No one was home at this hour.
Sister Wanyin was still out running her stall, and Fat Ink had gone with her.
When Chen Shi'an got home, he put down his backpack, then fetched two bags and packed two strips of cured meat into them,
along with two strips of smoked meat.
He also gave Sister Wanyin a call.
Li Wanyin was busy at her stall. This was her busiest time, but she had set a special ringtone for Chen Shi'an. The moment she heard it, she stopped what she was doing and answered.
"Hellooo? What is it, Shi'an?"
"Are you still at your stall, Sister Wanyin?"
"Mm-hmm! Are you out of school? I won't be back until later, so don't wait for me to eat."
"Have you eaten yet, Sister Wanyin?"
"Not yet-I'll probably have to finish up first, then buy a quick meal later."
"I'm eating at the class monitor's place tonight. I'll be making rice with cured meat. If you're not in a hurry to eat, Sister Wanyin, I'll bring you some when I come back."
"Mm-hmm! Okay!"
"I'll let you get back to work, then."
"Okay, bye."
After hanging up, Chen Shi'an thought for a moment, then went back to his room, took out a little wooden figurine, and slipped it into his school uniform pocket.
This was the wood carving he had promised to make for the class monitor. Little Cicada and Sister Wanyin each had one, too.
He had given Little Cicada hers long ago, but he had only recently finished the class monitor's. He had been busy lately and worked slowly; he had only just started Sister Wanyin's.
The two girls were still waiting for him at the school gates, so Chen Shi'an wasted no more time. He left the residential complex and