Chapter 23: Visiting

“Ha, got it! Otherwise, I’d have to ride to town.”

Yu Feixiang emerged from the crowd, waving a bag of pork and shouting at Sang Shen.

“You bought already? What’d you get?”

“Nothing yet.”

“Damn, go buy! Meat’s gonna sell out!”

“Huh?”

“Meat goes first, then the good veggies get picked over. Wait longer, and you’re left with the dregs.”

“That bad? Looked like plenty…”

“Only Thursdays are guaranteed. These old folks don’t go to town, so they stock up for the week. Gotta buy big.”

“…Oh! I didn’t even think…”

“Man, want me to split some meat? Got a bag?”

“No, no, I’ll pass on meat. If I really want some, I’ll bike to town.”

“That’s such a hassle!”

“It’s fine…”

“No need to be polite with me. I’m off to stick this in the fridge.”

Yu Feixiang shook his hefty meat bag.

“Coming over to hang later!”

“Cool…”

“Been forever, we gotta catch up!”

Yu Feixiang laughed with a dramatic flair, like some old-school江湖 hero.

“Alright… come to my place for lunch?”

“You got no meat, what’m I eating?”

His childhood friend, already a few steps away, rolled his eyes.

“How ‘bout you come to my place instead?”

“Let’s talk later, it’s still early…”

“Cool, see ya!”

Sang Shen nodded, then glanced awkwardly at Yin Xing.

“Guess no meat today…”

Yin Xing didn’t seem to care.

“Can’t taste it anyway.”

“Since we missed out, let’s wait till the crowd thins. Something’s gotta be left…”

“…Yeah.”

***

Half an hour later, the crowd dispersed. Villagers, chatting and laughing, headed home with bags bulging. The van was nearly picked clean.

No meat left, just one fish. Veggies and fruits remained, but only the less appealing ones.

With a ‘might as well’ mindset, Sang Shen turned to the loose pickles and preserves, planning to get some for porridge.

“Hey, kid, got squeezed out earlier? Haha, no meat left!”

“It’s fine… I’ll take some pickles. How much?”

“Depends what you want. Sugar-vinegar garlic’s one mao each, pickled radish heads are one yuan, pickled cucumbers are five mao each…”

“You gotta cut ‘em yourself?”

“Yup, that’s the good part—cut ‘em how you like, slices or strips.”

“Wondered why I didn’t see you guys in there.”

Lin Qing looked at them.

“No veggies?”

“Ahem, got pushed out…”

“Oh~ Knew it. Want half of mine?”

“Nah, you need to eat too.”

“I can skimp a bit.”

“No way, you won’t have energy to run around if you don’t eat enough.”

“Hmm… well…”

“It’s cool, I can bike to town if I need to. It’s easy.”

“Alright, no need to be shy with me, okay?”

“Haha, the post office girl’s always so kind.”

Uncle Zhang pointed at the lone fish, grinning.

“Kid, no pork, but there’s fish. Make braised fish chunks? It’s perch, barely any bones! Steam it with scallions and soy sauce—mmm, so fresh!”

“I don’t know how to clean fish…”

“I can!”

Lin Qing raised her hand.

“Sang Shen, if you buy it, I’ll clean it. Got a fish scale brush at home!”

“Really? You sure…?”

“No problem~! Got a special brush!”

“How ‘bout it, kid? Last one, cheap—seven yuan a jin. This perch is small, just over a jin. If it’s too much work, steaming’s great too!”

Sang Shen was tempted.

“Uh… alright, I’ll take it.”

“Sweet!”

The owner netted the perch, tossing it into the scale’s plastic bin.

“One jin, two liang—eight yuan, four mao.”

“Cool, and… ten sugar-vinegar garlics, two pickled radishes, and four pickled cucumbers.”

“All in one bag?”

“Uh… yeah, together’s fine.”

The owner swiftly bagged the pickles and fish, handing them over.

“Thirteen yuan, four mao total.”

“Here’s ten, and three… hold on, I thought I had some one-mao bills…”

Sang Shen rummaged his pockets.

“Oops, used ‘em… here’s five mao.”

“Got it, here’s one mao change. Want anything else?”

“Yin Xing, you want anything?”

Sang Shen tilted his head for her opinion.

“…No.”

“Alright then… see ya, uncle.”

“Come back next Thursday!”

Uncle Zhang waved, laughing.

Lin Qing tucked her veggies in her bike basket, smiling brightly.

