Liu'er left Zhangqingshan overnight with a group of guards, and returned bustling when dusk fell on the second day.
Carriages were lined up at the entrance of the village, and a dozen men were busy tearing apart the oilcloth covering them.
Hearing the excitement, the villagers gathered in twos and threes. The adults stood a little further away and looked curiously, but the children couldn't help but come closer.
"Come on." Liu'er jumped out of the car, holding up two large paper bags with a bit of pride, "Eat some candied fruits."
When the children saw her reaching out, they all backed away in fright.
"Preserved fruits, they are the most famous in Qingyuan Prefecture." Liu'er said, taking out the preserved fruits from the paper bag and throwing them into his mouth, then curling his lips, "Of course, this product is not as good as the ones in the capital."
Children are children after all, and they couldn't help but salivate when they looked at the candied fruit.
"I have seen it. I saw it when my second uncle and I went to the city." A child said, putting his finger in his mouth and sucking it.
I have seen it but never eaten it.
I can’t even eat enough, so where can I get snacks?
It is said that the candied fruit is very sweet, sweeter than the sweet grass roots dug out of the ground.
Liu'er approached them again with a bit of pride and handed over another unopened paper package.
"Here, eat." she said.
As if he had lost control, the child standing at the front reached out and took it. Until he got the paper package, he was still dreaming.
How did I get it?
Liu'er had already picked one up and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Eat it." She giggled.
As soon as the first person entered the candied fruit, the other children couldn't bear it any longer and rushed forward.
Children of all sizes grabbed the candied fruits, stuffed them into their mouths, and happily held them up and ran towards their families.
"Dad, try it."
"Mom, it's candied fruit."
"Grandpa, have you eaten it?"
The children's joking and the adults' reserved push and pull made the village entrance more lively.
A pack of candied fruits can cause such a commotion, and Miss Jun felt sad watching from the sidelines.
"These candied fruits are nothing." Liu'er continued with a bit of show off, pointing to the carriages and horses behind him, "I bought everything. The best rice, noodles, oil, sugar, salt and vinegar, meat, vegetables and fish in Qingyuan Prefecture, and also...
Once you have made an order, fresh vegetables, meat, and fish will be delivered from the city every seven days, and ten grocery stores will also deliver groceries here every seven days. Food, drink, and entertainment are all available."
Having just received the candied fruits, the children were more relaxed and boldly walked around the carriages and horses to look at the goods on them. The adults couldn't help but take a few steps closer to point.
"What are you doing?" a voice came from behind.
The adults immediately backed away, and the children stopped talking and laughing, and looked back as Xia Yong and his wife came over.
"Second Uncle Xia." Miss Jun stepped forward and said, "I asked someone to bring some rice to eat. How do you think it should be distributed to everyone?"
Xia Yong looked solemn, while Xia Yong's wife gave her a grateful look but said nothing.
"Miss Jun, you can use your rice for yourself," Xia Yong said, "We can't share it."
Sure enough, I still didn’t accept it.
Hearing what he said, the children who were still holding the candied fruits in their hands suddenly put the candied fruits back into the paper bag. The child holding the paper bag also ran to Liu'er and gave her the paper bag.
"Hey!" Liu'er only had time to shout, and the child ran away like a rabbit.
All the villagers and children retreated and moved in unison.
"What are you doing? You don't want anything to eat when you have it." Liu'er said angrily, "You have to eat bran pancakes?"
No one spoke or came forward, and their eyes no longer even looked at the goods on the carriage and horse.
"Uncle Xia, you also know that I have no ill intentions." Miss Jun said, "I just want to do something, and I happen to be able to do it."
Xia Yong nodded and wanted to say something, but Sister-in-law Xia spoke first.
"Miss Jun, we all understand what you mean." She said sincerely, "It's just that we also hope that you can understand."
Her eyes were a little red, she looked at Miss Jun and slowly shook her head.
"You know why you did this, and we also know it. We're sorry, but we don't accept it."
It is not her kindness that is not accepted, but the person on whom her kindness is based.
This shouldn't be the case, but she also understands that many things like this don't need to be justified.
Miss Jun remained silent while Xia Yong and his wife saluted her and turned to leave. The villagers immediately dispersed without hesitation, and in a blink of an eye they were the only ones left at the entrance of the village.
Although there are many carriages and horses, it still looks lonely and embarrassing.
"You're really ungrateful!" Liu'er said angrily, staring and stamping her feet.
Miss Jun glanced at her, and Liu'er stuck out her tongue and shrank her head, not daring to speak.
"Put it away first." Miss Jun said to Lei Zhonglian.
Lei Zhonglian responded yes.
"Then can we eat tonight?" Liu'er asked eagerly.
Miss Jun smiled again when she saw Liu'er's pitiful look.
Some people have never endured hardship and do not need to endure hardship. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Some people do not want to endure hardship but insist on enduring hardship for the sake of their faith. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
She nodded, and Liu'er raised her hands and cheered.
Night enveloped the mountain village, and the mountain village fell into darkness at night. The oil for food was not enough, and lamp oil was even more luxurious. There was only one courtyard with lights on in the whole village. That was naturally Miss Jun's residence. Not only were the lights in the house, but also in the courtyard.
There are also torches burning and lanterns hanging.
These are all newly added today, and they shine brightly like stars in the night, allowing people standing on the mountain to see this place more clearly than during the day.
"Niuniu."
There was a call in the night, and the figure standing on the mountain road immediately turned around and said yes.
There are no lights on the house here, and you can vaguely see a figure standing at the door of the house.
"It's time to sleep." The woman said softly.
The girl hummed again and walked over. She stopped in front of the woman.
"What's wrong?" the woman asked, stroking her head.
The girl's eyes shine in the night.
"How old was I when my father left?" she asked suddenly.
The woman's hand paused slightly.
"Three years old." She said softly.
The girl said oh.
"I was too young to remember anything," she said.
I don’t even know what that man looks like, and I have no memory of the deep love between father and daughter.
"It's nothing. There are too many things that I can't remember." The woman said softly, holding her daughter's shoulders, "People always have to look forward."
The girl followed her into the house without saying a word, the door closed, and the mountain fell into complete silence.
In the bright morning light, Miss Jun stopped on the mountain road. She raised her head and looked ahead, then looked down at the notebook she was holding.
It's so difficult.
This is really embarrassing for these people.
Miss Jun simply sat down on the mountain road and put her chin in her hand, lost in thought.
So what should we do?
"Ho!"
A long shout came from down the mountain.
Miss Jun looked subconsciously and saw that the villagers here got up early to work. Sitting high up, she could see people scattered on the hillsides in the fields.
There are old people, women and children.
The shouting stopped, and then there was the sound of banging again.
Why bang the clapper? A thought flashed across Miss Jun's mind, and her eyes widened immediately. All the working people within sight suddenly waved their farm tools.
"ha!"
From all directions, far and near, high, low, old, weak, and childish, shouts rang out at the same time.
The clapper sounded again.
The man swung the hoe he raised heavily, the sickle in the child's hand slashed steadily, and the woman stepped forward to push the basket out in front of her.
"ha!"
The voices once again dispersed and gathered together.