After work, Xuemei rode her bike to the intersection leading to Liujia Village when she spotted Han Chen walking ahead of her, carrying a backpack. Ever since their last encounter, the two of them had only exchanged a nod of greeting whenever they bumped into each other in the village.

Xuemei rode her bicycle to the side of the road in front of Han Chen and parked it, intending to say a few words and then leave.

"Han Zhiqing, are you going out today?" Xuemei said.

Han Chen saw a flash of surprise in Xuemei's eyes. After checking that no one was coming this way, he walked up to Xuemei and said, "Comrade Xuemei, I went to the county town today to collect bicycle parts again."

"You can go to the county town in the morning and come back at noon. It's a bit late to come back at this time in winter. Don't you know the specific departure time, Han Zhiqing?" Xuemei asked puzzledly.

"No, I went up the mountain to chop wood this morning, so I'll be free to go in the afternoon," Han Chen said, his ears red. In fact, Han Chen deliberately went in the afternoon just so that he could meet Xuemei and talk when he returned to the village in the afternoon. He hadn't spoken to Xuemei for a long time.

"Oh! Have you found all the parts of your bicycle?" Xuemei asked curiously after looking at Han Chen's backpack.

"Not yet. Maybe I need to go to the county town again?" Han Chen answered, looked behind him, and saw someone. He said to Xuemei, "Comrade Xuemei, can you ride your bike to wait for me halfway? I have something to give you. There are so many people coming and going behind us now."

Xuemei thought about it and felt that Han Chen should be trustworthy, so she nodded. Before leaving, she pointed at Han Chen's backpack. Seeing Han Chen shook his head, Xuemei rode away on her bicycle.

When they were still two or three miles away from home, Xuemei started waiting by the roadside. After waiting for seven or eight minutes, she saw Han Chen running towards her breathlessly with a backpack on his back.

Xuemei looked at the beads of sweat on Han Chen's forehead and said with a mixture of anger and amusement, "Han Zhiqing, you don't need to be so anxious. You're carrying so much stuff, and running all the way like this will easily lead to catching a cold after sweating."

Han Chen wiped the sweat from his head with a handkerchief, put down the backpack and said, "Comrade Xuemei, it's okay, just a little sweat on your head. I was worried you'd get anxious waiting for me, and I was also worried that if I delayed you for too long and you came home too late, your family would be worried."

After explaining, Han Chen took out a package from his backpack and opened it in front of Xuemei, saying, "My friend took advantage of the cold weather and sent me some special products from Beijing. Comrade Xuemei, try some and see if you like them."

Upon hearing this, Xuemei quickly stopped Han Chen and said, "Han Zhiqing, no need. This is something your friend sent you. Why don't you keep it for yourself?"

Han Chen noticed Xuemei's embarrassment and said pitifully, "Comrade Xuemei, I also ate the leek pancakes you asked your brother to give me last time. I feel like we're friends now, and I want you to try the flavors of my hometown. Okay?"

Xuemei looked at Han Chen's pitiful appearance. She was dazed and her heart softened so she nodded and agreed.

Han Chen quickly opened the three oil-paper packages inside, pointing and saying, "Comrade Xuemei, these are crispy candies, donkey rolls, and braised pork in soy sauce. Would you like to try them all?"

Xuemei picked up a little of each and tasted it. Her eyes lit up with every bite. Finally, Xuemei squinted her eyes in ecstasy and savored the taste.

Han Chen looked at Xuemei eating delicious food and couldn't help but clench his fist to cover the corners of his mouth that were curled up.

After Xuemei tasted everything, Han Chen asked, "Comrade Xuemei, does it suit your taste?"

Xuemei nodded and said, "Han Zhiqing, everything here is delicious. Thank you!"

After hearing this, Han Chen immediately took out a piece of oil paper, folded it, and put the local specialties in it while saying, "As long as it tastes good, I'm afraid it won't suit your taste. I'll pack some for you to take home and let the village chief and others taste it."

Seeing Han Chen filling up more and more, Xuemei was so anxious that she didn't notice that she was holding Han Zhiqing's hand. When Xuemei realized it, she quickly let go of his hand and said, "Han Zhiqing, you don't have to give me so much. I just tasted them and they are really delicious. I'm also shameless enough to exchange a little bit of each with you so that my family can have a taste. This is a local specialty that your friend specially picked for you. It looks very expensive. You can keep the rest and enjoy it slowly."

After Xuemei finished speaking, she snatched the oil paper from Han Chen's hand and took out the extra things inside, leaving only two crispy candies, a piece of donkey rolls and a piece of braised pork in clear sauce.

Han Chen was stunned the moment Xuemei's hand touched his. It felt soft and warm like cotton. Han Chen felt a warm current flowing from his heart, and his chest began to beat uncontrollably.

Seeing that Han Chen was still staring at her hands in a daze, Xuemei turned around and packed Han Chen's things with a blushing face, and put two kilograms of food coupons in the package.

Xuemei then said to Han Chen embarrassedly, "Han Zhiqing, I was in such a hurry just now that I accidentally touched your hand. I hope you don't mind. I've packed your things. Please remember to put them in the backpack later."

Xuemei looked at Han Chen and saw that he didn't respond. She then placed the oil-paper bag in front of Han Chen's eyes, shook it, and said, "Han Zhiqing, thank you for the local specialty. I'll ride my bike home first. Bye!"

Xuemei said this without waiting for Han Chen's reaction. She was afraid of embarrassment and rode away on her bicycle.

Han Chen then raised his head, looked at Xuemei's back, and stammered, "No... no, it's okay. As long as you like it!"