Theweathergrewwarmerastheytravelledfartherfromthefrontier。Bylatem,sunlightpouredthroughthegapsbetweerees,paintingbrightpatchesacrosstheroad。Thefieldsohersidewerealreadyalivewithfarmerswbehtheclearsky,whiledistanthillsstretchedacrossthehorizonlikesoftgreenwaves。Suyuansatbesidethecarriagewindow,watgeverythingpass。
Shehadneverrealisedhowbeautifulanordinaryroadcouldbe。Therewerenosoldiersrushingtowardbattle,nosmokerisinginthedistance,andnowallsseparatingoneplacefromanother。Justfarmers,merts,childrenrunningbesidecarts,andtravellerscarryingbasketshome。
Ayaosuddenlyleanedover。
“MissYuan。”
“Hmm?”
“Iwantthat。”
Suyuanfollowedhergaze,asmallroadsidestallstoodbehatree。Severalbamboostickscoveredinbrightredfruitweredisplayedoable。
“Youwantthose?”
Ayaonoddedseriously。
“Ihavedecidedthattravellingrequiressnacks。”
“Thatsoundslikeanexcuse。”
“Itisanimportantpartoftravelling。”
Fromthefrontofthecarriage,NannyZhangheardthem。
“Buyherone。”
Ayaoimmediatelysmiled。
Suyuansighed。“Youalwaystakeherside。”
“Becausesheasksforfoodinsteadoftrouble。”
Ayaolookedpleasedwithherself。Whenthegroupstoppedatthestall,Ayaojumpeddownbeforeanyonecouldremiowait。Suyuanfollowedmoreslowly,withNannyZhangbehihestallreetedthemwarmlyandofferedseveralkindsoffruit。Ayaoimmediatelybeganchoosing,afteramoment,sheturnedaround。“WhieshouldIget?”
“Youweretheonewhowahem。”
“Yes,butchoosingisdifficult。”
Suyuanstaredather。
“Youreimpossible。”
“Thatswhyyouohelpme。”
Suyuauallychosetwosticks。
Ayaolookedatthem。
“Onlytwo?”
“Youaskedforsnacks,notthewholestall。”
Ayaoacceptedthemrelutly。