Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1196 When I was a child

The next morning, Mu Zhaoxue was awakened by her biological clock. She propped herself up and lifted a corner of the curtain. It was just getting light, and the streets outside were unusually quiet.

At this moment, it felt cold and serene, like a sleeping lion. When the sun came out, it would return to its unbearable state from yesterday.

Mu Zhaoxue had an urge to go for a walk.

She immediately rolled out of bed, quickly dressed, and tied her hair into a ponytail.

As she opened the door, warm yellow light shone in, and the range hood hummed loudly in the quiet morning. Mu Zhaoxue subconsciously looked towards the kitchen, where her mother was busy working.

"Mom? Are you making breakfast?" Mu Zhaoxue quickly went over.
"Xiaoxue, you're awake? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?" Yang Xiue was surprised that her daughter was up so early. In the past, her daughter would sleep until 11 a.m. when she was on vacation.

"No, I slept very well last night." Mu Zhaoxue shook her head. Ever since she started studying in the Memory Library before bed every day, her sleep has become exceptionally good.

"Then go brush your teeth and wash your face, warm yourself by the fire, and watch TV for a while."

"Mom, I want to go for a walk," Mu Zhaoxue said.

"Go for a walk?" Yang Xiu'e didn't react immediately.

"It's been a long time since I've been back. I want to go for a walk, but it'll be hard to walk when the market crowds come." Mu Zhaoxue quickly finished washing up.

"Wait a minute," Yang Xiu'e suddenly called out.

"Hmm?" Mu Zhaoxue was changing her shoes.

Yang Xiue walked towards her in cotton slippers, holding out her hand with a wad of change. A quick glance revealed 50 yuan. "Buy whatever breakfast you want."

A warm feeling washed over Mu Zhaoxue. "Mom, I have money."

Yang Xiu'e stuffed the money directly into Mu Zhaoxue's pocket, saying, "Take it, it's more convenient to use small change."

"Okay." Mu Zhaoxue did not refuse. "Mom, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it back in a bit."

Yang Xiue waved her hand, "No need, Mom lives here. She can buy whatever she wants to eat. You can buy your own food."

"Then I'll buy some groceries later," Mu Zhaoxue said, glancing at the cabinet in the living room. "We haven't prepared any New Year's goods yet, have we?"

"I've bought everything." Yang Xiu'e reached out to tidy her daughter's slightly messy hair and said with a smile. "Go on, the sun will be out soon."

"it is good."

When she arrived on the street, all the shops were open, and the street was starting to bustle. Mu Zhaoxue liked this feeling; it wasn't too deserted, nor was the crowd too dense, so shopping didn't lose its fun.

She came to this street, which was mostly lined with meat and poultry vendors. She noticed that the vendors were all exceptionally extravagant, with piles of meat stacked up like small mountains, and several more slabs of meat piled up behind them.

Of course, the customers were equally extravagant, buying dozens of kilograms at a time.

Mu Zhaoxue was very doubtful whether they could finish eating it all in the few days of the Lunar New Year.

She couldn't help but shiver, then turned and went to the poultry stall next door. There, too, people were buying poultry in pairs.

Seeing this, Mu Zhaoxue gave up on the idea of ​​buying New Year's goods for her family. She really couldn't bring herself to do it.

They moved to a different street, where stalls sold roasted nuts and snacks. Seeing the familiar treats from her childhood, Mu Zhaoxue felt a surge of desire.

The shop owner, who was tidying up the goods, saw her and casually handed her a bag, saying, "Girl, help yourself to whatever you want to eat."

Hmm, her familiar attitude made it seem like she was the one treating.

But it was this familiarity that gave Mu Zhaoxue a strange sense of satisfaction. Yes, this was the feeling of home, a taste she was most familiar with yet somewhat unfamiliar with.

Mu Zhaoxue's eyes were full of smiles as she bent down to pick out her favorite snacks, as well as those her parents liked. Soon, the change her mother had given her was all gone. Mu Zhaoxue was astonished; the prices in this town were no lower than in Tianhai City.

