It's not that she doesn't want a family reunion.
However, she stopped going back every year because she would face her mother's questioning gaze.
Every year during the Lunar New Year, she and Xu Damao would have a fight, and then they would each go back to their own homes. This year, her father had some business to attend to and wasn't home, so she had nowhere else to go. Compared to the deserted villa, she preferred this place. Although she didn't have many friends here either, at least it was lively.
Wang Shouren returned to his room.
I opened the book I borrowed from the library and started reading.
He was rapidly absorbing the knowledge about machinery available in this era.
As for the festive atmosphere outside, to be honest, he didn't feel much.
During holidays, chatting about life and ideals, having a few drinks, letting loose, or singing out loud—this way of expressing emotions is truly fulfilling only when you're with family and friends.
And he was all alone.
Whether it's now or in his past life, it's all pretty much the same, and it doesn't have much impact on him.
Living alone, steadfast in my goals, that's all.
"Knock knock knock!" There was a knock on the door.
Wang Shouren was puzzled. At this hour, everyone should have gone home to prepare food. Why would anyone come to his house?
When I opened the door, it was an old man holding a plate of dumplings.
"Today is Lunar New Year's Eve. If you want to spend it at home, I won't stop you, but you have to accept this plate of dumplings," the old man said in an unquestionable tone.
"Good!" Wang Shouren's heart stirred slightly.
Upon seeing Wang Shouren, he accepted his dumplings.
An old man couldn't help but smile, and reached out to pat Wang Shouren on the shoulder: "Good boy! Hurry up and take it inside, lest it get cold."
After saying that, he turned and left without waiting for Wang Shouren to say anything.
An old man is having dinner with the Jia family tonight.
This is an old tradition. Every year during the Lunar New Year, there are always some families who are not well-off. An old man will use the excuse that the elderly couple is too bored during the New Year to go to their house to "mooch a meal." However, they will bring their own pork, and the host family will prepare dumpling wrappers and cabbage. This way, the host family's dignity is respected, and they can also enjoy a pleasant meal together.
Originally, we didn't need to take too much care of them this year.
But he couldn't resist Sha Zhu's gossipy mouth.
Qin Huairu didn't know what was going on, but ever since that day, she started refusing Sha Zhu's boxed lunches.
The reason given was quite respectable: rumors were already circulating in the factory, and this situation couldn't continue. When Sha Zhu heard this, he almost got angry with Qin Huairu. Finally, the old man stepped forward.
The Qin Huairu of today is not the Qin Huairu of before. This girl ended her apprenticeship in just one month.
It was handled as a special case, because it's really inappropriate for Sha Zhu to keep bringing his own lunch.
Sha Zhu finally had no choice but to give up, but as soon as the New Year came, he immediately jumped out and said how miserable Sister Qin's family was, and suggested that Uncle should go to Sister Qin's house to spend the New Year. Perfect timing, since my sister and I didn't have many people with us, we all got together.
In the end, I don't know how it was said, but the old man finally agreed.
Sha Zhu stood at the moon gate watching an old man deliver dumplings to Wang Shouren. He was furious, his teeth itching with hatred. In his mind, Sister Qin stopped talking to him because of this thing.
There was no evidence, no reason, it was all based on his sixth sense.
Wang Shouren entered the house, looked at the distinctive furnishings from that era, sighed softly, and sat down.
After thinking for a moment, he walked to the only cabinet in the house and took down the bottle of wine on top. He had bought it earlier that day. With a flick of his wrist, two plates of braised offal appeared on the table—nothing special. It was all offal, cheap stuff these days, and perfect with alcohol. He picked up his chopsticks, ready to enjoy a delicious sip.
There was another knock on the door.
He frowned. This life just wouldn't end.
Upon opening the door, Wang Shouren saw Lou Xiao'e standing gracefully at the entrance, carrying a package in her hand. Wang Shouren, with his sharp eyes, noticed the words "Bianyifang" on it.
"What, you're not welcome?" Lou Xiao'e raised an eyebrow.
She was so bored at home all by herself; when people have too much free time, they tend to have more worries.
With so many worries, she remembered what her third uncle had told her. It was the New Year, and she wondered what he was thinking.
Yes, what is he thinking?
"Welcome, welcome! Sister E has come all this way, how can we not welcome her?" Wang Shouren greeted Lou Xiao'e with a smile. Putting everything else aside, just the package in her hand alone was enough to make her worth inviting in.
Bianyifang was founded in the fourteenth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1416 AD). It is working hard to become a thousand-year-old brand.
The roast duck at Bianyifang is absolutely amazing, but unfortunately, Wang Shouren had only heard of it and never actually tried it.
Since I have the chance today, I naturally want to give it a good try. I rubbed my hands together and closed the door.
Lou Xiao'e entered Wang Shouren's house and glanced around. It was simple and ordinary, the only commendable thing being that it was quite clean. In this day and age, problems like peeling paint and flaking ash were common, and keeping a house clean was no easy feat. She had seen Sha Zhu's house before, and it was incredibly filthy.
"I didn't expect you to be so young, yet you keep your house so neat and tidy."
“You can’t come if you don’t stand at attention.” Wang Shouren took the things from Lou Xiao’e’s hands, walked to the kitchen, took out a whole roast duck, sliced it, made a bowl of sauce, and took it out.
"Oh? You have this skill too?" Lou Xiao'e asked in surprise.
"I'm a bit interested in food, I'll do some research." Wang Shouren gave a simple, honest smile, but inwardly he was startled and secretly slapped himself. Had he forgotten what happened a while ago? Why was he so smug? He casually changed the subject: "So, Sister E, you didn't go back this year?"
He naturally placed the items on the table and poured Lou Xiao'e a full glass.
Lou Xiao'e looked at Wang Shouren with a half-smile: "What? You think you won over Qin Huairu with this trick?"
“That was love,” Wang Shouren said with a serious expression.
"Pfft..." Lou Xiao'e spat out the water she had brought to her lips, coughing and laughing at the same time. After a while, she stopped, her eyes narrowed, and pointed at Wang Shouren: "Do you even believe what you're saying?"
“Of course I believe it, why wouldn’t I?” Wang Shouren said earnestly.
Lou Xiao'e rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky.
Wang Shouren chuckled but didn't reply, then rolled up a piece of pancake and put it in his mouth.
Peking duck tastes good and looks good too. The bright orange skin wraps around crispy on the outside and tender on the inside duck meat, making it incredibly tempting. Wrapped in scallions and dipped in Wang Shouren's sauce, it's a truly delightful experience.
"This sauce is a bit lacking."
Wang Shouren: ...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
