Setting Up Stalls – Chapter 180

Plum Rain Day

June 24th, early in the morning, it began to rain, pitter-patter, from the sky. It wasn’t the particularly heavy kind, but it wasn’t light either. Walking on the road without holding an umbrella, you would definitely be soaked in less than a minute.

The pedestrians on the road all had hurried expressions, opening their umbrellas as soon as they came out of the subway station and quickly running forward. Or there were some who were less particular, directly getting on their bicycles and pedaling furiously towards their companies.

Rain capes were also a must-have. The roads were filled with rain capes of various bright colors, like colorful little mushrooms walking on the ground.

Seeing the rain first thing in the morning, Shen Yiqiu understood that the Plum Rain Season had arrived.

For Southerners, the season they hated the most was none other than the Plum Rain Season. From the day it started, it would rain for ten-some days straight. The sky was always dark and gloomy, and the continuous rain fell downwards, with the sun never to be seen. On normal days, the weather felt good; even in winter, there was little rain or snow. Even clothes dryers were not standard equipment. Clothes came out of the washing machine and were hung directly on the drying rack.

But on this day, the clothes simply couldn’t get dry.

When Shen Yiqiu first came to this city, she didn’t like the Plum Rain Season, and now, she still disliked it just the same. Even though she didn’t have to wash her own clothes, and there were so many clothes in her cloakroom that she didn’t have to worry about having nothing to wear, she still didn’t like it. The air was damp and sticky, and even the ground on the first floor was drenched with water, all of which had to be cleaned up by the maids at home.

Even one’s body would feel much heavier because of this Plum Rain Season.

At a time like this, one needed a portion of yangyu potato cake—exceptionally fragrant, sweet, soft, and glutinous, yet also crispy, with lots of zhe’ergen and chili sauce—to heal oneself! The moment she thought of this, Shen Yiqiu felt that going out to work in such weather was no longer so hard to bear. She even got up, dressed up, and got ready happily, then left behind the baffled father of Su Ruixi and went straight out the door.

When she was almost at the research institute, Shen Yiqiu asked the driver to stop the car. The driver was still a little worried: “Ms. Shen, it’s raining today. Should I take you inside the research institute? I can also wait for you directly in the underground parking lot in the evening, so you won’t get wet from the rain.”

Shen Yiqiu, however, rejected his proposal, only saying one sentence: “No need, I’ll walk for a bit.” She opened the car door, extended the umbrella out first to open it, and then stepped onto the rainwater on the ground and got out of the car. Holding an umbrella, she walked on the road and saw that some stalls had already put up their rain shelters, and there were still some people in front of the stalls buying breakfast.

Shen Yiqiu quickened her pace and walked towards Sun Miao’s stall.

Without realizing it, she had arrived at the entrance of the research institute, but surprisingly, she couldn’t find Sun Miao’s little stall. Shen Yiqiu was stunned for a moment, then turned back and walked around twice more, but still couldn’t find it.

“……”

Wait, is my method of looking for the stall wrong?

Shen Yiqiu was bewildered.

She stood still at the place where she remembered Sun Miao’s stall should be. Seeing the empty space in front of her, her mood immediately went down. She didn’t know what the situation was now. Perhaps because it was raining, this little stall owner decided to come after the rain stopped? While she was thinking, the owner of the fried skewer stall next to her suddenly spoke up: “Hello, are you looking for the yangyu potato cake stall?”

“Yes.”

Shen Yiqiu nodded, and then heard the other person say: “Little Boss Sun usually only sets up for seven days. After seven days, she changes location. Yesterday was the last day. She told many customers, didn’t you know?”

Shen Yiqiu was even more bewildered: “I didn’t know. Do you know where she went to set up her stall?”

“I don’t know, but I heard her say before that she won’t be setting up her stall for a while recently, because the rain during the Plum Rain Season is very annoying. She will at least wait until after the Plum Rain Season is over before setting up.”

One sentence, and Shen Yiqiu’s whole person was not well. She dazedly said thank you and dazedly returned to her own office. After arriving at the office, she pulled out a tissue to wipe the rainwater that had accidentally gotten on her hair and couldn’t help but sigh.

Very good, I hate Plum Rain Day even more now.

Looking at the raindrops still falling incessantly outside the window, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but think: When will Plum Rain Day finally end?

However, none of this had anything to do with Sun Miao and Su Ruixi. Even as her own mother was lamenting, Su Ruixi was still happily boarding the plane to Qin Island with Sun Miao. The day before, Sun Miao had done a lot of homework, searching for travel guides about Qin Island on various platforms.

Su Ruixi didn’t bother with this, but she took full charge of the itinerary and the hotel.

On the morning of the 24th, Sun Miao got up very early, first made breakfast, then went to wake Su Ruixi up. It was already raining outside, pitter-pattering non-stop. Su Ruixi had originally hated this kind of rainy weather too, both when she was in school and after she started working. Especially when she was driving herself, she would clearly be in a hurry to meet a client, but couldn’t drive fast because of the rainy day.

Slippery roads on rainy days were also a peak period for car accidents. If there was a car accident on the road, there would also be a traffic jam.

At that time, it would be even more annoying. She could only tap her fingers on the steering wheel and mutter in her heart about when the traffic jam would finally end.

But this time, she was exceptionally looking forward to the Plum Rain Season. She looked forward to leaving everything behind and, together with Sun Miao, escaping the annoying Plum Rain Day.

