Chapter 6 Off to the Market

  Let's go to the fair!

  Just after dinner, the two sisters packed their things and were ready to go home. Xi Mei thought that no matter how hard a family worked in the fields every day, it was impossible to reach a relatively comfortable standard of living. She wanted to think of a way to free her parents from their busy labor. However, she was too young and no adult would believe her. If things didn't go well, they might even call over an older brother under the pretext of keeping her company, but actually meaning "let your brother keep you company, don't bother us here".

  "Xi Mei, what are you thinking about? We need to head home now, hurry up, don't be dazed!" Xi He called out to her while gathering the baskets on the ground.

  "Got it, I'll be right there." Hurriedly rushing to Xi He's side, this third sister had initially thought she was a quiet and reserved person, but unexpectedly, she was also a proud and arrogant little girl.

  "Be careful on your way home, don't be too playful. Especially you, Xi Mei, no running around." Zhao's reminder came from behind. "Got it, mom. We'll head back now, so don't worry. We promise to have the same food for dinner as we had at noon. Big brother and second brother, you guys must work hard. Otherwise, there won't be any dinner for you tonight."

  "Alright, alright. Let's go." The two brothers chimed in unison and headed back. Honestly, they're still complaining about me being annoying? In the future, I'll let them marry wives who love to nag and see if they dare complain about me again. With a flick of her waist, she walked away with an empty water jug.

  On the way home, we met Qian Shu, also known as Hu Zi's mother. Seeing her, my sisters and I went up to greet her. "Qian Shu, where are you going? Where is Hu Zi? Why hasn't he come to our house to play?"

  "Hey, is it true that tomorrow isn't a gathering day? I'll go ask your uncle Sun if he's going to town tomorrow. If so, I'll hitch a ride on the ox cart. By the way, didn't your mom say she wanted to go to town to sell some goods? Let me ask her when she gets back if she wants to go together?" "Alright, Aunt Qian, I got it. When my mom comes back, I'll ask her where we should meet up tomorrow. Is it still at the willow tree by the village entrance?"

  "Alright, Old Sun will be waiting for us tomorrow. We need to go early if we're going."

  "Got it, Aunt Qian. You can get busy then. Xi Mei and I are heading home too. Let's have Hu Zi come over to my place next time."

  "Alright, I know. You all go back quickly, come to my house to play when you're free, Auntie will make delicious food for you." Only after watching Money Aunt walk far away did Xi Mei ask Xi He. "Third sister, what gathering is it? How far is it from our home? I also want to go, do you think Mother will let us go?"

  "I don't know either, probably less than 10 miles from our home. The market is held on the ninth day of the fourth month. Tomorrow is the ninth day, so there will definitely be many people from nearby villages going to the market. How about you, do you want to go? It's so far away, I'm sure Mother won't let us go."

  Not bad, I didn't expect it to be so developed. Since we're here, how can we not go? Besides, her activity range hasn't left the village for such a long time.

  Made up my mind to take her with her mother tomorrow. The two of them went home, washed the bowls and chopsticks, cooked according to the steps in the morning, hung up the hot water for drinking, prepared the water for washing, and arranged the table and chairs. Zhao's family is also coming back soon.

  Xihe went to the house and finished collecting the silk she had been working on for several days, leaving only Ximei bored and counting ants. At this time, she heard the door creak open and quickly put down the small stick in her hand, rushing towards Zhao Shi.

  "Mother, you're finally back. I was worried to death." As soon as Zhao entered the door, she found an unidentified flying object pouncing on her. "Mother, you must be tired, my third sister and I have already cooked dinner, mother, go wash up quickly. Later, I'll give you a shoulder massage."

  "What's wrong with you today, little mouth is so sweet. Tell mom if you've gotten into some kind of trouble? Or did you break your second sister's things and are afraid she'll scold you, that's why you're trying to get close to me?"

  "Mother, how can it be like this? I just think you're working too hard, so I want to take good care of you. Mother, eat first, we'll talk about it after dinner."

  At dinner time, Xi Mei saw the scene of eating in the morning again. Even the most elegant big brother was eating hastily, let alone the greedy second child. When everyone had eaten enough, Xi Mei ran to Zhao's side and climbed onto her body. Hugging her mother's neck and speaking affectionately, "Mother, we just met Aunt Qian, Aunt Qian said she would go to the market tomorrow and asked if you want to go."

  "Go ahead, the noodles at home should be sold out. Besides, we have accumulated a lot of eggs at home in the past few days and need to go to the market to sell them tomorrow. However, you can't go, you have to stay at home and take care of yourself, do you know that?" As expected, mothers know their daughters best, Zhao's guess about her behavior was spot on.

  When Zhao said that, Xi Mei's eyes, which were full of luster, dimmed, her small hands clenched and unclenched in front of her chest, and her bright red lips pouted. She looked pitiful, and upon closer inspection, tears welled up in the corners of her big eyes, ready to fall at any moment with a blink of her eyelashes.

  At this scene, Zhao's heart softened immediately. She said softly to her "It's not that I don't want to take you there, but the road is too far and difficult to walk, and tomorrow we have to get up early. The market is crowded with people, and I won't be able to take care of you, what if you get lost from me? It will worry your father to death."

  The delicate girl stopped and asked fiercely, "Does Father care about me? I don't, Mother doesn't care about me anymore." Tears were about to fall from her eyes.

  "Oh dear, it's not just your dad, but also your mom and your three sisters and two brothers. They're all worried sick, isn't this enough? Stop crying quickly, you're breaking my heart with your tears."

  "Then you say, take me or not, if not I'll cry." She turned her head away from Zhao Shi and said, "Mother, take my sister with us, if not, bring the second sister along too. With one more person keeping an eye on little sister, nothing will happen for sure." Zhao Shi thought about it and agreed, if she didn't agree that little spoiled brat would throw a tantrum again. Looking at her, although she had turned her head away, she was still secretly glancing back at herself, and as soon as she saw herself looking at her, she quickly turned away with an angry expression. Sigh, this little devil, how can she be so troublesome.

  "Alright, I agree to let you go, but not just you, all four sisters will go. After we're done with our errands, us mothers can take a nice stroll around the streets. Let those three old men stay at home," said Zhao Shi. As soon as she finished speaking, she saw that the little girl who had been pouting earlier immediately turned her head around and gave Zhao Shi two big kisses on the cheek with her chubby hands. She sweetly said, "Mom is the best!" Ugh, there's no way to describe this shameless little girl's audacity.

  They were happy, but the three men were not pleased. Ruihao made a sour face and said, "Mom, take me with you, I don't want to be with Dad and big brother. I promise to be more obedient than little sister."

  "Smelly brat, don't you want to be with us?" Oh no, caught in a pincer movement. Looking at his mother's resolute face, he had no choice but to turn around and fawn on his father instead.

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