“That’s right, prices are getting higher and higher these days.” Yang Xiu’e agreed when she heard her daughter’s sigh. “But we can grow our own vegetables and buy some meat every day, so we don’t have many expenses.”

Not far from the town, there was a barren mountain where many people had cultivated vegetable gardens. Yang Xiu'e naturally also cultivated a sizable vegetable garden.

"It's only during holidays like Chinese New Year when we visit relatives that we have to spend a little more money." Yang Xiue filled a bowl of porridge for her daughter.

"Thank you, Mom. Where's Dad? He's still not awake?" Mu Zhaoxue peeked into her parents' room.

“He went to work,” Yang Xiu’e said. “He can finish in half a day today. We’ll go back to the village first, and your dad will come right back when he’s done.”

The Lunar New Year is just two days away, and the old house hasn't been cleaned yet.

"Oh, okay." Mu Zhaoxue naturally had no objections. "Is there anything else we need to buy to take back from our hometown? Like mops and rags for cleaning?"

She remembered that when she went back last year, the brooms were all broken.

"Oh right, how could I forget about that!" Yang Xiu'e quickly took out a hundred yuan from her pocket. "Go buy it later."

"Okay." Mu Zhaoxue thought about what else her hometown might be lacking and decided to buy it all later.

The mother and daughter packed their things at home, working until noon before they finished packing. After having lunch, they found a tricycle to take them home.

The old Mu family house is a single-story building with only simple cement plaster on the exterior walls. The interior is also very simple, with beige tiles and white walls.

However, Mu Zhaoxue quite liked the house because it was a detached house with a front yard and a pond beyond. There was also a backyard where Yang Xiue used to grow vegetables when she lived there.

Beyond the backyard was a low hill, where one could dig for bamboo shoots and wild vegetables in the spring. She remembered that when she was a child, she and her friends often played house, and this hill was their vegetable garden.

However, she hasn't been in touch with her friends for a long time, or rather, they have become strangers.

"What are you thinking about?" Yang Xiue was carrying things home one trip after another when she turned around and saw her daughter standing at the gate of the courtyard, lost in thought.

"Yes, it reminds me of playing house when I was a kid." Mu Zhaoxue quickly went to help.

"When you were little, you loved running wild all over the mountains with the villagers, disappearing from sight all day long," Yang Xiu'e couldn't help but recall. "Speaking of which, you haven't been in touch with Dai Di and the others for a long time, have you?"

"Yeah, we lost touch after starting junior high." Mu Zhaoxue felt a little regretful; the carefree feeling of childhood was so wonderful. Why couldn't that pure friendship last?

“Last year, my daughter Tai Di got married in the next town. I went to the wedding banquet. Her husband’s family is quite wealthy. I heard she gave birth to a boy in September.” Yang Xiu’e’s tone was calm, but Mu Zhaoxue could hear the hidden envy in her voice.

Mu Zhaoxue opened her mouth, wanting to say, "I'll find you a successful son-in-law in the future." But the image of her committing suicide in the hotel bathroom flashed through her mind, and she quickly shut her mouth.

"Xiaoxue," Yang Xiue said, looking at her daughter.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

"Did you have a boyfriend at school?"

"No! I'm only a sophomore." Mu Zhaoxue's smile froze.

Yang Xiu'e said, "You're already 20 years old, you've reached the age to get married. Let's date for now, and get married after you graduate."

"Mother--"

"Xiaoxue, Mom is serious. If you meet someone good at school, you must start dating them. Some relationships are meant to be missed." Yang Xiue spoke with the tone of someone who had been through it all.

Mu Zhaoxue felt somewhat helpless. She was only 20 years old, so why was she being pressured to get married?

Finally, unable to do anything after being lectured by her mother, she could only nod haphazardly. "Okay, okay, I'll be careful."