How About We Go Out and Play?
【Am I seeing things? Sold out? What time is it?】
【No way… are there really that many people eating 88-yuan dumplings? It’s not even 8:30, and the boss has packed up and gone home?】
【Don’t scare me, I was planning to go after work tonight. Didn’t a previous message say she’s open from six in the morning to six in the evening? The times don’t add up, right?】
The second group chat was basically full of new customers, many of whom had only learned about Sun Miao’s little stall from Lizi’s video and were planning to try it. Of course, there were also some uncles and aunties who had just joined the group today. At this moment, the uncle who was always competing with Hip-Hop Mei for first place was sitting at home, wearing a pair of reading glasses and looking at these messages.
He held up a finger and wrote on the screen, his speed very slow. It took him a long while to type out a single sentence: 【The little girl’s dumplings are delicious, and there was a big crowd queuing this morning too. This old man often can’t even grab the first spot. She has a set amount every day, so of course she goes home once she’s sold out. If you all want to eat, come earlier next time. Oh, and the little girl also said, after she sells out today, she’s moving to a new location next time.】
Regarding that last point, some of the new members of the group had heard a little about it:
【I think that’s right. She sold beef pancakes and rice noodle rolls before. The boss is quite headstrong. But she’s got the skills, so of course she can be headstrong.】
While waiting at a red light, Sun Miao wondered if she should explain in the group. After all, it was a new group, and some people weren’t familiar with her, so there were bound to be some things they didn’t understand. But when she glanced at the group chat, she found that some enthusiastic members of the public had already explained everything for her.
She drove the food truck home after buying groceries and messaged Su Ruixi for a while in the afternoon. It was a rare occasion; she had the next two days off, which happened to be Saturday and Sunday, and Su Ruixi was also at home resting. But Su Ruixi clearly didn’t want to miss this opportunity, so she called Sun Miao directly.
Her voice was soft, with a subtle, sneaky feeling to it: “Miaomiao, how about we go out and play?”
“Where to?” Sun Miao skipped right over the question of whether to go and directly asked about the destination. Su Ruixi didn’t really care where they went, as long as it was with Sun Miao. But since Sun Miao asked, she thought about it seriously.
After all, they only had two days, so they couldn’t go too far and could only wander around nearby. They also couldn’t pack their schedule too tightly, as Sun Miao needed to do some prep on Sunday for the next snack she was going to sell. So, in reality, they only had a little over a day of leisure time.
That meant their options were limited to the surrounding area.
Su Ruixi’s eyes curved into crescents. “How about we go to Gusu1?”
As the saying goes, “Above there is heaven, below there are Su and Hang.”2 Hangcheng3 was a bit far, but Gusu was very close.
Sun Miao replied, “Okay.”
So Su Ruixi said, “Then I’ll plan the itinerary. We’ll drive there and head over tonight.”
Su Ruixi had set the plan, and Sun Miao had agreed. After hanging up, Sun Miao started packing. Since they were only going for two days, she didn’t need to bring too many clothes, but sunscreen was a must. It was already mid-July, and Sun Miao had long since switched to short-sleeved T-shirts. Even just boiling dumplings in the early morning, she would inevitably break a sweat, let alone when they were out having fun, where they would surely be walking on the streets when the sun was strong.
When Su Ruixi got home, the two of them first had a meal at home, tidied up the house, and then left with their suitcase in hand.
The most worthwhile places to visit in Gusu were its classical gardens and ancient architecture. The hotel Su Ruixi booked was in the old town district, surrounded by many famous attractions that were within walking distance. That evening, they first strolled around a nearby pedestrian street.
On a Friday night, the area around the scenic spot was packed with people everywhere. Unlike the unknown scenic spot where Sun Miao had been setting up her stall recently, this place was practically a human sea. Sun Miao’s eyes were fast and her hands were quick, and she pulled Su Ruixi into a small alley, only then breathing a sigh of relief.
The two of them escaped from the crowd, looked at each other, and couldn’t help but smile.
Once in the small alley, they weren’t in a hurry to leave. Not far away, the outside was a brightly lit, bustling scene of noise and activity, but walking deeper into the alley revealed just a few household lights and the swaying shadows of branches by the roadside. It was only eight o’clock, so there was no need to worry about safety.
Besides, although it was a small alley, in a place with such a high degree of tourism development, it was still lined with small shops every few steps.
The two of them held hands and ambled slowly down the alley.
Although it was a spontaneous trip, now that they were really here, their hearts calmed down. This place was truly perfect for a slow walk. The road surface wasn’t the flagstone pavement of the main roads but was poured concrete. However, it had been thoughtfully designed with an antique feel, which, combined with the aged residential buildings around them, created a unique charm.
After walking for a while, Su Ruixi saw a qipao4 shop and pulled Sun Miao inside.
Sun Miao’s “little citizen” mentality suddenly surfaced, and she couldn’t help but remind Su Ruixi, “Susu-jie, the clothes in the scenic area are sold at very high prices, we…”
Su Ruixi smiled. “I’ll buy it for you.”
“That’s not what I mean… no, I mean I’ll buy it for you.”
Before Sun Miao’s words could even fall, she was pulled into the shop. It was a small store, only a few square meters in area, and you could see everything inside through the display window. After entering, she saw a rattan chair with no one on it, only a cat.
That cat was so fat, fat and plump, but its fur was very glossy. You could tell its owner took good care of it.
