Chapter 21: Selling Sugar Water

The next day, Xu Niannian got up very early, while it was still dark, probably around five in the morning.

It was about an hour's walk from here to the town, so they would arrive around half-past six or seven.

The dragon boat races were held at Hongshan Town, a major traditional custom of Nancheng County, which was a county of neither large nor small size, governing nine towns.

Of the nine small towns, only Hongshan Town had a long river, so every year there were especially many people coming to watch the dragon boat races. People from other towns would also come, and many from the county itself would join to see the excitement.

This tradition had been suspended for about ten years during the Cultural Revolution. Only in the past few years, after the reform and opening-up, was the custom of dragon boat races revived.

Anticipating that many people would come early to secure a spot, getting there early was essential to find a good location for their stall.

Xu Duoyu was a light sleeper; as Xu Niannian got up and dressed, she woke him up.

The little boy, groggy and rubbing his eyes, could barely make out the person standing in the room because it was still dark, with only a hint of dawn breaking.

By the height, he mistook her for Xu Zhiqiang.

"Big brother, why are you up so early?" came the soft, whiny voice, full of coquettish charm.

Xu Niannian's heart melted instantly at his call.

"Duoyu, be good and sleep a little longer. I'm not your big brother; I'm your sister."

Hearing Xu Niannian's voice, Xu Duoyu sat up with a start, his voice trembling as he called out, "Sister..."

Xu Niannian, worried he would fall off the bed, quickly lit the kerosene lamp.

Only then did Xu Duoyu realize he was in his sister's bedroom, sitting on her soft and spacious bed.

Remembering times when he accidentally touched his sister's bed and got a spanking, his little face turned pale with fear.

"Sister, where's, where's brother..."

The little guy was shivering with fear, looking timidly at Xu Niannian, who felt unbearably heartbroken.

She softened her voice and said, "Brother is sleeping in his room. From now on, you'll sleep with your sister."

Three brothers crowded into a bed that was only 1.2 meters wide, probably not very comfortable.

Xu Duoyu was still young, only six years old. They would make him a small bed in their room, and it wouldn't be too late to have him sleep there later.

Xu Niannian's voice was so tender that Xu Duoyu couldn't help but forget his fears.

Seeing that he stopped shivering, Xu Niannian said, "Duoyu, be good and sleep a bit more. Later, Zhicheng will come to take you. I have to get up early to sell things."

Xu Duoyu didn't speak but clung to Xu Niannian's neck, refusing to let go.

His intense lack of security made it difficult for Xu Niannian to persuade him to release her, no matter how much she soothed him.

Seeing that he couldn't sleep like this, Xu Niannian decided to take him with her.

After helping him get dressed, Xu Niannian then took him out of the room. She thought she had gotten up early, but to her surprise, others were up even earlier.

Xu Dawei and Yang Cuihua were still in bed, but Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng had already gotten up.

The two sat in the main room, appearing to be ready and just waiting for her.

Xu Niannian handed Xu Duoyu over to Xu Zhicheng then went to wash up; they set off immediately after she was ready.

Originally, only she and Xu Zhiqiang were supposed to go, but Zhicheng and Duoyu wanted to come too, so she left a note for Xu Dawei, so they wouldn't worry.

Although it was doubtful that he and Yang Cuihua would actually worry much about Xu Duoyu and Xu Zhicheng.

The six buckets of sugar water were quite heavy, but fortunately, Xu Dawei had borrowed a bull cart from the brigade leader the night before.

Xu Zhiqiang alone moved the sugar water to the cart and began pushing it along.

The journey was long, and they spilled quite a bit of water along the way. With the concern that Duoyu might not handle such a long walk, Xu Niannian and Xu Zhicheng took turns carrying him.

Most of the time, it was Xu Niannian who bore the load, as there was no helping it; Zhicheng was just nine years old himself.

Upon arriving at Hongshan Lake, indeed there were already many people who had come early to secure spots; they all wanted to watch the race and were worried about getting squeezed to the back if they arrived later.

There were also a few fruit stands, but not many.

Xu Niannian didn't set up along the shore; she chose a position towards the rear, as she feared the front would be too crowded to sell her goods when the time came.

By this time, it was already past seven o'clock. Xu Niannian gave Xu Zhiqiang forty cents, asking him to go to the largest nearby store to have some blocks of ice frozen in their freezer, which they could pick up at noon.

Xu Niannian spread a coarse cloth on the ground before setting down the buckets.

Soon enough, people began to trickle in, but no one was buying water yet, as it was still early.

Xu Niannian was beautiful, and just standing there, she was an attractive sight.

Although nobody was buying water, quite a few young men were passing back and forth in front of her stall.

The dragon boat races were set to start at nine o'clock and promised to be lively. An hour before the race began, the entire Hongshan Lake was already surrounded by spectators.

The calls of vendors and cheers of support were unceasing, as the onlooking crowd turned red-faced and thick-necked from shouting encouragement. Soon, the blazing sun in the sky began radiating heat.

It gradually warmed up.

Nobody was buying water at first, which made Xu Zhiqiang and Xu Zhicheng somewhat anxious.

But Xu Niannian remained very calm.

It wasn't until the heat became unbearable that Xu Niannian finally told Xu Zhiqiang to fetch the ice blocks.

With exactly six blocks of ice, she placed one into each of the six buckets and then began to call out.

"Sweetened drinks for sale! Tasty and cool sweetened drinks, only eight cents a cup, eight cents a cup, a deal you won't regret, no chance of being cheated." In pursuit of profit, Xu Niannian shouted out all the advertising slogans she knew.

Eight cents wasn't expensive, in fact, it was quite cheap.

Many of the young men had noticed Xu Niannian setting up her stand earlier, yet they were unaware of what she was selling.

Now, hearing her call out, they thought, finally an opportunity to speak with the beauty.

Soon, two young men came over, both with sweaty foreheads and sunburnt red faces.

"How much for this water?" one of the young men asked knowingly.

Seeing a customer, Xu Niannian immediately greeted him with a smile, her large watery eyes sparkling, and said crisply, "Eight cents a cup, very cheap. The weather is so hot, big brothers, wouldn't you like a cup to relieve the heat?"

Xu Niannian was already an uncommon beauty in the region, and her smile, combined with her bright eyes and white teeth, instantly captivated the two young men, who immediately said, "We'll take two cups."

"All right," Xu Niannian said with a smile.

Xu Zhiqiang lifted a handkerchief and filled two large ceramic cups with sweetened water.

Because there were ice blocks in the buckets, the cups themselves were chilled.

The two young men took them and drank up right away.

The cool sweetness of the sugarcane water, coupled with the cold that penetrated to the core, provided instant relief as they drank it down.

In this weather so hot the very air felt scorched, such a beverage was incredibly refreshing.

The two young men had initially only wanted to find an excuse to talk to Xu Niannian and hadn't expected her water to be so thirst-quenching, nor did they anticipate the sweet taste.

They promptly ordered another two cups.

With only six cups available at home and no disposable cups, Xu Niannian had to use a basin to rinse the cups with clean water, washing them on the spot as soon as the patrons finished drinking.

After each drank two cups, they jointly paid forty cents. Xu Niannian wanted to give change, but the two men insisted on not taking it, saying there was no need for change.

However, Xu Niannian still gave them their change.

Since the first sale went through, Xu Zhicheng, who previously seemed dispirited, immediately perked up and became spirited in his approach.