“Xiaoya, I will head back now. See you tomorrow.”
Zhan Yue looked deeply at Zeng Xiaoya for a moment, smiled, waved goodbye, then rode off on his electric bike.
Zeng Xiaoya stood at the door watching him until he was out of sight.
Only then did she go into the clinic.
Second Uncle and Second Aunt knew she was back and had not come out to interrupt her conversation with Zhan Yue.
On Second Uncle’s desk were two baskets of fresh fruits, still with leaves attached.
They were clearly just picked.
“Xiaoya, you are back. Zhan Yue brought two baskets of fruits, saying they are seasonal fruits grown by his family, freshly picked. His grandmother asked him to bring them over for you.”
“They are very fresh. He said they are for family consumption, rarely sprayed with pesticides, absolutely organic, so you can eat them with peace of mind.”
The seasonal fruits at this time of year were persimmons and pomelos, very common on the market.
Second Aunt brought a fruit knife, opened a pomelo, peeled it cleanly, then broke it into segments. She handed a piece to her husband and one to Xiaoya, saying, “Try this freshly picked pomelo. See if it tastes better than the ones bought in the market.”
“The persimmons are not ripe enough yet. We will not eat them now. Let them sit for a few days until they are fully ripe.”
Besides these two fruits, there were others, some imported. There was no need to ask, they had obviously been added to the baskets on the old lady’s instructions.
After eating the pomelo, Second Uncle said, “It really does taste much better, fresh and sweet.”
Second Aunt nodded in agreement.
Zeng Xiaoya said, “Grandma Zhan is too polite, sending so much over. Our family will not need to buy fruits for half a month.”
Second Aunt smiled and said, “When we finish these, Zhan Yue will definitely send more.”
She had long heard that at the foot of Youyou Mountain Villa there were many fruit trees planted, as well as vast fields of flowers. The scenery at Youyou Mountain Villa was particularly beautiful, like a Jiangnan garden.
Many people wanted to visit, but not just anyone could go. After all, it was the old residence of the wealthiest family, not a scenic spot.
“Xiaoya, we have eaten fruits from Zhan Yue’s family, so we should send something to the old Madam Zhan in return. Our family does not have anything home-grown to give, so we can only send some supplements suitable for an elderly person.”
“When you have time off, take two boxes of supplements over for the old Madam Zhan.”
The goods from their own clinic were genuine, so they dared to give them to the old Madam Zhan.
Zeng Xiaoya said, “Grandma Zhan lacks for nothing. The supplements in her house are probably piled up like a mountain.”
But apart from supplements, they really did not know what else to send.
“The old Madam Zhan may have plenty, but sending something is your thoughtfulness. We cannot just eat their things and not give anything in return. There should be some reciprocity.”
Zeng Xiaoya said, “I should be off on Saturday. When the time comes, I will take two boxes of bird’s nest over. Bird’s nest is suitable for anyone, and it keeps well. It is the most appropriate gift for Grandma Zhan.”
And it was generous.
Second Aunt hummed in agreement. “Yes, send two boxes of bird’s nest.”
“You are going over on Saturday when you are off?”
Zeng Xiaoya broke off another segment of pomelo to eat and said, “I promised Grandma Zhan that on my next day off I would go over to chat with her and, by the way, visit Zhan Yue’s big villa.”
“On the day off after that, I will go on a self-driving tour with Grandma Zhan to admire the autumn scenery. Second Aunt, will you come? Join us then.”
After Second Uncle and Second Aunt exchanged a glance, Second Aunt smiled and said, “Yes, that sounds good. When you go on the self-driving tour to see the autumn colours, let Second Aunt know. I am cooped up in the clinic every day, I am going mad with boredom.”
“I have long wanted to go out and about. I see many people in my friends’ circle posting about chrysanthemum exhibitions, and I want to see them too. Also the hills covered in red leaves. The photos others take are really beautiful.”
There were also ginkgo trees, but Guancheng did not have large groves of ginkgo trees to admire.
