Lao Xu and Huo Rufeng were both in military uniforms and looked exhausted, obviously having just completed a mission. As soon as the two entered the door, they smelled the aroma of meat coming from the yard and expressions of surprise appeared on their faces.
"Wow, whose food smells so good?" Old Xu joked with a smile. There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, but more of the joy of returning home.
Huo Rufeng also smiled. He looked at Shen Anan with tenderness in his eyes.
It seems that everything is self-evident.
Shen Anan walked forward, looked at Huo Rufeng, and smiled, "You guys are back just in time, sit down, let's eat together."
After she finished speaking, she was busy serving the steaming hot braised pork from the pot, the aroma filling her nose.
Old Xu's eyes lit up, and he did not hide his admiration in his heart.
"Oh, this must be Huo Rufeng's family, right? What a great craftsmanship! The meat is so fragrant!" Old Xu said as he couldn't help sniffing, as if he wanted to take in all the fragrance.
Huo Rufeng smiled, which was rare for him, with a face full of pride: "Of course, my An An is an excellent cook."
At this moment, Zeng Qingqing also came over and said with a smile: "Old Xu, you are in for a treat today. An An's cooking skills are much better than mine!"
Shen Anan was a little embarrassed by the compliment, and two red clouds flew up on her face. She said modestly: "Oh, Qingqing, you only know how to make fun of me. This is all commonplace."
"Come on, come on, everyone, don't stand there, come and sit down and taste An An's cooking." Zeng Qingqing greeted them warmly.
So, everyone sat around the old wooden table in the room. Lao Xu and Huo Rufeng had just returned from outside, looking exhausted, but at this moment, their faces were filled with satisfaction and happiness because of a hot meal.
Old Xu picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. The meat was stewed till tender but not greasy, leaving a lingering fragrance in his mouth. He nodded repeatedly: "Mm, this taste is absolutely amazing! Huo Rufeng, you are so lucky."
Huo Rufeng smiled and picked up a piece of food for Shen Anan with chopsticks: "Anan, you should eat more too. You have worked hard today."
Shen Anan smiled and nodded, feeling warm in her heart.
The setting sun shone through the door. Everyone ate and chatted, with laughter and talking coming one after another.
At this time, Sister Liu was standing in her own house. Through the window, she could smell the aroma of meat wafting from Zeng Qingqing's house next door. The smell was so rich that it made her salivate.
She was holding a steamed bun in her hand, and next to it was a bowl of plain cabbage, which looked bland. Her mother-in-law sat on an old chair in the room with a serious expression on her face, and seemed very satisfied with today's meal arrangements.
Sister Liu felt unhappy. She looked at the steamed bread in her hand and thought about the braised pork next door. The envy in her heart grew like weeds.
We could rarely eat meat at home, and it became even more outrageous after my mother-in-law came. There was no oil or water in every meal.
"Oh, I wish I could have food like that at home."
Sister Liu thought silently in her heart, but she didn't dare to say it out loud, for fear of upsetting her mother-in-law, and then she and her husband would have another quarrel!
Her mother-in-law seemed to have sensed what Sister Liu was thinking. She coughed and said, "You know our family's situation. We can't compare with others. Let's eat lighter, which is good for our health."
What can Sister Liu do after hearing this? She could only nod, but she still felt a little unwilling: "Mom, I understand, it's just... I just want to eat something good sometimes."
The mother-in-law glanced at Sister Liu and said in a deep voice, "When conditions improve in the future, we can also eat good food. We can't learn from them now. That would be too wasteful. Who can eat meat like this? It's all about money!"
Sister Liu agreed on the surface, but she felt helpless in her heart, as she didn't know when this "later" would come. She looked out the window and saw that Zeng Qingqing's house was brightly lit and full of laughter. She felt even more envious. Even though she might be a spendthrift, at least she had good food and drink!
After dinner, Shen Anan and Huo Rufeng helped to clean up the dishes, Zeng Qingqing and Lao Xu also lent a hand, and everyone worked together to clean the table and wash the pots and pans.
Under the lights in the yard, everyone worked and chatted, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
After packing up, Shen Anan and Huo Rufeng said goodbye to Zeng Qingqing and Lao Xu and returned to their own courtyard.
Huo Rufeng lived alone in a courtyard. The courtyard was not big, but it was kept clean and tidy. There were several flowers and plants planted in the courtyard, and there was an old locust tree in the corner, which made it look particularly peaceful.
As soon as the two entered the yard, Huo Rufeng closed the gate, as if to keep out the noise from the outside world.
Shen Anan looked at this small space and felt a sense of security and warmth in her heart. Although this place is small, it is her and Huo Rufeng’s home, their little world together.
Huo Rufeng held Shen Anan's hand, and the two sat on the stone bench in the yard, the moonlight shining on them, and there was tranquility all around. Huo Rufeng looked at his young wife with eyes full of affection: "An An, long time no see, you have lost weight."
Hearing this, Shen Anan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook her head: "No way, I'm fine. But you, the mission is hard, you should pay more attention to your health."
The two of them reminisced about the past, talking about what happened when each other was away, and sharing their joys and sorrows.
As the night deepened, their conversation became more in-depth.
Shen Anan told Huo Rufeng everything that happened in the supply and marketing cooperative during the day, including the salesperson's condescending attitude and her and Zeng Qingqing's unhappiness at being ignored.
"Rufeng, those fabrics are expensive and impractical. I heard that the goods in Guangcheng are both good and cheap. I think if we can purchase them from there and sell them here, they will definitely be popular." Shen Anan said his thoughts, with anticipation flashing in his eyes.
Huo Rufeng listened carefully. He knew that his young wife was no longer the fool she used to be. She was very opinionated and her ideas were often very practical.
He pondered for a while, then held Shen Anan’s hand, “Anan, if you really want to do this, I support you.”
After Shen Anan heard this, a warm feeling surged in her heart. She knew Huo Rufeng was busy with work, but as long as he was there, he always gave her the greatest support and encouragement.
"But, An An, we have to plan well. Purchasing, transportation, and sales are not easy and require careful consideration."
Huo Rufeng reminded that he hoped Shen Anan could consider it comprehensively and be prepared.
After hearing this, Shen Anan nodded. She understood Huo Rufeng’s concerns, but she was also confident: “I know, I will go to Guangcheng first to see the market and then make a decision.”
Seeing the determined look in his young wife's eyes, Huo Rufeng couldn't help but smile: "Well, when you go to Guangcheng, if I have time off, I will accompany you. We are husband and wife, and we are united in purpose and can accomplish anything!"
As soon as these words came out, Shen Anan's face suddenly turned red.
At this moment, Zeng Qingqing also mentioned to her man Lao Xu that Shen Anan wanted to open a fabric store...
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