met free Chapter 216 Xia Ling
Chapter 216 Xia Ling
For the next few days, the Xiao family was immersed in the joy of Xiao Qinian's appointment as Vice Minister of Revenue. In particular, Old Master Xiao went out for walks every day with a happy smile. When asked about it, he would not say why, but only that he was happy.
Xiao Siyue had nothing to do that day, so she went for a stroll in the village.
When Xiao Siyue reached the stream in the village, she saw a girl washing clothes in the distance.
Xiao Siyue looked closely and realized that she recognized the person; it was Xia Ling, a friend she had made when she was a child.
During their time in Xiaojia Village, the two would occasionally hang out together, but after they went to Qianyuan County, their interactions gradually decreased. Now that they're back, they're busy with the workshop and rarely go out, so I haven't seen them since.
Seeing this made Xiao Siyue somewhat happy, and she slowly walked up to Xia Ling.
"Xia Ling," Xiao Siyue called softly, afraid that a loud voice would startle her and cause her to fall into the water.
When Xia Ling heard someone call her, she turned around and saw Xiao Siyue. However, she didn't know what to say for a moment and stood up somewhat awkwardly.
Xiao Siyue glanced at Xia Ling, who was nervously counting on her fingers, and knew that they hadn't seen each other for several years and were somewhat estranged.
"Xia Ling, are you doing laundry?" Xiao Siyue was just looking for trouble, trying to start a conversation to liven things up.
"Yes, I'm doing laundry," Xia Ling replied softly.
"Then you go wash, we can chat while you wash." Xiao Siyue found a clean place to sit down.
Xia Ling glanced at Xiao Siyue but didn't say anything. However, she was very nervous inside. Back then, she was young and played with Xiao Siyue. But now, after many years, she felt that the gap between them had widened. In front of Xiao Siyue, she always felt ashamed of herself.
Not knowing how to talk to Xiao Siyue, I squatted down and continued washing clothes.
Xiao Siyue chatted with Xia Ling casually, reminiscing about the times they had played together before. At first, Xia Ling only gave brief replies, but gradually she opened up and became more talkative.
After waiting for a while, Xia Ling finished washing the clothes.
"Siyue, I've finished washing my clothes, so I'm going back now." Xia Ling picked up the wooden basin.
"Hmm, is there anything else? If not, let's go up the mountain together later."
"No, Siyue, wait for me a moment. I'll go back and hang the clothes to dry, then I'll come find you." Xia Ling was also very happy to hear Xia Siyue's invitation.
"Okay, no rush, take your time." Xiao Siyue was planning to go back and have the maid prepare some things for them to eat on the mountain later.
"Okay, then I'll wait for you at the foot of the mountain."
"okay."
After agreeing on a meeting place, the two went home separately.
After Xiao Siyue returned home, she told her grandmother about it and then asked Lan Yi to find a variety of snacks to take with her. Originally, she wanted to have a barbecue on the mountain for Xia Ling to try, but there were too few of them, so they would do it next time.
When Xiao Siyue and Lan Yi arrived at the foot of the mountain with their things, Xia Ling was already waiting there.
"Xia Ling, I'm sorry I'm late," Xiao Siyue said apologetically.
"It's okay, I just arrived too," Xia Ling quickly waved her hand.
"Okay, let's go up the mountain then."
When Xia Ling arrived, she carried a basket on her back, thinking that she could pick some wild fruits or pull some grass when she got to the mountain.
The three of them slowly climbed the mountain. Compared to Xia Ling's ease, Xiao Siyue was panting heavily from exhaustion.
Although the mountain isn't very high, it still takes some distance to climb.
As soon as she climbed the mountain, Xiao Siyue collapsed to the ground.
"No, let's take a break."
"Siyue, are you alright?" Xia Ling asked with some concern.
"I'm fine," Xiao Siyue said, panting.
Seeing this, Lan quickly got Xiao Siyue some water, and Xiao Siyue slowly caught her breath after taking a sip.
"Xia Ling, have some too." Xiao Siyue handed Xia Ling another water bottle.
"Siyue, I'm not thirsty, you can drink it." Xia Ling quickly refused. She was too embarrassed to drink Xiao Siyue's water. Besides, she really wasn't thirsty. She often went up the mountain and didn't feel tired at all.
After sitting for a while, Xiao Siyue followed Xia Ling to pick fruit. Xiao Siyue had been up the mountain before, but it had been several years and she had forgotten a bit. Xia Ling, on the other hand, was very familiar with the place and arrived after a few turns.
Seeing the sparse fruit on the tree, Xiao Siyue was a little disappointed, but it didn't matter. She was just playing around and didn't really want to pick the fruit.
"The fruit has been ripe for a while, but everyone has picked it all, so there aren't many left," Xia Ling explained.
"Oh, I see." Xiao Siyue had thought it was because the fruit harvest was poor this year.
Xia Ling put down her basket, found a long pole, and picked the fruit off the tree.
"Siyue, let's go pick it up quickly."
"Hey, here we come." Xiao Siyue quickly started picking them up from under the tree, and before she knew it, she had picked up quite a few.
"I didn't expect to pick up so many," Xiao Siyue exclaimed, seeing the large pile of fruit on the ground.
"Hmm, this tree is big. It doesn't look like there's much, but it'll be good once we harvest it." Xia Ling was very satisfied. She had a good harvest today, and she could give some to her grandma, cousins, and younger cousins when she got home.
Afterwards, Xia Ling led Xiao Siyue to find several more trees and harvested quite a lot, but Xiao Siyue didn't pick up much and let Xia Ling collect most of it.
After a while, they found a clean place to sit down.
Lan Yi also took out the food she had brought from her basket.
Xiao Siyue gave Xia Ling a piece of bread. Ever since Xiao Siyue came back and asked the kitchen to make bread, the Xiao family has loved it, especially the elderly couple, the women in the family, and little Xiao Yichen. So now the family makes some every day.
Xia Ling didn't stand on ceremony and took the bread and ate it. She had never seen this bread before and was very curious.
After taking a bite, she was very surprised. It was so delicious! She looked at Xiao Siyue with some envy.
Their family's life has improved now, even more so than in their hometown, but they rarely get to eat pastries anymore, let alone something as delicious as this.
After they finished eating, Xiao Siyue gave the remaining pastries to Xia Ling.
Just as the three were about to head back, Xia Ling spotted a nest of wild eggs.
"Siyue, there are so many wild eggs here!" Xia Ling said excitedly to Xiao Siyue.
"We're hungry, there are definitely about ten of them." Xiao Siyue was also very happy, as she had never seen any on the mountain before.
"Siyue, pack all of these in." Xia Ling said, putting the wild eggs into Lanyi's basket.
Xiao Siyue quickly stopped her: "No need, Xia Ling, you take it. I don't want it. This is what you saw."
"It's alright. You've already given me so many pastries. Compared to the pastries, these wild eggs are nothing."
"Then how about we each take half?" Xiao Siyue suggested, seeing how stubborn Xia Ling was.
"Alright then." Xia Ling knew that Xiao Siyue wouldn't be short of a few eggs, but she still felt a little bad about it.
After they finished packing, the three of them went down the mountain and went home.