"Alright, it’ll be ready in a moment," Qin Xiangnuan responded while taking a freshly-made pancake out of the pan. Since she was about to close up the stall, she cut the pancakes into larger pieces to sell them off quicker. She no longer fretted over slight discrepancies in weight; when doing business, she never intended to be petty in that way. Perhaps for that reason, her business kept on prospering, and her customer base grew. If she took more money than needed, she would actively return it to the customer, and if a pancake turned out too small, she’d rather keep it for herself than sell it. Sometimes for the beggars, she would give them the leftover pancakes because she had earned enough and could afford her life.
Heaven rewards the diligent, and diligence can make up for lack of skill.
She loved this saying. When she first wrote those words by hand, she would always remember the shock she felt at that time. She had enough of suffering in her past life; in this lifetime, she was still willing to endure hardship, just hoping to live a better life.
A drizzle gently floated down to her eyes. She softly closed them, and the water droplets on her eyelashes fell, like pearls seeping into the corners of her eyes.
"All set, 40 cents," she lifted her face, a sparkling drop hanging at the corner of her eye, yet her eyes remained bright and clear, the corners of her lips naturally turned upward with the vivacity of spring, yet also filled with a composed, natural simplicity, leaving an impression like a fragrance lingering from a scroll.
That elegant and attractive hand took the pancake, but it wasn’t over just yet. Her vision blurred momentarily as those warm fingers brushed past the corner of her eye, sweeping away the droplet.
She blinked, and as her focus returned, her gaze finally settled on the man in front of her.
She called out, her heart racing uncontrollably, joy springing from her heart, shining from her eyes, radiating from her face...
"It’s me," Jian Zhiqing straightened his clothes, the waterdrop from his finger seeping into the fabric. He casually leaned against the tricycle, then took a bite of the Conghua pancake.
"When did you get here?"
He asked casually, indifferently, but for some reason, Qin Xiangnuan could hear a chilly warmth in his voice, like the tip of a fine needle.
"I’ve been here for over three months."
She answered honestly. Yes, it had been almost three months. The days passed calmly, yet sometimes they were quite eventful.
Jian Zhiqing suddenly sighed. Before Qin Xiangnuan could react and figure out why he sighed, his large palm was already on top of her head, gently ruffling,
"Have you sold out yet?" He suddenly smiled, dispelling the chill around him. The young man was no longer the youth of the past; he was tall and not as thin as before, perhaps from growing up, his body possessed a manly firmness. The coat he wore was one she made years ago, in dark orchid fabric that suited him well.
The material was good, no pilling, and it still looked new. However, one could tell that it was often worn, as the sleeves and the hem showed normal signs of wear – it was clear that he cherished this piece of clothing. Although frequently worn, it was well-cared for.
This coat could be worn for many years, as long as he didn’t suddenly turn into a big fatty. However, there was basically no chance of that. How could a man in his twenties suddenly become a fatso?