The little one's purse connects the two worlds, turning a desolate village into a paradise.

She couldn't recognize the words, but Ya Ya knew that there must be something good in such a crowd, just like the turkey stand from last time.

Ya Ya dragged the little cart into the crowd, peeking out her head from between her pants and looking down at the ground.

Several rows of boots were neatly arranged on the stall, black from tall to short, with a smooth, reflective surface.

Next to it were piles of green shoes, each with a smooth, round shell on the toe and a sign stuck in the middle that read "7 yuan/pair".

There was also a bundle of neatly and tightly tied blackish-gray cloth covers.

This thing looks really strange.

One of them has five small tubes on top, but I don't know what they're for.

As I tilted my head to look around, I saw a dark-skinned uncle take a cloth cover that wasn't tied at the side, rub his fingers together, and seemed quite satisfied. Then he stretched out his palm and spread his five fingers.

Then put the cloth cover on your hands.

Five fingers fit perfectly, and one finger holds a small tube.

This place is strangely particular; even their hands are covered with clothes.

Ya Ya blinked her eyes, her little brain starting to work:

Wearing clothes on your hands means you won't get pricked or blistered when picking thorny buds or working in the fields, and you won't get bitten by insects.

There were several rake-like objects standing on the far side, with their iron parts underneath reflecting the light and looking extremely sharp.

There were also green shoulder bags with words printed on them, and round, red, yellow, and other colored stiff hats.

There was also a large pile of thick, fur-lined clothes, mostly gray or dark blue in color, with words written on them: 99/piece.

Ya Ya doesn't know the word "piece," but she knows the number 99—it's so expensive!

Why are these clothes so expensive? And so many people are scrambling to pick them out.

She stretched out her little hand and gently touched it. The fur inside was thick, like the fuzz inside cotton pants, but softer and denser.

The outer material is a bit stiff; when someone picks it up, it makes a whooshing sound.

The colors are also dull and unattractive.

Ya Ya looked at it for a while, then her gaze returned to the pile of shoes and boots.

No one in the village had ever worn boots, and neither did she; no one was willing to buy them for her.

But Ya Ya had seen boots before. The officials who led their uncles away all wore black boots, with high tops and tightly bound.

The finest items that only high-ranking officials could afford, I wonder what their price is here.

She touched her small handbag, which contained the bundle of straw rope that the villagers had used to measure the soles of their feet last time.

In the afternoon, she saw her grandparents coming down from the mountain, still wearing the straw sandals they had woven themselves, and they hadn't even put on their socks.

Everyone said that with the rain and lots of mud and water, they were afraid their cotton shoes would be ruined.

Even the aunties and grandparents who weave baskets in the yard are reluctant to wear them, for fear of getting them even a little wet or muddy.

They cherished them dearly.

Ya Ya thought, "The people here have so many amazing things and are so smart, they must have durable shoes that can be worn even on rainy days."

They can't just stay home when it rains.

She quietly moved to the row of shiny black boots, squatted down, and gently touched them with her little hand.

Slippery and icy cold.

After hesitating for a moment, he put his hand inside the shoe and rubbed it on the padding cloth. The sole of the shoe was not slippery.

Ya Ya tilted her little face up and stared at the stall owner behind the stall, who was wearing a leather hat, and asked, "Uncle, how much are these boots?"

The stall owner was so busy he barely had time to breathe; there were too many people. He glanced at her and casually replied:

"Short-tops are ten yuan a pair, mid-tops are fifteen yuan, and long-tops are twenty yuan. They all have rubber soles. Kids, take a look for yourselves."

Ya Ya looked at the pile of green shoes again. The toes of the shoes were covered with round, hard shells, which looked very strange. The green cloth on the uppers felt rough and stiff. These only cost 7 yuan a pair.

Which one should I buy?

Ya Ya squatted there, frowning as she pondered.

A tiny yellow blob, topped with two little tufts, looking at this pile and then at that pile.

