Duan Hua threw down the cards he hadn't finished playing and looked at Chen Kai with a mocking expression, as if he were sarcastically criticizing his unrealistic ideas.

"I really don't want it anymore. I've been craving this flavor for years. If I don't eat it soon, I'm afraid I'll forget where I live. Besides, it's you who offended her, not me."

Duan Hua was speechless for a long time after being choked by Chen Kai's words. He couldn't help but twitch the scar on his face and roll his eyes at Chen Kai.

"You've got guts!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but swallow hard; the smell was fucking delicious!

Just as Chen Lai was still debating whether or not to exchange the item, Jiang Yiyan's knocking came from outside.

"Gu Zhiqing! Can you open the door for me?"

Gu Zuozuo paused as she stuffed a slice of meat into her mouth. She glanced at the table full of meat, then waved her hand to retract her spatial storage, leaving only a few plates of vegetables, mushrooms, and noodles.

"Excuse me for interrupting your meal, it's just... um..."

Upon entering, Jiang Yiyan, smelling the even stronger aroma of spicy food in the air, hesitated and remained silent for a long time.

"you……"

Just as Gu Zuozuo opened her lips to speak, Jiang Yiyan, as if afraid of being rejected, excitedly blurted out a string of words.

"What I meant was, I'm from Sichuan province, and I can smell the delicious aroma of your hot pot. I'd like to trade these things for a bowl of hot pot broth! Just one bowl will do."

Gu Zuozuo raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't expected that this was the reason she knocked on the door. Looking at the palm-sized piece of cured meat in her hand, she knew Gu Zuozuo's sincerity and wasn't stingy.

"No problem, just a moment."

Taking the cured meat and tea mug from Jiang Yiyan, Gu Zuozuo returned to the house and filled the entire tea mug with hot pot soup for Jiang Yiyan. She wasn't losing out by exchanging a piece of cured meat for a tea mug of hot pot soup.

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Jiang Yiyan's frostbitten face broke into a radiant smile. Her hands, which were covered in chilblains, held the teacup, but she seemed not to feel any pain as she smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Gu Zuozuo returned a faint smile and watched her cheerfully walk into the female educated youth dormitory.

She didn't know this girl very well. Usually, she would see her either working with her head down, washing clothes, mending clothes, or sewing shoe soles. It seemed like she was busy all day long. But now that she looked at her closely, she seemed to have a very good temper.

“Gu…Gu, the educated youth…”

The murmur was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, almost inaudible. If Gu Zuozuo hadn't had such good hearing, he almost wouldn't have understood what he was saying.

Chen Kai, wearing a dog-skin hat, met Gu Zuozuo's gaze and nervously fiddled with the bag he was carrying.

"Could I trade these for some hot pot broth? I don't need much, just a little! My hometown is also in Sichuan province, and I... I haven't tasted the flavors of home for three or four years... I..."

As he spoke, Chen Kai's voice choked up, and he almost burst into tears on the spot.

He missed home; he missed his parents. He hadn't seen them for five years.

"What's a grown man like you crying for? Have some backbone!"

Ye Hua snorted disdainfully, turning his gaze away from the window, a deep gloom lingering in his eyes.

Family... ah...

Gu Zuozuo clearly didn't expect a grown man to cry so easily, and not even afraid that his tears would freeze his eyes.

"Give me the food, I'll get you a bowl."

Taking the bag and lunchbox from her, Gu Zuozuo turned around and filled the lunchbox with hot pot soup.

"Thank you, Educated Youth Gu!"