PFC Chapter 405 Going to the Market to Buy New Year's Goods
Chapter 405 Going to the Market to Buy New Year's Goods
The next day, Li Xiangyang got up just as dawn was breaking.
He quietly finished washing up and went out of his room to find his mother already busy in the kitchen.
"Mom, you're up so early?" Li Xiangyang walked to the kitchen door and looked at his mother's busy figure, feeling a warmth in his heart.
"I'm used to it, I just can't sleep," Li's mother said with a smile, her hands still moving. "Want to sleep a little longer?"
"Can't sleep? Let me help you." Li Xiangyang stretched and was about to step forward to help.
"No need, it's almost finished. You can sit down first; the porridge in the pot will last a while."
Li Xiangyang nodded and sat on a small stool by the kitchen door.
The morning sunlight slanted in through the window, illuminating my mother's face and making her look especially kind.
Watching his mother's busy figure, Li Xiangyang felt a surge of happiness and emotion.
"Mom, I'd like to buy you a new cotton-padded coat, is that alright?"
Li's mother stopped what she was doing, turned around to look at her son, her eyes full of love: "No need to waste that money, I can still wear this cotton-padded coat."
"No, it's settled then." Li Xiangyang shook his head, his tone firm. "You've worked hard your whole life, it's time to enjoy your retirement."
At this moment, footsteps were heard in the courtyard, and Li Xiaoyun and Li Xiaohua got up.
"Oh dear, why didn't you two sleep a little longer?" Looking at her daughter-in-law and daughter, Li's mother quickly called out, "The porridge will be ready soon."
"I'll help!" Li Xiaohua skipped into the kitchen, snatched the spoon from her mother's hand, and said with a grin, "Mom, sit down and rest for a while, I'll serve the porridge."
Li Xiaoyun wasn't idle either, skillfully setting out the bowls and chopsticks. Although her belly was already showing, her movements were still swift and efficient.
"Be careful, don't hurt the baby in your belly." Li Xiangyang looked at his wife with heartache and quickly stepped forward to help.
Li Xiaoyun rolled her eyes at her husband: "I'm not a porcelain doll, you don't need to be so careful."
Seeing the harmonious scene before him, Li Xiangyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
This is the happiness he once lost, and now has regained.
After breakfast, the family tidied up quickly and prepared to set off.
"Xiaohua, wear something warmer, it's cold outside," Li Xiangyang said quickly, noticing his younger sister was only wearing a thin cotton-padded jacket.
"Okay, okay!" Li Xiaohua obediently put on another thick coat, muttering, "Brother, you're even more nagging than Mom."
Li Xiangyang laughed heartily and affectionately patted his younger sister's head.
The weather was exceptionally clear, and the morning sun shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling light.
Four people walked along a village path, leaving a trail of neat footprints.
"Hello, Sister-in-law Ma Hongxia!" Li Xiaohua suddenly greeted them. It turned out that Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia were also walking towards the market from a distance.
"Are you going to the market too?" Wang Ergou walked over quickly and asked with a smile.
“Yes, it’s almost Chinese New Year, so I’m going to buy some New Year’s goods,” Li Xiangyang replied with a smile, then looked at Ma Hongxia’s belly. “Great news! Hongxia is pregnant too? How many months along are you?”
Ma Hongxia blushed and replied softly, "Three months."
Li Xiaoyun stepped forward, took Ma Hongxia's hand affectionately, and asked her all sorts of questions. The two pregnant women quickly became engrossed in their conversation.
Wang Ergou and Li Xiangyang walked side by side, talking about recent events in the village.
After walking for about half an hour, the outline of the market in the distance gradually became clear.
"Wow, so many people!" Li Xiaohua exclaimed excitedly, quickening her pace.
The market was bustling with people, filled with shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
Various stalls were arranged in an orderly manner, selling cotton cloth, candy, New Year pictures, farm tools and more... a wide variety of goods, everything you could want.
At the entrance to the market, an old man was playing the erhu, the melodious tune sounding particularly pleasant amidst the bustling marketplace. Several children surrounded the old man, watching him with curiosity.
"Come on, let's look at some fabrics first and make a new cotton-padded jacket for Mom." Li Xiangyang called to his family and walked towards the fabric stall.
At the fabric stall, several women were selecting fabrics, and Li's mother joined them, carefully touching the various colored fabrics with a hesitant expression on her face.
"Mom, which one have you taken a fancy to?" Li Xiangyang asked, leaning closer.
Li's mother pointed to a piece of dark red fabric and said somewhat embarrassedly, "This is quite nice, but it's too expensive."
Without hesitation, Li Xiangyang picked up the piece of fabric and asked the stall owner, "How much is this?"
"This is genuine wool, ten yuan a foot," the stall owner said to Li Xiangyang, speaking with a non-local accent. "Young man, want to make a dress for your wife?"
"No, it's for my mother," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "Do you think this fabric is sturdy?"
The stall owner nodded repeatedly: "Of course! This fabric is very durable; it'll last for ten or eight years without any problem."
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment and said, "Then take three feet."
"Three feet?" Upon hearing this, Li's mother quickly grabbed her son's sleeve. "That's too expensive. One foot is enough."
“Mother, don’t skimp on it. Three feet is just enough to make you a big cotton-padded coat that will keep you warm in winter,” Li Xiangyang insisted.
Li Xiaoyun chimed in, "Mom, just listen to Xiangyang. This fabric is really good."
In the end, Li's mother couldn't persuade her son and daughter-in-law otherwise, so she had no choice but to agree.
Li Xiangyang paid the money, took the wrapped fabric, and carefully handed it to his wife for safekeeping.
Next, the family went to the stall selling New Year pictures.
A wide variety of New Year pictures are on display, including door gods, the God of Wealth, the character "福" (fortune), and some depicting pastoral scenery.
Li Xiaohua was drawn to a New Year's picture depicting a chubby baby holding a carp, and pointed at it, saying to her brother, "Brother, this is beautiful!"
Li Xiangyang looked at it and smiled, "Then let's buy this. We can stick it on the door when we get home for good luck."
After buying the New Year pictures, the family went to buy some candy and snacks.
Li Xiaohua was holding a big bag of candy, her little face full of a happy smile.
"Xiangyang, let's go take a look at those farm tools over there," said Li's mother, pointing to a farm tool stall in the distance. "Our hoes need a new one."
Li Xiangyang nodded, and the family headed towards the farm tool stall.
"Hey, isn't this Li Xiangyang?" A familiar voice came from behind. Li Xiangyang turned around and saw that it was Grandpa Zhang from the village, drinking wine at a small stall.
"Hello, Uncle Zhang!" Li Xiangyang greeted him with a smile and walked over.
"I heard you went to the grasslands recently?" Grandpa Zhang asked curiously, his face full of envy. "What's it like there?"
Li Xiangyang then briefly recounted what he had seen and heard on the grassland, which attracted the surrounding villagers to gather around and ask him a barrage of questions.
"Are there really that many wolves?"
"Is the mutton from the grasslands really better than the mutton here?"
"What are the yurts like there?"
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