Fan Chunhua ran away.
Like a defeated rooster, tail between its legs, dragging her crying grandson, disappearing at the end of the alley.
But Lin Wan Yi's small courtyard exploded with activity.
"Wanyi! Teach me! Teach me!"
"Come to my house for vegetables! We just got a bunch of fresh spinach!"
"Use mine! Use my carrots! They're big and red!"
The group of women who were keeping their distance earlier now surged forward like a tide.
Dozens of hands and eyes were all focused on Lin Wan Yi.
They were holding things in their hands.
This one carried a net bag of eggs, that one cradled a jar of homemade pickles.
Su Qing ran the fastest, pulling a few tickets from her pocket and stuffing them into Lin Wan Yi's hands.
"Wanyi! No! Teacher Lin!"
She was so excited she could barely speak.
"These are cloth tickets for two chi! You take them! Consider it... consider it your fee!"
"Yes, yes! A fee!"
The others followed suit, desperately handing over what they held.
