"Why are you here? This road is so difficult to walk on! It took us more than five hours to get back yesterday!"
After registering Ye Zhiqiu, Feng Xiaomei took Ye Zhiqiu's hand and asked him questions as they walked home.
Ye Zhiqiu held the bag in his right hand and put it on his back, while Feng Xiaomei held his left hand. He quite enjoyed this feeling, as it looked like a young couple going out and coming home.
He smiled and replied, "You didn't bring the food we agreed on yesterday. I was afraid you and Aunt Chen would have nothing to eat, so I quickly sent it over.
I thought it would normally take less than three hours, maybe four, even if I walked, but I didn't expect it would take five hours!
"Then... don't go back tonight. It takes so long to walk back and forth... maybe the traffic will be back tomorrow. You can take the bus back then..."
"Is this okay? Will Aunt Chen be angry? Should I sleep in the guest room? Can I hold you in my arms..."
Ye Zhiqiu was hit by several small punches from Feng Xiaomei, but unfortunately he was wearing thick clothes, so the force was not even enough to tickle him.
"I was wrong... But I just want to sleep in the same bed with you. That way I can sleep peacefully and comfortably..."
"And you're really asking for a beating now..."
"It's okay, go ahead and hit me if you want. As long as you don't feel sorry for me, why should I feel sorry for myself..."
"Can you please stop being so disgusting? I'm still feeling sorry for you. I'll beat you up later. You're wearing too much right now, just as thick-skinned as you are..."
While chatting and laughing, they arrived at Feng's house. Feng Xiaomei took out the key to open the door and Chen Yuqing walked out.
"Aunt Chen, I forgot to ask you to bring some food yesterday. I was afraid you wouldn't have anything to eat, so I quickly sent it over."
"This kid, there's no car to take now. It will probably take five or six hours to walk here. How can he be so stupid? Even if we don't cook, we will at least stock up on winter vegetables..."
After a few pleasantries, the three of them put the dishes away. In addition to the seafood, Ye Zhiqiu also brought a piece of bacon, a handful of celery, a handful of garlic leaves, and three large cabbages.
Chen Yuqing said happily, "Xiaoye, you are really amazing. Celery and garlic leaves are rare this winter, and you can actually get them."
Ye Zhiqiu explained with a smile, "Well, it's because when I was a buyer, I knew a lot of people from all walks of life. Now I buy everything from them."
This year's summer and autumn were dry, and the temperature dropped earlier than in previous years. There wasn't much celery and garlic sprouts available, so Chen Yuqing said that.
"Mom, can't you guys go back to the living room and talk? It's so stupid to just stand here in the kitchen and talk."
"Silly girl, aren't you standing here? Calling yourself stupid is stupid..."
Feng Xiaomei helped him take off his coat, scarf and hat. When the two of them came to the living room, Chen Yuqing had already made tea for him.
Ye Zhiqiu thanked him and took the tea. He smiled and said, "Aunt Chen, are you guys going down to help with the snow removal today?"
Chen Yuqing shook her head and said, "There are many scientists living here who need to travel between here and the laboratory every day, so the relevant personnel come here to handle it, so we don't have to do it ourselves."
Feng Xiaomei also smiled and replied, "Hahaha, we both wanted to go down to help, but when we got down we found that it had already been done, so we had to come back with the tools.
It wasn't just us; the other neighbors were the same. In previous years, we had to do it ourselves, but this year, I don't know what great scientist moved in, but the arrangements were very clear.
You should have noticed earlier that the number of security personnel has increased compared to usual. But it's good to know this, but don't ask around out of curiosity, or you'll be arrested and interrogated as an enemy spy."
Ye Zhiqiu nodded quickly and said, "What's there to ask? I'm not that curious! I understand the confidentiality agreement, after all, I signed it."
Chen Yuqing laughed and said, "Haha, I forgot you were also transferred from a confidential unit. Speaking of which, the work in these units is really busy! Look at your Uncle Feng, he has never had time to come back, and now he hasn't even sent a letter back."
Ye Zhiqiu's eyes darkened. He thought of that frail man with bright eyes, and his words: Responsibility and ideals are the burdens a man should shoulder...
Ye Zhiqiu knew in his heart that Feng Yuanzheng might no longer be around. That man, realizing he couldn't shoulder the responsibility, dedicated the rest of his life to his ideals...
Feng Xiaomei was also a little depressed and said, "I don't know if Dad can come back to attend my graduation ceremony. He hasn't replied to my letters for several months. I don't know what he is busy with."
Ye Zhiqiu didn't know what to say. He forced a smile and changed the subject, "Everyone has their own frustrations. I believe Uncle Feng must be missing you too. Aunt Chen, you should stop thinking too much.
Oh, and the seafood I brought today includes Spanish mackerel. You can use it to make dumplings! We made some yesterday afternoon when we had nothing better to do, and they were pretty good!
"Making dumplings with Spanish mackerel? We've never tried it before, and since we have nothing else to do, why don't we make some and try it?"
"Okay, okay, Zhiqiu, what should we do with the mackerel?"
Ye Zhiqiu patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me. I'll be responsible for processing the Spanish mackerel and chopping it into stuffing. You can also get some mantis shrimp. They're both delicious."
Chen Yuqing said happily, "That's fine. Zhiqiu, you two go get the filling, and I'll be in charge of kneading the dough. Let's make dumplings today!"
They were all quick and decisive people. They got to work as soon as they said they would. The three of them went to the kitchen and started working.
It is actually very simple to process horse mackerel. Kill it normally, cut off the fish head, remove the black film and blood, slice the fish meat, carefully remove the fish bones, and chop it with the back of a knife.
While busy with these things, Feng Xiaomei had already helped to soak the pepper water, then cut a piece of bacon and put it in the pot to cook.
If you want the Spanish mackerel filling to taste less dry, it is best to add some pork. However, if there is no fresh pork, you can only use processed bacon instead.
After a long day of hard work, Ye Zhiqiu poured the peppercorn water into the Spanish mackerel meat and stirred it clockwise with chopsticks to make it starchy. In the end, he had three fillings: Spanish mackerel with pork, mantis shrimp, and Spanish mackerel with cabbage and celery.
At this time, the dough had not yet risen, so the three of them returned to the living room and sat down, chatting about work.
Feng Xiaomei was still looking forward to her job. She asked curiously, "Zhiqiu, you said you could get me a job at the machine tool factory. Is that guaranteed?"
Ye Zhiqiu smiled bitterly and said, "I don't know now. In fact, my work has been full of twists and turns.
I was almost sent to Guangxi, but my grandfather got me back to the brewery. But these things are a bit confidential, so I can't tell you."
The two nodded, feeling that it was difficult to say, so it would be better not to say anything.
Chen Yuqing comforted Feng Xiaomei, "Then we'll see what happens next. If it doesn't work out, we can go to your master and see if he can help with this matter."
Ye Zhiqiu quickly comforted her, "The elder I asked for help can indeed help arrange it. I just don't know if someone will misunderstand or cause any trouble like I did. So don't worry, Xiaomei. I believe everything will go well."
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