Chapter 20 The other party suddenly came out from the door of the ward...
The fatty pork that Chen Pan brought that day was finally refined into lard by Xu Chunhua.
From that day on, whenever she made sesame cakes, the oil from the bottom of the pan would turn directly into lard.
She also chopped up the remaining lard and used it as a seasoning in various meat and vegetable patties. The taste was indeed much richer than before.
Seeing that the sesame cakes she made were getting more and more delicious, Xu Chunhua's mood naturally became better and better.
With everything ready for the shop opening, they only needed to complete the remaining two procedures. They had even brought plenty of bedding, quilts, and spare clothes. Xu Chunhua discussed with her husband that now was the time to officially announce their plans to open the shop to their friends, family, and neighbors.
"And you have to figure out what to do with the livestock at home. It's a bit of a hassle to go over and feed them every day."
"Indeed, if we really open this store, mornings are prime time, and we won't be allowed to run around."
"Yes, we've been busy since the third or fourth day of the Lunar New Year. It's been ten days, and in the end, we don't know if anyone will buy our pancakes. If we excitedly open the store and can't even sell a dozen or twenty pancakes on the last day, it would be too embarrassing."
"You old woman, your pancakes are so delicious, how is it possible that you can't even sell twenty a day?"
"You're used to my cooking, so if I improve a little, you'll feel pretty good about it. But what about everyone else? You have to know that Liuping Town is full of real workers, teachers, and students. Those people have eaten too much good food and might not like my food at all."
"How is it possible—"
They decided to go home early today. Grandpa Chen planned to bring some homemade pancakes for everyone to try and also share his plans to open a shop on the 27th. His kitchen roof hadn't been repaired yet; it was just covered with plastic sheeting. Grandpa Chen planned to take the opportunity to fix it quickly during his return trip. And then there was the ground...
As for Grandma Chen, she wanted to go back and take the opportunity to wash some clothes, then tidy up the yard and build a greenhouse tent as soon as possible to plant rapeseed, spinach and leeks at home.
As for Chen Pan, she had to stay here to look after the store and finish her winter vacation homework.
Liuping Town was different from their hometown, Qingshui Village. Back there, they could barely leave their doors unlocked. But Liuping Town had several factories and a high school. There were so many migrant workers and street urchins, it was a very mixed crowd, so someone had to guard the store.
When grandpa and grandma started to worry as usual, Chen Pan was preparing the pancakes they were going to take back this time.
After she used the clean plastic bags that had just been wholesaled from the store to pack all the pancakes that her grandmother had made this time, her grandparents finished talking, and soon the two of them prepared to go back.
"Panpan, be sure to lock your door when you go to bed at night. Both the front door and the back door should be locked." After picking up a large bag of sesame cakes that his granddaughter had divided, Grandpa Chen, who would probably stay at home for two days this time, immediately gave serious instructions.
"If a stranger knocks on the door, don't open it. Stay here for two or three days. Once grandpa and grandma have finished their household chores, we'll be back immediately. By the way, I'll leave you two dollars. You can eat out for dinner for the next two days."
Thinking that they might visit the fields after returning home this time, Xu Chunhua hesitated for a moment before taking out a five-yuan bill from her husband's wallet and handed it to Chen Pan. "Anyway, just make sure you have lunch and dinner. We'll be back the day after tomorrow afternoon if we're quick. But if the ground thaws, we might plow it, and then we'll be back a little later. Don't worry then, just wait a couple of days, we'll definitely be here."
"Yes, you also know the phone numbers of the village committee and the supply and marketing cooperative. If anything really happens, just call us."
Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen, who were standing at the door, kept giving instructions.
Seeing their worry, Chen Pan could only nod quickly: "Okay, grandpa and grandma, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
"Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen, why are you going home so early today?"
The shops were all right next to each other. Just as Chen Pan had just sent his grandparents out of the shop, the door of the shop next door opened. The landlady, wearing a red down jacket, came out again with a broom.
"We've almost finished cleaning up. When we get home today, we want to do some laundry, clean up the house, and take a look at the fields."
"Yes, if the ground becomes soft, it's time to plow it, fertilize it, and prepare for planting. Anyway, we want to do everything we need to do before opening the store."
Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen are actually very honest people. When Qin Guihua, who is in her thirties, asked them casually, they told her the whole purpose of their return.
"Hey, it'll take half a day to finish all this. Are you planning not to come tomorrow?"
Throughout the Qin family compound, the upper floors are now almost exclusively occupied by workers from nearby factories and families accompanying their children to nearby schools, who have already reserved their apartments. Downstairs, there are only four storefronts. The other rooms, due to their poor orientation and lack of sunlight, have become storage spaces, either for her family's own use or rented out to others. On this side of their house facing the street, the only tenants are the Qin family's small shop, over 60 square meters, and the Chen family, who, by chance, rented the space next door. As for the other two rented storefronts, they are on the other side of her compound.
Precisely because the two houses were close to each other, Qin Guihua, who was already very concerned about her tenants, couldn't help but ask a few more questions.
"Yes, we'll probably just do some laundry when we get home today. If we really want to do anything else, it'll probably take at least two or three days."
Grandma Chen, who was naturally cheerful, brought up Chen Pan. Soon, Chen Pan heard the aunt in the red down jacket say cheerfully, "Don't worry, go home. Everyone in my yard is a good person. No one would dare to mess around. Besides, my son and I eat three meals a day downstairs, and one of us will definitely sleep downstairs at night. So don't worry. With us here, nothing will happen to your granddaughter."
