Volume 1 Beginning of Summer Chapter 85: Repaying a Favor
The whole roasted lamb meal lasted until after nine o'clock in the evening.
I returned to the insect house with the smell of cumin on my body and walked into the yard. Black shadows were floating on the thick clouds.
On Saturday afternoon, Ma Yi and Lang Xing came.
Jiang You had just woken up from his nap. He was standing by the flower stand, holding a pair of flower scissors and trimming old branches of chrysanthemums. When he saw them come in, he was a little surprised, "Eh? Why did you think of coming here? Didn't we just see each other last night?"
"Xiao Xing told me yesterday when I got home, so I came to visit you today to thank you and take some photos of your products."
Jiang You saw the equipment bag in Ma Yi's hand and said, "I told you, your girlfriend is more grateful than you are. Come in and sit down."
Ma Yi noticed the swing in front of the pomegranate tree and said, "I didn't see this swing last time."
"It was installed not long ago."
Ma Yi looked into the store. "It seems the layout of the store is a little different." He looked up at the words "Bug House" on the door. "Why don't you change this?"
"I've asked someone to write it, but I haven't had the time. I'll show it to you."
Jiang You put down the scissors and walked into the store with Ma Yi and Lang Xing.
He walked to the counter, pulled out a long painting tube, opened it, and took out the words Tang Butian had written for him. "How is it? Isn't it well written?"
Ma Yi walked up to him and said, "Very good. Which writer did you ask to write this?"
"You've seen it before, Tang is not sweet."
"It doesn't sound like a girl's handwriting."
Lang Xing came over to take a look and said, "It takes a long time to practice, right?"
"Please help me reshoot it. I'll make a plaque on Taobao," Jiang You calculated the time. "Today is Saturday. If they come to shoot next week, maybe we can still make it in time."
"If I hadn't come today, you could have delayed it until next year."
"Not necessarily. I'm actually quite proactive. Look, I've fixed the kitchen and renovated the upstairs," Jiang You watched Ma Yi and Lang Xing spread the papers flat on the long table. "Besides, they probably won't put the store name in the photo."
Ma Yi took the camera, adjusted the angle and took a few pictures.
He uploaded the photo to his phone, "How is your catering business going?"
"The certificate has just been issued. Now I occasionally cook mung bean soup or something like that. What do you want to drink? Coke or lemon tea, or should I make you a cup of coffee?" Jiang You said as he walked towards the kitchen.
Ma Yi processed the photos: "Lemon tea."
"OK."
When Jiang You came out with three bottles of Vita Lemon Tea, he saw Lang Xing standing on the shelf looking at postcards. He said, "Take any you like."
"Do you want money?" Ma Yi asked.
"I won't charge you today."
"Xiao Xing, take more. It would be best if you could empty out his shop. Don't be afraid of the weight. I'll carry it."
"Hey, are you here to mess things up?"
Ma Yi sent the photo to Jiang You, "I remember you have a few pots of succulents in your yard? "
"Yes, that pot of lithops has bloomed recently."
"Lithops? Let me go take a look." Lang Xing turned around and walked out of the shop.
Ma Yi glanced outside the door and said, "She is also being raised." Then he lowered his voice and asked, "How is that organization doing?"
"What's wrong? Are you still worried?"
"Xiaoxing can't be alone all the time. I encourage her to go out and go shopping with friends. She used to like anime, and she must still like that now, so I'm afraid..."
"As for literary youth like you, just don't let her touch any reading clubs."
"Book club? What kind of book club?"
"I'm not too sure about the one that requires you to report your reading experience every day. It could be a flower or a fruit."
Ma Yi pondered, "I seem to know something called Apple Reading Club"
"How do you know that?"
"I have a friend who posts a reading report on WeChat Moments every day."
"Take a screenshot of his Moments and send it to me later."
"No problem. Is this also organized by that organization?"
"I don't know. I'll report it to you. How are you going to shoot it?"
"While there is still good light during the day, let's use succulents and pebbles to create a background in the rest area. What do you think of this idea?" Ma Yi changed the subject following Jiang You's words.
"You're a professional, I'll do as you say," Jiang You pointed to the shelves, "The first shelf by the door, the ones in the first and second rows are all new, I've taken pictures of the others."
"That's not a lot," Ma Yi took a sip of lemon tea, walked to the shelf near the door, and picked out the postcards in the first and second rows.
"How are Ding Tianhua and his wife doing? From his tone yesterday, it seems like they haven't reconciled yet?"
"No, they both have strong personalities. Did you get this business for him?"
"What a coincidence." Jiang You walked to Ma Yi, took the remaining postcards in his hand, and they walked out.
In front of the flower stand, the short-haired girl in a red and white plaid skirt turned back and smiled at him, "Brother Yi, come and see, it's really blooming."
Ma Yi's eyes suddenly felt sore.
He walked over quickly.
White petals and light yellow center.
“When will the ones I grow bloom?”
"Take it easy, and it will eventually bloom."
Ma Yi turned his head and saw Jiang You standing on the bluestone road, looking down at his phone. He said, "We need a small table. Do you have one that's more artistic? A chair would be fine too."
"There's a small round table upstairs. I'll move it down."
Soon, Jiang You brought down the small round table from his bedroom and asked, "Is this okay?"
"Sure," Ma Yi took over the table, "Don't you have water lilies in the pond? Have they not grown yet?"
"It rained a while ago, so I cleaned the pond and refilled it with water. I'll plant again in a few days."
Ma Yi and Lang Xing began to set up the background.
Jiang You was holding his phone and chatting with the Taobao shop owner who made the store sign. After confirming the size specifications and delivery time, Jiang You put the phone back in his pocket.
He looked at Ma Yi and Lang Xing.
One of them was responsible for changing postcards and adjusting angles, while the other was responsible for pressing the shutter.
Quiet. Tacit understanding.
"I kind of understand what Tianhua said last time. It makes me sad just reading it."
Ma Yi turned his head and glanced at Jiang You, "Where is your bookstore owner?"
"She's accompanying her daughter," Jiang You walked to the lounge area and sat down on a soft chair. "Children nowadays are very cunning."
"Don't let her mother remarry?"
"Not really," Jiang You took a sip of lemon tea, "Where do you want to eat dinner?"
"Now that your kitchen is ready, Xiaoxing is ready to show you her cooking skills that she has practiced for half a month. Where is the nearest food market?"
"Ding Dong, it's time to buy groceries. What are you going to cook?"
"Let me buy it. I want to take a look." Lang Xing took out his mobile phone.
After taking the photos, the food was delivered.
Lang Xing was busy in the kitchen while Jiang You and Ma Yi were sitting in the yard chatting.
Lang Xing made three dishes and one soup: steamed fish, shredded pork with green peppers, scrambled eggs with clams and winter melon and pork ribs soup.
They are all home-cooked dishes.
"I'm full again."
Jiang You touched his belly.
The night wind blows, and the water in the pond gurgles.
