Chapter 155 Braised Noodles [First Update]
Han Lulu was so hungry for it, but Wen Fan couldn't bear to look at her, so he gave her a small piece.
After finishing the meal, Han Lulu's eyes lit up: "Delicious!"
Then she kept pestering Wen Fan to ask if the cake could be put on the shelves for sale.
Wen Fan: "It's not impossible."
Since the start of the school year, Yao Qingqin's stall has only sold flatbread rolls with tofu. Although the affordable prices and generous portions have made it popular with students, with some even queuing up on weekends, it's been going on for a few months now, so it would be good to switch things up.
"Yay!"
Han Lulu jumped up happily, and the other classmates also happily counted down the time.
"I'll get up early next Monday morning."
"My home is far away, can someone help me grab one? I'll pay them!"
"La la la, I can eat sweet and sour chicken pancakes now!"
Students from other classes also came to exchange their food, and upon hearing this, their eyes lit up, and they quickly relayed the message back.
Now, not only Class Two, but all five classes are eager to participate.
After lunch, everyone cleaned up, and it was already past 3 p.m.
"Teacher Wang said that we should gather now and go to the cultural street, and then we can have free time."
Starting from the steps and rounding two bends, everyone realized that the "camp" they had come to was actually just one of the five camps in Carp Village. The other "camps" were much the same, except for the different viewing locations. There was even a camp with several terraces extending outwards, where a few small houses were built, with a sign outside that read "Stargazing Platform".
"Wow, does this mean we can see the stars at night?"
"Don't count on it, the school won't let us go back that late."
The planned return time was 7 o'clock, which meant we had to leave as soon as it got dark.
"Then we'll come and see for ourselves during summer vacation!"
I originally thought there wasn't much to do in Carp Village, but now that I see it, the attractions are actually quite well done.
The cultural street isn't very wide, and it's lined with stalls selling all sorts of souvenirs, some of which are quite similar to those at other tourist attractions. There are refrigerator magnets with koi fish designs, postcards, bracelets, pottery, lacquer fans…
Wen Fan had never seen many of these things before, so he followed along with great interest, buying a few of the items he liked to take back to show his parents.
Walking to the middle of the street, there was an antique-style building. Qin He stood at the entrance, studying the characters on it.
"...It's called the Koi Temple, and there's a little story behind it. It tells of a poor fisherman who one day caught a brightly colored koi. The koi asked him to release it, promising to grant his wish. The poor man first wished for money and an official position, but seeing the poverty of the local people, his final wish was to share his wish with everyone so that everyone could have their desires fulfilled. The Koi God sighed and said that if a wish is divided, it only has a little power. But the poor man persisted. So the Koi God told him to go to a certain pond and fish out dozens of koi, then distribute them to everyone. Gradually, people discovered that feeding the koi brought good luck..."
Han Lulu: "...No, this temple was only a little bit big when I was a child, okay?"
Back then, nobody told her any myths or legends; everyone said that the small, life-sized platform was dedicated to the local Earth God. How did it become the Koi God now?
Qin He took out her phone to take a picture: "Of course, how else can we advertise?"
Locals know the inside story, but outsiders don't. Besides, koi fish are a symbol of good luck.
Wen Fan followed Han Lulu and Qin He into the temple and wandered around for a while. They found several plump cats, and Han Lulu was feeding them while meowing. Qin He remarked from the side, "Oh, the Koi Temple even keeps cats..."
The other students went in, took a quick look around, and came out, but Wen Fan went in earnestly, offered his prayers, and gave some incense money.
She went out and bought several boxes of "lottery cookies," each with auspicious words written on it. You could shake one out, read the word, and then eat it. Han Lulu shook it hard, but she could never get the word that said "success in losing weight." In the end, she could only angrily eat the words that said "academic progress" and "career advancement."
Wen Fan shook a "Perfect World" cigarette and ate it seriously.
The students quickly wandered over here, and the place instantly became crowded.
Wen Fan stood up, patted his pants, and said, "Let's go."
There's still half a street left to explore.
As she was speaking, someone called out to her from behind: "Wen Fan".
Wen Fan turned around and frowned as she looked at Fu Chuan.
Fu Chuan: "I want to talk to you."
Wen Fan replied decisively: "I don't want to."
Before Fu Chuan could say anything more, Wen Fan simply got up and left.
Han Lulu and Qin He exchanged a glance, ignored Fu Chuan, and quickly followed.
After leaving the Koi Temple, Han Lulu whispered to Wen Fan, "Wen Fan, are you...?"
Wen Fan: "Hmm?"
Han Lulu quickly shook her head: "Hehe, I didn't mean that! I just wanted to ask, why didn't you listen to what he was saying just now?"
"I don't want to hear it."
"ah?"
Wen Fan stopped, his brows furrowed in confusion: "I have nothing to do with him, why should I listen to him?"
"He might have his reasons? I heard that Fu Chuan's father seems to have an illegitimate child..."
Wen Fan: "What does that have to do with me? What his family is like is his business. Don't tell me he's going to use his lack of love to explain his previous behavior."
Han Lulu didn't dare to speak.
Wen Fan walked ahead, feeling that even speaking to Fu Chuan would be unlucky.
Qin He nudged Han Lulu quietly: "Are you crazy? Whose side are you on?"
Han Lulu also regretted it: "I didn't think that much about it. Besides, everyone seems to be talking about what happened to Fu Chuan's father... I thought Wen Fan didn't know."
Qin He: "Why worry about so much? I think Wen Fan did the right thing. What? Are you tired of playing the childhood sweetheart with Fang Weiyue and now you're planning to switch to a redemption story? I really feel sorry for Fang Weiyue."
