Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Good Stuff Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Good Stuff The exams spanned two days, and Second Cousin and Auntie sent her off each day.
Lu Jingqiu found the questions fairly easy and felt there weren’t any major issues.
Hearing this, Yang Mingchao and Zhou Lanping both happily let out a sigh of relief.
After returning home, Lu Jingqiu slept for an entire day and night.
She had been wound up too tight lately, fearing any mishap could occur, just as much as she feared missing her chance with the university.
Once the exams were over, she left everything up to fate.
After relaxing for a couple of days, Lu Jingqiu resumed her routine lifestyle.
It was also around this time that the two paintings she had mailed to the Liberation Newspaper were selected. The newspaper suggested she create several more for a series they planned to serialize through August.
Lu Jingqiu was quite happy when she read the letter, as she now had plenty of time to create, having finished her exams.
Lu Jingqiu returned home and once again started to “shadow” Xiao Shun and his friends.
Xiao Shun thought he must have done something wrong because Sister Xiao Qiu followed them from time to time.
Today, he didn’t even feel like playing, instead heading straight home with his backpack.
Lu Jingqiu caught up with him and asked, “Xiao Shun, no activities today?”
Xiao Shun glanced askance at Lu Jingqiu and said, “Sister Xiao Qiu, don’t pretend you don’t know. Ever since my mom took a liking to Ah Fu, you’ve had more to talk about with her, and now you’re even following me from time to time. Did my mom ask you if I’ve been mischievous outside?”
Lu Jingqiu shrugged helplessly, “I don’t have so much free time to do that, and besides, between you and your mom, I stand with you brothers and sisters after all. We’re from the same generation.”
Xiao Shun looked at her skeptically, “You’re sure you haven’t been ratting me out to my mom?”
“I swear.”
“Hmph, then why do you keep following us? With you around, they don’t want to play with me.”
“I am an illustrator, specifically of children’s drawings. Following you helps me find inspiration. I’ve recently written a little picture book that’s being serialized in the Liberation Newspaper.”
“Huh? Sister Xiao Qiu, you couldn’t have written about me, could you?”
Lu Jingqiu nodded, “The protagonist of the drawings is you.”
Xiao Shun was delighted, “Really?”
“True. Keep an eye on the Liberation Newspaper; there should be an issue published today.”
Excited about being featured in Sister Xiao Qiu’s newspaper column, Xiao Shun rushed back home without even looking at the newspaper and told Aunt Liu he had made the paper.
It took half a day’s confusion and questioning before she realized that Xiao Qiu had turned the daily lives of the courtyard’s children into drawings.
Regimental Commander Liu was particularly proud when he learned about this, thinking his son had made the news.
Before going to bed, he even made a special request to his wife to bring some treats for Qiuqiu to show their appreciation.
So, the next morning, as soon as Lu Jingqiu got up, Aunt Liu came over with five or six big meat buns.
“Aunt Liu, what’s the matter?”
Aunt Liu smiled and said, “Xiao Qiu, I heard from Xiao Shun yesterday that you included him in your drawing, and it got published in the paper. It made his dad and me so happy. I mean, the kid’s always mischievous like a little monkey, but how could he become the protagonist of a newspaper story? I find that so endearing. It is something I can brag about to relatives and friends. I made these meat buns specially this morning just to thank you, and you must accept them.”
“Ah, Aunt Liu, please don’t be so formal. I couldn’t have created it without the inspiration from Xiao Shun and the others. How can I take your things? Aunt Liu, buns are precious; please take them back.”
“They might be precious, but we can afford them. Qiuqiu, don’t be so pushy early in the morning, and don’t let the neighbors across see and make a joke of it. That would spread everywhere. I’ve put them down for you, and I’ll come for the plate in the afternoon.”
Aunt Liu didn’t give her a chance to refuse, set down the buns, and headed back to her courtyard.
Lu Jingqiu hadn’t expected to receive such a treatment just for using Xiao Shun as a model for a drawing.
She was torn about eating the buns, feeling like she was taking advantage of the situation.
…
West City Black Market
Dressed up in gray, patched clothing, wearing a black hat, and with a grubby face, a “young fellow” with a bamboo basket on his back, covered with a layer of old cloth, made his way confidently into the alley.
He casually paid a penny to an old man walking his bird, then directly entered.
Fish Tail Alley was intricate and interconnected, making it difficult to catch anyone even if there were a raid, and most of the local residents were well aware of the Fish Tail Black Market.
The stalls didn’t open at the same time everyday; as long as the bird-walking old man was around, it was certain the black market was open that day.
Xue Jianian observed the long alley filled with people squatting or standing, with baskets or bamboo baskets in front of them.
The alley buzzed with people coming and going quietly, and all transactions were conducted in whispers.