Soon, Chi Yiyuan heard the news that Su Xiaotian was returning to the county town.
The young man was very reluctant.
Even now, his only friends were the Su family's children.
Looking at the bright moon in the sky.
The moonlight was bright, and the clear radiance enveloped the world like a light veil of mist.
The moonlight in the countryside was beautiful!
Beautiful, yet very cold.
Under such beautiful moonlight, Chi Yiyuan's eyes felt sore, and he had the urge to cry.
For years, he had wanted to cry countless times, but in the end, he never did.
But he felt he couldn't hold on any longer.
When the Su siblings were around, he didn't feel much, but this year, with the Su siblings going to the county town to study, he became even more withdrawn and miserable.
"Xiaoyuan, are you unhappy?" Chi Ge appeared behind Chi Yiyuan at some unknown time.
Chi Yiyuan turned his head, his gaze fixed on his grandfather.
The young man under the moonlight was indifferent.
"Grandpa, when can we go back?"
After being stunned, Chi Yiyuan slowly shook his head.
"Grandpa, will we ever go back?"
"Yes, Xiaoyuan," Chi Ge stroked his grandson's hair and said, "Everything will get better."
Chi Yiyuan wanted to say that these words had been said for years, and he dared not believe them anymore.
Just then, he suddenly heard the voice of the team leader.
Even in the bright moonlight, Su Changjiu's excitement was evident.
"Old Du, Old Du. Good news, good news!"
Su Changjiu's rough voice carried a sense of weight.
"What good news?" Du Tonghe emerged from the small house, asking with a smile.
"They want you to return to the city, Old Du, you're going back."
Su Changjiu was very excited, his voice loud, almost shouting.
The porcelain bowl in Du Tonghe's hand fell and rolled several times, spilling its contents onto the ground.
Really?
Is this true?
"Old Du, it's true, absolutely true. I just returned from the commune and haven't even gone home yet. I came to find you immediately," Su Changjiu stepped forward, grasping Du Tonghe's hand, extremely excited.
Elder Du was a contributor to Hongxin Brigade, and he naturally wished Elder Du a happy old age.
It would be best if he could return.
Du Tonghe's eyes instantly welled up with tears of excitement.
Chi Ge watched this scene, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He tightly clasped Chi Yiyuan's cold hand.
Those who came later have all returned, when will he be able to go home?
If it were only him, there would be nothing wrong with living a reclusive life here forever.
But Xiaoyuan couldn't live like this forever.
Xiaoyuan was lonely here.
In the long run, it wouldn't be good for Xiaoyuan.
He needed opportunities to communicate with others.
Chi Yiyuan knew that his grandfather was afraid he would be sad.
The young man forced a smile and said, "Grandpa, it's okay. Isn't this good news? It will be our turn soon."
These were the young man's true feelings. As people returned one by one, he could see a glimmer of hope.
Although it wasn't him and his grandfather this time, it would definitely be him and his grandfather in the future.
After speaking a few words with Du Tonghe, Su Changjiu turned to look at Chi Ge.
He knew his old friend's thoughts, but he couldn't do anything about such matters.
"Professor Chi, please wait a little longer, there will be good news," Su Changjiu, sensing Chi Ge's distress, quickly stepped forward and clasped Chi Ge's hand.
"I hope your words come true!" Chi Ge's smile was forced, but he still said to Du Tonghe, "Old Du, congratulations!"
"When Ruìyuán and I leave, it will just be you and Xiaoyuan left here." Du Tonghe's smile faded.
Xiaoyuan had grown from a child into a young man, but the child's personality had become increasingly reclusive.
It was manageable when Xiaotian was around, but when Xiaotian was not, the child would be silent all day, not saying a word.
"I just remembered, when I passed by Xiaotian's house, Grandpa Su asked if Xiaoyuan wanted to go to the county town with them tomorrow."
Chi Ge was clearly very surprised. Why would the team leader suddenly ask this?
Could they go to the county town whenever they pleased?
"It's alright, after I go back, I'll issue a certificate for them. If Xiaoyuan is willing to go to the county town for a while, I'll issue a certificate for Xiaoyuan too!"
Su Changjiu was not an obstinate person, and he was willing to help others.
Especially since his daughter's admission to university was partly due to Chi Ge's efforts, a contribution he had always remembered and had been looking for an opportunity to repay.