It's unclear whether it was a matter of whoever was mentioned, but Fang Weiyue appeared very quickly.
Fang Weiyue blocked Wen Fan's way and said the same thing as Fu Chuan: "Wen Fan, I want to talk to you."
Just when Han Lulu thought Wen Fan would refuse, Wen Fan nodded and followed Fang Weiyue.
"...What is she doing?!"
Are these two crazy, walking one after the other?
"Let's stay a little further away, so nothing happens."
Qin He pulled Han Lulu to chase after them. Fortunately, Wen Fan and Fang Weiyue hadn't gone too far. The two stopped under a tree at the end of the street.
Wen Fan and Fang Weiyue stood still. Fang Weiyue's lips trembled a few times, but she finally spoke.
"Wen Fan, I have a secret to tell you."
"If you're saying you're related to me, I hope you won't continue; it's meaningless to both of us."
Fang Weiyue's eyes were filled with shock: "You..."
Wen Fan looked up at Han Lulu and Qin He, who were squatting on the street corner not far away, and his gaze softened.
"Just a little guess, plus the way you've been looking at me lately... Fang Weiyue, I'm very satisfied with my life now, so satisfied that I don't want any changes. My parents are the best parents in the world, do you understand?"
Fang Weiyue was silent for a moment: "I'm sorry, I just felt you needed to know. The elders in my family are on their deathbeds, and they often called your name."
Fang Weiyue mustered her courage: "Wen Fan, I'm under so much pressure. Facing you, I always feel like I owe you something. Whether it's Fu Chuan or my background, I'm willing to give it all to you..."
Wen Fan rubbed his temples: "You didn't listen to what I said at all. I've already said it, I don't want the status quo to change in any way. Fang Weiyue, no matter who this 'elder' you're talking about is to me, I won't go. Do you have to make me say it so harshly? I don't want to hear any excuses. I'm doing very well now. I don't resent anyone, and I don't feel like you've taken anything from me."
“If someone tells you that you’ve taken something from me, you should tell them back that it’s none of their business. I, the aggrieved party, haven’t said anything, so I don’t need them to seek justice for me. And Fu Chuan…”
"Believe it or not, I have absolutely no feelings for him."
"Finally, I'll make sure you don't get to say that word. I can have whatever I want myself. And if I don't want something, I won't take it even if you give it to me."
Wen Fan turned around, thought for a moment, and then turned back: "Hey! If you and Fu Chuan are involved in any issues concerning me, then let me tell you clearly now, Fang Weiyue, I have absolutely nothing to do with you or Fu Chuan. You don't need to consider anyone's feelings, because we owe each other nothing."
Han Lulu stood up: "Are you finished talking? You've finished..."
Qin He interrupted her: "Is there anything else?"
Wen Fan nodded: "That's all."
"Shall we go fishing for some goldfish?"
"good!"
Watching Wen Fan's departing figure, Fang Weiyue remained motionless for a long time.
...
Although there were two minor incidents involving Fu Chuan and Fang Weiyue during the spring outing, Wen Fan was still in a good mood.
She returned home with a full load of trinkets in her bag and a goldfish she had caught.
Wen's mother started looking towards the shop entrance around 7 p.m., but didn't see Wen Fan until 8 p.m.
"Why are you only coming back now!"
If it had been any later, she would have had to call her homeroom teacher.
Wen Fan proudly showed his parents the goldfish he had caught, exclaiming, "I caught all of these!"
What expensive breed of goldfish could be on that stall? They look like the kind you get for a few dollars at a flower and bird market.
However, Mr. Wen was still happy to find a container to raise these little fish.
Wen's mother then asked her daughter if she was hungry and what she wanted to eat.
Wen Fan said he wasn't very hungry, just thirsty.
Today was a real blunder. I brought enough food, but only two bottles of water.
Especially after talking so much with Fang Weiyue in the latter half, Wen Fan was already thirsty.
Upon hearing this, Wen's mother felt extremely distressed: "Why didn't you buy water?"
"I forgot!"
Wen Fan gulped down a glass of water, rolled up his sleeves, and said he was going to make braised noodles tonight.
Have you eaten with your dad?
"They haven't eaten yet."
Wen Fan: "That's perfect. I'll make a few more side dishes so we can eat together."
"You've been out all day, just grab something to eat, why make it so complicated?"
Wen Fan: "Why bother making braised noodles? I'll go check what dishes are in the kitchen."
In less than half an hour, Wen Fan had laid out four plates of eight-piece braised noodles.
Stir-fried eggs, stir-fried shredded pork with dried tofu, stir-fried shrimp, and sweet and sour gluten strips.
On another large plate were various chopped vegetables: shredded carrots, shredded cucumbers, blanched bean sprouts, boiled soybeans, celery...
Wen Fan put various toppings into his bowl and poured a spoonful of the three-delicacy sauce over himself. The sauce contained pork belly, shrimp, gluten, daylily, and wood ear mushrooms. After thickening with cornstarch, the sauce became thick and savory. The sauce and various toppings quickly became inseparable in the white, hand-pulled noodles, and the noodles were also coated with the thick sauce.
After 8:30, the store had sold out of its stock and there weren't many customers, so the family finally had time to sit down and eat together.
Mr. Wen muttered to himself about how he couldn't get the same taste, while Mrs. Wen listened to Wen Fan recount his experiences of the day as he ate.
"That sounds pretty good. Let's go there when you have your vacation."
Wen Fan suddenly leaned on his mother's shoulder.
"Okay, Mom."
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Author's Note: The plot regarding Fang Weiyue and the female lead's background is basically over; there won't be any further descriptions. One more chapter, before 2 PM.
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