Because they were gearing up for a trip, the family rose early in the morning.

As expected, the two children remained asleep, feeling a bit confused when the adults called out to them and dressing them up.

They didn’t fully wake up until breakfast, invigorated by the prospect of today’s trip. Even their typically slow and leisurely meals became ravenous.

“Eat slowly; we still have time. Don’t choke,” advised Liao Tingyu.

The two children vigorously nodded and consumed half a bowl of rice more than usual.

The group’s carriage moved slowly, exiting the gate and passing by the vegetable market. Though early, some vendors had already set up stalls.

“Sir, you are embarking on a long journey!” A sharp-eyed vendor, spotting their carriage sign, greeted them immediately.

“We’ve been busy for so long, haven’t we? So, we’re taking a break. Uncle, don’t just sell vegetables all day; go out and have more fun,” Liao Tingyu suggested to the vegetable-selling uncle with a smile.

“Of course, that’s what I’m saying. After what happened this time, I also understand that money isn’t everything. You need to spend time with your family, or you’ll regret it in the future,” the uncle replied, sharing a common sentiment.

His wife was worried about him, so he followed him to take care of him, leaving only the twelve-year-old baby for his uncles to help take care of.

Neither of them thought they would make it out alive, and they were prepared for the worst. But preparing for it was one thing, and thinking about it was another.

During their illness, the couple thought most about their children. What they regretted most was not spending enough time with them. What they hoped for most was to see their children got married and had kids.

“Sir, you are going out to play. I have some fruits here—it’s all homegrown, sour, and sweet. You can take anything to quench your thirst.” The vegetable seller took out big, round fruits from his basket and offered them to the couple.

“This looks great! We should take it for the children to eat,” Liao Tingyu said, accepting the uncle’s kindness with a smile. He opened the pastries in his carriage cabinet, took out a portion, and handed it over.

“Here, uncle, I can’t take advantage of you in vain. These are all made by us. We can’t eat them all, take them home for your children to eat.”

“Oh, how can you say that?” The vegetable-selling uncle said with a face almost laughing to death. He hurriedly took the items in his hands, saying, “Thank you, sir, thank you, sir.”

Others noticed and quickly gathered around, saying, “Sir, I have some too. Look, I just came from the river. This is the fish I caught. Do want to take it home and make soup? The soup made from this fish is fresh and white.”

Liao Tingyu refused, “Thank you for your kindness, but I don’t need it. Today, it’s better for the whole family to go out and have fun.”

“Then, master, please bring some of my pancakes. Our pancakes are delicious. I remember that the old madam likes to buy our rice pancakes the most. Why don’t you bring some of them, too? Save it for when you get hungry on the way,” the uncle selling sesame seed cakes also suggested.

Liao Tingyu shook his head and refused with a smile, “We have prepared everything on the way. Thank you, everyone, for your kindness.”

He apologized to everyone as he walked, navigated through the vegetable market with difficulty, and finally arrived at the city gate. Then he breathed a long sigh of relief.

.

“Oh my god, it’s just a matter of giving something. Tell me, why are these people surrounding me? It’s like a bee seeing a flower,” Liao Tingyu leaned on the back seat of the carriage, expressing, “I’m so embarrassed.”

“You deserve it. You don’t lack that little fruit, so why do still take it?” Huang Zilan looked at him and said with a smile.

“I don’t to refuse other people’s kindness. It would be bad if we don’t take it,” Liao Tingyu explained.

“I don’t know about you. You must have suddenly wanted to eat that fruit, otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken it.” Huang Zilan wiped the fruit with a handkerchief, then handed it to his hand, saying, “Now that it’s clean, you can eat it if you want.”

Mi Li stared blankly at his father, who took the fruit and took a big bite.

Seeing his father eating so deliciously, Mi Li couldn’t hold his saliva in his mouth, and there was a glimmer of light at the corner of his mouth.

“Dad, I want to eat too,” Mi Li said.

Liao Tingyu swallowed the pulp in his mouth and looked at his precious son.

“Isn’t there another one?”

“That one is big; I can’t finish it,” Mi Li said.

“Oh, then I’ll ask your uncle if he has any knives to help me cut it,” Liao Tingyu hugged the child, opened the curtains of the carriage, and shouted to the carriage in front, “Big brother, do you have any knives? I need a knife to peel fruit here.”

Liao Shi stuck his head out of the window, “I’ll get it for you in a minute.”

Liao Tingyu peeled a little bit of the fruit and fed it to his son, saying, “How does it taste? Is it good? Do you want more?”

Mi Li felt that the taste was very much to his liking, and his little head nodded vigorously, as if it were equipped with a motor.