Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

As soon as the evening rush hour arrives, textile workers pour out of the factory gates like a tide, the sounds of bicycle bells and laughter blending together.

Even Zhao Sumei's cold noodle stall was surrounded by customers. Her wrists scooped out chili oil with a flickering motion, and the aroma attracted passing workers to stop and linger.

A middle-aged man with a square face and an upright appearance ate two bowls in a row. He patted his belly and showed an expression of unsatisfaction. "I say, Su Mei, your cooking skills are almost as good as those of a state-run restaurant!"

Seeing the man reach into his pocket for money, Zhao Sumei quickly stopped him, saying, "I'm able to set up this stall thanks to you, Director Li. If you give me money, that would be too much of a favor..."

It was clear that Zhao Sumei had a close relationship with this Director Li, but he wasn't the type to take advantage of others. He reached into his pocket and still insisted on giving the money to Zhao Sumei. "You're just eating and taking things without paying. Wouldn't that make me a freeloader? Besides, it's not easy for you to run a stall. Keep the money, and I'll come back to eat here again."

As the two were politely declining each other's offer, Zhao Sumei suddenly noticed Yue Chuan standing there dumbfounded. She quickly changed the subject, pointing to the walnuts on the ground and saying, "I definitely can't take your money. But if you like these walnuts, you can buy them and try them. I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Following the direction, Director Li noticed the boy selling walnuts. He was taken aback at first, then said with a smile, "Sumei, didn't you only have a daughter? When did you have a son? Hahaha!"

"Oh my! You're joking, aren't you? I wish this were my son!" Zhao Sumei smiled, her eyes narrowing, and hurriedly introduced, "This is a kid from Shuangling Mountain! He just got into Yanghe No. 1 High School, and he's here selling walnuts to save up for tuition!"

Zhao Sumei's words seemed to catch Director Li's attention. He stepped forward, stared at the price list on the cardboard, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Wow! This calligraphy is so beautiful! Just for this handwriting alone, I'd buy several kilograms!"

The two elders showered him with praise, making Yue Chuan blush with embarrassment. When he heard that they wanted to buy walnuts, the boy was a little dazed and even forgot about packing the walnuts and getting change.

Fortunately, with Zhao Sumei's help, Yue Chuan successfully sold a bag of dried walnuts—five pounds of walnuts for six yuan, which was his first order of the day!

Holding the money, Yue Chuan seemed to gain confidence. He then took the initiative, recommending the green walnuts at the stall to Director Li, "Would you like some green walnuts? I'll give you the lowest price, two cents a pound!"

After saying that, Yue Chuan pulled out a small curved knife shaped like the number seven from somewhere. The boy held the knife in his right hand and a green walnut in his left. He inserted the blade into the walnut and gently twisted it, revealing the snow-white kernel.

Director Li was hesitating whether to buy it or not, but when he saw the young man handing him the nuts, he laughed and put the nuts in his mouth.

These are walnuts from Shuangling Mountain, mountain walnuts that leave a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth.

Director Li's taste buds were instantly satisfied. He waved his hand and pointed to a sack of green walnuts, saying, "I'll take all of these! For no other reason than your eagerness to learn and improve yourself. I have to help you out, no matter what! Hahaha!"

Director Li was incredibly generous, and Yue Chuan's "tasting" was equally eye-catching. At this moment, quite a few workers gathered around. After trying the walnuts, they all took out their small bills. In just a quarter of an hour, more than half of the walnuts that Yue Chuan brought had been sold.

Happiness came so suddenly that Yue Chuan was overjoyed. All his previous hard work had finally paid off!

"Aunt Zhao, I don't know how to thank you enough. If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't have been able to sell a single pound of walnuts today..."

Yue Chuan's gratitude was heartfelt, warming Zhao Sumei's heart as well. Looking at the boy, she giggled and said, "What are you thanking me for? Ultimately, it's because your mountain walnuts are so delicious; otherwise, they wouldn't be scrambling to buy them!"

