in the main hall.
She told Sun Jiaming about things in the city, about the storefront, and about her ti with the Lin Family. She told him many, many things.
Sun Jiaming just watched her like that, listening quietly as she spoke, only occasionally interjecting a word or two.
"Why do you keep staring at ? Is there dirt on my face?"
Gu’er blushed a little under his gaze.
"No, you’re beautiful. I haven’t seen you in days. I can’t get enough of looking at you."
Sun Jiaming blurted out what was on his mind without a second thought. After he said it, he blushed a little himself. When he looked at Gu’er again, he saw her face had turned as red as a cloth. But her eyes, shimring like autumn water, made his heart race, and he suddenly grabbed her hand.
Gu’er jumped, startled. Ever since the night Sun Jiaming confessed his feelings for her, he had been getting bolder and bolder—either pulling her hand or hugging her. ’It’s a good thing I don’t live here, otherwise...’
Gu’er felt her face grow hot, almost burning. However, she also knew Sun Jiaming wouldn’t do anything more. Still, at this youthful age, a restless feeling in her heart was unavoidable.
Gu’er left in the afternoon. Grandma Sun was very reluctant to see her go and tried to make her take the things she had brought back with her. But Gu’er wouldn’t hear of it and left everything behind.
Sun Jiaming packed so things from the village for Gu’er: dried mushrooms, mountain wood ear fungus, and a large fish. He had caught it in the river with a net. It weighed almost two and a half pounds, which wasn’t small at all.
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Thank you to lody Ranran, Mingming Baobao Geda, and jx060519 for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support. The third update will be around 7 o’clock.
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