Chiang Xiao hadn’t eaten her fill last night, and after tossing and turning for half the night, she hadn’t had breakfast either. By this time, she was so hungry that her stomach was sticking to her back.
When she passed by a breakfast stall, she bought four plain buns for only forty cents.
These buns were quite large, and eating two would be enough to fill her up.
As she walked toward the big banyan tree, biting into the plain buns, she felt a sense of deep satisfaction. Being able to earn money and buy plain buns already gave her a great sense of accomplishment.
Sometimes happiness is that simple.
She waited under the big banyan tree for a while, and sure enough, Chiang Songhai showed up.
From a distance, when he saw Chiang Xiao, he called out to her with a touch of worry, "Little!"
Chiang Xiao hadn’t returned all night, which had caused them great concern.
Although they had the letter sent back by Yao Cong, it was still not enough to ease their minds. Why would she stay overnight just to help someone else?
The elderly couple had been worried all night, and it was only at the moment when they saw Chiang Xiao safe and sound that Chiang Songhai truly felt relieved.
"Grandpa!" Chiang Xiao said, filled with guilt.
But with the urgency of the situation, she had no other choice.
"What were you thinking, girl?" Chiang Songhai couldn’t help but poke her forehead with his hand.
Chiang Xiao, enduring the guilt, repeated the lie she had fabricated, but in her heart, she blamed Tyrant Meng. If not for him, why would she have lied and deceived her grandfather? And made them worry all night.
Thankfully, there would be no further dealings with him in the future. She could go back to living her simple, orderly life as a village girl from Siyang Village.
At that moment, Chiang Xiao had no idea that her interactions with someone had just begun.
"You can’t do this again in the future!" Chiang Songhai scolded her seriously. Helping people is good, but she was still so young, how could she stay at someone else’s house overnight?
Chiang Xiao quickly agreed.
Chiang Songhai then ran back and brought several sacks from the ox cart, paying the villager driving the cart five cents.
To come to the town by ox cart cost five cents for a trip, and one could bring three sacks and a carrying basket. Bringing more required an extra fee.
Chiang Songhai had brought quite a few items this time, but he had made sure to keep within the limit for the sacks and baskets.
"Grandpa, I’ve taken the day off. I’ll go to the market with you," Chiang Xiao quickly offered to carry a lighter sack to help.
"You’ve already taken two days off, and now another one, what if you fall behind in your studies?" Chiang Songhai was quite worried.
Chiang Xiao had always wanted to study hard, get into a university, leave Siyang Village, and move to the city. Before, she had never asked for a day off.
"I won’t fall behind in my studies, Grandpa. I promise I’ll still be number one on the tests."
Chiang Xiao had long been the perpetual top student in her school, never once dropping to second place. Besides, her true level was now that of a university graduate; she could easily come first in the sixth grade even if she took the whole term off, right?
If she could, Chiang Xiao would have liked to take more days off. She could thoroughly enjoy a pure student life when she reached high school.
It still left her feeling helpless, surrounded by little boys and girls. With this thought, Chiang Xiao suddenly considered, should she skip a grade when she enters junior high?
She wanted to experience a few good years of school life, but she really had no desire for elementary and junior high. After all, her mental age wasn’t small, and it was uncomfortable to always be around a bunch of children.
"Of course, Grandpa. Don’t you believe in me?"
The two chatted as they walked towards the bustling main street of the market, quickly reaching their destination.
This was a street lined with shops. On ordinary days, there would be two rows of shops on both sides, but on market days, the open space in front of the shops would be crammed with various stalls, making the street more than just lively with the combination of shops and market stalls.