The rain had stopped at last.
The early morning light flowed down like fine milk, illuminating the tall oak tree in front of Margaret's house, its wet leaves glowing freshly green in the sunlight.
Shen Sunflower carried the painting kit bag, wrapped the cotton and linen blend scarf, and went out the door.
Margaret was in the yard organizing flower pots, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, saw her come out, smiled and waved: ''Sunflower, there is a market today, yo!On the third Sunday of every month, the town will set up stalls in the old square, so be sure not to miss it."
Shen Rihui thanked her and walked down the stone path towards the town center.
When she walked to the front of the café, Lin Yu was carrying a basket of freshly baked kosher out the door, and when he saw her walking far away, he stopped and waved at her.
"Going to the marketplace?"
She nodded.
"Want a ride?"He patted the back of the bicycle beside him.
Shen Riqui couldn't help but smile and replied softly, "Sure."
So she carefully sat on the back seat of the bicycle, her hands grasping the corner of the hem of Lin Yu's windbreaker.The bicycle creaked through the wet streets, through the alleys tangled with rose vines, and drove towards the old square in the center of town.
The square was already bustling with activity.
Long wooden tables line the alleyways, and there are people selling second-hand books, others displaying homemade soaps and candles, and children selling small paper cranes they folded themselves.
Colorful triangular flags were strung between the trees, and were blown by the wind.
Shen Riqiu got out of the car, and Lin Yu handed the kosher to an old woman who was supporting a stall, a bread stall he worked with year-round.
"Want something to drink?"Lin Yu asked her.
"Orange juice."She replied with a smile.
They bought two cups of freshly squeezed orange juice in front of a mobile drink stand while slowly strolling through the marketplace.
Shen Riqiu saw a stall selling old picture frames and stopped to pick them out.Some of those frames were encrusted with seashells, while others had gentle traces of age knocked out of the edges.
She picked an old brown wooden frame with tiny gold filigree embedded in the corners, as if it came with a gentle luster.
Lin Yu took it in his hand and looked at it, commenting seriously, "It suits your painting."
"Do you always evaluate others like this?"Shen Riqiu asked him, half joking.
He lowered his eyes and smiled, answering, "Only to those who are worthy."
The words were said extremely softly, like a water droplet splashing in the center of the square after the rain, falling into the lake of his heart and causing ripples.
Halfway through the stroll, Zoe also came bouncing in, wearing a straw beanie and carrying a recently purchased stuffed bunny in her arms.
"Sister!"She waved at Shen Rihui, giddy, "I found a magical little box!I heard it's something that brings good luck!"
She waved a small silver-colored box in her hand, with intricate vine patterns engraved on the lid.
"Want to make a wish together?"Zoe asked with wide eyes.
Shen Riqiu smiled and bowed her head with her, quietly making a wish on the small box.
Lin Yu stood by the side, quietly watching, with light in his eyes, like he was holding the entire sunny sky.
Wishes don't work if you say them out loud, Shen Riqiu didn't ask Zoe what she wished for.
On her own, she mumbled in her heart: I hope that this journey will be gentle and be remembered.
Near the end of the bazaar, Lin Yu bought her a bunch of dried Manzanita without wrapping paper and tied it directly with a string.
"For you," he said, "thank you for bringing good weather to the town."
Shen Rihui looked down and smelled the fresh scent of the dried flowers, and replied with a soft smile, "Thank you for showing me the gentleness of this place."
Today's weather was still sunny.
Shen Rihui woke up early.Margaret baked blueberry muffins in the kitchen, and a sweet aroma wafted through the yard.
"Sunflower, want to go to the lake for a picnic?"Margaret suggested with a smile as she packed the muffins into a basket, "This weather is too good not to go out for a walk."
"By the lake?"Shen Rihui asked.
"Well, along the forest path on the west side of the town, walk for about twenty minutes and you'll be there."Margaret handed her an old wicker picnic basket with muffins, jam, and sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil.
"Thank you."Shen Riqiu held the basket, her heart warming.
She changed into a light blue dress with a loose beige knit sweater over it, put her painting utensils behind her back as well, and breezed out the door.