I turned reality into a romantic comedy

Like most children of dual-income families, Chen Junqian was enrolled in a daycare program for lunch. He would eat lunch there, watch TV, take a nap, or go out with friends to play tag or blind man's bluff.

Just as Chen Junqian was preparing to return to after-school care after more than ten years, he suddenly noticed that Lin Mu was still sitting alone in his seat, and was pursing his lips and persistently rummaging through his desk drawer and backpack compartments, even deliberately turning the pages of each textbook one by one.

"Looking for something?"

After all, they were classmates, a student in after-school care, and acquaintances, so Chen Junqian paused for a moment and casually asked the other person this question.

"……money."

After hesitating for a moment, the petite girl tilted her head slightly upwards and spoke to him, then immediately added pitifully:

"Two, two hundred yuan."

Chapter 4: The Wild Young Lady (crossed out) Appears

Before Lin Mu mentioned the number two hundred, Chen Junqian thought that the other party had only lost five or ten yuan. He was surprised to find that the other party had asked for two hundred. After all, for elementary school students of their age, apart from the New Year's money, they usually don't have the opportunity to receive so much money.

"To be precise, it's one hundred and ninety-three yuan and fifty cents, almost two hundred..."

This one is almost the price of my breakfast for two mornings!

"So how did you come to school with so much money? Today isn't a day to pay any fees, and you don't need this much money to buy supplementary teaching materials, stationery, book covers, etc."

Faced with Chen Junqian's question, Lin Mu continued to carefully turn each page of the book, hoping that his money would suddenly appear on the next page, while earnestly explaining:

"Because my parents are not home this week, they went back to their hometown in the mountains to harvest walnuts. They left me two hundred yuan for my food expenses this week."

After Lin Mu's explanation, Chen Junqian immediately understood and realized that it was indeed the season for hickory nuts to ripen.

As the only relatively well-known and economically profitable specialty product of their small, third-tier county, Guoning's walnuts have been on a fast track of development since the beginning of this century, giving rise to nut brands such as Zhan's. In a few years, one of the sales directors from the neighboring county of Guoning will leave to start his own business, Sanzhixiongxu, and seize the last opportunity of e-commerce to soar to new heights.

Of course, these things are still quite far away for him and Lin Mu, who are two young children. Or rather, for some of his relatives and Lin Mu's parents, who are pecan growers, they only earn money from the raw materials. However, in 2009, this income is still quite substantial. The local TV station even broadcast a report titled "Peanut Trees Are Money Trees?"

That's why, every September, many migrant workers take a leave of absence, which local companies usually approve. As for their children who have already started school, the options are either to give them some money to make do for a few days or to put them in full-time daycare.

Clearly, Lin Mu's parents chose the former approach. In fact, most children would choose the former in this choice, since their parents being away from home is like having a holiday, and they can also get money to eat whatever they want. Is there anything better than that?

"...I can't find it. I have no idea where I lost it."

After searching high and low, Lin Mu slumped onto her desk, looking dejected. She sniffled a couple of times, feeling like she was about to burst into tears. Losing two hundred yuan would upset even an adult, let alone a child, especially since it was her dinner money for the next week.

So you don't have a single penny on you right now?

"And there's still nine and a half yuan left over from buying breakfast this morning."

Lin Mu pitifully pulled out a handful of bills and coins from his pocket, then counted on his fingers:

"Even if I buy all bagged instant noodles... there are still six days left in this week, it's not enough no matter how you calculate it."

The after-school care they attended only provided lunch. At most, the students could do some more homework there in the evening, but they didn't cook, so there was no way for them to have an extra meal there temporarily.

"Isn't there still nine yuan and fifty cents? That's enough. Let's go back to the after-school care center and have lunch first. I'll take care of dinner for you, okay?"

Perhaps because of some system that had been constantly reminding him of something, or perhaps simply out of a desire to help his classmate, Chen Junqian thought for a moment before speaking. Lin Mu, however, remained skeptical, shrinking back like a little animal and refusing.

"I don't want to eat at your house."

Although the two could be considered classmates and acquaintances, Lin Mu didn't think they were that close. Moreover, the thought of going to a male classmate's house for dinner and meeting his parents made her blush, so she quickly said this to make her stance clear.

"When did I invite you to my house for dinner? Rather, I'd say I'm going to your house for a while, on your turf, is that alright?"

"...Why, why are you suddenly coming to my house again?"

"You'll see when the time comes. Come on, come on, or the after-school care auntie will really send someone to our class to find us."

After saying this, Chen Junqian left the classroom first, and Lin Mu followed closely behind him, keeping a few steps away. It seemed that she wanted to say a few more words to him, but also that she didn't want other students from their class to see them. It wasn't until they returned to the after-school care center and got their food that she finally came closer again.

