"Then let's go to the Overseas Chinese Store. How was it? Did you like the goods there?"
"It's alright. I bought a lot of candy. We'll send a letter to Great-Grandma and the others tomorrow, and send some back to them as well."
"Brother Jingze, can the wiring you hired withstand my use of electrical appliances?"
"They are all 3 square millimeter copper wires, so there should be no problem. You can use them with confidence."
"Let's go see my master tomorrow, and you can go to him to learn chess on Saturdays and Sundays from now on."
"Okay, you're going in the morning? I should prepare some gifts for the apprenticeship ceremony, right? What should I prepare?"
Without realizing it, Zhang Hongmei turned to Zhang Shouyi and asked him a question.
"Hehe. The preparation of gifts in ancient times is a bit lacking now. You bought a lot of sugar and prepared some fine grains. I think that would be enough. Master Zheng doesn't pay much attention to etiquette."
"In my memory, tuition fees were for cured meat or something like that," Zhang Hongmei said, not entirely sure.
"Yes, and it must be pork, but that's not common now."
"No meat. How about ten catties of rice, ten catties of wheat flour, two catties of brown sugar, two catties of white sugar, two catties of rock sugar, and two catties of soybean oil?"
Zhang Shouyi nodded, "Just prepare it according to this plan. Don't worry about eating. There will be meat available in the next few days, so you won't be shortchanged."
Zhang Hongmei: I have everything, why would I need you to prepare anything? But I can't say that.
The roast duck was served quickly. Zhang Shouyi invited the two to eat, but he wrapped two flatbreads in his own pancakes for Zhang Hongmei.
"Brother Zhang, you eat it yourself, it's too greasy. I'll eat something else."
"So if you think it's too greasy, I'll tear off the duck skin and you can eat the duck meat."
"No, I'll have the soup. This broth with vermicelli is delicious, light and refreshing."
Liu Jingze watched the interaction between the two, feeling extremely angry and disappointed. He barely ate anything. The manager came in to see if they needed anything, and seeing that the duck wasn't even half-eaten, asked, "Secretary, is there anything else you need?"
"How about one bowl of noodles with soybean paste for each person?" Although the question was directed at the group of people present, it was still aimed at Zhang Hongmei.
"I'll just have a small bowl. I'm full."
Liu Jingze: "I'll have one bowl, thank you."
"Then let's have three big bowls and one small bowl of noodles with soybean paste, and a little bit of each kind of side dish."
The manager stepped back to prepare, and Zhang Hongmei was very curious about what kind of toppings were available now.
Zhang Shouyi noticed Zhang Hongmei's curiosity. "The side dishes are just bean sprouts, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage hearts, and shredded bamboo shoots."
"There are quite a few kinds. Why don't you guys eat roast duck? It's such a waste not to eat such good food. Jingze, you should eat more."
These words should have pleased Liu Jingze, but in the current situation, he couldn't feel happy. Zhang Hongmei acted like the hostess, but it was Zhang Shouyi who was treating them.
Zhang Shouyi showed no extra expression on his face, but he was extremely happy inside. He had used the identity of the master very well.
Not wanting to upset Zhang Hongmei, Liu Jingze reluctantly rolled up a piece for himself.
The noodles with meat sauce arrived quickly, and the meat sauce was really authentic.
"Comrade, could you sell me a jar of your fried meat sauce?"
The manager paused for a moment, then immediately broke into a smile. "No problem, two pounds per can. Shall I prepare two cans for you?"
"Could you give me three cans?" Zhang Hongmei felt quite embarrassed.
"Okay, please enjoy your meal. I'll go prepare it right away."
"Brother Jingze, can I bring a jar of meat sauce when I go to become an apprentice tomorrow?"
“That’s great. Master loves noodles with meat sauce the most. He doesn’t need anything else. Just a jar of meat sauce is enough to make him happy.”
After the meal, Zhang Shouyi escorted the two back home, but returned to his own compound.
After Liu Jingze arrived home, he went into the kitchen and boiled water in a large pot. He saw several hot water bottles.
Zhang Hongmei, however, was in the storeroom sorting through the food she had brought back that day.
Both white sugar and brown sugar were packaged in two bundles, one pound each and one two-pound bundle. Unsure of the exact weight, I estimated it to be at least one pound more, because after packaging six bundles, there were still two-pound bundles left, meaning not a single pound of brown sugar remained out of ten pounds.
White sugar is like this, rock sugar is like this, and then the three kinds of six packets are packed together. After that, take out a small bag and fill it with rice and flour.
Then I bought six kinds of pastries: ox-tongue biscuits, peach shortbread, cake, sachima (a type of Chinese pastry), cookies, and fried dough twists. I bought them separately, two packs of each kind for each household, which made twelve packs in total.
Liu Jingze entered the warehouse and saw so many things. "Hongmei, what's this?"
"Twelve catties of sugar and twelve catties of pastries were prepared for Great-Grandma. There was also a jar of meat sauce."
I prepared six catties of sugar, twelve catties of pastries, and Shi Tou San Ya's chocolate for my third aunt.
"There's too much stuff, we can't go through the post office. Let's wait for Comrade Huang to come."
"Okay, let's leave a message at the post office tomorrow, telling Huang Zhong to come home for dinner." Liu Jingze also felt that there were too many things, and it wouldn't be good to go through the post office.
"I've also prepared the apprenticeship gift for tomorrow: ten catties of rice and wheat flour, one catty each of brown sugar, white sugar, and rock sugar, as well as a jar of meat sauce. I'll also pour out two catties of soybean oil later."
"Okay. Let's go to Master's house early, then go to the post office on the way back, and have wontons for lunch. In the afternoon, let's go to the school."
"Sure, I'd like to take a picture in front of the city gate."
“Sure, I know the photographer. We’ve made an appointment with him for tomorrow, and we’ll go get our photos taken the day after tomorrow.”
"You can still go outside?"
"Yes, his son and I are classmates, and we get along well, so there shouldn't be any problems."
"Can we take the photos elsewhere? Would they agree to my request?"
"We'll find out tomorrow. The water's boiled, go wash up."
"Brother Jingze also bought a thermos today, and he'll fill it with hot water in a bit."
"Okay, I'll do it. You wash up. I've already filled the hot water bottle. Put it in bed and lie down to warm up."
"Brother Jingze, do you think I should get a cat and a dog?"
"Sure, keeping a cat will save you from mice, and keeping a dog will let you know if there's any movement. I'll go out and ask tomorrow."
After washing up, the two went to bed. Liu Jingze refused the hot water bottle Zhang Hongmei offered, leaving Zhang Hongmei with three hot water bottles in her bed.
The next morning, Liu Jingze got up and made rice porridge. Zhang Hongmei brought out the sesame seed cakes she had brought back the day before.
After the two finished eating, they carried their gifts. Liu Jingze rode his bicycle with Zhang Hongmei on the back and left.
The two arrived half an hour later. Liu Jingze knocked on the door and was warmly greeted.
A young girl also came out, bowing her head shyly to greet Liu Jingze.
Liu Jingze spoke to her with a doting smile on his face.
"Jingze, what brings you here?" An elderly man with a full head of white hair came out.
“Master, I have brought you a very talented student.”
"Well, I'm getting old and don't have the energy to teach anymore. This is the young girl. I'm very sorry."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com