Chapter 132

Chapter 132

Factory Manager Xu was startled by her imposing demeanor and put down his pen, fearing that the factory's cash cow might be upset. Earlier, he had encountered Little Ma, who had just told him about the morning's events. Factory Manager Xu had planned to deal with the matter and then immediately head to the experimental workshop.

But unexpectedly, Xu Yuqing arrived, looking furious.

"Little Xu, what’s wrong? Whatever it is, just tell me. Rest assured, I will be fair and just," he asked anxiously, secretly cursing whoever had provoked this little troublemaker, vowing not to spare them if they had angered her.

Xu Yuqing composed herself, maintaining her composure, and spoke calmly, "I want to apply for a new dormitory room." She then recounted the events of noon truthfully.

Word by word, she recounted everything without embellishment.

Factory Manager Xu's initially calm expression darkened as Xu Yuqing spoke, and by the time she finished, his face had completely turned grim.

The panic in Factory Manager Xu's heart was evident. He stood up and said earnestly to Xu Yuqing, "Little Xu, don't worry. If it is confirmed that she did this, the factory will definitely give you an explanation!"

He said this with unwavering determination.

Seeing his attitude, Xu Yuqing's anger subsided slightly. "Factory Manager Xu, we can discuss the consequences later. Right now, I just want to change my dormitory room."

"If it is indeed her, the canning factory cannot tolerate such a malicious person. Don’t worry."

But changing dormitory rooms was a bit difficult for him. He didn't handle dormitory affairs, but the canning factory was currently short on housing, with the newly built residential area still unfinished. He scratched his head anxiously, "Little Xu, how about this: I'll move Song Jia away first and find you a new room. The factory is really crowded right now."

If there were any other rooms available, giving Xu Yuqing one alone wouldn’t be unreasonable, given her abilities. But the current shortage of housing made it tricky.

Fortunately, Xu Yuqing didn’t want to separate from Liu Ruan and reluctantly agreed to the arrangement, insisting only that Song Jiajia be moved out tonight.

This reasonable request was quickly granted. He immediately called someone over and gave detailed instructions, making it clear in front of Xu Yuqing that if it was confirmed to be her, she would be immediately dismissed.

After settling this matter, he accompanied Xu Yuqing to the experimental workshop.

Inside the workshop, Little He, Little Ma, and Little Lin had been anxiously waiting. Those with watches checked their watches, while those without looked at the large clock on the wall, all wondering why Xu Yuqing hadn’t arrived yet. As soon as the door opened, they all stood up simultaneously, rushing to greet her.

"Comrade Xu, you’re finally here!"

Little Ma exclaimed, eager to open the cans and see the results. Despite being highly educated and having studied at various factories, none of them could match a woman’s skill.

Their frustration was palpable.

Xu Yuqing was dragged over, and even Factory Manager Xu behind her went unnoticed. Fortunately, he didn’t mind and quickly walked to the table, where ten neatly arranged cans sat. "These are from this morning?"

"Yes."

Little Lin, excited, took one of the cans and deftly pulled the ring. A savory aroma wafted out, a light meaty scent that was incredibly enticing. Opening the can, Little Lin couldn’t help but drool.

"Plate, please." Little Ma washed a plate and handed it over. Little Lin flipped the contents onto the plate, and the luncheon meat fell out perfectly intact, bouncing slightly upon landing.

Everyone stared in amazement at the luncheon meat. Factory Manager Xu felt a surge of excitement, "Yes! This is exactly it!"

The luncheon meat from Lanlin Canning Factory was like this—aromatic and springy. But Factory Manager Xu felt that the meat before him was even more fragrant.

He snatched the knife from Little Ma and cut a piece, revealing a clean, smooth cut without any scattered meat particles. Picking it up and biting into it, the juices burst forth, and the meat’s aroma filled his mouth, with a subtle seasoning that left him craving more.

Little Lin and the others watched, swallowing hard, but no one dared to speak with the knife in Factory Manager Xu’s hands. Realizing this, he quickly divided the luncheon meat into several pieces, "Taste it!"

He first offered the plate to Xu Yuqing, "Little Xu, taste your masterpiece. It’s truly amazing!"

Factory Manager Xu exclaimed, his eyes glowing with excitement. He now saw her not just as a cash cow but as a veritable money tree!

No need to shake it!

Xu Yuqing ignored his gaze, taking a piece to taste. It was decent, meeting her standards but not quite reaching her highest expectations.

The issue was still the lack of sufficient seasonings, but production would refine this aspect.

Long-term storage required additional additives, which was something Little Lin and the others would handle.

Seeing the joy on Factory Manager Xu and the others' faces, Xu Yuqing felt confident. She smiled at Factory Manager Xu, "Factory Manager, shall we sign a contract?"

She could provide the recipe, but she also needed to secure her benefits. She thought to herself.

They hadn’t signed a contract for the tripe cans either.

Having proven her capabilities, Xu Yuqing wasn’t going to be polite anymore.

Factory Manager Xu hesitated, recalling the situation. Ten percent profit sounded substantial, but with such a good recipe, he now felt he was getting a great deal.

