The house next door looks like it was built only a few years ago. A widow with a child, life is indeed not easy in this era.
"That's quite pitiful. The family lost its breadwinner at such a young age," Qiao Xiaoni sighed.
Qiao Xiaoshan sighed, "It can only be said that fate is unfair. She is so beautiful, but her life is too bitter."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Xiaoni glanced to the side again, wondering if her female neighbor next door was very beautiful.
Su Chenhao put the bok choy into the pot, stirred it with chopsticks, and added some salt.
Unable to figure it out, Qiao Xiaoni went back into the house and brought out two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. The noodles looked a bit bland without lard, so she thought to herself that she would ask her older brother to bring a jar of lard over tomorrow morning, so that they could at least have a bowl of oily soup at noon.
The work is progressing quickly; the kitchen is already taking shape, and judging from the bricks and tiles on the ground, they should be building the stove this afternoon.
After finishing their noodles, Su Chenhao discussed the remaining details with the renovation contractor. Qiao Xiaoni took Qiao Xiaoshan to the market in front and bought a lot of things.
On the way back, Qiao Xiaoshan looked at the pork belly he was carrying.
"Hey sis, it's a deal! I absolutely have to have braised pork and white rice for lunch tomorrow. You have to ask your brother to bring it over for me. I haven't had any meat these past few days, and my mouth feels tasteless."
Seeing his gluttonous expression, Qiao Xiaoni said, "Don't worry, I won't forget. I'll definitely have my older brother bring you a bowl of braised pork tomorrow so you can have a good meal."
"Just be patient for a few more days. Once the shop is renovated, you'll have meat to eat every day, and you'll hardly ever want vegetables."
Qiao Xiaoshan's eyes lit up. His greatest hobby was eating meat. In the past, because his family was poor, he was lucky to eat meat twice a year. Now that he could eat meat every day, he could laugh in his dreams.
Qiao Xiaoni looked at the pig intestines in the basket. She realized that she hadn't sold out of pig intestines today, so she decided to buy them all to add to the dishes for the workers tomorrow.
Braised pork belly, stir-fried pork intestines with chili peppers, some cucumbers, and half a bowl of cold dishes were brought over by Qiao Dashan. Two meat dishes and one vegetable dish should be enough for the five of them.
As it was getting dark, Qiao Xiaoshan stayed behind to watch the shop, while the renovation workers left with their tools.
Seeing Qiao Xiaoshan looking at them with reluctance, Qiao Xiaoni thought about how there wasn't much left in the shop.
"Second brother, if you want to go home, come back with us. Once the door is locked, everything should be fine."
Qiao Xiaoshan shook his head like a rattle-drum, "I'm not going back. You guys should hurry back before it gets dark! Be careful riding your bikes on the road."
"Then you'll regret it!" Qiao Xiaoni got on the tricycle, and Su Chenhao was in charge of driving. Now that they were officially a couple, there was nothing to hide.
Qiao Dashan had already left on his bicycle to take the things he bought home to deal with.
Qiao Xiaoshan waved his hand, "I'm really not going home, you guys go! I've gotten used to living here, I'll just have to wait a few more days until the shop reopens."
Seeing his insistence, Qiao Xiaoni stopped trying to persuade him and patted Su Chenhao on the back, indicating that he could leave on his bike.
Su Chenhao pushed off the bike with all his might and left the store, riding towards home.
As Qiao Xiaoni waved to Qiao Xiaoshan and was about to turn around, she saw the neighbor's door open. A woman wearing a white floral dress and blue pants came out. Her two long braids were particularly eye-catching. She looked pitiful and delicate, the kind of woman that men would want to protect at first glance.
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