It wasn’t scared when it saw people come in, and even let out a “meow.” Sun Miao took one look and, whoa, this tonnage could give the cat owner’s family’s Niuniu a run for her money.
Su Ruixi and Sun Miao didn’t see the shop owner at first, but Su Ruixi was calm and composed, acting as if she were the owner of the shop as she started to browse on her own. She took two qipaos off the rack, held them against herself, and asked Sun Miao which one looked better.
Before coming in, Sun Miao had been a bit reserved, worried that the prices in the scenic area were too high. But after entering, she calmed down. She thought about her current savings and realized there was no need to be so stingy. So, the “little citizen” mentality was suppressed again, and she said instead, “They both look good.”
She was being sincere, not just saying it to be nice. Su Ruixi was totally Sun Miao’s heavenly dish5. The way she was, Sun Miao would find her beautiful even if she were wearing a snakeskin sack.
“…” Su Ruixi was silent for a moment, then put them back. She then took out two other dresses and held them up to Sun Miao. “Mm, they are good-looking.” Her eyes shifted, and in that instant, Sun Miao knew that Su Ruixi was definitely thinking up some idea.
Su Ruixi flipped over the tag, confirmed the size, and then stuffed them into Sun Miao’s arms. “Miaomiao, go try them on. You’ll definitely look beautiful in them.”
The shop owner wasn’t there, which made Sun Miao feel a bit awkward. “Is this really okay?”
“It’s fine. We came in to browse, so of course we should try things on. Besides, she has a fitting room here, which proves we can. And you’re only wearing light makeup, just be careful not to get it on the clothes when you try them on.”
Under Su Ruixi’s persuasion, Sun Miao finally took the two qipaos into the fitting room. The fabric of the qipao felt more comfortable than ordinary clothes. But it was also more difficult to put on. It had a zipper on the back that went all the way from the hipline to the very top. Su Ruixi knew Sun Miao inside and out, including her measurements, and had chosen the most suitable size for her. But even after putting it on, trying to zip it all the way up was still a bit difficult.
Because the shop was very small, the fitting room was also very small. It was less a fitting room and more a small corner cordoned off with a cloth curtain.
Sun Miao ran into a problem and could only ask Su Ruixi for help.
“Susu-jie, I can’t get the zipper up.”
“How is that possible? It’s your size.”
Su Ruixi lifted a corner of the curtain and slipped in from the outside. The scene she saw at that moment made her breath catch slightly. Sun Miao had her back to her, the qipao’s slim fit outlining her waist. The zipper was already most of the way up, with only a hand’s-width distance at the very top left unzipped.
Sun Miao’s hair, tied in a ponytail, was held up high by her own hand, with only a few stray strands falling down, dangling near the zipper and obstructing her from pulling it up.
Even though they were a couple who had been intimate countless times, Su Ruixi still felt that this image of Sun Miao made her heart tremble. She moved closer and carefully brushed aside those few stray hairs. “Your hair is in the way.” As she spoke, she zipped up Sun Miao’s dress.
After she finished changing, she pulled Sun Miao outside to look in the mirror.
Sun Miao didn’t usually dress up, but seeing her suddenly all done up, Su Ruixi thought she was utterly beautiful.
Especially Sun Miao’s temperament. She was peaceful and proper, yet positive and optimistic. The dress she wore was one Su Ruixi had picked for her. It was a pale yellow overall, embroidered with small flowers. The collar was a renzijin6 with a light green trim, and the overall lines were smooth and flowing. This qipao on her gave off the feeling of a small-family precious jade7, pure and lovely.
Sun Miao’s face was a bit rounder than Su Ruixi’s, and this qipao truly suited her.
It was just that Sun Miao had never worn a qipao before and was still a little worried. “Does this make my waist look thick?” Su Ruixi was so exasperated she patted her on the back. “How could it? You look beautiful in it.”
After saying that, Su Ruixi picked one out for herself and also went into the fitting room.
While Su Ruixi was inside, the shop owner returned. Sun Miao and the shop owner stared with big eyes at small eyes8. The shop owner spoke first. “Oh, sorry about that, I went next door to chat. Here to buy clothes? Take your time looking and trying things on. I’m not just bragging, the clothes in my shop are all exceptionally beautiful!”
Before her voice had faded, the curtain was pulled open. At that moment, the shop owner and Sun Miao both fell silent.
Su Ruixi came out, one hand holding the curtain. Sun Miao truly thought Su Ruixi was beautiful; every single point, even every strand of her hair, was perfectly aligned with her sense of aesthetics. There were certainly many people in the world more beautiful than Su Ruixi, but in Sun Miao’s eyes, no one could make her heart flutter more than Su Ruixi.
Her hair was swept to one side, and her eyes were slightly lowered as she emerged. She wore a pale purple qipao that made her whole person seem like she was carved from jade. After a few steps, the curtain in her hand slid down her arm, which was like white jade. Those few steps were also a picture of graceful, willowy charm9.
Afterward, she raised her head and looked up at Sun Miao.
Sun Miao hadn’t had much schooling and wasn’t very cultured, but there were a few phrases she knew. At this moment, a line of poetry suddenly popped into her mind: A clever smile so charming, beautiful eyes so longing10.
Su Ruixi’s eyes were bright and expressive, and when she looked at her with a smile, Sun Miao felt as if her entire heart had been struck.
Sun Miao was speechless, but the shop owner next to her had something to say. “Wow, what a great beauty!”
Sun Miao turned her head and saw that her eyes were also shining.
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