Especially since Lanlin Canning Factory demanded more! He quickly decided, "Yes! Sign it! Let’s sign it right away! We’ll start production today! This year, our canning factory will have a prosperous New Year!"

Just last week, the factory had ordered less meat, focusing only on offal, causing complaints.

Now, they would take both meat and offal.

Over the weekend, he had visited several leaders with the tripe cans.

Thinking about the orders, Factory Manager Xu couldn’t stop smiling, even imagining his teeth gleaming in his sleep.

The rewards he would receive were unimaginable.

Without further ado, he eagerly led Xu Yuqing to the office, where they prepared two identical handwritten contracts, each signing and stamping them.

The contract officially took effect, and Manager Xu chuckled with satisfaction as he looked at it. "Little Xu, I have another piece of good news to tell you."

With that, he pulled out several sheets of paper from his drawer, all filled with orders from various factories. Xu Yuqing quickly took them, noticing orders from the steel mill, the textile factory, and even the meat processing plant.

"The meat processing plant placed an order too?" Xu Yuqing exclaimed in surprise.

She had heard that the meat processing plant was the most enviable factory in the entire North City, giving out real meat during the New Year.

Manager Xu chuckled proudly, "Our tripe canned food is high-quality and affordable. How could they resist such deliciousness?"

It was worth the effort he had put into visiting each factory and building relationships. Moreover, the tripe canned food had already gained popularity in North City.

His efforts for the factory were not in vain.

After putting away the orders, Manager Xu urged Xu Yuqing to prepare the recipe as soon as possible. Every second counted; the more work they did, the more money they could earn for the country.

In the following week, Xu Yuqing had initially planned to pick up their photos from the photo studio when she had some free time. However, she found herself spinning non-stop like a top, losing track of the days. It wasn't until Xie Junli came to fetch her on Friday that she realized how much thinner and paler she had become due to staying indoors without exposure to the sun.

He approached her tenderly, noticing that there were fewer people left in the factory. Xu Yuqing was helping with the final touches, counting cans with Little Lin and checking for any issues.

When she sensed someone behind her, she turned around to see Xie Junli's tall figure. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled happily. "Why are you here!"

Xie Junli felt both helpless and a bit disappointed. "Today is Friday."

Xu Yuqing glanced out the window and saw it was already dark.

She apologized to Xie Junli, "I forgot. I've been so busy these past few days."

They had just finished counting, so she didn't hesitate to take Xie Junli's hand. "Hehe, let's go home."

After playfully teasing him, she turned serious and addressed Little Lin, "Brother Lin, I'll head back now. Thank you for your hard work."

Little Lin clenched the notebook in his hand, feeling bitter inside. He forced a smile and nodded, "Okay, there's not much left. You go ahead."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yuqing gave him a grateful smile, still holding Xie Junli's hand, and they walked off together, sweet and happy.

Behind them, Little Lin's bitter gaze lingered, unable to stop.

In front, Xu Yuqing knowingly looked at Xie Junli, who seemed much happier now. She raised an eyebrow, silently basking in her accomplishment.

They decided to try picking up their photos first, hoping the photo studio was still open.

If it was closed, they would have to come back tomorrow.

Fortunately, their luck held. From a distance, they saw the photographer locking the door, just inserting the padlock.

Xu Yuqing called out urgently, "Master, wait! We're here to get our photos!"

Hearing the voice, the photographer paused and looked around, startled by the rushing bicycle. "It's you two! Why are you getting your photos so late?"

He grumbled but reluctantly opened the door again.

Only this couple had made such an impression on him; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered reopening.

From the drawer, among many envelopes, he found theirs by the code. "Here are your photos. Take a look."

Xie Junli handed over the receipt, and Xu Yuqing eagerly opened the envelope. Inside were several photos, large and small, with the first being a couple's portrait.

Although the photos were black and white, the vivid expressions seemed to leap out. Xu Yuqing was amazed, touching her image in the photo.

She hadn't realized how sweetly she smiled when looking at Xie Junli.

Even Xie Junli, gazing at her, radiated affection.

Anyone seeing the photos would think they were a deeply loving couple. Xu Yuqing and Xie Junli exchanged glances and couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing their satisfaction, the photographer felt proud. He never expected the results to be so good. If they hadn't refused to display the photos, he would have loved to hang a large one on the wall.

Xu Yuqing admired the couple's photo, while Xie Junli was captivated by her solo portrait.

In the photo, the smiling woman was gently reading a book. Though black and white, her smile left a deep impression on Xie Junli.

He cherished the photo, caressing it, reluctant to let Xu Yuqing put it away in the envelope.

As they mounted the bicycle, Xie Junli suddenly said, "I want to buy a wallet."

A wallet? Xu Yuqing looked at him curiously. "Why do you suddenly want a wallet? Didn't you say you never used one before?" she asked, puzzled.

Xie Junli remained silent, looking slightly embarrassed, his ears turning red. "I just feel it's inconvenient not to have a wallet for money."

His excuse was too weak, but Xu Yuqing didn't want to embarrass him. She simply nodded and watched him pedal towards the department store.