Just as I was struggling with this decision, an old man carrying a birdcage slowly walked over.

The old man was wearing a thick black jacket with a fur collar, and he had a big smile on his face. He had polished the bars of the cage in his hand until they were shiny, and a small green bird was hopping around inside.

It's too cold in winter, and the birds don't like to sing because they're so cold.

As soon as the weather warms up slightly in March, the old men can't stay indoors any longer and head to the morning market and park with their cages.

They don't buy anything, they just love to chat. If they meet someone with similar interests, they'll compare whose bird is the most lively and can chat for half a day.

The old man spotted a small group of children in the crowd, leaned closer, and his eyes narrowed into slits. "Little one, are you looking at work boots? Buying them for your family? You're so young and already out at the morning market, you're really capable."

Before Ya Ya could even speak, the old man, as if they were old friends, leaned over and approached her.

"What's wrong? Can't make up your mind? Let me have a chat with you."

"This stall is a genuine clearance sale, with real bargains. Unlike other stalls that announce clearance sales every day over a loudspeaker, and the stock is still there even after several years. This stall owner is clearing out his stock because his shop lease is expiring."

Look at the soles of these rain boots! They're made of high-quality, translucent, rubbery wood! They're sturdy, won't hurt your feet on stones, won't slip on mud, won't tear when soaked in water, and won't crack even if you wear them out. They're also easy to clean with a quick rinse. They'll last two or three years without breaking!

Ya Ya's eyes lit up as she listened. It wouldn't hurt her feet or slip! Two or three years!

Seeing that she was listening attentively, and that her bright, dark eyes reflected her admiration for his knowledge, the old man spoke even more enthusiastically.

"Let me tell you, girl, don't let its plain appearance fool you. Young people these days don't like to wear these, but it's sturdy and durable! It's the most worry-free choice for working."

He sighed as he spoke, a hint of nostalgia in his voice:

"When we were kids, having a pair of rain boots was a real treat. We looked forward to rain every day, just wanting to wear them and wade in the water."

"Wow!" Ya Ya exclaimed enthusiastically, letting out a small exclamation.

"Grandpa, what about this shoe? What's it called? Why does it have a green, round shell?"

The old man chuckled, squatted down, put the birdcage aside, picked up a pair of canvas shoes, pointed to the hard rubber band around the toe, and said with a grin:

"These are liberation shoes. The upper is made of canvas, which is sturdy, durable, and breathable. In the past, these were the shoes worn by the People's Liberation Army soldiers. They were responsible for protecting the country and guarding the borders."

That generation really had it tough; they endured hardship and toil so that we could have the peaceful life we ​​have now.

Life's better now, there are all kinds of nice shoes available. Young people think these are outdated and don't like wearing them, but these shoes are incredibly durable. The front rim protects your toes, so kicking stones or bumping into corners won't hurt.

It turns out that these green shoes are worn by the soldiers who protect the country. Just like Grandpa Fang in the village once said, all the uncles have gone to serve in the army. With them there, the troubles outside can't get in, and everyone can farm and live a peaceful life.

It turns out that no matter where you are, there are always people silently watching over you.

These soldiers are really amazing, truly remarkable.

The shoes worn by such a skilled person must be the most durable and high-quality shoes!

Ya Ya gently touched the liberation shoes with her little hands.

She originally only wanted to buy rain boots, but now she's decided to buy both!

"Thank you, Grandpa!" Ya Ya thanked the old man earnestly, then bent down and took out a handful of straw ropes of varying lengths from her satchel.

She placed one end of the rope against the sole of the shoe and compared and selected them one by one.

The old man's eyes crinkled with laughter when he saw it. "Oh my, your little trick is quite old-fashioned. Looks like you're going to buy quite a lot. Grandpa will help you."

Ya Ya nodded, moved to the side to make room, and said, "The grandfathers and uncles in the village need these clothes to plant wheat in the fields, chop firewood and pick vegetables in the mountains. I want to buy them for them so that everyone can afford to wear them comfortably."