After Thor switched jobs to a construction company, his work schedule changed from the factory routine. He worked non-stop to keep up with the construction progress and was much busier than before.
No matter how busy he is, he will always make time to date Fang Yu.
The motorcycle was parked on the riverbank, and the evening breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees. "You're getting darker and darker each time," Fang Yu said with heartache, touching his face.
Thor glanced at himself in the motorcycle's rearview mirror. "Yeah! You're so tanned, would you still like me?"
"Yes." Fang Yu smiled, cupped his face, and kissed him.
"That's fine, as long as it doesn't affect your liking for me."
"Don't push yourself too hard, be careful."
Thor reached out and pulled Fang Yu into his arms. "I want to marry my little fish as soon as possible."
After dropping Fang Yu off at the shop, Yu Jihong said, "Lei Feng, what time do you get off work tomorrow? Come over for dinner. I'll make some duck soup to help you recover; you've lost weight and gotten so tanned lately." She felt sorry for him as she looked at him.
"Okay, Auntie, you're so kind! I'll come over after get off work tomorrow!"
"Okay, Fang Yu will be home tomorrow afternoon. We can slowly cook it in a clay pot to make it taste better."
Fang Yu's summer school had ended. The next morning, Yu Jihong went to the market to buy a free-range duck, prepared it, and taught Fang Yu how to cook it in the afternoon.
"Mom, you don't care about me this much?" Fang Yu pretended to be jealous.
"This pot of Lei Feng food is too much for us to finish, you should eat some too."
"I'm only benefiting from his fame." Fang Yu pouted.
"Are you jealous?" Yu Jihong hurriedly got ready and went to the store. "I'll stay home these two days and sell more."
"Okay, go ahead, I'll pack my things at home." They plan to leave the day after tomorrow, close the shop for a few days, and go to the beach.
Thor left work early and came to Fang Yu's house. As soon as he entered, he could smell the rich aroma of duck soup. He washed his hands and sat down at the table, holding a hot bowl of soup, drinking until he was sweating profusely. "Baby Fish, your mom is so good to me!"
Fang Yu also took small bites of duck meat, saying, "Yes, I don't even get this treatment."
Thor took 500 yuan out of his pocket and gave it to Fang Yu.
"What are you doing?" Fang Yu was stunned.
"You can buy food when you go out to play."
"No." Fang Yu shoved it back to Thor.
"Here, have fun." Thor pushed it over again.
"I don't want your money."
"Then you can have my people!" Thor smirked as he approached Fang Yu.
Fang Yu rolled her eyes at Thor.
"You don't want money, you don't want me, what are you after, baby fish?"
Fang Yu turned her face away, "You're such a fool. Eat up, we still need to take some to my mom later."
"Okay, it's not much money, you can keep it. I don't know how to treat you well."
Fang Yu scooped the duck meat from the casserole into a thermos and prepared to deliver it to Yu Jihong later.
Thor came over and took a look. "There's still some left inside. Give it to me! It's delicious. I'll take it with me."
"Oh, then I'll give you this insulated container so it'll be easier for you to carry. My mom is nearby, so I'll find something else to put it in."
Fang Yu picked up the money on the table and returned it to Thor.
"No, that would make me seem like I'm being insincere. Just call me if you cook something delicious in the future." Thor put the money on the table.
Thor carried the thermos he had brought home, while Fang Yu sat behind him holding a covered bowl as they entered the store.
"Auntie, this is delicious. I'm taking this bowl home." Thor said, lifting the thermos in his hand.
“Okay,” Yu Jihong opened the bowl, “Take some more from here, I can’t eat this much.”
"That's enough, Auntie. There's already plenty. I'll take it back now."
"Okay, drive slowly."
"Auntie, I really want to call you Mom!" Thor said, turning back at the door before slipping away.
Yu Jihong was at a loss for words, "This child..."
"Mom, he gave us 500 yuan, saying it was for us to buy food when we go out to play," Fang Yu said after Lei Feng left.
"I can't accept it. How can I take other people's money?"
"He's already left it at home."
Yu Jihong munched on the duck meat, lost in thought.
Thor brought it home, and his dad just got off work. "Dad, Fang Yu's mom saw how hard I've been working lately, so she cooked me some duck. I brought you some. You can just cook some noodles for dinner."
"Her mom is so good to you! How could you be so shameless as to eat and take things from her?" his dad said while washing his hands.
"Taking food and gifts? You think so too?" The father and son looked at each other and smiled knowingly. "I don't mean any harm. I genuinely want to be good to Fang Yu."
Thor's father nodded. He would always stop by Yu Jihong's shop whenever he passed by, and he was waiting there too.
The night before departure, Yu Jihong checked her luggage one last time to make sure she had everything. "Fang Yu, you also check if you've forgotten anything."
This was her first time seeing the sea, and her excitement was already soaring even before she set off.
They set off from the county bus station early in the morning, and after changing buses twice, they finally arrived at the dock.
I caught the last boat to the island. My accommodation was by the sea, and I could see the shimmering blue sea as soon as I opened the window.
As evening approached, the sea breeze picked up, carrying fine sand that brushed past their ankles. The mother and daughter sat on the rocks, watching the sunset paint the sea with molten gold.
Yu Jihong watched Fang Yu laughing as she chased after the waves, saying she had come to see the sea and feel the sea breeze, and that she and her daughter had come together. Yu Jihong then ran over and joined Fang Yu in the chase.
The next morning, they went to watch the sunrise over the sea. As the orange-red sun jumped out from the horizon, Fang Yu excitedly grabbed her hand, and Yu Jihong suddenly felt a sense of relief. The promise they hadn't made back then, she was now fulfilling on her own, raising her daughter.
After spending two nights on the island, they took a boat back home as the morning light began to break.
Back in the county town, Yu Jihong reopened the door of her clothing store, absorbing the scent of the sea breeze into her heart, and continued to live a down-to-earth life, working hard, hoping to go out and play again next time.
Fang Huahua asked Fang Yu to meet her. Fang Yu happened to have a bag of baby squid and dried fish for Huahua.
Hua Hua and her boyfriend rented a house outside, and Fang Yu went there according to the address Hua Hua gave her.
Fang Huahua was waiting for her at the intersection. As soon as she saw Huahua, she said, "Huahua, you don't look too good."
"Let's talk upstairs."
Hua Hua rented a single room on the third floor of a residential building, accessible via a narrow shared staircase.
The single room contained a simple bed, a low table, two small stools, and a cloth wardrobe in the corner.
They sat down on the small stools. "Fang Yu, I..." As soon as Hua Hua spoke, Fang Yu seemed to guess what it was about.
"Huahua, are you pregnant?"
Fang Huahua nodded. "I took abortion pills last week, but it's been a week and I'm still not clean. The doctor said I need a D&C... I want you to come with me."
Fang Yu's heart clenched instantly. "Yes, I'll go with you."
"They said it would hurt a lot, and I'm so scared." Fang Huahua's tears were already streaming down her face.
Fang Yu went over and hugged her, patting her back. Fang Yu had never experienced this before and didn't know how to comfort her, so she just said, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm with you."
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