"It smells so good, is it ready yet?" Xia Qingqing licked her lips and asked somewhat anxiously.

Song Ze turned the roast chicken in his hand and said with a slight smile, "Wait a little longer, it will be ready soon."

Xia Qingqing gave a slightly disappointed "oh," her eyes fixed on the roast chicken in Song Ze's hand.

It was Song Ze who suggested that the two of them end up here.

He thought about returning to Beijing in a couple of days and felt nostalgic for the time he spent with Xia Qingqing in the Shihe Brigade. Since today was a rare good day, he suggested revisiting the place.

At first, Xia Qingqing didn't want to go out. Going up the mountain in such cold weather would be torture.

But she couldn't resist Song Ze's pleas and had no choice but to agree.

Cough, cough, she would never admit that it was because she was craving the roast chicken that Song Ze used to make.

It was impossible to catch a pheasant in the dead of winter, so Song Ze simply paid an old lady in the village to buy a rooster. After cleaning it up, he carried it up the mountain.

After waiting for about 10 more minutes, the pheasant in Song Ze's hand was finally cooked. The whole roasted chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a wonderful aroma.

He tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Xia Qingqing, saying with a smile, "Try it and see if my cooking skills have deteriorated. Be careful not to burn yourself."

"It's finally ready! I've been craving it so much."

Xia Qingqing couldn't wait to take a bite, her eyes squinting happily: "Delicious, delicious, it tastes just like the original. It just doesn't feel as chewy as pheasant, but it's good to have something to eat. I shouldn't be so picky."

Seeing her enjoying her meal made Song Ze happy too. He tore off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth to savor it slowly.

Before long, Xia Qingqing finished one chicken leg, and Song Ze immediately handed her another one.

Xia Qingqing shook her head: "No, I want to eat chicken wings."

"Okay, here's a chicken wing," Song Ze said affectionately, tearing off a chicken wing and handing it to her.

Because she had already eaten before leaving home, Xia Qingqing couldn't eat anymore after having a chicken leg and a chicken wing. She shook her head when Song Ze offered her another one.

"I'm full, you can eat."

She suddenly remembered that when she first came to this world, steamed egg custard was a rare treat at home, and meat was a rare sight. The first time she ate meat was when Song Ze treated her to it.

Thinking back to the past, Xia Qingqing puffed out her cheeks and accused, "Aze, do you remember when we first met? You were so cold to me back then. Aren't you awful?"

Hearing her mention the past, a hint of unease flashed in Song Ze's eyes. In fact, compared to other girls, he had been very good to Xia Qingqing back then. It seems that Xia Qingqing was different in his heart from the very beginning.

After listening to Song Ze's explanation, Xia Qingqing tried hard to recall and quickly nodded: "It seems that's indeed the case."

On the surface, Song Ze seemed indifferent to her, but he would buy her steamed buns when she ran out of food coupons, ride his bicycle to take her back to the village when she missed the oxcart, and roast a fragrant chicken for her.

However, even though he was doing a good deed, his somewhat cold and rude attitude made it difficult for people to feel grateful to him.

Fortunately, Xia Qingqing doesn't like the gentle and refined type; she can't handle the kind of guy who's nice to everyone. Otherwise, there would be absolutely no chance between her and Song Ze.

Xia Qingqing rested her head on Song Ze's shoulder and asked curiously, "If it hadn't been me that time, would you have ridden your bike to bring the other person back?"

"It's hard to say, it might not work out..." Song Ze teased her on purpose.

Xia Qingqing gritted her teeth, grabbed his ear and threatened, "What do you mean, 'maybe'? Say it again if you dare."

Song Ze chuckled and tapped her head: "Of course not, what are you thinking?"

"Hmph, you're smart to know what's good for you," Xia Qingqing said, releasing her grip with satisfaction.

It was cold, so the two didn't stay on the mountain for long. When they came back, Song Ze was carrying half a roasted chicken that he hadn't finished eating.

When Gou Dan saw them return, he immediately came over and said, "Sisters, where did you go? I haven't seen you since I came back."

"I went to the mountains to play, and I even left you some roast chicken. Isn't your older sister very good to you?" Xia Qingqing smiled and handed the unfinished roast chicken to Gou Dan.

She said it casually, but Gou Dan actually believed it and said happily, "Thank you, sis, you're so kind to me."

His silly appearance made Xia Qingqing a little embarrassed, and she awkwardly touched her nose: "This roast chicken is a bit cold since we brought it back from the mountain. Shall I heat it up for you?"

"No need for all that trouble, it'll warm up once it's in your stomach," Gou Dan said with a smile. He was a man, not a delicate girl.

Looking at the roast chicken in his hand, Gou Dan suddenly said, "Sis, can I take this roast chicken with Da Niu and the others?"

"Of course, go ahead," Xia Qingqing waved to him nonchalantly.

After Gou Dan ran away, Song Ze smiled and tapped Xia Qingqing's pert nose, saying, "Don't you feel guilty for lying to a child like this?"

They insisted on bringing the roast chicken, which was clearly more than the two of them could finish, as if it were specially for Gou Dan. Only a silly Gou Dan would believe that.

"It doesn't hurt. I'll lie as many times as I can while I still can, because I won't be able to lie anymore in a couple of years," Xia Qingqing said confidently.

——

Dog Egg took half of the leftover pheasant and ran to Da Niu's house.

Da Niu was a little surprised to see Gou Dan coming over: "Gou Dan, didn't you just go back? Why are you here again?"

"Hehe, Da Niu, look what I brought you! It's a pheasant my sister left for me!" Gou Dan happily presented the pheasant to Da Niu.

Da Niu subconsciously swallowed: "Gou Dan, you should keep it for yourself, I don't want to eat it."

Dog Egg knew he was lying, so he deftly tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth: "We're good brothers, we should share good things together."

"It's delicious," Da Niu said, looking at Gou Dan with a touched expression.

In recent years, the two of them have only been able to see each other once a year. Even with the deepest feelings, they have gradually become estranged over time.

But at this moment, Gou Dan felt very familiar to Da Niu. There was a time when Gou Dan would run over and share candy with him in the same way.

Those times seem both distant and near.

Dog Egg cut the roast chicken in half, handing one half to Da Niu: "Here, there's not much roast chicken, so I won't call Shunzi and the others. Let's eat it quietly, and remember not to tell them."

Da Niu nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling, and said, "Yes, I promise I won't tell them."

A secret joy welled up inside him. Hehe, he really is Gou Dan's best brother. Gou Dan thinks of him first when he has something good.

Half a cold roast chicken was considered a feast by the two small children.

Dog Egg licked his fingers and exclaimed, "It smells so good! Next time I must ask my brother-in-law to roast a whole one for me."