Chapter 64: Get this done, and I promise you 13.
Wrapped up like a silkworm in a cocoon, they dawdled in bed for a long time, and it was past eight when Qin Guanglin and He Fang finally got up to wash. Qin Guanglin emptied everything from his backpack and, carrying the empty bag, prepared to leave.
He Fang turned off the air conditioner, scanned the room to make sure nothing was left behind, and then took Qin Guanglin’s hand to head outside, "Let’s go, breakfast first."
Even though he hadn’t slept well, Qin Guanglin was still full of energy. He Fang pulled him along for a leisurely stroll and they ended up having a big bowl of wontons with three sticks of fried dough for breakfast in a local eatery.
Eat light in the morning, eat full at noon, and eat well at night. That was what he had heard from Qin’s mom since he was a child, though he wasn’t sure if it made sense. Anyway, he wasn’t deliberate about feeling full for breakfast; just a light meal would do.
"Boss, I’d like to ask, do you know where I can buy incense and candles nearby?" After finishing his meal, Qin Guanglin wiped his mouth and inquired with the eatery owner.
The owner, a man in his forties, was very hospitable to the diners. He led them outside and pointed the way: "The closest store is over there. Just go in that direction for about ten or fifteen minutes, and you’ll see it."
"Alright, thank you so much."
Qin Guanglin expressed his gratitude and, following the owner’s guidance, they set off. Their spirits were high and strides brisk – it took them less than ten minutes to reach the shop that the owner had indicated was a fifteen-minute walk away.
He Fang browsed through the shop, and after some consideration, she picked out the best bamboo incense in the store. It had a yellow body with a red handle and was highly durable, unlikely to break. Each tube contained about a hundred sticks, and He Fang picked up three tubes and put them into Qin Guanglin’s backpack.
"Do we need this much?" Qin Guanglin was surprised. Normally, for offering incense, a few sticks would suffice and even if they were to offer several times, one tube would more than enough.
"It’s better to burn more; it’s never too much," He Fang reasoned as she took out her wallet to pay. "We shouldn’t skimp on offering incense."