The water had just boiled, and before I could even cook the noodles, I heard the sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open.
Then they heard Xu Ningyan talking affectionately with her mother, Jiang Yuan: "Xiaoyan, after you go back this time, we probably won't see each other until the New Year! But that's okay, we'll have Zhiyuan pick you up during the New Year, and we'll go shopping together! This year, it'll just be the four of us, let's have a happy New Year! You have to promise your aunt that you'll come!"
Jiang Zhiyuan ignored the pot, dropped the noodles, and came out of the kitchen.
Then I saw the two of them carrying large and small bags as they walked inside.
He hurriedly stepped forward, took the items, and placed them on the coffee table in the living room.
I poured tea for the two of them and turned on the electric fan.
Only then did I have time to look at the things on the coffee table, and I immediately laughed: "What did you buy this time?"
Jiang Yuan rummaged through a pile of things and found a brown paper bag, which she tossed to Jiang Zhiyuan: "Don't say we didn't think of you when we went out. This is half a sliced roast duck and a duck carcass. Take it and make some soup or noodles!"
Jiang Zhiyuan wasn't angry. He took the brown paper bag and said, "You even brought me one? That's great! I just boiled the water, so I can just throw the duck carcass in to make some soup."
He then went to the kitchen to get busy.
Xu Ningyan felt a little embarrassed but wanted to help. Jiang Zhiyuan wouldn't let her, only telling her to stand at the kitchen doorway and keep him company while he directed her.
Xu Ningyan didn't stand on ceremony and asked Jiang Zhiyuan to peel the winter melon, slice it, and then add it to the pot to boil after the duck bone soup turned white before adding noodles.
After Jiang Zhiyuan finished his work and waited for the duck bone soup to be ready, he placed the half duck and lotus leaf pancakes on the table under the grape trellis.
Let him eat something first, just to have something to tide him over.
Jiang Yuan watched her son and future daughter-in-law with a smile. The two had the same tacit understanding as an old married couple. One gave instructions, and the other did the work. One moved the table, and the other set the table. They cooperated smoothly.
Then look at her son, who is always expressionless and acts like he's annoyed that you owe him money and he hasn't paid you back, but in front of his future daughter-in-law, he is incredibly gentle and obedient.
It's unbearable to look at.
She considered herself a perceptive mother-in-law and would never be a stumbling block on her son's path to winning over his wife. So, after taking a couple of sips of tea, she said it was getting late and she had surgery the next day, so she needed to go home and rest early.
Xu Ningyan was about to take her to the intersection to catch the bus, but Jiang Yuan stopped him: "Although the sun has set, it's still hot outside! You've been shopping all day, aren't you tired? Just rest! Let Zhiyuan take me!"
He added, "I'll take you on the train the day after tomorrow morning!"
With that, he waved and left.
Jiang Zhiyuan followed behind, the mother and son walking one after the other. After walking a distance, presumably because Xu Ningyan couldn't hear them anymore, Jiang Yuan first recounted what had happened at the Friendship Store that day, and then said with some concern, "It's all my fault for not being able to hold back! Xiaoyan was only trying to protect me! You mustn't hold a grudge against her! Also, will this affect you? After all, you just got promoted—"
Jiang Zhiyuan didn't seem to care much: "Don't worry!"
Then she laughed and said, "Mom, why do I feel like you treat Yan Yan better than your son?"
Jiang Yuan spat at him: "You're already this old, and it's a wonder Xiao Yan doesn't look down on you! Such a good daughter-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern, so of course I have to pamper her! That way, if she ever dislikes you, she'll tolerate you a bit more because of me, her good mother-in-law! Besides, Xiao Yan and I are truly destined for each other! If only I had given birth to a daughter like her—"
She recalled that after giving birth to Jiang Zhiyuan, she had followed Gu Zhiyuan to the military region with harsh conditions for five or six years. During that time, she had also become pregnant with a daughter, but unfortunately, the conditions were too harsh and she could not keep the baby!