“I’ll grab the fish scale brush. See you later, Sang Shen, Xiao Xing!”

“No rush, take your time, don’t fall.”

“I usually don’t~!”

“…That’s not reassuring at all!”

“…Women don’t remember your concern.”

Yin Xing turned, muttering sullenly, and walked home on her own.

“Ugh…”

Watching her stride off, Sang Shen held back from blurting that Lin Qing was their third self.

“She should be ready to know by now… but I’ll check with Lin Qing first…”

***

From his doorstep, Sang Shen looked out—the van under the locust tree was gone.

It hadn’t left the village, just moved deeper in. Though most goods were sold, pickles and daily items likely still had buyers.

“Every Thursday, huh…”

Sang Shen murmured.

“Get some meat from the peddler, add wild greens from around here, and we could live pretty cheaply.”

He looked up to see Yin Xing slumped on the table, looking exhausted despite the short walk.

“Haven’t had breakfast… hungry?”

“…Fine.”

“Drink some water then. I’ll wash the clothes—call me if Xiao Xiang shows up.”

“…Pour it for me.”

“Huh?”

“Pour me water.”

“Oh, right… hot or iced mint sweet water?”

“…Iced.”

“Got it.”

Sang Shen opened the green fridge, pulling out a big bowl of mint sweet water, scooping a cup with a ladle and setting the cool, misty glass before her.

She sat up slightly, holding the cup with both hands, sipping slowly. Her fatigue seemed to ease a bit.

Sang Shen rushed upstairs, grabbing yesterday’s clothes from the bathroom to wash downstairs.

The upstairs space was tight, and the side of the house had a stone washboard by a pool, making laundry easier.

He washed Yin Xing’s clothes too, as he had the past few days.

Luckily, her underwear was men’s style—less awkward. If it were tiny panties, he wouldn’t know where to start…

“A washing machine would be nice. Handwashing’s such a pain…”

He muttered, pressing the well pump’s handle. After a brief delay, cold water gushed out.

“No faucet outside, gotta use the well… Summer’s fine, but winter’s gonna suck… Still, better than washing in the river…”

He always looked on the bright side, refusing to let life crush him.

“Sun’s great today. Maybe make more mint sweet water for popsicles later…”

***

“Little Leaf, Little Leaf!!”

“Over here!”

Sang Shen, washing clothes by the house, poked out.

“Xiao Xiang, you’re here.”

“What you up to?”

“Laundry.”

“You’re washing your own clothes? Your parents not back?”

“My parents passed away.”

“What? No way, you joking?”

“For real. Why else would I move back here? City rent’s too high, and the house they left me isn’t ready yet. Nowhere to stay.”

“Can’t crash at your sister’s? That’s your cousin, right? Never heard of a real sister.”

“Uh, yeah, cousin. But her family’s got issues too.”

“Damn, what kinda hard luck!”

Yu Feixiang stepped up, slapping Sang Shen’s back.

“Hurry up, I brought something good.”

“What?”

Yu Feixiang didn’t answer, just patted his backpack mysteriously.

“Heh, something awesome, don’t ask, you’ll see.”

“Being all secretive…”

Sang Shen smacked his lips.

“Fine, go sit in the living room.”

“Nah, your cousin’s napping there.”

“There’s other chairs.”

“Me and her face-to-face? Awkward.”

“You’d be shy?”

“Duh, such a pretty cousin—I’d be weird if I wasn’t shy! We’re not close!”

“Sang Shen~~ I brought the fish scale brush!”

Before Sang Shen looked up, Yu Feixiang spun around, eyes wide at Lin Qing.

“Damn… Sang Shen, don’t tell me she’s another cousin!”

“…Nope.”

“Hell, your girlfriend then?”

“What nonsense you spouting? Heat got you feverish?” Sang Shen shot him a look.

“Man, why else would she come hang with you?”

“Just a playmate, like when we were kids playing with girls.”

“Kids is one thing, we’re almost adults now, totally different!”

Yu Feixiang leaned to Sang Shen’s ear, whispering fast.

“You’re one lucky guy, she’s freaking pretty too! Super lively type—I’m into that!”

“You fall for every pretty girl…”

Sang Shen rolled his eyes.

“Don’t get yourself rejected.”

“Man, with my charm, who’d reject me?”

“Go look in a mirror at that chubby face first.”

“It’s not chubby, it’s baby fat! Refined and jade-like!”

“You’ve got some nerve…”