An orange straw hat flipped in the wind and soon fell into the nearby ditch.
A boy who was catching small fish and shrimp suddenly saw a hat in front of him. He imdiately picked it up and looked at the road.
"Sister, is this your hat?"
"Yes, thank you."
Nian Shutong had already gotten off the vehicle and ran over a few steps to thank the little boy.
The boy was very clever. Holding the hat, he said, "Sister, wait a mont."
Nian Shutong watched the boy, holding her hat, run a few steps to a spot where the water was slightly clearer. There, he scooped up so clean water and rinsed off the mud sticking to the hat.
He turned the hat inside out and checked it several tis, ensuring he had washed it clean before running back barefoot.
"Here you go, sister."
A small body, a big smile.
"Thank you so much."
Nian Shutong thanked him again, even considering giving the boy sothing, though nothing too valuable seed appropriate.
"It’s nothing!"
The boy waved his hand like a little adult and continued catching his small fish and shrimp.
Not finding anything suitable, Nian Shutong first walked back to the electric bike and whispered a few words to Fu Yunhe, who nodded.
The two of them hadn’t gone far. When the boy returned ho, they followed him and found their hos were rather close—just the ho that had received a lily flower.
Nian Shutong took note, planning to express her thanks the next day. No need for grand gifts, but gratitude was necessary.
After all, the little boy ward her heart like no other that day.
Early the next morning, Fu Yunhe made breakfast while Nian Shutong opened the flower shop.
As soon as the shop opened, that unkempt man returned with a Star Coin, buying a lily.
After the man left, Nian Shutong also prepared a bouquet, but omitted lilies, opting for a slightly rustic, fresh arrangent instead.
Besides the bouquet, she prepared a cake of various flavors, shaped into a round cake.
Waiting for a while at the flower shop’s entrance, Nian Shutong watched as, soon after the flowers were placed, the woman inside ca out, glared at the corner’s lilies, angrily stepped on them, smashing them, and returned inside.
Nian Shutong, witnessing this scene, turned back indoors, deciding to visit at noon instead.
She headed to the backyard to have breakfast with Fu Yunhe, gossiping a bit about the morning’s events.
"I keep thinking there’s a complicated love story in the mix."
"Nian Shutong, haven’t you noticed you’re getting more and more into gossip these days?"
Unbothered, Nian Shutong replied, "I know, but it’s just too boring, I need a hobby."
After breakfast, Nian Shutong took a gaming console to the flower shop. Fu Yunhe practiced calligraphy for a bit, painted a picture, and finally, went to the flower shop with a book, joining Nian Shutong.
During this ti, the girl who had previously bought sunflowers returned for more.
Curiously, Nian Shutong asked, "Did the previous sunflowers wither?"
The girl shook her head.
"They were all blooming well, but it’s my only reason to see him."
The words brought a slight heaviness to the atmosphere.
"Good luck."
Nian Shutong handed the wrapped bouquet to the girl, who left with her sunflowers.
"That boy probably knows the girl’s feelings, perhaps it’s not just a one-sided love affair."
However much her gossip-loving heart wanted to delve deeper, she refrained from interfering.
Approaching noon, Fu Yunhe returned to the backyard to make lunch, while Nian Shutong took her prepared thank-you gifts to the woman’s ho.
With a cake in hand, flowers tucked under her arm, she knocked on the door.
Quickly, the woman inside ca out and imdiately saw Nian Shutong.
Though neither had spoken much, they knew each other as locals.
"Aren’t you the flower shop owner? What brings you here?"
"Hello, ma’am. I’m Nian Shutong from Youjian Flower Shop, here to express gratitude. Your son helped yesterday."
"Didn’t prepare much, just a cake and so hogrown flowers. Please, accept them."
After exchanging a few words, the woman accepted the gifts, though looking at the flowers, seed to want to ask sothing but ultimately held back.
The woman invited Nian Shutong inside for a chat, but Nian Shutong ntioned lunch was ready at ho, so she didn’t go in. They exchanged pleasantries, bidding farewell.
Back ho, Nian Shutong had lunch with Fu Yunhe.
After lunch, suddenly craving lamb soup, they rode their electric scooter to the market, taking a stroll.
"Why are there so many flower sellers today?"
Nian Shutong, while buying fruit, asked and learned that the local Day of the Dead festival was starting tomorrow, lasting half a month.
People in the area regard the Day of the Dead highly, dressing elaborately, feasting well, and buying many flowers to decorate their yards in honor of the ancestors.
With the gist of it understood, Nian Shutong chatted a bit more, thinking that since they lived here, participating would be a good idea.
After buying food, they visited a shop selling traditional clothing, each selecting three outfits to show respect and prepare to join in.
When Nian Shutong arrived at her doorstep after shopping, she almost mistook the place for another.
There were quite a few people at the flower shop’s entrance.
Although not a crowd, there were still a couple dozen.
"What’s going on?"
"The shop owner is back; we want to buy flowers."
"Oh—alright, I’ll open the shop right away."
Nian Shutong handed her shopping items to Fu Yunhe, who returned to the backyard to brew soup while Nian Shutong managed flower sales alone in the shop.
Through selling, Nian Shutong realized she’d underestimated the Day of the Dead or, more precisely, the importance people place on it.
The typically unfrequented flower shop was almost sold out.
Given the area’s climate, wildflowers are abundant and usually picked by individuals without any cost.
But evidently, in order to show respect, everyone chose to buy more costly flowers to honor their ancestors.
"Don’t worry, there’ll be more tomorrow."
"Great, see you tomorrow."
"No problem, I’ll reserve so for you."
At the entrance, Nian Shutong assured several who couldn’t buy flowers that she’d have fresh stock the next day.
Having sent off everyone, Nian Shutong closed the door, went inside the flower shop, and called Blue Star to order flowers.
Receiving the ssage, they imdiately sprang into action, sending bundles of assorted flowers.
Rubble’s pinpoint transporter was incredibly useful.
One by one, Nian Shutong filled the entire flower shop.
"Mission accomplished."
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