Chapter 187: A Thoughtful Gesture

Chapter 187: A Thoughtful Gesture

The commune was small, and Mu quickly spotted the co-op. He took Zhou Linglan’s hand and headed straight for it.

Mu looked around, seemingly unimpressed.

Zhou Linglan asked, “Mu, what exactly are you looking for?”

Mu had a sudden idea. “Godmother, I want to buy something for my mother. What do you think would be best?”

Zhou Linglan was taken aback. “Aren’t things in the city better than here? Why not wait until you’re in the city to buy something? We rely on the mountains for our livelihood, so the local produce is mostly mountain goods. But you can find the same things at home. Just take some back with you; no need to buy them here.”

Mu shook his head. Then he noticed Zhou Linglan’s worn-out shoes and immediately thought of something.

He ran inside and grabbed a pair of rubber-soled sandals. “Godmother, I want to buy these for my mother. She wears the same size as you. What size are you?”

Zhou Linglan blurted out, “Size 37,” not realizing the illogicality of a child knowing their shoe sizes matched just by looking.

Mu spent most of his money on the size 37 sandals and announced they were heading back to the village.

Fu Yuanhang looked at him, puzzled. “We can get them on the way back. Why buy them today?”

Mu waved his hand. “You don’t get it.” He hugged Fu Yuanhang and Chenchen. “Is there anything else to do in town? If not, let’s head back.”

Zhou Linglan suggested, “Let’s get some meat.”

There was enough food at home—catfish for lunch and frogs for dinner. They would leave early the next morning, but since the children rarely visited, a slightly more lavish meal wouldn’t hurt.

Fu Yuanhang said, “Let’s get some pig offal. Sister-in-law likes it.”

Zhou Linglan nodded. “Okay.”

Back then, to get good meat, you had to line up early. They arrived late, and only a few people were left at the meat processing factory, with just scraps and pig’s feet remaining.

“Let’s get the pig’s feet,” Fu Yuanhang said.

Zhou Linglan reached into her pocket for money and coupons. “Okay.”

Fu Yuanhang pushed it back. “Use my money.”

Fu Yuanhang approached the meat counter and noticed an acquaintance there, who seemed to have been hesitating for a while, unsure of what to buy.

“Xiao Meizi?”

Xiao Meizi saw Fu Yuanhang and smiled, her eyes curving. “It’s you, Fu Yuanhang.”

Her face was a bit sunburned, and with her embarrassment, it turned even redder.

“I’ve never bought meat before. I don’t know how to do it.”

In fact, she and her grandmother rarely ate meat. They usually ate eggs, caught fish from the river, and occasionally frogs and snails.

As for pork, they usually had to wait until the end of the year when the brigade slaughtered pigs and distributed the meat.

Buying meat with coupons and cash like this was a first for Xiao Meizi.

“Get the pig’s feet. Boil them briefly, then add ginger, soy sauce, and salt, and simmer until tender. They’ll be delicious, and your grandmother will find them easy to eat,” Fu Yuanhang said, having spent years assisting Su Taotao and thus quite knowledgeable.

Xiao Meizi nodded. “Okay.”

Pig trotters are mostly bone with little meat, so most people find them not worth buying and usually don’t.

Nowadays, everyone prefers to buy fatty meat to render oil, along with a bit of lean meat, cut into small pieces, which can be eaten over several meals.

So, pig trotters aren’t expensive, but adding the hock significantly increases the price.

Fu Yuanhang stepped up to haggle with the seller, and soon, he came back with a large pig trotter, hock included, and also got a large marrow bone as a bonus.

Xiao Meizi followed, carrying a small pig trotter.

Zhou Linglan grew increasingly pleased as she watched: "Ah Hang is getting more and more skilled, and Xiao Meizi is also buying pig trotters?"

Xiao Meizi smiled shyly: "I wasn’t sure what to get, but luckily I ran into you."

Zhou Linglan said: "We can toss in some peanuts and soybeans when we stew it at home, but they spoil quickly in this weather, so add a little less, it’s best to finish it today."

Xiao Meizi nodded: "Okay."

Uncle Mu grabbed the items and tossed them into the basket, then he suddenly leaned in close to Xiao Meizi: "I noticed you’ve got big eyes and long lashes."

Last night it was pitch black, couldn’t see a thing, but today, this girl is actually quite pretty!

Is it something in the village water that makes everyone so good-looking?

Xiao Meizi jumped and kept ducking behind Zhou Linglan.

Uncle Mu: "..."

Zhou Linglan pulled Xiao Meizi: "Don’t worry, he’s Uncle Mu, Ah Hang’s buddy, he’s harmless."

Uncle Mu scratched his head: "Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you."

Xiao Meizi shook her head and pointed to the supply and marketing cooperative: "I, uh, still need to grab a few things. Bye."

After Xiao Meizi left, Uncle Mu asked: "Do I really look that scary?"

Zhou Linglan smiled and said: "No, our Uncle Mu is quite the looker, Xiao Meizi’s just shy and doesn’t mingle much with strangers."

Uncle Mu grudgingly accepted that.

The commune’s just a stone’s throw from the village, and they returned home before noon.

Uncle Mu was all fired up to explore the village and even wanted to go up the mountain to see.

At home, Zhou Linglan helped Su Taotao prepare lunch, so Fu Yuanhang had to take a slingshot and a basket and go out with him for a walk.

Su Taotao dashed out to hand Fu Yuanhang a watch, telling him to keep an eye on the time and not miss lunch.

Uncle Mu would never miss a meal, so he naturally agreed.

Chenchen didn’t go, instead taking a small shovel and bucket to dig earthworms in the flower bed to feed the hen.

Su Taotao was surprised to see the sandals Uncle Mu bought: "Was this what Uncle Mu bought?"

Zhou Linglan nodded: "Uncle Mu is filial, he said it was for his mother."

Su Taotao saw the size of the shoes and shook her head: "Auntie Zhong definitely can’t wear these, we’ll have to exchange them tomorrow."

Zhou Linglan said: "Isn’t it right? Uncle Mu said he wanted to buy a gift for his mother, and said her feet are the same size as mine, asking for the size."

Su Taotao paused for a moment, recalling Uncle Mu’s odd behavior before he left—suddenly insisting on going to the local store. Now, piecing it all together, she realized what he was up to and smiled:

"Mom, this is what Uncle Mu bought especially for you. Auntie Zhong is tall, at least a size 38 or 39. This is for you. You’ll see, he’ll make sure to leave it for you, one way or another."

Zhou Linglan was completely baffled: "This kid, how could he be so careless with his money? No, no, I can’t accept it. If he really gives it to me, I’ll have to pay him back."

Su Taotao replied, "Mom, Uncle Mu’s gift is heartfelt. Just accept it. I take him out to eat and have fun without charging him anything. Our families don’t keep such strict accounts. He even calls you Auntie. Auntie Zhong’s family is very kind—you’ll see when you meet them."

Zhou Linglan sighed, "It’s such a relief to see you all doing so well."