The next morning, around 7 a.m., Li Aidang arrived at the guesthouse.

"You're here so early? Did you catch the first bus?" An Moxue opened the door and saw Li Aidang.

"Okay, let's go have breakfast! It's rare to run into you, who knows when we'll meet again? Can we go now?" Li Aidang stood at the door, looking at An Moxue with anticipation.

"Let's go." An Moxue put on her coat, took Li Aidang's hand, and walked out of the house.

"Mo Xue, what have you been eating these past two years? Your skin is so good! Look at me." Li Aidang looked at An Mo Xue's flawless skin and said with some envy, then touched his own face.

An Moxue comforted her, "It's nothing! It's probably genetic! I look like my mother."

Li Aidang remembered that An Moxue's mother also had incredibly good skin, and thought it must be true. He suddenly felt a little dejected and said, "Who told me I didn't have a mother like Aunt Lan! Let's go, I need to eat a couple more fried dough sticks to comfort my wounded heart."

After saying that, he grabbed An Moxue and walked quickly towards the state-run restaurant, all traces of his frustration and sadness gone.

"You've eaten more than me, aren't you full?" An Moxue rubbed her forehead, looking helpless.

"No, let me finish this last half of the bun first." Li Aidang's mouth was bulging, and he spoke incoherently.

"Alright! That's enough! This is already three fried dough sticks, four steamed buns, and a bowl of tofu pudding. Aren't you feeling uncomfortable after eating so much? I'll treat you to something nicer for lunch. Save your room!"

This foodie is amazing! This bun is the size of an adult man's fist, and An Moxue only ate one and drank a bowl of tofu pudding.

"Really?" Li Aidang put the last bite of the bun into his mouth, and when he heard An Moxue say that, he finally raised his head and looked at An Moxue with bright eyes.

"Really. Anyone who didn't know better would think you've been eating terribly these past two years!"

"Mo Xue, it was absolutely terrible! How good could the food at the communal kitchen for educated youth be? Besides, two of the people there sometimes cooked it half-cooked, just pickled vegetables and boiled vegetables." Li Aidang finished speaking and sighed heavily—sigh!

"Come on! Look at your rosy complexion and baby fat, who are you trying to fool?" An Moxue said, then mischievously pinched her cheek.

Li Aidang glared at her, rubbed his face, and said, "It's because I'm on good terms with the old ladies in the village, and we occasionally exchange some good food. Otherwise, you would hardly ever see me." Then he moved a seat away from her.

"What? Are you going to starve to death?" An Moxue pouted. Everyone knows each other! Maybe that old lady we know is a good cook, and we paid her with money!

"No, it's not that bad. But what would you like to treat me to for lunch?" That eager look in his eyes was so obvious that An Moxue couldn't ignore it.

"What do you want to eat?" An Moxue looked at her, finding this quite amusing!

Those big, innocent eyes blinking at you, who could resist?

"I want to eat at the big restaurants! I want Quanfu's roast duck, Wang Mao's golden thread pancakes, and Xiao Li's shredded pork with sweet bean sauce!" Li Aidang said, his mouth watering, his eyes sparkling as he looked at An Moxue.

"You agreed to marry Jiang Wenhua so quickly. Does he take you out for fancy meals every time you go on a date?" An Moxue asked, and Li Aidang lowered her head guiltily, which confirmed her suspicions.

"Look at you, so useless. You sold yourself for a few meals and now you have to wash clothes, cook, have children, and warm beds for someone else." An Moxue pointed at her with her finger, exasperated.

Finally, he added, "If he treats you badly after we get married, and doesn't let you eat good food, tell me, you hear me? I'll go and get him even if it's across mountains and rivers, and then I'll take you out for a good meal."

"Can I eat the roast duck, golden thread pancakes, and shredded pork with sweet bean sauce for lunch?" Li Aidang looked at An Moxue cautiously, afraid that she would cut off any of them and not let her eat them.

An Moxue smiled and, seeing her carefree attitude, said, "Sure. They're not far apart. Let's go buy some golden thread pancakes and shredded pork with sweet bean sauce first, then go to Quanfu to eat roast duck."

"Mo Xue, you're still the best to me!"

"That's right, who told me to be the big spender! You're all just waiting to eat me alive." He then raised an eyebrow.

"That's right, Mr. An. Let's go buy the gift you gave me now." After saying that, she looked at An Moxue with her innocent big eyes.

So, the two of them went hand in hand to the Kyoto Department Store.

......

"Mo Xue, why are there so many people here? It's not Sunday, don't they all have to work? Look at this, you'd think they were buying things for free." The two of them had just come out of a pastry counter, carrying several bags of pastries.

“It’s Chinese New Year, and even the poorest families want to eat something good during the holiday. Besides, some families have saved up their money and ration coupons all year, just waiting to spend them before the New Year! How can there not be a lot of people?” An Moxue said, looking at the crowded department store.

"You're buying so many pastries, you'll get sick! Besides, I remember you don't like things that are too sweet!" Li Aidang said, puzzled. "Why don't you buy them little by little, choosing only what you like?"

"When we go back to the north to give gifts to our elders, there are many people, so we need to buy several portions."

"These ten packages, don't tell me they're all gifts?" Li Aidang asked incredulously.

"Hurry up! After I buy your gift, let's go have lunch. I need to go to the hospital to visit my elders this afternoon!"

"My goodness! How many gifts do you give out this year?"

"It's alright, they're all elders who have taken care of me, it's just a small token of their appreciation." An Moxue didn't seem to care at all.

"Hurry up, what are we waiting for! Let's get in line. I've already thought about it. I was planning to write to you and ask you to buy it, and now it's perfect, I can use it for my wedding. It's a promise, you have to buy it for me, no complaining about the price." Li Aidang said, pulling An Moxue towards the fabric section, afraid that they would sell out if they were late.

"Tell me, what wedding gifts did you ask for each of us in your letter?" An Moxue was very curious. It couldn't all be food, could it?

"Hehe! I can't tell you that. Let's go." With that, he quickened his pace.

Li Aidang dragged An Moxue to the counter selling bed sheets and they lined up.

"Mo Xue, let me tell you, I've seen a bed sheet that I really like, but it's a bit pricey, so I haven't dared to tell my mom. If you see one later, just buy it for me."

"Is there cotton or a quilt lining?"

"Huh?" Li Aidang was a little confused; she wanted this bed sheet.

An Moxue couldn't help but laugh and cry at her adorable, bewildered expression.

"I mean, if I buy the sheets, do they come with a lining and cotton? Can they be made into a quilt for your wedding? You like them so much, aren't you planning to use them for your wedding?"

"Oh, this one! It has cotton and a quilt lining. I can just change the quilt cover to one that I like."

"Alright! Since it's your wedding, is there anything else you want? I'll buy it all for you."

Just as Li Aidang was about to say something, she heard the people behind them say, "What a pretentious show! 'Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you.' How can they be so shameless? How can they put on such a show?"