83: Chapter 83 Holiday Market

Su Qing lifted her gaze from the book and looked up toward the stairwell.

"Are you getting ready to go out?" Su Qing asked, closing her book.

Liu Yanran picked up the conversation: "We were just about to ask you all, do you want to go out now?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Wei’s voice came from the bed, tinged with a slight rush of being overwhelmed: "Wait a moment, wait a moment—I'm restocking inventory with the manufacturer, I'll be done soon."

She was completely nestled in the bed, her phone screen lit up, her fingers typing rapidly, her brow slightly furrowed.

Qiao Yichen glanced at Liu Yanran, nodded, then pulled out his phone and called the front desk: "Please send a pot of tea to Room XX, thank you."

After hanging up, he took Liu Yanran's hand and walked out onto the balcony.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows were rolling green mountains, layered with bamboo forests.

There were two rattan chairs on the balcony, with a small round table set between them.

The two sat down, side by side, gazing at the mountain scenery.

A short while later, the doorbell rang.

Qiao Yichen got up to open the door, took the tea set from the server, placed it neatly on the small table on the balcony, and then resumed his seat.

Qiao Yichen picked up his phone again and started buying tickets for the next day's entry and the scenic area shuttle bus.

Liu Yanran didn't disturb him; she quietly poured him a cup of tea and placed it gently beside his hand.

The tea fragrance curled upwards, mixing with the crisp mountain air.

Su Qing might have been reading for too long, as her eyes felt a little tired. She put down her book and also strolled onto the balcony, sitting in another chair, pouring herself a cup of tea, leaning back, and looking at the distant mountains.

The three of them sat like that, none of them speaking, only the occasional light clinking of teacups.

How comfortable it was.

"All done, all done!" Lin Wei's voice exploded from inside the room, "Got it!"

She dropped her phone and sprang up, rushing toward the balcony.

After taking a sip of tea, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Qiao Yichen: "Right, I just remembered—how did you think of booking this kind of room? One bed on the top and one on the bottom, it’s so strange."

Qiao Yichen felt a bit helpless at her question, put down his phone, and spread his hands: "My dear, I booked this last minute. Besides, there are four of us; what other kind of room would we stay in?"

He paused, then added, "I only managed to snag this because someone else canceled their reservation; I was already lucky. Check online, and you'll see that most inns nearby are fully booked during the May Day Holiday. It wasn't easy to book this one."

Lin Wei nodded in understanding and drew out her 'Oh' sound: "So that's how it is—alright then."

Qiao Yichen glanced at his phone, then looked at them: "There’s a special market nearby for the May Day Holiday. Shall we go wander around later?"

Su Qing nodded: "Sure."

Lin Wei immediately raised her hand: "I want to go! I heard there's lots of street food!"

Liu Yanran didn't say anything, just finished the tea in her cup.

Once the tea was finished, the group got up and returned to the room. Lin Wei rushed into the bathroom to touch up her lipstick, Su Qing slowly packed her books, while Qiao Yichen and Liu Yanran waited by the door chatting.

A few minutes later, the four were packed and pushed the door open.

The car wound its way down the mountain road, the trees on both sides gradually receding as the view opened up.

A little over ten minutes later, a small town full of Republican-era charm appeared before their eyes—Yu Village had arrived.

Qiao Yichen found a parking lot and parked the car; the four of them walked toward the market area.

Before they even reached the square, they could hear lively human voices coming from ahead.

When they turned the street corner, the view suddenly broadened—the Yu Village Square was covered with white tents, colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and the crowd bustled, weaving between the various stalls.

"Wow—" Lin Wei’s eyes lit up, "So many people!"

She tugged Su Qing and rushed forward.

Su Qing stumbled from being pulled and called out helplessly: "Slow down—"

Qiao Yichen held Liu Yanran's hand and followed behind at an unhurried pace.

In the center of the square, a wooden stage was set up on the lawn, and a band was tuning their instruments.

The tent stalls surrounding the stage were packed one after another—intangible cultural heritage bamboo weaving, handmade leather goods, ceramic ornaments, plant-dyed fabrics, and long queues formed in front of the food stalls.

Lin Wei had already rushed to a stall selling handmade accessories, picked up a pair of earrings, and held them up to her ears: "Su Qing, do these look good?"

Su Qing glanced over: "They're alright."

"What does 'alright' mean? Are they good-looking or not?"

"It just means they're alright."

Lin Wei glared at her but still bought the earrings.

Continuing forward, a sign reading "Mogan Yellow Wine Ice Cream" caught Lin Wei’s attention.

Without another word, she joined the queue. When the ice cream was served, she held it up to show them: "Come on, have a taste!"

Su Qing took a bite and frowned slightly: "It has an alcohol taste."

"Of course it does. Yellow wine ice cream is supposed to taste like wine," Lin Wei scooped another spoonful and handed it to Liu Yanran, "Yanran, try some?"

Liu Yanran took it and took a small sip, nodding: "It’s okay, quite unique."

Lin Wei triumphantly held the ice cream in front of Qiao Yichen: "Boss Qiao, want some?"

Qiao Yichen waved his hand: "I'm driving, you guys eat."

Right beside the square was the iconic Republican-era library.

It had blue brick walls and arched doors and windows. A wooden sign stood at the entrance, inscribed with the words "Mogan Mountain Republican Library."

The four walked in. It was extremely quiet inside, like a different world from the hustle and bustle outside.

Wooden bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, filled with various books.

Su Qing stopped in front of a row of shelves and pulled out a book to flip through.

Lin Wei, meanwhile, pulled Liu Yanran around the library, pointing at old photographs and artifacts.

Qiao Yichen stood by the window, watching the crowd in the square outside.

When they emerged from the library, the sky had darkened somewhat.

The lights in the square gradually turned on, and strings of colorful lights twinkled among the tents.

"Pictures, pictures!" Lin Wei took out her phone and snapped a flurry of shots of the square.

After photographing the square, she turned to Su Qing: "Come on, stand there, I'll take one of you."

Su Qing was pushed against a wall decorated with colorful lights, standing there with a helpless expression.

Lin Wei raised her phone and directed: "Smile, look natural—is that a smile? That's your mouth twitching."

Su Qing rolled her eyes and walked away.

Lin Wei then fixed her attention on Liu Yanran and Qiao Yichen: "You two, stand by the entrance of that old station—yes, right there."

Liu Yanran was pulled over, and Qiao Yichen followed closely beside her.

Lin Wei squatted down, holding her phone to find the right angle: "Yanran, lean a little closer to Qiao Yichen—yes—Qiao Yichen, put your hand on her shoulder—don't be so stiff—okay, okay—"

She pressed the shutter several times, then checked the photos, nodding in satisfaction: "This one works, I'll send it to you guys."

The old station was right next to the square; it was a small, two-story yellow building, and an old steam locomotive was parked at the entrance.

Wutong Avenue extended out from in front of the station, and the plane trees on both sides cast mottled shadows under the night lights.

The group walked slowly along Wutong Avenue.

The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, stretching their shadows long.

Lin Wei suddenly slowed her pace, looking at the two figures walking side-by-side ahead—Qiao Yichen and Liu Yanran were very close, holding hands, occasionally whispering something to each other.

She nudged Su Qing with her elbow and lowered her voice: "Look."

Su Qing followed her gaze but didn't say anything.