When Wang Yitong woke up, it was already four o'clock. She quickly changed out of her pajamas, put on a short-sleeved shirt and pants, and headed for the shops on the left side of the complex. She remembered there was a convenience store there that sold vegetables and meat. She planned to buy some vegetables to cook for Chen Dong and his family that evening.
After arriving at the store, Wang Yitong, feeling unimpressed by the summer heat, picked out some cucumbers for a cucumber salad and winter melon for a stir-fry. She also bought some erjingtiao (Chinese twigs), Pixian doubanjiang (a type of fermented broad bean paste), ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and some meat for a stir-fried pork dish.
After buying the food, Wang Yitong called Chen Dong: "Hello, Chen Dong, is it convenient for you to answer the phone now? I want to ask when you will get off work. I have already bought the food so that I can arrange the cooking according to the schedule."
Chen Dong replied, "Our company is quite close, and we get off work at 5:30, so it'll take about 5:45 to walk home. So, don't bother cooking, wait for Ah Huang and I to go back and do it." Then, Chen Dong hung up the phone. He thought to himself, Wang Yitong didn't look like someone who could cook, so it would be best if she could do it herself.
After Chen Dong finished the call, he found Ah Huang and said, "Yitong just called and said she bought some groceries and asked what time we'd be back. She doesn't look like she can cook."
After hearing what Chen Dong said, Ah Huang smiled and said, "I don't think it's that other people can't cook, it's that you can't bear to let them cook! She's already broken up, and now she's come to Rong City again, and you've even specially made a room for her. It's like being close to the water gets the moon first! When are you going to confess your feelings to her?"
After hearing what Ah Huang said, Chen Dong gave a helpless smile and said, "Look at me, what qualifications do I have to confess my love? Wang Yitong's ex-boyfriend is a top student, while I'm short, not handsome, have no money, and have a low education. She is much better off than me. I think it's better to forget about confessing my love. If things go wrong, we might not even be able to be friends. At least we're still good friends now."
Ah Huang patted Chen Dong on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Brother, why don't you even dare to give it a try? She's just arrived in an unfamiliar place and needs someone to rely on. You shouldn't miss this opportunity! Look at how good your performance is now. I heard that the company is going to delegate power and give us the opportunity to become agents. Then we can work together and make money sooner or later!"
Chen Dong sighed, shook his head and said, "Hey, what can I use to express my feelings now? I have to work hard to achieve sales and earn more money. Without money, how can I become an agent? It's not easy to build a career. The news is still uncertain, you and I should hurry up and learn more about machine after-sales technology. Let's visit more customers every day and earn real money. When there is a suitable opportunity, we can go it alone. Only then will I have the confidence to express my feelings."
After saying this, Chen Dong became more determined to work hard to make money. When it was time to get off work, he and Ah Huang couldn't wait to rush back to their place.
After Wang Yitong called Chen Dong, she went to the kitchen to prepare vegetables. She found rice in the kitchen cupboard, rinsed it, and put it in the rice cooker to cook. First, she made a smashed cucumber. She took out two cucumbers she had bought, cleaned them, smashed them with a knife, and then cut them into chunks. She added an appropriate amount of salt to the chopped cucumbers and marinated them for ten minutes to remove excess moisture and enhance the flavor. She also prepared minced garlic and chili peppers. She added these to the cucumbers, along with an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and chicken stock. Stir well, and you have a cold dish.
Then, slice the winter melon thinly and place on a plate. Wash the pork and slice it. Wash the green chili peppers and cut them diagonally into horse ear shapes. Prepare some ginger and garlic slices.
Time passed quickly, and Chen Dong and Ah Huang returned home not long after. As soon as they opened the door, they saw Wang Yitong had already cut and neatly arranged all the prepared vegetables. Chen Dong said in surprise, "Yitong, I can't believe it! I thought you couldn't cook. You cut the cucumbers so professionally! It's so appetizing to watch."
Ah Huang also echoed, "Yitong, welcome! You should go and rest for a while. The kitchen is very fumy. I'll leave the rest to Chen Dong. He's a great cook. Usually, I chop the vegetables while he cooks."
After washing his hands, Chen Dong walked into the kitchen and expertly turned on the gas stove. Once the wok was heated, he carefully poured in some oil. When the oil reached 50% heat, he quickly added sliced garlic. With a sizzling sound, the garlic aroma instantly filled the air. He then added the sliced meat and quickly stir-fried it, allowing the moisture to evaporate and some of the fat to escape. He then added the green peppers, allowing the meat's flavor to blend with the peppers' aroma, fully infusing the two flavors. He then added a generous amount of dark soy sauce to enhance the dish's alluring color and a spoonful of Pixian fermented black beans to infuse the unique flavor. As the stir-fry continued, the aroma of the chilies intensified. Chen Dong then added a pinch of chicken bouillon, MSG, and sugar. After continuing to stir-fry until evenly combined, he turned off the heat and plated the dish.
"Senior Brother Chen, your cooking skills are really well hidden! My father used to be a chef, and I have seen him cooking. Your cooking skills are definitely at a certain level." Wang Yitong exclaimed.
"Hehe, I'm so happy to get your compliment! I don't actually have any special hobbies. Eating out is expensive and may not suit your appetite, so it's better to cook it myself. I just think about it casually and make it edible. However, it's a lot easier for me to have Ah Huang help me cut the vegetables. Over time, my skills have naturally improved. You can try more of my dishes in the future, and you will definitely be satisfied." Chen Dong's face was filled with a proud smile.
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