Chapter 114 - 105: Staying at the Guesthouse
Chapter 114: Chapter 105: Staying at the Guesthouse
"Then why were you just shouting nonsense?" Xiao Feng glared at Xiao Man, a little annoyed.
"What was I shouting? Was I shouting at you? Can’t I mumble to myself? You’re really nosy!"
Xiao Feng: ...
’Where did this firecracker pop out from? Just my rotten luck to run into her.’ Normally, he wouldn’t be without options, but right now, he couldn’t seem too impatient in front of the girl he liked.
Hearing Xiao Man say she wasn’t selling the grapes, the young woman was very disappointed. She bent down slightly, looking reluctantly at the basket. "Are those mountain grapes? No wonder they’re still around this season. They’ve been through a frost, so they must be really sweet. The skins get more fragrant the more you chew them! I used to eat mountain grapes like these back home when I was a kid. Mmm, they were so delicious. I still dream about that taste!"
The young woman couldn’t help but smack her lips a couple of times, and Xiao Feng’s glare at Xiao Man instantly turned into a plea.
Just then, another young woman with short hair ran over from down the street, shouting as she ran, "Qingqing, Xiao Feng! I thought I wouldn’t catch up to you! Ugh, my mom was nagging me to death!"
’Oh, another one. Looks like she’s a third wheel.’ Xiao Feng’s brow furrowed.
But the young woman named Qingqing smiled and went to greet her. "Lingling, I’m so glad you could make it! Otherwise, it would have been a bit quiet with just me and Xiao Feng, and the movie tickets would have gone to waste!"
The two young women held hands and chatted warmly. Xiao Feng pulled out a ten-yuan bill and handed it to Xiao Man. "Sell me all of these grapes!"
Xiao Man deliberately dragged out the conversation. "My mountain grapes are the real deal. They can clear up internal heat. I saw your friend has a few pimples on her face—she must have too much internal heat. Girls get really bothered by pimples. If she eats my mountain grapes, they’ll be gone by tomorrow, guaranteed!"
Xiao Feng didn’t necessarily believe Xiao Man’s words, but he readily pulled out another "Great Unity" bill. "Is this enough?"
Xiao Man said, "I don’t want money. I just need you to do me a favor!"
Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes at Xiao Man. "Alright, then. Playing games with me, are you? Go on, tell me. What’s the favor?"
"I know you’re from the compound. Your compound has a guesthouse. Get me two standard rooms for one night!"
Xiao Feng was stunned. "How did you know I..."
"In the middle of the night the other day, you drove the compound leader’s car off the side of the road!"
Xiao Feng’s mouth fell open. He suddenly raised his hand and tapped Xiao Man on the forehead. "So it was you, you little rascal! What nonsense are you talking about? I wasn’t the one driving that night! Why are you in the city? And you dare to run a private business? You’re a tiny thing with some serious guts!"
"I told you, I’m not selling them. I came to find relatives, but I can’t find them and have nowhere to go. So, do you want them or not?"
"Why do you need two rooms?"
"I have other relatives with me. A grandma, an uncle, and a little sister."
Xiao Feng frowned. Over on the side, Qingqing called out, "Xiao Feng, if the little sister doesn’t want to sell, then let’s just forget it. Let’s go, the movie is about to start."
Xiao Feng called back in agreement, then pulled a small booklet from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Man. "From Liutang Team of Polin Commune in Fengling County, surname Mo, right? This is my work ID. The compound guesthouse is just up ahead. They happen to have no reception duties these next few days, so you can stay for a night. Go to the front desk and find someone named Pan Meimei. Give her my work ID and tell her I sent you. She’ll arrange a place for you to stay!"
After he finished speaking, Xiao Feng bent down and scooped up all six bunches of grapes from the basket.
Now it was Xiao Man’s turn to stand there, stunned. Without an official letter of introduction, it was a hassle to stay at a hotel. Private inns might not require one, but their sanitation and safety were less than ideal. She had only been testing the waters, not expecting Xiao Feng to actually agree to help just for a few bunches of grapes. ’And does this guy have to have such a good memory? He actually remembered the fake address Grandpa gave me?’