The other party was enthusiastic, and Grandma Chen, who had been thinking about this idea, immediately became excited. "That's great. To be honest, although Panpan is very sensible, she is only fourteen years old and a girl. We are not worried about her staying in the village. But your place is more prosperous than ours, and there are more people. We do have some concerns."
"I understand, I understand. Don't worry. With me here, nothing will happen to your granddaughter."
The two chatted loudly for a few more sentences, and then, regardless of whether Chen Pan was willing or not, she was finally entrusted to the next door by her grandparents.
Chen Pan thought that no matter how enthusiastic the other party was, he would subconsciously pay attention to her safety in the end.
But she never dreamed that at around six o'clock in the evening, Aunt Qin next door even asked her son to bring her a bowl of ramen from the back door.
At that time, Chen Pan had just closed the front shutter door and was fiddling with the stove in the kitchen, planning to boil water and cook instant noodles.
"My mom said it's for you to eat. Just put your bowl and chopsticks outside on the windowsill after you finish. If you feel one bowl is not enough, you can come over for a second bowl. My mom made a lot of noodles tonight, so even if you eat three bowls, it will be enough."
After seeing Chen Pan open the back door, he has been in a daze.
Qin Yang, wearing a black sweater and holding a big bowl of ramen, could only frown and repeat what he had just said.
"One bowl is enough, thank you!" If the other person had called Chen Pan before the meal was ready, Chen Pan would have definitely told them she couldn't come. Even if they had finished cooking and called for her, Chen Pan could have just said she was full. But when they brought the prepared ramen to her door, Chen Pan didn't dare to be pretentious or refuse.
Raising his hand, he hurriedly took the large bowl from the other person's hand. Looking at the chili peppers and vinegar mixed on it, as well as the pile of pickled vegetables and chili peppers and pork on top, Chen Pan could only say again embarrassedly, "Sorry to bother you."
"It's not a big deal. Just eat quickly and put the bowl and chopsticks on the windowsill after you finish."
Chen Pan felt awkward, and Qin Yang felt even more unsure what to do. But that was just his mother's nature, and this wasn't the first time he'd obeyed her and sent food to a tenant. After confirming that Chen Pan would finish her dinner, he raised his hand and touched his forehead sheepishly, then turned away immediately.
"Thank you!" When the other person raised his hand to touch his head, Chen Pan suddenly realized that he had combed all the hair on his forehead up. She also suddenly noticed a conspicuous red scar on his right eyebrow.
"Thank you!" The other party had already left, but Chen Pan couldn't help but say it again while holding the things in his hand.
The ramen made by Qin Yang's mother is very homely and looks exactly the same as the one made by Chen Pan's grandmother.
Long, thin, white, chewy noodles, golden pickled cabbage drizzled with hot oil, large green peppers and meat chunks – it’s the kind of eating method everyone likes in this era.
The ramen was delicious, but Chen Pan was thinking about Qin Yang who had just combed all the hair on his forehead up, and the scar on his forehead which looked very dark now but would become very light in a dozen years. She had this dinner with very complicated emotions.
The Doctor Qin she knew was obviously over thirty years old at that time.
The other person is very tall and has a very strong body.
The Qin Yang she knew now and the Qin Yang she knew in her previous life, apart from the same name, really had no resemblance to each other.
So several days ago, Chen Pan was sure that the two people only had the same name.
But now, the scar on the other person's forehead and the pair of eyes under his thick brow that made people feel uneasy at first sight made Chen Pan unable to calm down for a long time.
That night, after Chen Pan washed the Qin family's dishes, he did not put them on the windowsill outside, nor did he immediately take them to the other family.
That night, Chen Pan, who had been sleeping well since traveling through time, tossed and turned again.
After tossing and turning on the crib for an unknown amount of time, Chen Pan finally fell asleep.
But not long after falling asleep, Chen Pan had a dream. No, to be more precise, she dreamed of an event that happened in her previous life.
That was something that happened before she decided to give up treatment and go home.
"Chen Pan, listen to me and try again. You are only 29 years old. It would be a pity to give up now." The young doctor in the dream caught her again when no one was in the ward.
"But Dr. Qin, I don't want to go through this anymore. Chemotherapy is too painful, and so are the repeated surgeries. I—I don't want to go through this anymore, and I don't want to end up losing both my life and my money. Right now, at least I can leave a little bit of savings for my family."
In the bright white ward, she seemed to answer like this. But she had just said a few words when the normally serious and stern young doctor suddenly collapsed.
The other party rushed to her side from the ward door and held her shoulders tightly: "Money, money, money, why do you all think this way in the end? You have persisted for so long, have you ever thought that if you hold on a little longer, maybe everything will turn around. I have already contacted-"
"I'm sorry, Dr. Qin, please don't treat me like your mother anymore. Your mother committed suicide as soon as she was diagnosed with cancer, but I've had three surgeries and so many chemotherapy sessions. I've tried my best and I really don't want to go through this anymore. I'm sorry!"
The other party acted very crazy at the time, but she, who had already known the truth from other doctors, acted very calmly and ruthlessly.
Thinking of the other person's stunned and frustrated look at that time, Chen Pan's heart couldn't help but ache in his sleep. Then, after opening his eyes from the nightmare, Chen Pan thought about the special care the other person had given him in his previous life, and finally decided to remind the other person and his mother.
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