After breakfast, Ye Yaodong went into the bedroom and rummaged around before coming back out.
"What are you doing? Why did you go back inside instead of hurrying off while it's not raining?"
He tugged at his waistband, acting as if nothing had happened. "Oh, nothing. My waistband felt a little loose, so I went in to find a cord to tie it."
"Is it loose?"
Old Lady hurried to answer first. "He must have lost weight from working so hard catching squid at sea lately. Even his waistband's loose now. He's tanned all over, and his face has gotten so thin..."
"It's fine, it's fine. I haven't lost that much weight..."
"That's because you were skinny to begin with. There's hardly anything left for you to lose. When you're bathing, all I see are ribs, not a scrap of flesh..."
"Ahem... I'll head off while it's not raining..."
"Go on, then. Hurry along."
Ye Yaodong hurried outside and pushed the handcart away. Lying hadn't made him feel guilty, but Old Lady's concern did. He had better make himself scarce.
Still, he heard Old Lady behind him telling A Qing to buy a piece of pork later to make braised pork for lunch.
"Eating meat puts meat on your bones..."
With ten to a bundle, a dozen or so bundles filled a basket, and there were two smaller baskets besides. Taking the bicycle would be awkward, so Ye Yaodong simply walked with the handcart. If he brought a TV back later, he could wheel it home too. Otherwise, getting it home would be difficult.
It had drizzled all night, and today was still pleasantly cool. Overcast weather had its advantages. The muddy road was harder to walk on, but it was still better than rain.
However, as he pushed the