In terms of interpersonal skills, Yang Yajing, who has lived for 36 years, is no longer at the level of a ten-year-old.
In her previous life, she had also visited Zhou Pengfei's home on this day, but back then Zhou Pengfei had never eaten at Yang's restaurant, so there was no question of him treating her to a meal in return.
In this life, some things took a different turn due to changes in Yang Yajing's decisions.
Yang Yajing knew that in order to successfully use her past life's experiences to understand the development of events around her, she couldn't change too much in this life. At least until she was capable of being independent, she couldn't carelessly give up her advantage of foresight.
Knowing that one cannot visit friends empty-handed, Yang Yajing had a flash of inspiration and packed a lunchbox of snacks in the kitchen, stuffing it into her backpack.
Zhou Pengfei's family lives near a small park. Presumably because three generations live together, they were allocated a two-bedroom apartment with a living room early on.
Not only is the scenery in this area beautiful, but because these are new houses, every household has gas, and the hallways are much cleaner without the coal stoves.
On the third floor, Zhou Pengfei took out his key and opened the door. Hearing the noise, Zhou's mother put down what she was doing in the kitchen and came to greet him.
Zhou's mother's name is Wang Xiufen, and she is a primary school teacher. Zhou's father, Zhou Youcheng, also works in an educational institution and teaches calligraphy at a university.
"Pengfei, you brought the little girl back?" Wang Xiufen asked kindly. "The little girl must be Yang Yajing, right? Are you cold? Let me make you a hot water bottle, go to the living room and warm up first."
"Hello, Auntie! I'm not cold." Yang Yajing smiled and shook her head, taking out a lunchbox containing snacks from her bag and handing it to her. "Merry Christmas, Auntie! I only found out this afternoon that I was coming to visit, so I didn't prepare anything. I hope you like my family's snacks."
"Oh my! What a thoughtful little girl!" Wang Xiufen beamed. "Your family has raised you so well! I'm surprised and happy that you thought of us, auntie.
"Mom, I'll take her to open her presents first!" Zhou Pengfei pushed Yang Yajing through the kitchen to the living room.
Only then did Wang Xiufen open the tin lunchbox. She was being polite by not opening it yet; once she did, she was genuinely overjoyed!
"Youcheng! Youcheng!" Wang Xiufen called out to Zhou Youcheng, who was still reading in his room, "You're in for a treat! Come out now!"
Confused, Zhou Youcheng put down his book and went to the kitchen, where he saw Wang Xiufen handing him an unfamiliar-looking tin lunchbox.
Before he could even finish asking, "Whose..." Zhou Youcheng's eyes lit up when he saw the snacks inside. "Wow! Where did you get this mung bean paste?"
Zhou Youcheng, who especially loves mung bean paste, picked up a piece and took a bite.
The smooth and delicate mung bean paste crust exudes the aroma of lard, followed by the rich black sesame filling that bursts forth, captivating the taste buds. Sesame seeds and brown sugar ooze oil, creating a fragrant and sweet flavor that is not cloying.
"What a delicious pancake! What a delicious pancake!" Zhou Youcheng couldn't hide the satisfaction on his face. "It's been so long since I've had such an unforgettable taste, it tastes just like when I was a kid! Where did you buy it?"
Wang Xiufen gestured with her chin toward the living room: "Pengfei's friend brought them over. Ask him yourself during dinner."
"I'll keep this. I'll bring it to share with some of my good brothers and colleagues tomorrow!" Zhou Youcheng took a biscuit tin, carefully filled it with five or six pieces of mung bean paste, and put it into his bedroom like a treasure.
Zhou Youcheng, born in the 1950s, experienced three years of natural disasters when he was young. He remembers the taste of mung bean paste during the Spring Festival.
That taste saved him from a year of famine and hardship, and he never forgot it. But for so many years, he never tasted mung bean paste with that same flavor from his memory again, until today…
During the meal, Yang Yajing thanked her for the cartoon pencil case she had received. In those days, cartoon pencil cases, especially those with automatic buttons and multiple functions, were considered extremely fashionable items!
When the topic of gifts came up, Zhou Youcheng immediately thought of the box of mung bean cakes: "The little girl's name is Yang Yajing, right? Did you bring that box of mung bean cakes?"
"Yes! I was dragged over by Zhou Pengfei to freeload a meal, so I didn't prepare anything. I just packed a box of mung bean paste in my lunchbox. I hope Uncle won't mind." Yang Yajing tried her best to be sincere.
Because she already knew that Zhou Youcheng loved her family's mung bean paste very much, almost to the point of being a religious devotion.
In his previous life, he was so enamored with her that he even wanted to do business with her family. However, at that time, Yang Guohua had just passed away, and his family was so poor that they couldn't even afford to eat.
Without capital operation, and not wanting to owe favors or feel embarrassed to make money off Zhou Pengfei's family, the matter was dropped.
Later, after entering the workforce, with the guidance of her colleagues and friends, she finally understood the ways of the world and realized her own naivety and foolishness!
In business, fairness is key. Not the kind of fairness that comes with money, otherwise how would we profit from the price difference? That fairness refers to psychological equality—you ask for something, I give something in return, and everyone is happy.
“How could your Uncle Zhou complain! This mung bean paste is his favorite! He already secretly ate a piece just now!” Wang Xiufen said with a smile, vouching for Zhou Youcheng.
"Wow! So I accidentally hit the jackpot?" Yang Yajing said mischievously.
"More than that!" Zhou Youcheng asked with a smile, "Could you tell me where you bought this mung bean paste?"
"Oh! This! My mom made it herself, and it's selling very well this winter!" Yang Yajing said proudly.
"Oh my! This is so easy! It seems I'll be a regular customer of your mung bean paste from now on!" Zhou Youcheng's joy was genuine.
"Welcome Uncle Zhou to patronize our business. I'll make sure my mom raises Zhou Pengfei to be healthy and chubby. Uncle Zhou, please come often!" Yang Yajing pretended to be shameless.
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