In the cold wind, mother and daughter whispered their hopes for the future as they huddled together for warmth.
This scene deeply imprinted itself in Wan Chu’er’s heart. In the days to co, no matter how hard, every ti she rembered it, her cold heart would soften.
By the ti they reached Wutong, Wan Chu’er and Bai Zhixi were nearly frozen stiff.
After the vehicle stopped, Wan Chu’er didn’t move but instead started to knead Bai Zhixi’s legs, as they had gone numb.
"Don’t worry about , it will be alright soon," Bai Zhixi tried to stop her daughter.
Wan Chu’er stubbornly said, "Don’t move."
Her hands gently massaged the acupoints on Bai Zhixi’s legs. Jiang Kechu had massaged her a few tis in her past life. He never hurt her while massaging and had explained earnestly that massaging the acupoints could relieve numbness without causing pain.
When Xiao Sun ca to move the tricycle, he saw this and said with a smile, "Legs gone numb, huh? Rub them slowly, no hurry. The rickshaw will be parked here tonight. You can leave whenever you’re ready."
Wan Chu’er remained silent but still said, "Thank you, Brother Sun."
She stood up, took ten dollars from her pocket, and handed it to Xiao Sun, "Thank you for the trouble today."
"Don’t ntion it, don’t ntion it. If you want to go to Wanzhou again, just co find ," Xiao Sun said happily, taking the money before he and others quickly went to lower the tricycle.
Wan Chu’er squatted down again in front of Bai Zhixi to massage her legs. Bai Zhixi lovingly watched her daughter and said, "You did well. They are strangers to us but helped us, and we should be grateful.
Do you know what’s the most terrifying thing in this world?"
Wan Chu’er bowed her head silently; her heart was still suffocating, and Bai Zhixi’s legs cold.
Bai Zhixi tucked a lock of hair behind her daughter’s ear and said, "The most terrifying thing in the world is a cold, angry face. So don’t get angry casually. You also told your mother that only through suffering can one beco superior. Now, we’ve only suffered a little, and we should be happy, not angry."
Finally, Bai Zhixi felt her legs were relaxed and free again. She pulled up her daughter, and they slowly climbed out of the truck bed.
It was almost ten o’clock, and the truck station was still brightly lit and bustling.
Drivers were yelling, and workers were busy unloading.
Bai Zhixi said, "Look, even though it’s late and cold, many people are still busy working, yet we can go ho."
Wan Chu’er looked around at the bustling scene and finally let out a "hm."
"Mom, let pedal the rickshaw; you sit in it."
Bai Zhixi laughed, "I’ll pedal it. Pedaling warms up, and you exercise every day anyway. You might as well run back ho."
Wan Chu’er thought it was a good idea and said, "Alright."
On a cold winter night, the road was almost devoid of people, and the streetlights cast long shadows.
Bai Zhixi pedaled the rickshaw, and Wan Chu’er ran alongside. She would speed up, getting far ahead of Bai Zhixi, then turn back, run ahead again, and return...
In just a short distance, she broke out in a sweat.
Upon seeing the locked gate of the courtyard, Wan Chu’er smiled and said, "We’re finally back."
Having run that distance, her mood suddenly brightened, and she realized that Bai Zhixi had suggested the run because she sensed her uneasiness.
Bai Zhixi truly was the best mother in the world. How could she have not cherished her in the past life? Thankfully, fate was kind to her and gave her another chance.
Entering the house, Wan Chu’er rushed to light the stove while Bai Zhixi got ready to cook.
After mother and daughter each had a bowl of the steaming lumps soup, they finally felt revitalized.
They weren’t in the mood for anything else and simply poured all the money they earned that day onto the table.
The two sorted the money with great enthusiasm, and as Bai Zhixi’s face was filled with smiles, Wan Chu’er also felt the money in front of her was charming.
"Subtracting the costs, we made six hundred today, thankfully I listened to you, otherwise this New Year’s would have been wasted," Bai Zhixi excitedly said. "You stay at ho tomorrow while I go out to gather wild goods."
She was already eager to take another trip to Wanzhou, preferably the day after tomorrow.
Wan Chu’er agreed with a smile, having sold goods today, Bai Zhixi was fully aware of what New Year goods Wanzhou people needed, and was much better at haggling than her.
After setting plans for tomorrow, noticing it was getting late, mother and daughter each washed up and went to bed.
In the following days, they got busy, first running around the markets of Wutong County to gather wild goods, then off to Wanzhou to sell them, and back to Wutong to collect more.
Later, inspired by a sudden idea, Wan Chu’er tead up with Bai Zhi and went directly to the neighboring county to gather wild goods. It was only an hour’s drive from Wutong to the neighboring county, half a day was more than enough, and they collected a lot of wild items.
Besides selling New Year goods in Wanzhou, they had to ensure the supply of pickles in Wutong County, and they were incredibly busy.
Eventually, Bai Zhixi simply paid Sister Liao extra to help not only deliver pickles but also to buy vegetables and make pickles, thus they managed to get through those days.
After the busy ti, Bai Zhixi and Wan Chu’er both lost about five pounds.
Although they had lost weight, their spirits were high because in the ten days before the New Year, they earned more than three thousand from selling New Year goods.
By the ti of the New Year’s Eve, they had been up at dawn and back to bed late, having gone to Wanzhou four more tis, not returning until the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
On the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, they slept in until around ten in the morning, only getting up at the knocking of Sister Liao, who had co to settle accounts.
After sending Sister Liao away, Bai Zhixi and Wan Chu’er thoroughly cleaned the house, and before dark, they packed their toiletries and clothes to take a pre-New Year bath at the town’s bathhouse.
Finally, they could enjoy a relaxed New Year.
On New Year’s Eve, Bai Zhixi made a table full of dishes; two large red lanterns were hung in the courtyard, with the TV broadcasting the lively Spring Festival Gala, and from outside ca the occasional crackle of fireworks.
Wrapped in such a warm and friendly atmosphere, Wan Chu’er felt a bit dazed.
For many years she hadn’t partaken in the festivities of the New Year, it seed like since she left the Jiang Family, she had never really celebrated. In the south, during every New Year, she would be in her rental room, alone and quietly reading a book to pass the ti.
"It’s ti to eat dumplings, with these dumplings, our family will be lucky and prosperous in the coming year."
Bai Zhixi called her daughter over for dumplings and Wan Chu’er ca back to her senses. She glanced at the radiant Bai Zhixi and smiled, "Okay."
A wave of happiness flowed through her heart.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wan Chu’er had planned to spend the day at ho with Bai Zhixi, but early in the morning Xiao Bai ca to visit.
Upon entering, Xiao Bai extended New Year’s greetings to Bai Zhixi.
"Aunt Bai, Happy New Year, I wish you great fortune and success."
Bai Zhixi hadn’t expected Xiao Bai to co and was sowhat flustered as she fetched candies and prepared red envelopes.
As Xiao Bai was a younger relative and had given her New Year’s greetings, she had to give a red envelope.
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