Chapter 140: A Promise Kept in the Heart (First Bonus Chapter)

"There's quite a lot this time; can you handle it?" An Yinan was also a bit helpless. She hadn't realized it until she tidied up, but she was shocked—these were all things she had made unconsciously while relaxing her mind.

Liu Mei looked through them piece by piece; with quality like this, it would be a loss for her if she were even one piece short.

"I can handle it." Liu Mei gritted her teeth; even if it meant counting all the money in her home, it would be fine.

The two of them counted and did the math. Liu Mei rubbed her forehead, "I have to give you the money this afternoon."

Her family's money really wasn't enough; she needed to go to Liu Yun's to pool some together.

"Fine. I came this time also wanting to buy meat buns and meat rolls. These are cups I brought for everyone; sorry to trouble you all." An Yinan took six glass cups directly out of her cloth bag, one for each person, with the extra one being for Liu Yun.

An Yinan never forgot Liu Yun each time, which was also why everyone felt An Yinan was worth befriending.

"You came at just the right time. There were a lot of meat buns left over from yesterday. Now that the vegetables are in season, everyone has less interest in meat buns. There were over two hundred left yesterday, and they won't keep in this weather. I'll have Xiaomei process them at the special price and pack them all for you. For the rest, I'll have the kitchen steam another basket; I'll get you whatever I can," Liu Mei said.

An Yinan hurriedly thanked her. These were all favors, and she accepted them.

She was also preparing for moving to a new place later. Hoarding things seemed to have become a habit; the items in her space were constantly being consumed and constantly being replenished.

After going to the Northeast Camp, she felt even more that Ershu's craftsmanship was truly excellent.

Everyone received the glass cups An Yinan had gifted them and became even more enthusiastic toward her. Those glass cups didn't have a single flaw; they were crystal clear and beautiful.

Everyone became active again. They actually really hoped for An Yinan to come; although they did more work, they also received things, and they were always good things.

An Yinan packed up the two hundred-plus meat buns left from yesterday, had Xiaomei write up a slip, and then made the payment.

She took out a cloth bag and packed ten. It wasn't that she didn't want to pack more, but the weather was already hot now. It would be fine for a day, but if left for too long, they would spoil, which would be a sin.

An Yinan arrived at the Waste Recycling Station. The old man's recliner was still there, unchanged for a thousand years, but the person was currently in the shade of the small hut, watching the people picking and choosing in the distance.

"Grandpa," An Yinan said.

The old man tapped his Tobacco Pouch, "Why did it take you so long to come?"

"I went to the north and ran into some trouble." An Yinan didn't explain too clearly, just roughly stating the direction.

Seeing An Yinan, the old man finally felt relieved. He was truly afraid that those things would leak out, and he was also worried about this girl's safety.

Taking these things now, if reported by someone, was a serious crime.

He originally wanted the things to be passed down and not destroyed in this dark, sunless Waste Recycling Station, but he also didn't want to harm this little girl.

Through long periods of meeting and interacting, he appreciated this girl's character even more.

"That's good. Do you still want those things?" the old man asked.

An Yinan nodded, "I do."

The old man pointed toward the backyard—the old spot.

An Yinan went to the backyard, collected everything into a large basket, and then placed the meat buns and some daily rice, flour, and coarse grains into the kitchen. She also left two jin of white liquor, a canned jar of meat sauce, a canned jar of pickled peppers, and a canned jar of peanuts.

After putting these things away, she walked out of the kitchen and said to the old man, "Grandpa, live well. I will provide for your old age in the future and let you see these things come to light."

The old man waved his hand, though there was little hope in his eyes, "As long as you keep your promise, that is enough."

An Yinan always remembered the old man's initial instruction: never let these things flow out of the country.

"I will keep it in my heart," An Yinan nodded.

The two didn't say anything else. An Yinan sat there for another half hour before the old man chased her out.

Returning to the Xiao Yuan, Chen Xun had already delivered the paper and ink. She swept the items up and stored them in her space. Checking the time, she took a few bars of soap from her space and put them in the large basket before heading to the Post Office.

"Big sister, do you have any new stamps?" An Yinan said to the young woman with a smile.

The young woman at the Post Office nodded quickly, "I've saved them all for you; they're all right here."

An Yinan counted the sheets and then paid the money.

"Many thanks for your help, sister." An Yinan handed the young woman a bar of soap as a token of appreciation for this time.

The young woman accepted it with a smile, feeling very satisfied.

Now that letters and mailed items could be sent to Quanshui Village, there was no need to pick them up from the Post Office anymore, which was much more convenient.

After strolling around the street for a while, she arrived at the State-run Restaurant just in time for lunch. An Yinan queued up for a bowl of clear noodle soup. The weather was getting hotter, and she couldn't bring herself to eat braised pork lately.

Besides, whenever she ate braised pork, she always thought of Beibei. Beibei loved braised pork the most and could always eat until his mouth was dripping with oil.

Eating a bowl of clear noodle soup left her sweating profusely. Once the crowd had thinned out, Liu Mei packed the meat rolls and meat buns into a large white bag. After An Yinan took them, she carried them in her hand and on her back in the basket.

"This is the money for the clothes, plus what was owed from last time; I'm settling it all with you now." Now, the money Liu Mei made from selling clothes was more than her salary. The clothes from just a moment ago—she had taken out a small portion, and they were all snatched up by her sisters. She had originally wanted to borrow some from Liu Yun, but she hadn't expected that not only would she not need to borrow, but there was even a surplus.

An Yinan smiled and didn't decline, accepting it directly.

After returning to the Xiao Yuan, she stored the buns in her space. After thinking for a moment, she took out twenty meat buns, then brought half a bag of coarse grains and half a bag of white flour, and went to the landlord's place.

"Girl, you're here?" The one who opened the door was the old man who swept the streets. He had probably just returned, his face streaming with sweat, but seeing An Yinan, he had a bit of a smile, no longer the cold look from before.

An Yinan nodded quickly, "This bag is coarse grains, this bag is white flour, and these are meat buns. I was in a rush this time and didn't bring anything else, but this should be enough for you and the old lady to eat for a while."

The old man patted the dust off his body, "Girl, come inside with me."

An Yinan didn't know what the old man wanted to do. The two entered the room one after the other. The old lady was also in the room tidying the kang; seeing An Yinan, she quickly patted the edge of the kang, "Girl, sit down quickly."

The old man fiddled around in the back room for a while and brought out a jewelry box, "Girl, take this back."

An Yinan looked at the old lady and the old man in confusion, then opened the jewelry box. It was actually a set of ruby head ornaments.

"This won't do, it's too valuable." An Yinan hurriedly pushed it back.

The old man sighed, "These things were valuable in the past, but now they are just a disaster."