Chapter 301: A Small Four-Person Trade
After lunch, Ning Xiyue and Liu Yao—the “stay-behind children” of the youth courtyard—headed back together. The five who came together left together; others had first-day tasks to handle and couldn’t return with them.
Ning Xiyue couldn’t yet know the exact progress of the original book couple’s first encounter. Both were busy, so the situation remained unclear.
But she wasn’t disappointed—Chen Yechu would return to sleep at night, and then she could find out more. Around others, Chen Yechu maintained an untouchable persona, but with Ning Xiyue, she was an open book.
At the canteen exit, they noticed Yu Zhiyu looking absent-minded, frequently glancing back. Ning Xiyue suddenly understood—he might be waiting for a response after confessing his feelings, enduring an anxious moment of uncertainty.
She sympathized—love’s anxious waiting is the hardest.
Glancing at him, she looked back to her second brother.
“Little sister, rest well when we return. I’ll get your food for dinner, same spot as today,” Ning Qingyuan said.
“No need. I’ll be at the clinic in the afternoon and have free time. I can get the food myself—give me two trays,” Ning Xiyue replied.
She could easily come early to get meals and check on Chen Yechu in the afternoon.
“Okay.” Ning Qingyuan handed her a stack of meal tickets.
Ning Xiyue took them without hesitation and waved. “Alright, let’s go back. You guys continue your work.”
The four headed back to the youth courtyard.
Liu Yao muttered, “I’ll bring my own lunchbox and chopsticks in the afternoon so I can eat back at the courtyard.”
“What if I don’t have a lunchbox?” Wang Mengmeng joined in.
“I have some extra, clean lunchboxes you can use,” Ning Xiyue replied.
Ning Xiyue had plenty—every time she collected pre-made meals during check-ins, they came in plates or lunchboxes. Clean, sanitized, and stacked in the automated kitchen storage—perfect for Wang Mengmeng’s slight germophobia.
Wang Mengmeng was delighted. “Great, I’ll get one from you when we return.”
Wang Jiandong grinned. “Sister Xiyue, can I trade for one too? I’ll give you a pack of cabbage seeds, chili seeds, and watermelon seeds.”
“You have watermelon seeds?” Ning Xiyue’s eyes lit up—she had other seeds but no watermelon seeds. She could plant them in the courtyard garden.
In the hot summer, watermelon is a perfect refreshment. She immediately agreed: “Sure, let’s trade. I’ll give them to you when we get back.”
Wang Mengmeng and Liu Yao recalled the sweet red-fleshed watermelons they had before.
Liu Yao eagerly asked, “Jiandong, can I get a few watermelon seeds from you too?”
“Me too!” Wang Mengmeng chimed in.
Wang Jiandong, surprised at the demand, scratched his head. “I have plenty. My mom sent me a pack recently, including extra seeds for better germination. I can trade some with you, but I can’t guarantee all will sprout.”
Ning Xiyue waved it off. “It’s fine—whether they grow or not is just luck.”
Liu Yao confirmed: “Done, I’ll trade for watermelon seeds.”
“I’m in too! I’ve only had store-bought watermelons, never grown my own,” Wang Mengmeng said excitedly.
“Alright, I’ll trade a few seeds and write down the cultivation method. I’m not sure about all the growth stages, but my mom’s letter has some simple instructions,” Wang Jiandong said.
“Thanks, Comrade Wang!” Ning Xiyue gratefully accepted—he was reliable, trading seeds with cultivation instructions included.
Wang Mengmeng and Liu Yao expressed their excitement and gratitude.
Back at the youth courtyard, although only the four of them—and the almost invisible Xia Zhipeng—were present, it wasn’t lonely.
The four conducted their little trade in Ning Xiyue’s mini-kitchen:
Wang Mengmeng traded money for lunchboxes from Ning Xiyue.
Wang Mengmeng traded money for small packs of watermelon and chili seeds from Wang Jiandong.
Liu Yao traded candy for six watermelon seeds from Wang Jiandong.
Ning Xiyue traded lunchboxes for cabbage, chili, and watermelon seeds—ten watermelon seeds in total.
Even if some seeds failed, at least one or two would grow. Ning Xiyue didn’t need more—one sprouting was enough.
Seeing the three excitedly inspecting their seeds, Wang Jiandong said: “This is the right time to plant watermelon. I’ll teach you the cultivation steps now—it’s simple. Tonight I’ll write down the notes and methods too.”
Ning Xiyue happily agreed—hands-on guidance was better than just reading instructions.
“Alright, do we have warm water?” Wang Jiandong asked.
“Yes.” Ning Xiyue mixed hot and cold water to the right temperature.
“First step is soaking the seeds. Rub them in the warm water repeatedly.”
He demonstrated and explained the next steps. Ning Xiyue, Wang Mengmeng, and Liu Yao follow along.
The steps were simple: rub the seeds, rinse off pulp and debris, soak overnight in warm water.
“Place the bowl somewhere warm. Tomorrow, wrap the seeds in a cloth and keep them warm, mist once a day. Within two days, you should see sprouts.”
Holding his small bowl of watermelon seeds, Wang Jiandong explained everything he knew.
“Once sprouts appear, transplant them into the ground. This method is faster than planting directly. By mid-June, we should have watermelons.”
“Great, I hope they all sprout,” Liu Yao said, staring at the seeds, imagining big watermelons.
All four eagerly watched their seeds, eyes full of expectation.
With the trade done and seeds soaking, the task was temporarily complete.
Ning Xiyue placed the bowl on the stove and, with the others, walked toward the front yard to rest and recharge for the afternoon work.
