When she got off work at noon, Gu Xiaoxia rode her bicycle to Sister Yang's place, humming a cheerful tune.
When she entered the lane and saw no tractor, she was puzzled. Had her husband, Li Long, ridden his bicycle over for lunch? Or had he not come today?
She got off at the gate and wheeled her bicycle into the courtyard. Seeing Sister Yang busy in the kitchen and no 28-inch Bar in the yard either, Gu Xiaoxia's heart sank. Had Li Long gone into the mountains again?
Otherwise, why hadn't he come for lunch?
"You're here, Auntie." Hearing the noise, Sister Yang poked her head out of the kitchen, took a look, then smiled at Gu Xiaoxia and said,
"This dish is almost done. Lunch will be ready in a moment. Oh, Uncle came to the market this morning and told me he was going to Stone City to buy something. He'll be back this afternoon and said not to wait for him for lunch."
"He went to Stone City?" Gu Xiaoxia relaxed. If he had gone to Stone City, that was fine. She rarely went there herself, but heard plenty about it. Her father-in-law, Li Qingxia, and Tao Daqiang went there to sell fish from time to time. Sometimes, if she hadn't gone back to the village for the weekend, they would bring some fish over.
Li Long left after eating at Chen Xingbang's place. Chen Xingbang still had to sell mutton that afternoon. By Li Long's rough calculation, he could earn ten yuan or so over the course of a day. It was hard-earned money, but still better than staying back in his hometown with no hope in sight.
Besides, small sums added up. If he kept at it, becoming prosperous wouldn't be a problem.
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