The next day, Zhao Xueer and Dou Hongxia got up before dawn and steamed some corn cakes for breakfast.

After washing up, the corn cake has just been steamed.

At this time, the sky was also getting bright.

Each person took one and left the rest to eat when the children got up.

This earthen stove has just heated up, and even if the fire goes out, there is still residual warmth, just enough to warm the corn cakes without fear of getting cold.

The two of them each carried a bamboo basket and went out while eating.

They will go to the mountains to pick oranges. Then they will go to the black market in the town to sell oranges in exchange for money and tickets.

Now, Zhao Xueer only has more than one dollar left over from the last time she sold honey.

Seeing that the weather is getting colder and colder, she wants to give everyone warm jackets to wear.

In addition to eating well, you also need to wear warm clothes.

With the faint morning light, Zhao Xueer and Dou Hongxia walked into the mountain forest step by step.

Suddenly, an early bird jumped up from the branches with flapping wings, disturbing the tranquility of the early morning forest.

Dou Hongxia suddenly heard the chirping of birds, was startled, and took a few steps back.

However, when she saw Zhao Xueer's calm back, infinite courage emerged in her heart.

She walked a few steps quickly to keep up with Zhao Xueer's pace.

This child always makes her feel extremely at ease.

...

After crossing the back mountain, we have to go to the deeper mountains and forests to the west.

My body, which was originally shivering due to the cold weather, became warmer as I climbed one hill after another, and my hands and feet were no longer cold.

Finally, on a hillside, Zhao Xueer stopped.

"Auntie, we're here."

The sky suddenly appeared, the sun slanted down from the east, and the sunlight danced playfully on Zhao Xueer's hair and face.

She looked straight ahead, her eyes filled with light.

Dou Hongxia seemed stunned when she looked at Zhao Xueer's appearance at this moment. When she heard her voice, she woke up and looked forward.

All you see are bright oranges.

The two of them didn't waste any more time, and took the time to walk to the orange tree and start picking oranges hard.

They had picked all the oranges on the short branches. The two bamboo baskets were not full, and there were still some taller oranges that were not picked.

"Xue'er, you sit on my shoulders and I will lift you up to pick the oranges on them."

Dou Hongxia knelt down and asked Xueer to sit on her.

Zhao Xueer hesitated. She was already over ten years old anyway, so the weight was not light.

And it’s not easy to put the oranges into the bamboo basket after picking them. You can’t drop them.

"Auntie, can you lift me up?"

Dou Hongxia held Xue'er's waist with both hands and tried to lift her up. In fact, she was not heavy at all.

Zhao Xueer stretched out her hand and picked an orange.

Dou Hongxia put her down again, and then she put the oranges into the bamboo basket.

They repeated this several times until the bamboo basket was almost full, and then they stopped.

Covering the mouth of the bamboo basket with the old clothes they had prepared in advance, the two of them started to go down the mountain to the town, carrying the oranges on their backs.

The way down the mountain is not easy, isn't it said that "it's easier to go up the mountain than it is to go down the mountain".

Especially, they are carrying things on their backs.

Along the way, the two people held each other's hands and helped them down the mountain until they reached the main road leading to Mouton Town.

...

Mouton Town will wake up at this time.

There are uniformed factory workers riding bicycles to work.

At the entrances of state-owned hotels, supply and marketing cooperatives, and other stores, a clerk just took out a key and opened the door.

On the road, you can still see students carrying bags cross-body, preparing to go to school.

This was Dou Hongxia's first time in town, and she looked around the street with curiosity.

I thought to myself that people in the city are really different.

Zhao Xueer kept walking towards the black market on the other side of the overpass.

Under the overpass, there were people already there, all waiting to buy or sell things.

"Auntie, cover your face first, and then we'll go over."

Before reaching the foot of the overpass, Zhao Xueer stopped, took out a cloth from the bamboo basket and handed it to Dou Hongxia.

The two people covered their faces, leaving only their eyes exposed, before walking under the overpass.

Someone saw them coming, glanced at the bamboo baskets on their backs, and asked them in a low voice what they wanted to sell.

Zhao Xueer did not ask questions immediately, but directly took out an orange from the bamboo basket, peeled it open, and gave the man an orange segment.

"Just picked, fresh oranges are sweet when kept."

"Oh, there is such a good thing."

The man took the orange segment and put it into his mouth. The sweet and sour juice stimulated his taste buds.

His eyes glanced at the peeled oranges in Zhao Xueer's hand, and he seemed to want to try them again.

Zhao Xueer handed the orange to Dou Hongxia, but she couldn't let him taste it again. If he wanted to eat it again, he would have to buy it.

The man subconsciously raised his hand and touched his nose, looked back angrily, and asked how to sell the oranges.

"Thirty cents per catty, or one and a half cents if you have a ticket. Any ticket will do, preferably cloth or gas tickets."

Zhao Xueer said.

"You girl do know how to do business." When the man heard this, he raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Zhao Xueer frowned and looked into the man's eyes. Isn't this the same person who bought honey last time?

Although her face was blocked, she still remembered the shrewd eyes like an eagle.

"Girl, let's do it this way. I'll take it all for ten cents per catty, plus I'll give you two coupons for cooking oil worth one market tael, and three coupons for one market foot worth of cloth."

After hearing this, Zhao Xueer thought for a while and realized that the price was quite fair. The key was to have the tickets, so she nodded.

"Come with me, how much do you want to weigh these oranges?"

The man glanced at them and knew that they were not weighed.

Dou Hongxia was a little worried, so she pulled Zhao Xueer and looked warily at the man who asked them to follow her.

"Don't worry, everyone in our field knows me, just call me Mr. Wu."

Even so, Dou Hongxia was extremely cautious along the way, observing the surrounding roads for fear of meeting bad people.

After twists and turns, he finally stopped in front of a courtyard gate.

Mr. Wu knocked on the door rhythmically, and someone answered the door. After the two people exchanged the code, the door opened.

After entering, the courtyard door was immediately closed. Dou Hongxia was so frightened that she stretched out her hand to open the door, but was blocked by Master Wu.

"Don't make trouble, we are afraid of being discovered by plainclothes."

After saying that, he turned to the young man who opened the door and said, "Xiao Li, go get a scale for weighing oranges."

Zhao Xueer took Dou Hongxia's hand, patted it gently, and said comfortingly, "Auntie, don't worry, he bought the honey I sold last time, it should be reliable."

When Mr. Wu heard this, he lowered his voice and laughed a few times, "You girl, you have really good eyesight."

At this time, the scale was brought over, and without further words, he started weighing the oranges.

"Two bamboo baskets of oranges, a total of forty-five pounds. Girl, keep your money and tickets."

Mr. Wu was also very straightforward and immediately gave her four and a half yuan and a ticket.

Zhao Xueer took it and hid it in her clothes.

"If you have any good things in the future, you can come to me. I often wander around the overpass. If you don't see me there, come here and knock on the door. Have you memorized the password?"

Carrying the empty bamboo basket and preparing to leave, Master Wu stopped them.

Zhao Xueer felt happy. From now on, she would not have to worry about having no place to sell her things. This Master Wu should have his own skills.

Through a piece of cloth, you can see the bright smile that bursts out on her face, "Thank you, Mr. Wu, you can just call me Xue'er from now on."

Now, "you" are all brought, which shows her joy.

Mr. Wu said, "Tsk", "You girl."

After they left, Xiao Li asked doubtfully in the yard, "Master Wu, why do you take care of them like this?"

Master Wu smiled, "The look in that girl's eyes reminds me of my own childhood."
Chapter completed!