Chi Ge smiled and said, "Then thank you, team leader."
Letting Xiaoyuan go out for a while would be better for him.
The next morning, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su, along with the children and the three hundred eggs collected by Li Zhuzi, went to the county town.
Before leaving, Grandma Su also gave Li Zhuzi thirty yuan and asked him to continue collecting eggs.
She also said that Li Zhuzi should send them over in two days.
Zhuzi's wife had been worried that Li Zhuzi, being rash, might lose money collecting eggs.
Now, with the actions of the old Su family, Zhuzi's wife was much more at ease.
She was not someone who liked to take risks and preferred to live a stable life.
Setting aside Li Zhuzi's continued egg collection, Grandma Su and the others, upon arriving in the county town, began to prepare for their small business.
Out of the three hundred eggs, Grandma Su used one hundred and fifty. One hundred were made into tea eggs, and the remaining fifty were simply boiled eggs.
"Grandma, we still have some meat coupons, and we brought a lot of vegetables from home this time. Why don't we make them into vegetable pancakes or steamed buns to sell?" Su Xiaotian felt that selling only eggs and tea eggs, although profitable, was too limited.
Grandma Su thought for a moment and said, "Okay, you go buy meat with your fourth brother later, and we'll pick vegetables at home. We'll wake up early tomorrow and go to the train station. Xiaoyuan hasn't been to the county town before, so he can come along to buy meat too."
Chi Yiyuan nodded in agreement.
Grandma Su smiled and said, "Xiaoyuan, when you're at our house, consider it your own home. Don't be polite!"
Chi Yiyuan quickly replied, "I know, Grandma Su. Don't worry, I won't be polite. I'll also go to the train station to have a look tomorrow."
The Su family worked together diligently all evening and did not rest until very late, but the next morning, everyone was up on time.
In addition to eggs and tea eggs, Grandma Su also prepared thirty steamed buns made of mixed grains and twenty leek boxes.
The prices were set by Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian did not decide rashly but set the prices after estimating the costs and adding a markup.
"Will anyone buy at these prices?" Chi Yiyuan asked curiously.
Are people so rich now?
"I've inquired. At nine in the morning, there's a long-distance bus passing through our county station, and it stops for fifteen minutes. That's the bus we're going for."
"Why that bus?" Chi Yiyuan furrowed his brow slightly and asked.
"By the time this bus reaches us, the passengers' own food will surely be gone. Even if they have some, after a few days, in this hot weather, it's probably not edible anymore."
"They'll want to eat fresh food, and they can only buy it on the train. But the food on the train is definitely not good. Ours will have a market."
Su Xiaotian said with great certainty, but Chi Yiyuan found it unconvincing.
After all, Su Xiaotian herself had never taken a train, so how could she know the situation on the train?
Su Xiaotian knew, of course, and she knew because the food on the train had been notoriously bad for decades.
"Alright, let's give it a try. Xiaotian, do you think we'll sell all this food?" Su Si hesitated, asking.
Although he wanted to do business and make money, when it came down to it, he was still a little worried.
"Let's try. Even if we don't sell it, it's fine. There's another long-distance bus at twelve o'clock, which stops for ten minutes."
Su Xiaotian believed that even if the first bus didn't sell, the second bus would definitely sell.
Twelve o'clock was lunchtime, and calling out for sales then would surely attract many buyers.
Grandma Su was not as optimistic as Su Xiaotian, but she did not dampen her granddaughter's enthusiasm.
It was rare for the child to be so enthusiastic.
Chi Yiyuan found this very novel; he could hardly believe what he was hearing.
What kind of girl was Xiaotian?
Logically speaking, how could a country girl know so much?
But the fact was, Su Xiaotian really did know so much.
Chi Yiyuan went to the train station with the seven Su children. They divided their tasks.
Two people per group, making a total of four groups, with each group carrying a small amount of food.
"Later, we'll go to different carriages. Regardless of whether we sell anything, we must get off after ten minutes," Su Xiaotian said solemnly.
If they were taken away by the train, it wouldn't be fun.
As for the grouping method, it was simple: the oldest would lead the youngest, and so on.
As a result, Su Xiaotian and Chi Yiyuan were in the same group.
