Two days later, Shen Heng packed up and headed south.
He didn't let Bai Jiaojiao see him off at the station, and he also told her not to pick him up. Knowing that Bai Jiaojiao was disobedient, he deliberately didn't tell her when he would be back.
After sending Shen Heng away in the morning, Bai Jiaojiao made some sesame crisps at home. They were sweet and oily, which were considered good things these days, not to mention the aroma of sesame.
The sesame flowers bloom higher and higher, which is auspicious. It's also a good gift since the Lunar New Year isn't quite over yet.
Knowing that Xiang Anqi liked apples, Bai Jiaojiao picked out a bag of apples and took it to visit Xiang Anqi.
Xiang Anqi lived in the faculty and staff housing that Yanda University had arranged for him. This housing complex was located on campus, and Bai Jiaojiao knew where it was, so she waited for Xiang Anqi at the entrance.
It was a bit cold, but Xiang Anqi arrived ten minutes earlier than expected. Luckily, Bai Jiaojiao wasn't usually a procrastinator, otherwise her teacher would have been waiting for her.
The neighborhood where Xiang Anqi lives looks more impressive than the one Bai Jiaojiao lives in now, at least it's surrounded by walls and has a gatekeeper who's barely there, providing a certain level of security.
“Your teacher’s wife has already prepared a meal at home. She was very happy to hear that you were coming.”
Xiang Anqi led Bai Jiaojiao through a maze of turns to a tenement building. Bai Jiaojiao realized that it was actually quite crowded inside, but the building was not tall, only four stories high, with two households per floor and two doors facing each other on the east and west sides. Xiang Anqi lived in the eastern household on the fourth floor.
The building seemed quite old; the stairs were entirely made of cement, very narrow, and had a rather flimsy feel. Bai Jiaojiao walked on those stairs with a slight tremor, unsure whether it was the stairs or herself that were trembling.
Once they reached the third floor, Bai Jiaojiao could already smell the aroma of food.
The aroma of oil and salt mingled with the fragrance of soy sauce, scallions, and garlic, and I think there was even a hint of meat.
The aroma of oil is so strong, there must be guests at home.
Bai Jiaojiao was right. Xiang Anqi had left the door ajar for convenience when going home, and the aroma became even stronger as soon as they went up to the fourth floor.
Xiang Anqi's glasses were fogged up by the warmth: "Your teacher's wife's cooking skills are quite good. Last time I went to your house for dinner, I remembered a few dishes. I thought you would like to eat them, so I asked your teacher's wife to make a copy. Come and try it today."
Hearing them come upstairs, a neighbor poked his head out and asked, "Old Xiang, who are you having guests over today?"
This person had a pointed head and a pointed chin, and his whole face looked very thin. He wore a pair of small round glasses with lenses so thick they were almost spherical.
Xiang Anqi replied with a smile, "Look, I brought a little apprentice to my home. He's quite the honored guest."
He turned to Bai Jiaojiao and introduced her, "This is Teacher Zhang from the College of Literature. You can come visit more often, and you'll get to know each other better."
"Hello, Teacher Zhang," Bai Jiaojiao greeted.
"Alright, alright, it's freezing cold, you should go inside now." With that, they were about to close the door.
"Won't you come in and have something to eat?" Xiang Anqi asked politely.
"I'm not eating anymore. You have guests today, why should I join in? My food is ready too."
"Alright, I'll treat you to a private meal another day."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the door to Xiang Anqi's house opened.
The woman who peeked out was gentle and graceful. Her short hair, which had just reached her shoulders, was neatly clipped behind her ears with black hair clips. She was wearing a linen plaid apron and looked at Bai Jiaojiao with a smile on her face: "You must be Jiaojiao? I heard some noise in the kitchen. Come on in."
"Hello, Teacher Xu."
Bai Jiaojiao learned from Xiang Anqi that his wife's surname was Xu, and she also worked at Yenching University, but in an administrative position, working in logistics.
Their relationship wasn't actually a matter of free choice; it was an arrangement by the organization.
Xu Hong's father, her brother, and her father's brother were all Red Army soldiers; the family had five martyrs, and she was the orphan of these martyrs.
The events of ten years ago involved many people, and everyone was terrified. So many people were sent to the countryside. Xiang Anqi, a foreign language teacher, was already very sensitive. It was only because of Xu Hong's background that he was able to stay safe for a night and get through that period.
Xu Hong's education level is not as high as Xiang Anqi's, but Bai Jiaojiao can still tell from the few words Xiang Anqi sometimes mentions about Xu Hong that the two of them live a harmonious life.
"Hi."
Xu Hong was quite pleased to see Bai Jiaojiao, her face beaming with smiles, her affection for Bai Jiaojiao evident in her eyes: "Your teacher always praises you to the skies at home, and I've seen it for myself today. You really are a good child. You must have been freezing on the way here?"
"See? I didn't lie, did I?" Xiang Anqi said proudly, as if he were praising himself.
Upon entering the house, Bai Jiaojiao's eyes were immediately drawn to the living room. It wasn't large, but because there wasn't much furniture, it seemed quite spacious. The owner had kept it tidy and organized, and the originally dusty cement floor looked very clean.
Xu Hong busied herself, saying, "I'm not lying, I'm not lying. You're such a likable student. I love cultured people like you. Jiaojiao, sit down. You can talk to your teacher for a bit. There's one more dish in the kitchen; I'll bring it out soon."
"Teacher Xu, do you need any help?"
"No need, no need, it's just one dish, I can serve it myself. This kitchen is small, you won't have enough room to move around if you come in."
The school-allocated apartments are all the same size. The living room is not small, but the kitchen is so cramped it looks like it would kill two people to cook there; you can't even turn around properly.
"You're a guest today, please have a seat."
Xiang Anqi asked Bai Jiaojiao to sit down at the table. He took two bottles of soda from the cabinet and placed them in front of Bai Jiaojiao: "You can drink this. I bought it specially yesterday. You kids like to drink it."
Bai Jiaojiao was used to being treated like a child, so she readily accepted the gift: "Thank you, teacher."
"Aren't you embarrassing me by saying that? Thank you, teacher, make yourself at home, don't be shy."
Bai Jiaojiao glanced at the dishes on the table; they were indeed plentiful. There were only three of them, so there were three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, and a soup was simmering in the pot.
"Your teacher Xu also made dumplings, and she cooked a little bit at the end. They were made with shredded radish from the cellar. I can usually eat two plates of them in one go."
Bai Jiaojiao thought to herself, "Teacher Xiang is really still vigorous despite his age."
"Here it comes, the last soup!"
Xu Hong brought the soup over and then sat down next to Xiang Anqi. Both of them looked at Bai Jiaojiao eagerly. Xu Hong said, "I don't know if it suits your taste. There are sweet, salty and spicy dishes. Please feel free to eat whatever you like. Don't be shy."
In this day and age, no matter what the flavor, as long as enough oil is added, any dish will taste good. Xu Hong has clearly gone all out and is very generous.
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