On the morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Song Qi'an waited at the Zhou family's door.
The two agreed to go to the city together today. Zhou Sui was going to work. The catering industry is busiest during holidays. Anyway, it wasn't too far away. They would stay in the city for a day or two and then come back.
As for Song Qi'an, he was going to pay New Year's visits to others, which was also a work-related matter. The most important thing in doing business is connections. During the New Year period, everyone needs to get to know each other so that it will be easier to talk to each other if needed in the future.
Upon seeing the text message from Song Qi'an, Zhou Sui put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and headed outside. "Mom and Dad, I'm leaving now."
"Wait a minute, the buns will be ready soon," Li Qiuju said loudly, still in the kitchen.
"I'm not eating anymore, I can't eat." As she spoke, Zhou Sui was already putting on her shoes at the door.
Li Qiuju hurriedly came out of the kitchen and called out to Zhou Dayong, "Dayong, quickly find a lunchbox to pack some buns for Suisui to take on the road."
"Wait here, I'll go to your second aunt's house and get you a cup of soy milk. It's homemade, tastes better than what you buy, and is more nutritious."
Before Zhou Sui could even reply, Li Qiuju grabbed her thermos and ran off to the next room. Zhou Dayong was still calling from inside the kitchen, "Qiuju, where's the lunchbox?" But Li Qiuju had already run off.
Zhou Sui had no choice but to reply, "Dad, put less in the top cabinet, don't put too much."
"Okay." That's what she said, but when Zhou Dayong came out with the lunchboxes, Zhou Sui took a look and, wow, there were four lunchboxes, and each lunchbox contained at least four steamed buns.
"Dad, I can't eat this much." Zhou Sui only wanted to take one box, but then she remembered that Song Qi'an was still in the car, so she took another box. The buns that Li Qiuju made were bigger than her fist. She could only eat two at most, and she couldn't eat any more than that.
Zhou Dayong didn't give her a chance to refuse and directly put all four lunchboxes into the bag.
"The one with the white lid is filled with tofu and vermicelli."
"The ones with blue lids are made of fresh meat, and they're all your favorites. If you can't finish them on the way, just put them in the fridge and you can eat them tomorrow."
"Besides, since Xiao Song is giving you a ride, you can't eat it all by yourself. You should bring some for him too, right?"
Just as she finished speaking, Li Qiuju came over with two more bottles of soy milk. "I only remembered Xiao Song when I got to your second aunt's house. I found a new thermos at her house." Zhou Sui didn't even have to lift it to know that it must be full.
"It's warm, not hot, you can drink it directly in a bit." Li Qiuju stuffed the two cups of soy milk into a bag and carried it to see Zhou Sui off to the car.
Zhou Sui quickly stopped her, "No, the stove is still on in the kitchen, it can't be left unattended. It's only a short walk, I can go by myself."
"Besides, I'll be back in a couple of days."
Fearing that the two would follow her out, Zhou Sui picked up the bag and went outside. Sure enough, the bag was full of love.
As soon as they stepped out the door, Song Qi'an got out of the car, helped her carry the bags, and opened the car door for her. After Zhou Sui got in, she said, "My parents were really worried that we would go hungry, so they packed steamed buns and soy milk in insulated containers. When we get there, you can eat some first."
"I specifically asked them to make it vegetarian. I've been eating lots of meat and fish every day for the past two days, and I feel like I've gained weight."
Song Qi'an glanced at her. "You haven't gained weight. You look the same as before the Lunar New Year." Her face was still the size of a palm.
"How could that be?" Zhou Sui touched her stomach; she could clearly feel that her pants were tight when she put them on today.
“It’s okay if you gain weight. You’re too thin. It’s better to gain a little weight.” Song Qi’an started the car and drove onto the road. As the two were talking, Zhou Sui caught a glimpse of someone in the back seat and turned around abruptly.
"Aunt Wenxiu?" Zhou Sui was so startled that she sat up abruptly. She hadn't looked back when she got on the bus, and she hadn't moved after sitting down. She hadn't even noticed that there was someone in the back row, and she had been talking non-stop for so long without greeting them.
Zhao Wenxiu looked at her with a smile. Actually, she had wanted to greet Zhou Sui as soon as she got on the bus, but Zhou Sui spoke too quickly and she couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"Ai."
"Qi An is right. It's good to be a little chubby. If you gain another five pounds, you'll look very well-proportioned and slender."
"Hehe, right?" Zhou Sui responded with a dry laugh, then secretly glared at Song Qi'an. Why didn't he say anything? It was so rude of her.
Song Qi'an forgot about the matter because Zhou Sui started talking as soon as she got in the car.
Zhao Wenxiu sniffed. "I just heard you say your mom made steamed buns?"
“Yes, Aunt Wenxiu, try it while it’s hot.” Zhou Sui quickly picked up the bag in front of her seat. “There’s minced meat and tofu with vermicelli. Please try it.”
"I'm fine with vegetarian food. I've been eating too much oily food these past few days, so I don't want to eat meat anymore."
Zhou Sui handed over disposable chopsticks, and then handed over a bottle of soy milk, saying, "This soy milk was freshly squeezed by my second aunt, and it goes perfectly with the steamed buns."
Zhao Wenxiu declined, saying, "I'll just have some steamed buns. Qi An even said he'd go to the city for breakfast. After I finish these steamed buns, I don't think I need to eat breakfast."
"It's alright, please drink up, I have more."
Song Qi'an glanced at the bag, then said to Zhao Wenxiu, "Mom, you drink it. Sui Sui and I will drink the other bottle together."
Who wants to share a bottle with you? And don't you think it's inappropriate to so openly say that the two of you are sharing a bottle?
But Zhao Wenxiu seemed not to notice anything amiss, and took the soy milk from Zhou Sui's hand, saying, "Sui Sui, then Auntie won't be polite."
"Qi An is driving right now, so you can eat it while it's hot. We'll go straight to the company when we get there, so we won't have time to eat then. Let's just open the window a little to let the smell dissipate."
Zhou Sui then turned around to eat, and chatted with Zhao Wenxiu. She was going to the city to visit her old friends for the New Year and to see some old acquaintances.
"By the way, Qi An, pick up Sui Sui when you go to your Uncle Qi's for dinner tonight. It's the New Year, how will she eat alone at home?" Zhao Wenxiu said.
Before Song Qi'an could speak, Zhou Sui quickly declined, saying, "No need to trouble Aunt Wenxiu. My cousin is also in the city. I'll go find her for dinner after get off work."
Because it was Chinese New Year, she felt it was inappropriate to have dinner at Song Qi'an's relatives' house, and what she would say if they asked.
To call this a friend? What friend would go to someone else's house for dinner during the Chinese New Year? It seems impossible.
“You’ve met Uncle Qi before. We’ve eaten there before. This time we’re not eating at his house, we’re eating at his private restaurant. It’s just me, my mom, Uncle Qi, and you. There’s no one else.”
Zhou Sui then remembered the man who looked refined but was also quite cheerful.
Song Qi'an explained the situation in such detail that he clearly wanted her to go.
Zhao Wenxiu in the back row was still trying to persuade her, "It would be even better if you've met him. He's not an outsider. We can have Qi An pick you up from get off work later."
"Old Qi is going to cook today, let him make something light and refreshing for us."
Unable to refuse such a kind offer, and not one to be coy, Zhou Sui agreed.
Song Qi'an raised his eyebrows, which Zhao Wenxiu saw clearly from behind. She thought to herself, "This kid needs to work harder."
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