In the room, as soon as Xiao An closed the door, she hurried to the window facing the street. She counted "one, two, three, four" in her mouth. When she counted to thirty-six, she finally saw Pang Yi leaving the inn. The waiter followed behind him, and it was unknown what the waiter said to Pang Yi. Pang Yi then turned around and kicked the waiter with a smile. The waiter dodged with a playful smile, then waved to Pang Yi and turned back to the inn. Pang Yi walked to the carriage. He untied the reins, patted the horse habitually, and suddenly turned to look upstairs. The eyes looked straight at Xiao An. Xiao An was so scared that she slammed the window shut with a "click", and then leaned against the window for most of the day and didn't dare to breathe.
Pang Yi looked at the tightly closed window and couldn't help laughing. Then he got on the carriage and drove away.
…
The dinner was stewed fish. The fish was not bought. Gu Changlin was free today. He went to the big river at the foot of the mountain to fish by breaking ice. There were more than ten fish. Although they were not very big, they were valuable because of the variety. Mei Ya looked at the full basket of fish. She was very happy. Since the beginning of winter, she and Zhong Mingwei had not eaten fresh fish. She cleaned the fish quickly and stewed it. Pang Yi happened to come back. He washed his hands and went into the room to eat together.
The four of them sat around the stove, with a low fire on in the hearth. The fish soup in the pot was bubbling with steam, and the room was filled with the delicious aroma of the fish soup. Mei Ya and Zhong Mingwei sat on the head of the kang, while Gu Changlin and Pang Yi sat in front of the stove. The four of them ate happily, but they didn't stop chatting.
"Mr. Gu, next time you go fishing, take me with you," Meiya added a handful of pickled cabbage to the pot, and then said to Gu Changlin while sticking corn cakes to the edge of the pot, "I've never caught a fish before, let alone ice fishing. I really want to go with you to join in the fun."
"That's fine. I just happen to need someone to carry the fish basket for me," Gu Changlin nodded, scooped a piece of frozen tofu that was almost stewed into the bowl and ate it, while sighing comfortably, "Frozen tofu, stewed fish, pancakes, and bubbling pickled cabbage, this is how winter should be spent."
"That's right," Pang Yi obviously agreed with Gu Changlin's statement. He buried his head in eating fish and said vaguely, "I have been eating southern Xinjiang cuisine for more than ten years, but I have a northern stomach. I still feel comfortable eating this way."
"Where did you go today?" Gu Changlin looked at Pang Yi with a look of dissatisfaction, "Didn't you just go to Chenjiatun? Why did you come back so late?"
"I was delayed by something," Pang Yi said vaguely, looking at Gu Changlin, "What's the matter? Sir, do you want to talk to me about something?"
"Yes, the master has been looking for you all day," Mei Ya said. As soon as she said this, her face turned slightly red. She glanced at Zhong Mingwei quietly, and then hurriedly said to Pang Yi, "The master is in a hurry to come."
"What's the matter?" Pang Yi was so busy that he put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands and looked at Gu Changlin with a serious face, "Are the medicinal herbs at home running out again? Do you want to buy some more?"
"No, it's more important than this," Gu Changlin said calmly after finishing the fish in the bowl. He then slowly looked at Pang Yi who looked nervous, "I have saved up three pairs of boots. When are you going to clean them for me? If you don't clean them now, they will taste like the pickled cabbage in this pot."
Pang Yi: “…”
Zhong Mingwei: “…”
Meiya: "..."
"What's wrong? Why don't you want to eat it for no reason?" Gu Changlin picked up another piece of fish and put it in the bowl, looking puzzledly at the three people who were hesitant to speak, "It tastes better with some pickled cabbage. This fish is really tasty. Don't be polite, eat it quickly."
"Mr. Gu, please stop talking..." Mei Ya couldn't bear it any longer. She couldn't even put down her chopsticks to eat the fish that she thought was so delicious just now. Not only that, the smell of pickled cabbage in the air made her feel sick. She silently put down the bowl and chopsticks in her hands and whispered to Zhong Mingwei, "I'm full."
"I'm full too," Zhong Mingwei also silently put down his bowl and chopsticks, poured a cup of jasmine tea and handed it to Mei Ya, saying, "Have a cup of tea quickly to get rid of the pickled cabbage taste in your mouth."
Meiya: "...Ahem, you drink some too."
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