When the television station finally finished airing the movie, Zhuang Tunan suggested taking Xiang Pengfei out to explore Suzhou.
Although Xiang Pengfei was a little reluctant to leave the television, he readily agreed.
Zhuang Tunan said he would show him around Suzhou, but he did not dare take him too far on their first outing, so they started with a walk around the Cotton Mill.
As they walked, Zhuang Tunan felt he ought to show some older-brotherly care for his younger cousin, and before long, the group arrived at a small shop.
The shop's glass counters were packed with a dazzling array of small goods. One counter was devoted to children's snacks and stationery: lollipops, malt candy, animal crackers, pencils, plastic rulers...
Xiang Pengfei stood before the counter, looking at everything inside with both wonder and longing.
He stood motionless, his eyes wide, his expression making it obvious that he had seen little of the world.
"Pengfei, do you like animal crackers?"
Zhuang Xiaoting's voice came from behind him.
"N-no, I don't."
Xiang Pengfei turned and stammered a reply, then turned back to stare fixedly at the counter again.
The little girl asked about a plastic ruler next, but Xiang Pengfei refused that too.
The shop assistant spoke up then. "What would you like, little boy?"
Xiang Pengfei shook his head.
The shop assistant grabbed a handful of candy from a glass jar. "Have some candy, little boy!"
Xiang Pengfei waved his hands repeatedly. "N-no, thank you. I'm not buying anything, just looking."
The moment he said that, the shop assistant grew visibly impatient. "If you're not buying anything, don't stand here blocking the counter. Other customers need to shop!"
Xiang Pengfei awkwardly stepped back twice.
Lin Dongzhe squeezed forward, looking thoroughly displeased. "We're customers too."
The shop assistant smiled,