Chapter 80: Summer and Such ②
Nie Aifang thought for a moment, “Let’s just leave it on the dining table for today. I’ll buy you a desk tomorrow. I went to the Xinhua Bookstore today and saw a very nice desk. It was made of good wood, and it could hold a computer and clip books. It even had a desk lamp attached to the top.”
“How much is this kind of desk?” Nie Qiu asked with some longing, putting down her pen and looking up at Nie Aifang, who was standing by the kitchen doorway.
“Hmm, it should be around a hundred something. I’ll go ask tomorrow.” Nie Aifang heard the water boiling and hurried into the kitchen.
Nie Qiu lowered her head and looked at the workbook. She knew for sure it wouldn’t be available for a little over a hundred. A solid wood desk would cost at least five to six hundred yuan, let alone something from the Xinhua Bookstore. Nie Qiu sighed. She knew Nie Aifang would definitely buy it since she had promised, but it made her feel a bit heavy, adding another expense.
Nie Qiu shook her head, deciding not to worry anymore, and continued to do her homework.
Halfway through her homework, Nie Aifang had finished cooking the dumplings. After eating dumplings with Nie Aifang, Nie Qiu started her homework again. After Nie Aifang cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks and put them in the kitchen, she untied her apron, walked out, and went to the door. She put the honeycomb briquette stove and some coal on her back, then picked up the folding tables and chairs. As she walked, she said to Nie Qiu, “Qiu Qiu, Mom is going to set up the stall now. After you finish your homework, help Mom wash the dishes. I’ve soaked them in the basin. Use a little dish soap.”
Nie Qiu looked up and replied, “Okay, I got it, Mom. I’ll wash them.” Watching Nie Aifang’s hunched back as she left with the back basket, Nie Qiu lowered her head again, took a deep breath, and continued to do her homework.
After finishing her homework, Nie Qiu went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. After tidying herself up, she took out the necklace from her purse, closed her eyes, and entered the space. Birds kept flying out of the woods, and rabbits and cats hopped around in the vegetable patch. It was much livelier than before.
Doudou was lazily sleeping on a large rock by the stream, basking in the sun. When Nie Qiu entered, it yawned and jumped off the rock. “Did you see that vegetable vendor today? Does he want our vegetables?”
Nie Qiu nodded, sat on the ground, and smiled, “I think I know what to do, Doudou. I’ll have to trouble you from now on.”
“That’s nothing!” Doudou rolled on the ground. “But Nie Qiu, can you grant me one wish?”
“Grant you a wish?” Nie Qiu looked at Doudou doubtfully. “You’re not some Jade Spirit, are you? Are you a monster?”
“If I said I was a monster, would you be afraid of me?” Doudou asked.
Nie Qiu shook her head. “I’ve already died once, so what’s there to be afraid of? What people fear most isn’t ghosts or monsters, but death.”
Doudou didn’t say anything more. Nie Qiu stood up and smiled, “I’m leaving now. I still need to go to the night market to help my mom set up her stall.”
“Nie Qiu, have you noticed that you’re calling Nie Aifang ‘Mom’ more and more naturally?” Doudou said softly.
Nie Qiu paused for a moment, then looked up and smiled, “I’ve been calling her naturally from the beginning!” In reality, she understood. In the beginning, although she called Nie Aifang Mom and enjoyed Nie Aifang’s affection, she still saw Nie Aifang as an equal. But now, she felt a natural heartache and respect for Nie Aifang, which was what a true mother-daughter relationship was like, wasn’t it?
Nie Qiu smiled. “Doudou, I’m leaving now.” With that, Nie Qiu left the space.
Doudou looked at the creatures in the space and softly murmured with a smile, “My wish…” The rest of the words disappeared in a sudden gust of wind.
Nie Qiu would help Nie Aifang set up her stall and usually returned home past midnight. After washing up, she wouldn’t get to sleep until one or two in the morning, and she had to wake up around five or six in the morning. To be honest, although Nie Qiu often slept in the space, which allowed her to have more energy, she still chose to sleep in her own room to avoid Nie Aifang discovering it and thinking her daughter had gone out somewhere late at night or had been kidnapped.
As a result, Nie Qiu’s sleep was severely insufficient. Scientists say that a person needs at least eight hours of normal sleep, and Nie Qiu clearly wasn’t getting enough. As soon as school ended at noon, Nie Qiu handed the magnetic card to Huang Yan and slumped onto her desk, falling into a drowsy sleep.
Huang Yan and Peng Yu Yang went to the canteen for lunch. Then, using the magnetic card Nie Qiu gave them, they packed a portion of rice and pickled mustard greens for Nie Qiu. When they returned to the classroom, Nie Qiu was still asleep.
Since noon dismissal was at twelve o’clock and afternoon classes started at half past one, Huang Yan nudged Nie Qiu helplessly. “Nie Qiu, Nie Qiu, wake up! It’s time to eat, and class starts in half an hour.”
Nie Qiu opened her eyes groggily. “How long until class?”
“Half an hour,” Huang Yan said, handing the packed food container to Nie Qiu. “Here, eat quickly! It’ll be bad if it gets cold. Did you get home late again last night? Why didn’t you tell your aunt that you needed to study and shouldn’t go to the stall?”
Nie Qiu opened her chopsticks and shook her head. “What can I do? I can’t let my mom set up the stall alone. If there are too many people, she won’t be able to handle it. Even if I just collect money, I can help her a little!”
Peng Yu Yang didn’t ask about Nie Qiu’s family matters. Although he was worried about Nie Qiu’s body, it was better to try and keep Nie Qiu happy at school. He smiled and said, “The indoor swimming pool opened a while ago, but only students specializing in sports could swim, which made the classmates disappointed for quite some time! During the second class this morning, Teacher Yang said that we could apply to go swimming during our Physical Education Class tomorrow. Huang Yan, Nie Qiu, will you be applying for swimming rings and kickboards then?”
“What are you talking about! I’m not applying for a swimming ring or a kickboard! I swam in junior high, I know how to swim!” Huang Yan retorted indignantly, frowning. “How about we have a competition tomorrow? If I win, you treat us to lamb skewers!”
“I support you, Huang Yan!” Nie Qiu clenched her fist and stood up. Although she wanted to swim in the stream in her space, she never had the opportunity because she was afraid. She didn’t want to be like her previous life, when she was a child at the Children’s Palace and was the only one swimming. Then, watching other children splash water and chase each other, she was very envious and really wanted to experience that feeling. She… had friends now!
Peng Yu Yang couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “I’m doing this for your own good. Our school’s swimming pool is international standard, fifty meters long and over eighteen meters deep. If you two just stand in the water, the water will be above your heads.”
