"An’an, come to town with me for market day! I’ll treat you to something tasty."
In the early morning, Shen You’an was observing two small dragonflies fighting among the withered branches and wilted lotus leaves near the small pond when Zhang Xiaoyu came rushing over, grabbed Shen You’an, and started running.
"Wait, let me go back and grab my glasses..."
"No time, Feifei’s grandpa is waiting for us."
A straight concrete road stretched endlessly through the wheat fields, flanked by dense poplar trees on both sides. The bright sunlight pierced through the gaps in the branches, scattering specks of playful light like mischievous little elves.
A tricycle was traveling along the concrete road. The refreshing morning breeze brushed against their faces, and Shen You’an, sitting in the bed of the tricycle, tucked her windswept hair behind her ears.
Beside her, Zhang Xiaoyu’s voice was chattering away with boundless enthusiasm.
She was passionately raving about how handsome, gentle, and mesmerizing the singing of a "newly discovered guy" was...
Zhang Feifei listened with a soft smile, occasionally offering some affirmations, which only made Zhang Xiaoyu even more vigorous. Before long, she was dry-mouthed and parched.
"Feifei, I’m telling you, investing in this guy is a surefire win. Don’t forget to vote for him when we get back."
Zhang Feifei whispered, "My mom doesn’t let me watch TV. I went to bed early last night, and I can’t help you vote. My mom doesn’t even let me touch the phone."
Zhang Xiaoyu sympathetically patted Zhang Feifei’s shoulder, "Good sister."
"Sister An," Zhang Feifei looked at Shen You’an with eyes shining brighter than a 200-watt light bulb.
The little stool beneath her subtly shifted closer toward Shen You’an.
"Sister An, when are you going back to Qingzhou?" the young girl asked, her big eyes blinking earnestly.
Shen You’an crossed her long legs in a relaxed pose, an action requiring considerable dexterity, but her legs were so slender and long that she made it look effortless.
Even sitting in a rustic little tricycle, she carried herself with an indescribable air of leisurely elegance.
Zhang Xiaoyu rolled her eyes at her, "What? You want to chase Sister An away already?"
Blushing furiously, Zhang Feifei quickly waved her hands, "No, no, I... I want Sister An to stay longer. I still have so many things I want to ask her about. How could I bear for her to leave?"
As she spoke, her eyes began to redden, tears welling up and threatening to spill.
Shen You’an chuckled and patted her on the head, "I can only stay for three days. After that, I have to go back."
Zhang Feifei broke into a happy smile, "That’s wonderful."
Zhang Xiaoyu muttered under her breath, "Hurry up and leave already. When you’re at home, you keep pestering me about my studies. It’s so annoying."
But when she turned around, the faint redness in her eyes betrayed a hint of melancholy.
The nearest town, Qingsong Town, was five kilometers away, a journey of just over twenty minutes.
Qingsong Town was the largest town within a ten-mile radius, and today was market day. From the town’s entrance onward, stalls lined the streets packed with people coming and going. The tricycle couldn’t go further and had to be parked at the wild grass lot near the town entrance.
Zhang Feifei’s grandpa parked the tricycle and, noticing the three girls were about to leave, quickly called them back.
The elderly man pulled a shiny handkerchief out of his pocket, the bulging fabric hiding something inside.
Shen You’an seemed to have an inkling of what it might be.
The elderly man carefully unfolded the handkerchief, layer by layer, revealing neatly stacked banknotes of various denominations.
With fingers rough with calluses and wrinkles, he pulled out a twenty-yuan note and handed it to Shen You’an: "Take it, child. Buy something nice for yourself."
Shen You’an’s dry lips pressed together, "Grandpa..."
Without giving her a chance to refuse, the elderly man slipped the banknote into Shen You’an’s arms, "You’re a city girl, but you shouldn’t suffer in the countryside. When your mom was little, I used to carry her around; now in the blink of an eye, her daughter has grown this big. Have fun with Feifei and the others. If you need more money, let Grandpa know."
Afterward, he handed a few more notes to Zhang Xiaoyu and Zhang Feifei.
Then, with hands clasped behind his back and a hunched figure, he disappeared into the crowd.
Suddenly, the banknotes felt scorching in Shen You’an’s hands.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoyu and Zhang Feifei were overjoyed, dragging the dazed Shen You’an along as if they were two wild mares galloping into the throng of people.
Zhang Feifei loved all sorts of pretty hair clips and bands; she couldn’t walk past those stalls without stopping. On the other hand, Zhang Xiaoyu was obsessed with snacks—grilled sausages, bread, ice jelly... grazing endlessly as they went.
Shen You’an walked amidst the dense crowd, surrounded by the constant calls and shouts of the vendors. The sunlight shone on every sincere and unpretentious face she passed. This warm, bustling world filled with everyday life brought an indescribable, poignant sense of comfort to her heart.
A vendor surrounded by the largest crowd caught Zhang Xiaoyu’s attention, and the ever-curious Zhang Xiaoyu dragged Shen You’an into the throng.