Yan Sisi turned to look at the unfamiliar young woman and was about to struggle, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted a man wearing a red cloth not far ahead, looking in their direction. She immediately realized what was happening and, in a hushed, rural tone, said, “Sister, your place is too big. I got lost while walking, but luckily you came to find me.”
“Let’s go quickly. My mom has cooked something delicious for you at home.”
“All right,” Yan Sisi replied, her heart still racing, and nervously followed the man as they turned away from the black market. They didn’t relax until they had put some distance between themselves and the earlier area.
Once she felt safe, Yan Sisi quickly stepped away from the young woman and, after putting a safe distance between them, loosened her sweaty hands and said to the girl who had saved her, “Thank you for just now, comrade.”
Wang Zhaodi, looking at the cautious little girl, thought that if she weren’t about the same age as her own younger sister, she wouldn’t have bothered. Hearing the girl speak softly, she couldn’t help but warn her, “It’s been strict there recently. Many people have been caught. If you’re just a little girl, don’t go there.”
She looked a bit disdainful of the girl’s disguise. “This is your first time here, isn’t it?”
“How do you know?”
“Your disguise is so simple. Anyone can see you’re a beginner,” Wang Zhaodi said. Although she hadn’t seen much of the world, she could tell immediately that this little girl was inexperienced.
Wang Zhaodi stared curiously at the girl’s pale, delicate hands holding the basket and asked, “What are you here to sell?”
“Vegetables.”
“What kind of vegetables? Everyone else sells rare stuff. People can buy vegetables like yours at the market. Who would want them?”
Yan Sisi quietly lifted a corner of the black cloth to show the girl, then took a strawberry and a bundle of greens from her basket and handed them over, her voice soft and gentle: “This strawberry and greens are for you. Thank you for saving me just now. I have some things to take care of, so I’ll leave first.”
Wang Zhaodi looked at the strawberry and greens pressed into her hands, then glanced at the girl’s departing figure. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “Wait a moment.”
Yan Sisi had only taken a few steps when she heard the voice and turned back in confusion. Wang Zhaodi smiled and said, “You said you want to sell, right? I can show you a good place.”
“A good place?”
“Yes, a good place. Do you want to go?”
Yan Sisi thought for a moment but still shook her head. She didn’t know the person in front of her, just because this person had helped her a moment ago didn’t guarantee they wouldn’t harm her next.
“You’re quite timid. And yet you still dared to come here,” Wang Zhaodi said, continuing, “How are you selling those vegetables?”
“Green vegetables and spinach, half a pound per bundle for 2 cents; chili peppers, 10 for 4 cents; strawberries, three for 10 cents without a coupons,” Yan Sisi recited the prices she had planned beforehand, though she didn’t expect the girl to actually buy anything.
“That expensive? That’s at least half more than the market!” Wang Zhaodi immediately felt a bit of regret, thinking she shouldn’t have spoken before. Seeing the delicate little girl in front of her, she couldn’t help trying to bargain: “Can you lower your price a bit?”
“They are a bit expensive, yes, but you have to see the current weather conditions. These vegetables were carefully tended. Look at them, they’re so plump and fresh. Which market sells vegetables like this?” Yan Sisi replied firmly, refusing to back down. Her vegetables were high quality, but they weren’t necessarily for this girl, someone with a discerning eye would recognize their value.
Wang Zhaodi looked at the very fresh greens in her hands and, despite her hesitation, couldn’t help wanting to buy them. Rarely did she see vegetables in such perfect condition. She worried that once she took them, Old Li wouldn’t accept them. After some internal debate, she finally bit the bullet: “Three bundles of greens, five chili peppers, one bundle of spinach, and three strawberries.”
Yan Sisi remembered the order, led her to a nearby tree, and after ensuring no one was around, opened the basket fully. She picked out the vegetables as noted and handed her a strawberry: “This one’s for you. Once you try it, you’ll see it’s worth the price. Give me 28 cents.”
Wang Zhaodi took her cloth pouch and reluctantly counted out 28 cents, handing it over. She then took the vegetables she had chosen and immediately popped the extra strawberry into her mouth. The instant it touched her tongue, a sweet flavor spread across her taste buds. She instinctively tossed another into her mouth, savoring a sweetness and fragrance she had never experienced before.
By the time Wang Zhaodi stopped, out of the original five strawberries, only two remained. Looking up, she realized the seller had long since left and instantly regretted not asking if she would come back.
Meanwhile, Yan Sisi, despite the rocky first sale and almost being caught, had successfully sold some of her vegetables. Although the earnings were small, it was a start.
Seeing the remaining vegetables in her basket, Yan Sisi wasn’t willing to give up. She ran to a spot not far from the steel factory and, as the workers finished their shift, quietly approached those dressed neatly. She quickly sold most of her vegetables and strawberries.
Although the strawberries were the most expensive, they sold the fastest and were gone in no time. Some people who arrived too late had to leave empty-handed, reminding her to bring more strawberries the next day.
After a few hours, Yan Sisi had earned 2.5 yuan, much better than she had expected. She had worried that her vegetables might not sell, but they had all gone.
