The next day, Bai Xiao and An Zhiyuan finally bought pots, pans, ladles, and everything else, even a gas stove and a gas cylinder, so their home at last had the look of a real home.
More importantly, today they also purchased a television, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and even a radio, with all that, their home could now be considered completely perfect.
When the appliances were delivered, Bai Xiao had just taken the bed sheets and quilt covers they needed out of the car, having bought a heap of fabric. But ready-made items like these weren’t available now, so she had spent an extra yuan to have the tailor at the store cut them out and sew them together with a sewing machine.
A whole set of floral and elegant curtains, quilt covers, and bed sheets made the house look warm and graceful; it instantly felt like a real home.
On top of that, Bai Xiao had made a trip to the market. To their surprise, the market wasn’t far from their compound—just two streets away, where a large variety of fresh vegetables were available. Perhaps due to the climate, there was no shortage of vegetables and fruits here.
Bai Xiao wasn’t shy about it, buying some of everything she liked.
Especially considering that they planned to invite some familiar friends over the next day, they of course needed to prepare a bit more.
Therefore, they got a selection of chicken, fish, meat, eggs, as well as vegetables, fruits, grains, and flour. Bai Xiao even made sure to have a full range of seasonings, as she liked to have a full palette of flavors to create the dishes she wanted.
Fortunately, the cost of living here was much cheaper than in their provincial capital, perhaps because this was a border city.
Despite being a provincial city, the streets were dilapidated, the buildings old, and it was apparent many pedestrians dressed in ethnic minority styles. Around the market, many farmers were selling their home-grown produce from baskets, just to make a small amount of money.
The prices were incredibly low, so much so that Bai Xiao was left speechless. In their place, something that would cost five cents a pound would here cost only two cents, and they’d even give you a little extra to ensure you didn’t think the weight was lacking. All that for just a smile, over a matter of two cents.
An Zhiyuan was already nimbly moving things, "Xiaoxiao, go upstairs and rest for a while. I’ve got the water boiling. You can make yourself a cup of tea when it’s ready. Leave the rest to me; you don’t need to do this." He, a man, was already feeling tired.
Let alone Bai Xiao, a girl; An Zhiyuan felt sorry for his wife, who had been bustling about nonstop since their return.
Cradling the vegetables, Bai Xiao headed upstairs, agreeing, "Okay, then. I’ll go up and organize things. You hurry up, too. Tonight, we should be able to rest in our own home. I don’t want to stay in the guesthouse ever again."
Heaven knows how stifling the past two days in the guesthouse had been, the room damp, not to mention the musty smell that was so strong it was coming from the beds and blankets. It was uncomfortable to sleep on them.
The quilts she bought today were the best ones from the department store. It wasn’t too cold at night here, so the quilts were not the thick cotton ones from the north but lightweight quilted blankets, lined with a thin layer of cotton mesh and sporting the currently popular bright red and green satin backing. Thankfully, they had been aired out in the sun all day, which should mean a good night’s sleep scented with sunshine for her.
"Alright, I’ll go up." An Zhiyuan particularly loved hearing his wife say "our home." It showed Bai Xiao’s acceptance of their union and, in his heart, made him feel like part of a family, the closest of kin.
With that thought, he found an extra burst of energy to get to work.