"Aunt Zhao, I have half a bag of green walnuts left. Please take them all!" After saying that, Yue Chuan picked up the half bag of green walnuts and was about to put it back into the tricycle.

Zhao Sumei couldn't possibly accept anything from him again. She waved her hand and said, "Auntie knows that green walnuts are a good thing, but the juice from the green husk will stain your hands black. I sell food, and it wouldn't be good if customers saw that..."

Yue Chuan looked at his blackened palms, slapped his forehead, and said, "Hey! How could I forget about that? Here, I'll give you a walnut knife too. Use it when you eat them, and it definitely won't get black on your hands..."

"He gave me dried walnuts, then green walnuts, and now he's even giving me his own tools. What an honest kid."

That's what Zhao Sumei was thinking. She smiled and put the walnut knife into her pocket…

Yue Chuan was very happy. He helped Zhao Sumei clean up and tidy up the dishes. By the time she packed up her stall, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon.

"Xiao Chuan, it's the middle of the day, and Auntie is worried you won't have anywhere to rest. Why don't you come home with me?" Zhao Sumei genuinely liked this hardworking mountain boy; otherwise, she wouldn't have invited him to her home.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhao. You can go back now. My brother will be here to pick me up soon, and I'll take his car home then." Yue Chuan politely declined.

Zhao Sumei wanted to say something more, but just then, a red van came into their view. Needless to say, it was Cheng Dong.

"Aunt Zhao, look!" Yue Chuan exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the red van. "That's my brother's van!"

Seeing the car, Zhao Sumei didn't find anything strange, but when she saw who got out, an incredulous expression appeared on her face, and her emotions became somewhat unusual. She rushed towards Cheng Dong, "Dongzi! What a coincidence! Oh my! I really didn't expect that the older brother Xiao Chuan'er was talking about was you!"

Yes, what a coincidence! It turns out that Zhao Sumei and Lao Chengdong knew each other long ago, and they even worked as stall partners at the Chengguankou vegetable market!

At this moment, Cheng Dong was also full of shock. He looked at Yue Chuan, then at Zhao Sumei in front of him, and greeted her excitedly, "Aunt Zhao, I was wondering why I didn't see you at the market. So you've come here to set up a stall?"

"Yes, now that you're going out on your own, I can't stay any longer. Before you left, your brother did return my site deposit. I know it was all because of you; otherwise, according to Zheng the Bald's rules, I definitely wouldn't have gotten a single penny!" Zhao Sumei's eyes reddened as she spoke. She must have been thinking about how Cheng Dong fought with Zheng the Butcher for her sake.

Cheng Dong couldn't stand seeing others cry, so he changed the subject and comforted her, "Aunt Zhao, let's not dwell on the past. Look, my little brother is even running a street stall now, isn't that a coincidence!"

"What a coincidence..." Zhao Sumei wiped away her tears, then turned and smiled. "No wonder this kid seemed so pleasing to the eye; turns out he's your Er Dong's brother. Look at him, he's already been admitted to a top high school and knows how to earn money. What a good kid, such a good kid!"

This wasn't the first time Zhao Sumei had praised Yue Chuan, but the boy was still a little uncomfortable. He stood there watching the two exchange pleasantries and reminisce, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

Making money by setting up a stall is not easy, but with so many people helping him along the way, Yue Chuan feels incredibly lucky!

Just as Cheng Dong was feeling sentimental, he pulled his younger brother to his side, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Zhao Sumei, and said, "Aunt Zhao, we're family, no need for formalities. This younger brother of mine grew up with me, and he'll be setting up his stall here again tomorrow. You'll have to look after him for me!"

"Don't worry! I'll make sure the kid doesn't go hungry, three meals a day! Hehehe..."

Before Zhao Sumei could finish speaking, Yue Chuan suddenly blurted out, "Aunt Zhao, if you give me some cold noodles, I'll bring you walnuts tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sumei and Cheng Dong exchanged a glance and burst into laughter...