Before heading home, she removed her disguise. As she opened the door, she saw her mother tidying up some clothes and food. “Mom, what are you packing?”
“The weather’s been getting really cold. I’m going back to our old home this week to pack some clothes for your grandfather and my father,” Mother Yan replied. She packed everything neatly with cloth and placed it on the top of the cabinet. Then she turned to her daughter: “Why are you running around again? School starts the day after tomorrow. You’ve missed so many days, you’re probably behind on your studies.”
Seeing her mother about to start lecturing, Yan Sisi quickly carried her basket over, pouted, and said, “Mom, didn’t you say the vegetables were really good? I just went to buy some more.”
Fearing further questioning, she added, “Mom, can I come with you to the countryside?”
She hadn’t visited her grandparents, her maternal grandfather, or her cousin for such a long time. Besides, her hometown had mountains and rivers, she could take the opportunity to transplant some plants into her space, and maybe even catch a few fish or shrimp to raise there.
“Your injury isn’t fully healed yet; next time I’ll take you back,” Mother Yan said as she took the basket and inspected the vegetables, nodding in satisfaction. The stir-fried greens she had brought to the hospital for lunch had earned her husband a lot of praise. As she walked toward the kitchen to prepare dinner, she reminded her daughter, “Just buy it occasionally. Do you still have enough pocket money? If not, I can give you some more.”
Yan Sisi sat on the bench in the living room and didn’t insist on going; she planned to wait for the right opportunity. When her mother offered pocket money, she just shook her head, “I still have some.” With so many things at home needing money, she didn’t feel right asking for more.
Dinner was plain porridge and stir-fried spinach. Yan Sisi held her bowl and sipped the porridge, asking, “Mom, when will Dad be discharged?”
“Tomorrow, after one more day of observation. If everything’s fine, he can go home,” her mother replied.
“I’ll go pick Dad up tomorrow,” Yan Sisi said.
Mother Yan thought of her nephew, who had been showing up at the hospital frequently lately, and said, “Can you manage carrying things? Tell Xiangdong that you’ll come help tomorrow night.”
Hearing this, Yan Sisi accidentally bit her tongue and let out a sharp “hiss,” covering her mouth. Her mother immediately grew concerned: “What’s wrong? Did you bite your tongue?”
Yan Sisi nodded tearfully. Once the pain subsided, she mumbled, “Has Cousin been coming often lately?”
Her mother picked up some spinach and replied, “Twice recently. Your dad said he comes by a lot.”
“Doesn’t he have anything else to do? Why is he always at the hospital visiting Dad? Could it be because he’s thinking about Dad’s work?” Yan Sisi asked suspiciously. Her cousin had been appearing way too often since her father got injured.
“Impossible,” her mother said, shaking her head. She had known Xiangdong since he was a child, he wasn’t that kind of person. She reassured her daughter, “Don’t worry. Everyone cares about your dad’s work, but Xiangdong isn’t one of them.”
When Yan Xiangdong was little, he had been extremely mischievous and always getting into trouble. Once, while playing in their hometown, he accidentally fell into water, and it was Yan Sisi’s father, Yan Aiguo, who happened to pass by and saved him.
After that incident, Xiangdong seemed like a completely different person, much more obedient and well-behaved. He followed Aiguo around every day, helping with chores. In their family, whenever there was work to be done, Xiangdong was always the first to appear and lend a hand.
Yan Sisi recalled that in the book, Xiangdong had been courting the daughter of a deputy director. The family required Xiangdong to have a formal job before agreeing to the marriage; otherwise, they wouldn’t allow it.
Her eldest cousin’s family had purchased a job for 300 yuan a few years back. Xiangdong ranked second, but because of previous assignments to the countryside and returning due to illness, he was only a year ahead of his elder cousin. He still hadn’t secured a stable job. The third cousin was the most favored by the eldest aunt, so he had been sent to the countryside in place of the elder cousin. Their job had been obtained through connections.
All their other relatives were still in their hometown. Father Yan had always been kind and never made enemies, and he got along very well with both his colleagues at the factory and the neighbors in the residential compound.
Looking through the family, among the men, only the second cousin still didn’t have a formal job; the rest were either full-time workers or temporary staff.
Perhaps she had really been mistaken, Xiangdong had always treated her very well since they were children. Her elder cousin even often got annoyed with him for being too kind to her.
Yan Sisi bit her chopsticks and couldn’t help asking, “Has there been any news from the police station?”
Lately, regarding the contents of the book, she realized she could remember less and less. If more time passed, she might forget it all. It looked like she would need to write down all the memories she could still recall.
After finishing breakfast, Mother Yan went to the kitchen to grab the packed aluminum food boxes and was about to head out. Hearing her daughter, she said as she walked, “Not yet. I’m going to deliver food to your father. You stay home obediently and don’t wander around.”
Yan Sisi watched the door click shut behind her mother, quickly finished her meal, cleaned up, and returned to her room. She pulled a notebook from the drawer and wrote down everything that had happened from the moment her memory had returned up to now.