Her eyes welled up with tears. "You must take good care of Xiaoyan! Also, now that you're no longer in Jingshan County, I'm worried about her being all alone there! You should find a way to bring Xiaoyan to the capital."
Jiang Zhiyuan nodded: "I know what I'm doing! Alright, Mom, the car's here, you should go home now!"
After saying that, he pushed Jiang Yuan onto the bus, waved his hand, and turned to leave without looking back.
When I got home, the duck bone soup was almost ready; it was milky white and smelled delicious.
Xu Ningyan had already cooked the noodles, scooped them out and placed them in a large soup bowl, poured duck bone soup over them, and served them with a few kinds of pickled vegetables that Aunt Wang from next door had given her.
The noodles are slightly yellow, the broth is milky white with golden duck fat floating on top, the winter melon slices are cooked until they are translucent, and then a layer of bright green scallions is sprinkled on top, making it look refreshing and appetizing.
Xu Ningyan had already eaten a full meal that evening, but the aroma made her crave it again, so she served herself a small bowl of duck bone soup and drank it, which she considered as keeping Jiang Zhiyuan company while they ate.
After finishing her meal and packing her luggage, Xu Ningyan was dumbfounded when she saw the pile of stuff covering almost half the room.
Before returning from the Northwest, many things were mailed directly back to Jingshan County. The remaining food and other items brought to the capital were left for Jiang Zhiyuan and Jiang Yuan to eat.
Unexpectedly, in just a few days, Jiang Yuan, Jiang Zhiyuan, and even Jiang Zhixing all brought a lot of local specialties and gifts.
Little by little, it adds up to so much stuff?
After Jiang Zhiyuan finished cleaning up the kitchen, he saw that Xu Ningyan's room door was open. He knocked on the door and went in.
Seeing the half-full room full of stuff, and then noticing Xu Ningyan's worried expression, he ruffled her hair and said, "It's okay, just pick out the things that are easy to carry and take them with you. Pack up the rest and I'll send them all back to you. Don't worry about it!"
Xu Ningyan was still worried. Those who knew her would think she had come to the capital to buy goods, but those who didn't would think she had come to the capital to buy goods.
Besides, she can't possibly use or eat all of this stuff, even if she gives it away as gifts!
Jiang Zhiyuan took Xu Ningyan's hand and dragged her to the bedside. He pressed her down to sit, then squatted down himself and started tidying up as he said, "When you go back, you'll have to bring gifts for your colleagues at the department store, right? And for Lin Hong and the Lin family too, right? Also, on my behalf, bring some gifts for the factory director and deputy director of the machinery factory as a token of our appreciation. In case of any trouble, a little kindness might just save a life!"
"And aren't you going back to the brigade? The brigade leader, the brigade secretary, and Aunt Xie and the other families in the brigade who have been good to us before, we should give them something too, right? Putting aside everything else, just the local specialties brought back from Beijing are a good gift to give people, it'll make us look good and show our goodwill! Even with all that, I'm afraid it won't be enough!"
"Since I'm not around, sending more gifts and maintaining good relationships with those around you will prevent them from looking down on you, saving you a lot of trouble!"
Jiang Zhiyuan had never been so patient before. While persuading Xu Ningyan, he also sorted and labeled all the items, pointing them out to Xu Ningyan one by one: "Those with red labels are for Uncle Jianguo, Lin Hong and the Lin family, as well as the brigade leader and the brigade secretary. Those with yellow labels are for your colleagues, leaders, and people from the machinery factory; the rest you can give to other people in the brigade with whom you have good relationships!"
"Pack everything up neatly, so you can just take it and give it to people later!"
They're really worried sick.
Xu Ningyan stared at Jiang Zhiyuan for a while, then suddenly exclaimed, "Gu, Brother Jiang, the way you looked just now reminded me of my mother—"
Jiang Zhiyuan was so angry he laughed. He stood up and pulled Xu Ningyan into his arms, ruffling her hair. "You little ungrateful thing, who am I doing all this for?"
Xu Ningyan tiptoed and planted a quick kiss on Jiang Zhiyuan's cheek, blushing as she said, "This is a thank-you gift!"
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