After all, in after-school care, which is a hodgepodge of students from first to sixth grade, it wouldn't be a problem for two students of the same grade and class to get together, but it would be strange in the classroom.

Having convinced himself of this, Lin Mu reached out and nudged Chen Junqian's elbow, asking softly:

Why are you coming to my house, hey—

"Cooking? Your parents are only gone for a week, so there's definitely rice and oil at home. They might even find a couple of eggs in the kitchen. Just go to the market and buy some vegetables, and you can make a few dinners for them. If you can't finish today, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. You can reheat it tomorrow... Wait, do you know how to do this?"

Lin Mu tilted her head in confusion, blinking her eyes, her gaze filled with nothing but clarity and naivety, in response to Chen Junqian's long, self-righteous statement.

"Cooking?"

"Okay, I can't tell at all. I don't know if you have a microwave at home, since I've never been to your house before."

"You... of course you've never been to my house. Nobody in my class has ever been to my house. You really can cook?"

"At least it's not bad to eat."

"But before my mother left, she told me not to play with fire or electricity when I was home alone."

"So it's the two of us, not you alone at home."

Lin Mu felt a little confused, nodded blankly, and then subconsciously asked:

"But I only have nine dollars and fifty cents on me. When I went out to eat with my parents before, this amount of money was only enough to order one stir-fry dish."

"Eating out and cooking at home are two completely different things. Besides, you've clearly never been to a farmers' market before, have you?"

"No... I've never been there."

"Right? So after you go back to school tonight, just follow me obediently. I happen to have one yuan left this morning, ten yuan and fifty cents, which is definitely enough."

After making such a confident statement, Chen Junqian shoveled down two more mouthfuls of rice. There was no other way; it was almost noon, and the "Jackie Chan Adventures" show that their after-school program was supposed to show every noon was about to officially begin. He had watched this cartoon many times since he was an adult, let alone now that he was still a child. He was in a real hurry.

Watching Chen Junqian finish his meal in a few bites and then rush to the TV room to grab a seat near the front, Lin Mu mechanically kept biting on a piece of green vegetable in his mouth for a long time without swallowing. For the first time, he felt that his only classmate in the same after-school care center seemed to be a little different.

It's more like it's abnormal for kids their age to go to the market to buy groceries and then cook, so why does the other person act like it's perfectly normal, as if she's some kind of stupid person who can't do anything?

She just made a bracelet, folded a bottle of stars, and successfully embroidered a small cross-stitch piece a couple of days ago. Her parents both say she's the smartest girl in the world...

Watching the monkey charm on TV that could transform people into various animals at will, Lin Mu took a bite of his greens with a hint of resentment.

If she ever gets this in the future, she'll definitely turn the other person into a little white rabbit, making them eat all the vegetables she doesn't like while also pinching and squeezing their arrogant face.

----------------------------------

Although she thought this to herself, when school ended in the evening, Lin Mu obediently followed Chen Junqian, but still with that same blatant attempt to cover it up. Only after they left the school gate did she quicken her pace and run to his side.

"Where to? Where to?"

It's quite noticeable that leaving school has a significant positive effect on the mental state of elementary school students. Even Lin Mu, who lost money today, felt the air was much fresher after leaving the school.

"Tell me where you live first, and I'll think about where the nearest farmers market is."

"My home is in Green Gull Garden... Um, I'll take you there when we get there, you can tell me the exact building, unit, and apartment number."

"Green Gull Garden, let me think. It's quite close to the Dahai Farmers Market. Let's go there today. It's also not far from my home, and there's a bus stop nearby."

It's fortunate that the locations of the major farmers' markets in their small county town remained unchanged for many years. Even more than a decade ago, Chen Junqian still managed to lead Lin Mu smoothly towards their destination, albeit in a winding and circuitous manner.

There were an absurd number of vendors around the elementary school, especially around dismissal time. Lin Mu's gaze would linger on the pure white rice dumplings that needed to be dipped in sugar, and then on the sesame seed cakes with chili sauce not far away. He felt like he was about to take out his money and buy two at any moment.

"Stop looking. If you still had two hundred on you, you could spend it however you want, but the fact is you only have nine and a half yuan."

Bypassing various stalls shrouded in smoke, Chen Junqian led Lin Mu forward without stopping, and after about ten or twenty minutes they finally found the place.

"Ugh...why is there such a strong smell?"

"Because the poultry section is right inside the east gate here. Live chickens and ducks are kept together, which creates this kind of smell. Just go there."

Upon entering the market, the loud noise and strong smells were a shock to Lin Mu, who had never been to such a place before. She, who had been trying to keep her distance from Chen Junqian, quickly pressed her small body against him and cautiously peered at the scene she had never seen before.

