"You won't tell me? I know it's definitely not from that poor mountain valley in Mengzhou. The old professor must have spent his whole life researching such unusual food. He can't have made it without an advanced and complete experimental base!"

A man in a black suit standing nearby asked, "Boss, are we going to look for that base?"

"Why check it? Have nothing to do after a full meal?"

"Aren't you asking this on behalf of the Zhou family in Gangcheng?"

"Tsk! What's the Zhou family in Gangcheng? I'm just curious."

“If we find the source ourselves…”

"Impossible! Remember, anyone else can do it, but you are not allowed to inquire about this line!"

"clear!"

…………………………## Shen Yu leaned on the sofa and looked at the list. He didn’t know how many times he had read it. He had memorized it by heart, but he just couldn’t help but look at it. This was written by Taohua herself. She only gave him a list and was reluctant to write a separate letter to tell him more about her.

She felt uncomfortable: She knew that if she asked Yang Licheng to deliver the letter, he would receive it quickly and would not have to wait for the postman for so long... Could it be that she didn't miss him at all? Did she have nothing to talk to him about? Impossible, how could she not miss him!

Shen Yu put away the list and prepared to go upstairs. Taohua didn't write to him, so he wrote to her!

Just as he stood up, Director Shen opened the door and came in, bringing with him a gust of cold air: "It's really cold outside, the wind is blowing like a knife, I'm afraid it's going to snow. When you go out tomorrow morning, remember to put on more clothes."

"I see." Shen Yu asked, "Dad, why are you so late?"

Director Shen took off his hat, scarf, and coat and said, "There are so many things to do at the end of the year. I am too busy to handle them all. I had three meetings tonight. Sigh."

Shen Yu poured him a cup of hot water: "Do you want to add tea leaves?"

"No, I had tea in the conference room."

Director Shen looked around the kitchen and said, "I'd like to have some midnight snack. Let's cook some noodles with some cabbage leaves, pickled cucumbers, and ketchup. Do you want some?"

Shen Yu: “…” After his father said that, he also felt hungry.

For dinner, we had stir-fried Chinese cabbage with mushrooms, steamed pumpkin, and braised pork elbow and fried spare ribs from the canteen. My father was curious about the four flat-top cans and eight glass bottles he brought back, so he opened three of them and said he wanted to taste them. He said they were delicious after tasting them. When he saw the pickled cucumbers, he took out three of them and wanted to slice them and put them on a plate. As a result, the plate was not filled, and my father ate the three pickled cucumbers one by one! When it was time to eat, the father and son who loved meat seemed to ignore the braised pork elbow and fried spare ribs, and rushed to eat the mushrooms, Chinese cabbage and steamed pumpkin. After finishing the two vegetarian dishes, they were not satisfied, so Director Shen grabbed another Chinese cabbage, washed and cut it, and cooked it casually. Then he scooped a spoonful of tomato sauce and chili sauce into the bowl, and the father and son ate them all again! Now, Director Shen, who usually doesn't eat midnight snacks, wants to eat midnight snacks. There is no doubt that he must be going for those sauces.

Shen Yu felt a little regretful. If he had known this would happen, he would have stayed longer.

The truck driven by Yang Licheng and the other two did not return to the provincial capital, but accelerated all the way to the place he specified. After arriving at the destination, the other party directly exchanged their car with another truck of the same model. Yang Licheng took back five of each kind of food as Shen Yu said.

So it’s five large cabbages and five large pumpkins…too few.

Shen Yu personally released this batch of goods in order to divert the attention of certain people so that they would not keep staring at Mengzhou. In addition, after the goods were shipped through that channel, it would somewhat dilute Taohua's previous activities in the black market.

But he didn't know that the quality of the goods Taohua gave him was better than the previous ones, more than ten times better! Taohua didn't tell him, or maybe Taohua herself didn't know.

Shen Yu thought that when they met, he would have to talk to Taohua in detail and make sure to clarify the quality issue. If there were any more batches like this one, he would have to be more cautious and not release them easily.

In the morning, she went to the post office to mail a package to Liu Jianxin in Pingjiang City. She returned to the hospital at around eleven o'clock and was discussing what to eat for lunch with Meng Jinniu when she suddenly saw Zhou Cuiling walk into the ward. The good friends were very happy to meet each other and chattered non-stop.

Zhou Cuiling bought malted milk and canned fruit for Meng Jinniu, wishing him a speedy recovery, and conveyed the blessings of the educated youth living in Meng's courtyard to Jinniu. Meng Jinniu was both excited and embarrassed, and expressed his gratitude in a stuttering manner.

Zhou Cuiling said to Meng Tao, "When you called me the other day, I forgot to ask you if you wanted me to bring some clothes over. Your door is locked, so I can't get them even if I want to. What are you going to do these days? You don't even change your clothes?"

Meng Tao laughed: "How could that be possible? The department store has everything. I bought two sets of clothes."

Zhou Cuiling said, "That's great, wearing new clothes every day, I want that too!"

"Then go buy some. The county department store has new winter clothing, and some of the sets are pretty good looking."

"You must have bought the nice ones. If I buy some too, won't we both wear the same clothes in the village? I'm going to go to Mengzhou Department Store to have a look. My mother asked me to buy some new wool to knit a sweater for my brother. I also want to buy some good shampoo and vanishing cream."

"Are you going now?"

"Yes, there is an educated youth with me. Her home is in Mengzhou. She is waiting for me downstairs. We plan to take the 1 o'clock bus, stay overnight, and come back tomorrow."

Meng Tao asked: "Which village is the educated youth from? Male or female?"

Zhou Cuiling rolled her eyes at her: "A girl! From Xiahe Village."

Linshui River is formed by mountain streams. It flows through Linshui Village, Shanghe Village and then to Xiahe Village. Xiahe Village is a large village surrounded by flat and fertile fields. It harvests the most grain every year, so the commune built a grain station there. Zhou Cuiling worked there, so it is not surprising that she recognized the educated youth there.

Zhou Cuiling sighed: "What a pity, you can't go with us."

"I just went there yesterday." said Meng Tao.

"You went to Mengzhou yesterday? Then who will see you, Brother Jinniu?"

Meng Tao pointed at Zhang Fu and said, "Brother Zhang Fu is helpful. He will help watch over us."

Zhou Cuiling looked at Zhang Fu with sparkling eyes: "Then, Brother Zhang Fu, can you be helpful again? Let Taohua accompany me to Mengzhou, we will be back tomorrow!"

Zhang Fu smiled: "Go ahead, go ahead. Don't worry, I'm here."

Zhou Cuiling used sweet words to coax Meng Jinniu into a happy mood, and then she took Meng Tao away.

Meng Tao visited Mengzhou City again and bought some small things for girls with Zhou Cuiling.

The female educated youth traveling with them was called Yu Lili. She was a quiet and pretty girl who blushed easily. After they got to know each other, she was very happy to talk to Meng Tao. After getting off at the Mengzhou bus station, she did not rush home, but accompanied Zhou Cuiling and Meng Tao to go shopping. After buying things, she insisted on taking Zhou Cuiling and Meng Tao to her home.

(End of this chapter)