Ye Linchen frowned subconsciously.
"Hot pot?" Ye Linchen asked uncertainly. "Your aunt and uncle have lived in Beijing for so many years, their tastes must have become lighter, right?"
"You know how hot pot broth is in Jiangcheng? It's bubbling with red oil, incredibly spicy, and numbingly so. Can they get used to it?"
Gu Jingran's laughter immediately came from the other end of the phone: "I can eat it."
"My parents are native to Jiangcheng, but they moved to Beijing for work later."
"They've been craving this authentic spicy flavor for a long time."
"This time I'm back, so I can let them have a taste."
Upon hearing this explanation, Ye Linchen's slight concern vanished instantly.
She said sincerely into the microphone, "That's wonderful!"
"To be honest, I've been craving it too. During the Spring Festival, I even made my own sauce at home and cooked a pot of beef tallow hot pot."
"How does it taste? Is it delicious?" Gu Jingran asked immediately.
"It's delicious. I'll make it for you sometime."
"Okay, I'll be waiting." Gu Jingran immediately agreed.
At this point, Ye Linchen remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, I brought you a gift when I went to Haicheng this time."
Gu Jingran said "thank you" very earnestly on the other end of the line, and you could tell he was genuinely happy.
He didn't press her about what the gift was. Instead, he changed the subject gently and asked her, "How have you been lately?"
"fine."
Ye Linchen leaned against the cold glass of the phone booth, gazing at the empty, quiet street outside, and began to recount his recent situation one by one.
"I'm currently tutoring a student who is a high school sophomore. Her grades improved significantly in the final exams, and her mother was so happy that she introduced me to two more new students."
Then, with a hint of barely concealed pride, she recounted the interesting things that happened at the temple that day.
"I went to pray to the God of Wealth."
"I even released a sky lantern myself, and my wish was—to get rich, get rich, get very rich in the new year!"
She couldn't help but laugh after she finished speaking.
Gu Jingran listened quietly on the other end of the phone without interrupting her.
After her laughter subsided, he spoke, his voice carrying a confident gentleness: "With your earnest efforts, you're sure to achieve your goals."
This sentence is more comforting than any flowery language.
Ye Linchen felt as if he had a small stove burning inside his heart, making him feel warm and cozy.
Her smile deepened, and she gently moved her feet, which were a little numb from the cold, to steer the conversation back to the main topic.
What time is your flight tomorrow?
Gu Jingran quickly gave the time: the flight was early the next morning, and if everything went smoothly, they would arrive in Jiangcheng by noon.
"Once I'm settled, I'll drive over to pick you up. How about 5 p.m.?"
Ye Linchen listened to his arrangements and readily agreed.
"Okay. We need to catch an early flight tomorrow, so don't stay up late tonight and get some rest."
"You too, get some rest."
After hanging up the phone, Ye Linchen leaned against the glass of the phone booth, a smile still lingering on his lips.
I was enveloped in a soft joy.
Tomorrow, at 5 PM, she will be able to see Gu Jingran.
This thought was like a pebble thrown into a lake of her heart, rippling outwards in concentric circles of anticipation, making her long for tomorrow to arrive sooner.
The next day, as soon as the sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains, Ye Linchen opened his eyes and couldn't fall back asleep.
She got out of bed, washed her face carefully, and then applied light makeup using the techniques Wang Lina had taught her.
She then took out a newly bought off-white turtleneck sweater and an ankle-length brown plaid long skirt from the closet.
She then put on a camel-colored cashmere coat and a pair of black leather boots.
She looks both warm and stylish, as well as elegant and appropriate.
Ye Linchen twirled in front of the mirror, very satisfied with her outfit.
After getting dressed, Ye Linchen felt that this was the first time she would formally meet Gu Jingran's parents, and it wouldn't feel right to go empty-handed.
As soon as the idea came to her, she couldn't sit still. She grabbed her wallet and keys, went out, and boarded a bus to the downtown department store.
She picked out a wool scarf for Mr. Gu and a set of skincare products for Mr. Gu, comparing them carefully and putting a lot of thought into it.
When she returned home carrying two beautifully packaged paper bags, the clock on the wall was already pointing to twelve o'clock.
At that moment, the taxi carrying Gu Jingran, his father Gu Yuanshan, his mother Huo Yunlan, and his cousin Gu Yifei slowly drove into the steel plant dormitory compound.
As soon as the car stopped at the entrance of the cadre compound, Gu Yifei's parents, who had been waiting, warmly greeted him and helped open the car door and carry his luggage.
"We've finally met you all. It's been so many years!" Director Gu stepped forward and tightly grasped his elder brother Gu Yuanshan's hand. "Brother, you haven't changed at all. And sister-in-law is still as energetic as ever."
Gu Yuanshan sighed, "Yes, time really flies. It's been almost five years since we last met. You haven't changed much either."
Gu Yifei's mother said, "It's terribly cold, let's talk at home. Old Gu, your brother and sister-in-law have been on the plane for so long, let them rest."
Factory Director Gu quickly said, "Alright, alright, let's go home first."
The family walked upstairs together, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.
As Gu Yifei's mother walked, she said, "We've booked a table at 'Weimeiju' downstairs to welcome you and give you a proper welcome."
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