Back when electronic scales weren't widely used, many vegetable vendors were still using traditional weights with their eyes half-closed. In fact, Chen Junqian himself had been taught similar knowledge by his grandparents when he was a child. As a seasoned vendor who had helped hawk his wares at the vegetable market since he was seven or eight years old, he was quite familiar with this kind of place. However, he and his grandparents usually went to the Dahua Farmers Market on the other side, and this was actually their first time visiting Dahai.

"Alright, give me the money."

"Here you go, nine yuan and fifty cents... it's all here."

Even at this point, Lin Mu still had some doubts. After all, for her, the purchasing power of nine yuan and fifty cents was only enough for two magazines, twenty packs of spicy strips, nine and a half grilled sausages, and seven or eight packs of instant noodles. Putting that money in the vegetable market... well, she simply didn't have any idea about it.

Do you want some water spinach?

"Don't eat."

Would you like some bok choy?

"Don't eat."

Do you want some amaranth?

"I won't eat it either."

"...You really are a picky eater."

Before buying groceries, Chen Junqian also asked Lin Mu about his preferences, but all three types of fresh leafy greens he suggested were rejected by Lin Mu.

“After all, when my parents are home, I have to force myself to eat these things. Now that they're not home, I'll definitely want to eat what I like. Isn't that what Chen Junqian is like?”

"It seems to be fine."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Junqian nodded again:

"How about I stir-fry some home-style tofu for you?"

"Mmm, I like tofu."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Chen Junqian immediately found a tofu stall, stood on tiptoe, and spoke to the stall owner:

"Hello, uncle, could you get me a piece of tofu? I'd like it firmer."

"Alright, little one, you've come to help your parents buy groceries, that's so thoughtful. Here, one dollar."

"Thank you uncle."

The tofu vendor put a fresh plastic bag over his hand, grabbed a piece of tofu placed on the white cloth on the cutting board, flipped it over, and lifted it up. The tofu then lay securely in the bag and was handed to Chen Junqian, who was then instructed to put one yuan into a coin box in front of the stall.

"...Such a big piece of tofu only costs one yuan?"

"if not?"

Compared to the grilled sausage that costs the same dollar but can be eaten in a few bites, the whole piece of tender white tofu was quite shocking to Lin Mu. He looked at it over and over again several times before nodding thoughtfully, as if he had figured something out.

After asking a lot of questions along the way and figuring out someone's taste, Chen Junqian went on to buy a tomato, a loofah, and half a fried dough stick at the breakfast shop. He had basically completed the preparation of three dishes. When he finally calculated the money, he found that he still had 6.2 yuan left in Lin Mu's hand.

It has to be said that this experience was somewhat like magic for Lin Mu. After all, being able to buy several bags of things for just over three yuan was beyond her previous understanding. This amount of money was only enough to buy a cup of instant noodles.

Since most employees hadn't left work yet at this time, it wasn't considered rush hour, so there were fewer people at the market than Chen Junqian had expected. In fact, quite a few vendors were arriving late to set up their stalls.

"Okay, then we'll go to your house now."

"Hmm-hehe, now I'm officially a primary school student who's been to the market to buy groceries. If Chen Junqian is number one, then I'm the second-place student in our class, no, maybe even our whole school..."

Before Lin Mu could finish his grumbling, his gaze fell upon a girl not far away who calmly and deftly unfurled a cloth used for displaying vegetables and an elderly person, stacking the vegetables she was going to sell in piles before taking out a book from her backpack, sitting on a small stool, and using a larger chair as a desk to start doing her homework.

"Isn't that someone from the third class next door...?"

Following the direction Lin Mu pointed, Chen Junqian also saw the other person's familiar school uniform, but he didn't recognize the face. After all, he had almost forgotten his elementary school classmates, let alone those from the next class.

"It's Zhu Wenyun from Class 3, the 'Yun' from Wen Tingyun."

However, after Lin Mu said the name, Chen Junqian subconsciously repeated it twice.

He was impressed by the name.

If he remembers correctly, starting next year, their elementary school will set up a small bookcase shared by the whole grade, where each student can share their extracurricular books and then freely borrow books from other students.

And most of the books he borrowed at that time that interested him seemed to have this name written on their title pages.

Chapter 5: The system says this is called "rubbing against someone's tires".

Seeing that Chen Junqian suddenly seemed very interested and started looking in that direction, Lin Mu, who had just initiated the topic, suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, turning her head away and saying:

“Let’s go, my home is still quite a distance from here. If we don’t go back now, Chen Junqian, it will be too late to get back, and your uncle and aunt will scold you.”