"Brother Yiyuan, let's go to the front carriage. Fourth brother, you take Ninth brother to carriages four and five. Fifth brother and Eighth brother, you go to the two carriages behind them. Sixth brother and Seventh brother, you go to the last two carriages."
As soon as the division of labor was completed, the train stopped.
The newly built small station did not have many people; few people boarded, and few people alighted.
Su Xiaotian, carrying her small bamboo basket, darted towards the train.
Chi Yiyuan could barely keep up.
"Xiaotian, slow down!" Chi Yiyuan was truly frightened and quickly strode to catch up.
Su Xiaotian was already inside the carriage. This was a hard-seat carriage, usually for people with less money.
"Uncles, aunties, grandpas, grandmas, you've been on the train for several days, you must want to eat something warm, right? I have steaming hot steamed buns and leek boxes here, sold at cheap prices without coupons."
Hearing Su Xiaotian's shouts, Chi Yiyuan stumbled, almost falling to the ground.
This little girl was too brave!
Wasn't she afraid of being arrested?
Openly engaging in speculation and profiteering?
Although Su Xiaotian was shouting openly, her voice was not very loud, only enough for people nearby to hear.
Most people didn't react, but one elderly person, hearing Su Xiaotian's words, also lowered his voice and asked, "Little girl, are you serious?"
Su Xiaotian nodded solemnly, "Of course, it's true. Look, it's very affordable."
While speaking, Su Xiaotian slightly lifted the cloth covering the basket and showed it to the elder.
"Give me two tea eggs, two steamed buns, and one leek box." The elder was indeed very interested and directly wanted to purchase.
Su Xiaotian responded nimbly and, according to the elder's request, took out the tea eggs, steamed buns, and leek boxes from the basket.
"Grandpa, here are the things you asked for. It's one yuan and five cents in total, but I'll charge you one yuan. What do you think?"
Upon hearing that she was giving a discount, the elder smiled and said, "What a smart child."
After receiving the money, Su Xiaotian continued forward.
Su Xiaotian and Chi Yiyuan's group was assigned the most food.
However, Chi Yiyuan, due to his long lack of normal social interaction, had no idea what to do and could only watch Su Xiaotian flit around the carriage like a butterfly.
He felt that this little girl seemed completely unfamiliar, yet she was so capable and intelligent.
She chattered away, and several people actually bought from her.
It was also fortunate that the railway police were nowhere to be seen during this time.
After finishing the first carriage, Su Xiaotian found that her basket was more than half empty.
The steamed buns and leek boxes were gone, leaving only a dozen tea eggs and a dozen boiled eggs.
"Little girl, do you have steamed buns?"
Someone who heard the news came looking, but the steamed buns and leek boxes were gone.
"Big brother, they're gone. I only have boiled eggs and tea eggs left in my basket." Su Xiaotian spread her hands regretfully.
The young man was clearly disappointed. He had been eating the train's food for days and found it tasteless. He had seen someone eating leek boxes earlier, and the smell was incredibly good.
He had followed the news to find her, and now that he had found her, she had nothing left.
"Big brother, boiled eggs and tea eggs can also be delicious. Why don't you buy a few to try the taste?"
Before the young man could reply, the elder who had bought tea eggs earlier came chasing after them.
"Little girl, do you still have tea eggs?"
"Grandpa, yes, I do," Su Xiaotian quickly replied.
"Give them all to me, all of them."
The elder was quite generous and wanted to buy them all.
Su Xiaotian counted and said with a smile, "Grandpa, there are fifteen tea eggs left. Each is one jiao and five fen, totaling two yuan and two jiao and five fen."
"Here you go. This is two yuan and three jiao. And don't give me the discount you gave earlier. Your family's things are worth this price!" The old man was very magnanimous and directly handed Su Xiaotian a two-yuan bill and three one-jiao bills.
Su Xiaotian thanked the elder with a smile.
The young man watched as the elder took all the tea eggs, still in a daze.
When he finally came to his senses, he was surprised to realize that he had missed out on the tea eggs again.
"Little girl, what else do you have?"
He made up his mind immediately and decided to buy whatever food Su Xiaotian had left in her basket.
"Only boiled eggs are left, big brother." Su Xiaotian said with a sweet smile, "Big brother, why don't you buy two boiled eggs!"
Hearing Su Xiaotian say this, Chi Yiyuan felt that they definitely wouldn't sell.
Everyone clearly disliked boiled eggs.