Chapter 169 Going to the Market (2/2)

After rounding a dirt slope, the view suddenly opened up before us.

Good heavens!

The scene was filled with the deafening sound of gongs and drums, and a sea of ​​people.

A large open space, trampled solid, was densely packed with people.

The temporary stalls were made of wooden planks and benches, one next to the other.

This is where frozen goods are sold. Whole baskets and racks of river fish are laid out on straw mats, next to which are piles of mountain produce, frozen chicken, and strings of dark, hard frozen pears and persimmons.

Over there was a stall selling dried goods; large sacks were open, filled with soybeans, mung beans, and dried mushrooms.

There were also vendors selling handicrafts, such as colorful hair ties, tightly stitched cloth shoe soles, handmade rattles, and wooden knives.

The most sought-after items were the temporary stalls of the state-run supply and marketing cooperatives, which were surrounded by crowds. The Dacron fabric, fruit candies, and biscuits, which were supplied with coupons, were the most precious treasures at that moment, and were also the defective products that the surrounding factories would release during the Spring Festival.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of frozen meat, the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts, the sweat of the crowd, and that unique, crisp freshness of winter.

"My goodness! It's so lively!" Duan Zhou plunged into the crowd like a fish out of water, shouting excitedly, "Tao Yuming, look at that! It's candied hawthorn! Bright red and so delicious!"

Tao Yuming was being pulled along by him, but he just smiled gently, pushed up his glasses, and his gaze subtly swept over Ruan Tang, who was being held tightly in Yan Yu's arms, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes.

This was the first time Ruan Tang had ever seen such a spectacle, and she could hardly take it all in.

She looked around curiously, and was soon captivated by the clusters of hawthorns wrapped in glistening sugar coating stuck on the grass target.

She subconsciously licked her lips, and her small hand reached out from the wide sleeve to gently tug at Yan Yu's clothes.

Yan Yu lowered his head, followed her gaze, and without saying a word, protected her and walked towards the stall selling candied hawthorns.

"Comrade, one skewer, please."

He took the money out of his pocket, his voice still clear in the noisy environment.

The old man selling candied hawthorns happily handed over the biggest and reddest skewer.

Just as Ruan Tang was about to reach out to take it, Yan Yu took it first.

He didn't give it to her directly.

Instead, he used his tall stature to block the flow of people around him, then bent down slightly and brought the string of bright red candied hawthorns to her lips.

"Give."

One word: simple and direct, yet it carries a tenderness that makes your heart ache.

Ruan Tang's face flushed instantly, and her heartbeat became erratic.

With people coming and going around them, his gesture was really... too intimate.

She lowered her head, quickly opened her small mouth, and took a small bite from the top hawthorn.

"Crack!"

The outer sugar coating crumbles, and the cool, sweet and sour taste explodes on your taste buds.

tasty!

She squinted her eyes happily, like a kitten that had just stolen a piece of candy.

Yan Yu looked at her satisfied little face and his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Then, before Ruan Tang could react, he himself lowered his head and took a bite.

Without bias, he ate the very spot where she had just taken a bite, the tiny nick.

Ruan Tang felt her cheeks instantly burn hot enough to fry an egg. She froze, her mind blank, only feeling his warm breath gently brush against her lips, carrying a hint of the sweetness of candied hawthorn. (This chapter has been read. Please click to continue reading the next chapter!)