’Oh well, whatever. If he remembered it, he remembered it. I’ll just tell Second Granny Qiu and Uncle Qiu to keep their mouths shut and not say anything careless. We’ll just stay for one night and slip away early tomorrow!’
Xiao Man pressed down on her shoulder bag, which was bulging with cash and ration coupons, to make it look more normal. She had no time to count it now. Picking up her basket, she first walked over to find the compound guesthouse. Once she had confirmed its location, she quickly ran back the way she came.
Halfway there, her stomach started to growl, GRUMBLE GRUMBLE. Xiao Man couldn’t help but scorn herself. ’I’m such a money-grubber. So focused on making money that I forgot something as important as eating!’
’But where can I go to eat now? It’s already past mealtime, and the state-owned restaurants are closed.’
After drinking some spiritual spring water, Xiao Man went into the department store. She didn’t waste time going upstairs to browse, sticking to the ground floor. She found the counter selling sweets and pastries, bought two catties of biscuits and a bag of White Rabbit creamy candy. Seeing some bread individually wrapped in plastic bags, she bought two of those as well and finished them on the way. Second Granny Qiu and the others were at the hospital, and the hospital cafeteria had food.
Xiao Man hurried to the hospital. The ward was quiet. Uncle Qiu was nowhere to be seen. Second Granny Qiu was curled up at one end of the hospital bed, holding Little Ni’er with her feet propped up on a square stool, sound asleep. Qiu Xiaobao, however, was awake, his eyes half-closed. Wang Guihua was just about to give him a drink of water.
Xiao Man took the bowl and said to Wang Guihua, "Aunt Qiu, go ahead and do what you need to do. I found a guesthouse, and I’ll take them over to sleep in a bit. You’ll have to stay here alone with him tonight."
When Wang Guihua heard this, it was exactly what she wanted. She felt uncomfortable with her mother-in-law there, and besides, she was already taking up more than half the bed. How was she supposed to sleep?
She exchanged a few polite words with Xiao Man, then let her feed Little Leopard the water while she went to the restroom.
Xiao Man fed Qiu Xiaobao the spiritual spring water. ’Even though the doctor said there’s no major danger, this is just in case.’
After feeding him the water, Little Leopard fell asleep again. Xiao Man gently shook Second Granny Qiu awake.
When Second Granny Qiu saw Xiao Man, she grabbed her and chided loudly, "You child, where did you run off to? You had me worried sick! What if you’d been snatched by a kidnapper? How would I explain that to your Grandpa and Grandma? Not a single one of you gives me any peace. Are you trying to be the death of me?"
Seeing that she was about to disturb the other patients, Xiao Man quickly put a finger to her lips with a SHUSH and pulled Second Granny Qiu out to the doorway to talk.
When she heard they were going to a guesthouse and had to walk to the city center, Second Granny Qiu was very reluctant. Xiao Man said, "If you don’t go, and Uncle Qiu doesn’t go, where is he going to sleep? The hospital bed is so small. If you and Little Ni’er sleep on it, and Aunt Qiu gets tired in the middle of the night and needs to lie down too, you’ll end up crowding Little Leopard."
Thinking of that consequence, Second Granny Qiu finally agreed to go with Xiao Man.
When Wang Guihua returned, Second Granny Qiu put Little Ni’er on her back. They went downstairs and found Uncle Qiu on a long bench in the hallway, curled up and too cold to sleep. The group then left the hospital and headed toward the city center.
Xiao Feng’s work ID really did the trick. Pan Meimei didn’t ask for any letters of introduction or anything. She just had Xiao Man fill out a registration form and then led them to the second floor. She opened two double rooms for them and said very politely that they could find her if they needed anything, as she was on duty from tonight until seven in the morning.
Only after Pan Meimei left could Second Granny Qiu and Uncle Qiu finally close their gaping mouths. They were so happy they started chuckling. ’Such a wonderful place to rest, and we almost didn’t come. We were so foolish!’