Chapter 155: It’s Me
Wang Xiang immediately said, "Alright, I’ll go bring them back for you this morning. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to pick out some good ones."
Mrs. Fu quickly thanked her. "Thank you so much, my dear. How much is it? Let me give you the money first—"
"They’re one yuan per chick, so for ten, it’ll be ten yuan."
"Okay. I’ll go inside and get it for you. By the way, dear, do you know anyone who’s trading laying hens? We want to get two."
"Two hens, you say? I’ll ask around for you. If no one in the family compound is trading, I’ll go ask the villagers in the next village over. They should have some."
"It’d be even better if you have ration tickets. The villagers prefer all sorts of tickets."
The military issued ration tickets, but the villages didn’t. That’s why many villagers liked to trade with them.
"I can do that. Thanks for your help, dear."
Wang Xiang smiled and waved her hand. "It’s no problem. How could this be any trouble? We’re neighbors, after all."
Mrs. Fu was very happy to have such a good neighbor.
’If her neighbors on both sides were like that old crone from the Hao family, living here would be miserable.’
She went back inside, got ten yuan, and gave it to Wang Xiang.
Wang Xiang also gave Mrs. Fu some scallions from her home to plant, along with a packet of vegetable seeds.
This made Mrs. Fu very happy.
By noon, Wang Xiang had not only brought her the ten chicks but had also delivered two hens.
Mrs. Fu was absolutely delighted.
She quickly asked how much she owed and gave the money to Wang Xiang.
She also gave Wang Xiang six of the meat buns she had made that morning.
"Auntie, I can’t accept these."
"Take them. Let your kids have a taste. Didn’t you say we were neighbors? You were such a big help this morning, so what’s wrong with me giving your kids a few buns? If you don’t take them, I’ll get upset."
Seeing this, Wang Xiang had no choice but to accept them.
"Thank you, Auntie!"
"Don’t mention it."
When Mrs. Hao next door saw this, she was consumed with jealousy.
’That old hag from the Fu family is so mean-spirited,’ she thought.
’We’re all neighbors, so why does she give things to them and not to us?’
’My family has children too!’
As Mrs. Fu turned around, she saw the old woman from the Hao family staring at her.
But since the woman wasn’t doing anything, Mrs. Fu couldn’t be bothered to pay her any mind.
’I have way too much to do, anyway.’
For instance, she had to build a small coop for the chicks, and another for the two hens.
She also had to till the two plots of land in the yard and get the scallions and vegetable seeds planted as soon as possible.
Fu Mingxue had already thrown herself into her work. Her original drawings were just concept designs.
Now, however, she had to flesh out the technical details.
So, she had to get these blueprints finished quickly.
That was the only way to move on to the prototyping phase sooner.
That evening, she once again didn’t get home until ten.
Just as she was opening the door, a figure suddenly appeared behind her.
It scared her half to death. She whirled around and shouted, "Who’s there?"
"It’s me," Qin Wenhao’s voice rang out.
It was pitch black, but when Fu Mingxue’s eyes adjusted, she saw that it was indeed Qin Wenhao.
Her expression instantly soured. "What are you doing standing behind me? Don’t you know you can scare someone to death like that?"
Qin Wenhao knew he was at fault.
"I’m sorry, that was my fault. I didn’t realize I’d scare you. Are you alright?"
Fu Mingxue snapped, "Still alive."
Qin Wenhao was at a loss for words.
Just then, Mrs. Fu’s voice called out from inside, "Is that you, Mingxue?"