Sun Miao had previously seen some videos online that compared the difference between ordinary people traveling and rich people traveling. Only “poor and bitter cattle and horses”¹ would feel that traveling is so tiring. Sun Miao hadn’t traveled much and couldn’t empathize. But now she experienced for herself what it meant for a rich person to travel.

At home, it was the Auntie who helped pack the luggage, preparing several changes of clothes according to their travel destination, weather, and preferences. Even several sets of pajamas were brought along. As if that wasn’t enough, the Auntie also instructed Su Ruixi: “President Su, ah, if you don’t have enough clothes, just buy them locally. Remember to have the hotel’s butler help wash them.”

And Su Ruixi only had to be responsible for packing her own personal items, such as cosmetics and the like. She didn’t need to bring much either; if she ran out, she could just buy it locally.

In the end, Su Ruixi packed a large suitcase. But looking at Sun Miao, it was much simpler. She carried a backpack, and that was it. Inside were two or three changes of clothes. She wore a jacket directly on her body, and her skincare products and cosmetics were packed in a small bag and placed in her backpack.

Compared to Su Ruixi’s large suitcase, she was much simpler.

When they were leaving, Sun Miao looked at her wearing high heels and was a little incredulous: “Susu-jie, won’t it be tiring to wear high heels?” Su Ruixi blinked her eyes: “It won’t. Why would it be tiring?”

Sun Miao hadn’t gone out to play much, but she had been on company team-building trips with colleagues in surrounding cities. Her impression was that you had to keep walking and it was particularly tiring, especially on the first day when you were on the road the whole time. It definitely wouldn’t be relaxing.

But Su Ruixi was overly firm and decisive, which made Sun Miao not very confident herself. After all, she had never been on a plane or traveled to a particularly distant place. So she no longer tried to persuade Su Ruixi, but was instead already very excited, looking forward to traveling. Her anticipation was written on her face. When Su Ruixi saw it, she couldn’t help but reveal a smile: “Miaomiao, you seem very happy?”

“En! I’ve never gone out to play before. This is the first time.”

Sun Miao’s words made Su Ruixi’s heart feel soft, and also carried a hint of heartache. The two of them had just said a few words when the private car driver arrived. Sun Miao was the first to act. While carrying her backpack, she stretched out her hand and directly pulled over Su Ruixi’s luggage, and headed outside. Su Ruixi had a medium-sized handbag slung over her wrist, which contained some of her personal belongings.

She said a few words to the Auntie, asking her to come over every day to clean and look after the house, then quickened her steps to chase after Sun Miao.

Su Ruixi actually hadn’t planned to let Sun Miao help her with her luggage; she had intended to carry it herself. But Sun Miao was very self-aware and directly ran off with the suitcase. This wasn’t because she was a T and was also very considerate of Su Ruixi in their daily interactions, but because—she felt that her own strength and stamina were greater and better than Su Ruixi’s, so she should bear more of these trivial matters.

Even though they were going out to play, Sun Miao wasn’t dressed very nicely. It was still her usual white T-shirt and jeans, with a black lightweight jacket over it. Su Ruixi was used to seeing this outfit and didn’t find it awkward, but she also hoped Sun Miao would wear a little dress. The last time she wore one, it looked very nice. So she sneakily stuffed Sun Miao’s little dress into her own suitcase.

Now, watching the suitcase being placed in the trunk by the private car driver, Su Ruixi was visibly relieved.

Starting from their doorstep, they drove directly to the drop-off point on the second floor of the terminal building. Su Ruixi, with light vehicle and familiar road², led Sun Miao, who was carrying her suitcase, through the VIP channel to check in, and then went to the VIP lounge. As soon as they entered the lounge, a service staff member came forward to greet them and took the suitcase from Sun Miao’s hand.

Sun Miao and Su Ruixi sat down in their seats. Looking left and right, they found that there were many things to eat in the lounge. For free things, Sun Miao had always been unable to resist. She sat in her seat for a while, but in the end, she still couldn’t resist the temptation of “free” and, after telling Su Ruixi, went to get some snacks, pastries, and drinks.

Su Ruixi didn’t stop her. After Sun Miao returned, she just propped her chin on her hand and watched Sun Miao eat. Sun Miao even moved closer to Su Ruixi and asked if she wanted to eat, but was refused by Su Ruixi. She didn’t like to eat the things in the lounge, nor did she like to eat airplane food. Even though she knew she shouldn’t eat too much before a flight, she had eaten her fill this morning.

This way, she could endure the long plane journey without having to eat that terrible airplane food. She was truly a plan master³.

Sun Miao wasn’t that picky. While eating, she would even comment a little: “This little pastry is made quite well. I don’t really know how to make pastries. When we get back, I’ll learn how to make them and then make them for you to eat.”

“Okay.”

After Sun Miao finished her meal, she chatted with Su Ruixi for a while longer. Su Ruixi could see that because it was Sun Miao’s first time on a plane, her whole person was a little nervous. To alleviate her nervousness, Su Ruixi also said: “It’s been raining all day today, maybe we’ll be delayed.”

“Ah? Will we be delayed?”

Sun Miao’s eyes widened a little, clearly in some disbelief. She became a little anxious: “Then can we take off on time? Will the flight be canceled today because of the rain?”

“That only happens in extreme weather. Plum Rain Day is considered normal, it won’t be canceled.” She chuckled lightly and also said to Sun Miao in a small voice: “And this time we are flying Lu Province Airlines⁴.”

“Is there something wrong with Lu Province Airlines?”

Su Ruixi couldn’t hold it in and laughed out loud: “You scroll through videos every day, haven’t you come across it? Lu Province Airlines, famously fast.”

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