Seeing the money earned today needing to be spent tomorrow, Liang Hongmei couldn’t help but feel a bit reluctant. However, looking at the successful hot pot restaurant run by her daughter and son, she was instantly relieved. She just needed to take care of her clay pot restaurant and let the kids do their thing.
The next day, Lin Yinghui went to the city after seven, first visiting the mall selling cars, asking about prices. As suspected, even a mediocre one cost over three hundred.
After checking two markets with consistent prices, Lin Yinghui took Lin Wan’s advice and went to the secondhand market.
There were quite a few vehicles, but most were not very functional.
After wandering for half a day, Lin Yinghui hadn’t found one he liked.
"Lin Yinghui, classmate?"
"Mu Qing, classmate?"
Mu Qing smiled at him, "What are you here to buy?"
"I’m here to buy a tricycle. Are you selling bicycles?"
"No, did you find anything you like?"
"Want me to help pick one for you? What’s it for?" She knew Lin Yinghui wasn’t a local and still did odd jobs at school. Why the sudden need to sell a tricycle?
"To haul some vegetables." Lin Yinghui thought an extra person might give more opinions, so he casually mentioned.
"Oh... Follow me." Mu Qing gestured to Lin Yinghui to follow her as she spoke.
Lin Yinghui hesitated but followed, when Mu Qing pointed to an old goods store and said, "This is my uncle’s place. Let’s go, I’ll have him fix one up for you."
"Qingqing’s back, weren’t you off yesterday? Why come today? Your aunt thought you would visit yesterday and made a pot of chicken for you." As Lin Yinghui followed Mu Qing inside, he saw a thin, weak-looking middle-aged man tinkering with a bicycle.
"I had some homework to finish, so I didn’t come yesterday. Uncle, this is my classmate who wants a tricycle. Can you fix him up a good one?" Mu Qing said as she crouched next to her uncle, pointing to Lin Yinghui.
Mu Qing’s uncle looked up at Lin Yinghui and smiled, "Qingqing’s classmate, ah? Please sit down. I must say, I picked up one the day before yesterday. It’s rusty, the tires and seat are damaged, but the frame is sturdy. I haven’t had time to fix it yet, so I didn’t display it."
Mu Qing’s uncle stood up while speaking, walking toward the yard, and shouted to Lin Yinghui.
Within a minute, he pushed the old tricycle out, "Take a look."
The tricycle wasn’t very large, but the cargo hold at the back was deep, with vertical and horizontal iron railings on both sides. The frame looked good, and Lin Yinghui nodded in satisfaction, "Uncle, I’ll take this one. Could you please fix it for me?"
"Sure, it won’t take long. Qingqing, take your classmate inside to sit down. Your aunt went to work, but she’ll be back for lunch. Since you rarely bring classmates by, stay for lunch."
"No need, no need. I have some things to do and need to leave soon, so let’s skip lunch."
Mu Qing smiled at Lin Yinghui and said to her uncle, "Uncle, he has things to do, let’s plan for lunch another day. Hurry up with the repairs."
"Don’t worry, wouldn’t trust your uncle? Since he’s your classmate, I’ll certainly use the best." Mu Qing’s uncle laughed heartily and got busy with the repairs.
"Thanks for today. I really need to treat you to a meal another day." Lin Yinghui, satisfied with his purchase, smiled at Mu Qing at the shop entrance.
"I’ll remember that; you better not back out."
"The rust is bad; better paint it over." Mu Qing didn’t ask him why he needed to haul vegetables.
"I’ll buy some paint and do it myself when I get back."