Jiang Xuehua said her goodbyes at the courtyard gate. Xiao Man and Qiuyan gave her a dozen or so fruits, which Jiang Xuehua accepted without ceremony, heading home happily with them in her arms.
As Xiao Man and Qiuyan entered the courtyard, they were met with several greetings: "Xiao Man, you're back?"
"Xiao Man, long time no see!"
"Qiuyan, where did you two just go?"
"Whoa, so much fruit! You must have picked it from the herb garden, right? Man, if we'd known, we would have gone with you to help!"
As they spoke, a group of four or five young men and women walked toward them. They took the fruit baskets from Xiao Man's and Qiuyan's arms and carried them straight into the living room, shouting with a laugh, "Grandma, come look at these fruits! They're so fresh and rare! These are the ones that grow in the herb garden. I saw them last time I was here helping out. Xiao Man and Qiuyan must have gone to pick them specially for us since they knew we were coming!"