The sky was already darkening, but they rode through the streets. Many counters in the department store were locked, so Xu Yuqing hurriedly led Xie Junli to the foreign trade section, which stayed open later.

"Hey, comrade, don't close yet! Do you have any wallets?" Xu Yuqing called out anxiously to the salesperson.

The iron gate was about to be pulled shut but stopped at her call. The salesperson looked visibly annoyed, rolling her eyes. "What's the point of buying a wallet now? They're all gone. Come back tomorrow!"

Saying this, she continued closing the gate.

Xu Yuqing had no choice. Even if she was socially adept, she couldn't make the salesperson stop and reopen for business.

She scratched her head and looked at Xie Junli, asking what to do.

Xie Junli watched the gate close, feeling a bit disappointed but not too upset. "It's okay. Let's go home. We can try again next time."

Seeing the salesperson walk away, Xu Yuqing nodded in agreement.

The two of them turned and walked downstairs. Xie Junli caught a glimpse of something he wanted out of the corner of his eye.

Unable to resist, he stopped in his tracks. Xu Yuqing was walking behind him, and when he suddenly stopped, she bumped straight into his back.

Clutching her nose, Xu Yuqing cried out, "What are you doing!"

Xie Junli's gaze lingered on the object he desired. Xu Yuqing looked at him curiously as he pulled her along. "What are you doing?"

He headed towards the counter that was still uncovered. Xu Yuqing glanced over and saw a black leather wallet inside.

She looked at Xie Junli in disbelief. His eyesight was terrifyingly sharp.

Xie Junli finally bought what he wanted. Xu Yuqing watched as he immediately took the wallet and carefully tucked it into his pocket. When they got home, instead of putting money in it, he took out a photo of the two of them from an envelope and placed it inside.

After placing it, he felt a bit regretful, wishing he had made a smaller version of the single photo. It was too big to fit in the wallet.

Xu Yuqing found his actions amusing and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to put money in your wallet first?"

Sitting on the bench, Xie Junli cherished the photo, not really paying attention. He casually replied, "I'll do it later."

Xu Yuqing shrugged and opened her lunchbox, eating by herself.

By the time Xie Junli snapped out of it, Xu Yuqing was almost finished eating. He quickly put away the wallet, sat down next to her, and took the bowl and chopsticks she handed him.

He ate quickly, cleaned up, and then rushed into the room with urgency.

Initially distracted, he was instantly calmed upon seeing his wife sleeping soundly. He gently covered her with a blanket, feeling a pang of tenderness as he watched the weary figure, ensuring the blanket was well tucked around her.

He touched her feet, which were still cold.

Covering her with the blanket, he took off his outer clothes and lay down. His hands instinctively held her feet.

Warmth gradually enveloped them, and they fell asleep.

For many days afterward, Xu Yuqing and Xie Junli adapted to this rhythm. On weekdays, they reluctantly parted ways, and on Fridays, Xie Junli would come to pick her up. They enjoyed their sweet weekends together like newlyweds.

This time, however, Xu Yuqing insisted that Xie Junli take the bike back; she had no time to go home.

At the canning factory, she was constantly busy, moving around like a spinning top. But she learned a lot.

Compared to Xu Yuqing's satisfaction, Xie Junli felt uneasy.

During his free time, he couldn't help but wait for the phone to ring, picking it up immediately, only to find it wasn't her.

Subconsciously, he took out the photo from the wallet. The edges were already frayed from frequent handling. Xie Junli closed his eyes, carefully put the photo back, and tucked it into his chest pocket.

After a week of anxious waiting, the canning factory announced a year-end break starting next Tuesday. Xie Junli rode his bicycle, feeling much lighter.

Arriving at the canning factory gates, the weather was good, with the sun shining brightly for the first time in a while.

Just like Xie Junli's mood.

Waiting at the gate for about ten minutes, Xie Junli finally saw his wife. He dismounted, propped up the bike, and walked towards her.

With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his tall figure and stern face, his eyes focused solely on Xu Yuqing, making many young people at the factory secretly envious.

How wonderful, they thought, to have such love.

"Tired?" Taking her bag, Xie Junli looked her up and down, worried.

Xu Yuqing, full of energy, shook her head. "Not at all, I've learned so much!"

She patted her handbag, her excitement evident. She gave Xie Junli a meaningful look, about to speak, when a voice called out from behind.

Xu Yuqing turned around in confusion. It was Little Lin. This morning, he had deliberately styled his hair with the latest wax, a rare product from the city. For some reason, he ran his fingers through his hair before speaking.

"There's nothing major, just come early on Monday. The newspaper people will be here early to take photos, and we want to see how the official sale looks." He instructed, smiling warmly.

Xu Yuqing's eyes lit up, feeling excited. "Okay, I'll remember. Thank you."

"No problem, after all, this is our hard work." He said slowly, emphasizing the word "our" and glancing at Xie Junli.

Xu Yuqing didn't notice, habitually holding Xie Junli's hand after saying goodbye to Little Lin. She turned to Xie Junli, hugging his arm excitedly. "So many good things have happened recently! I have another piece of good news for you!"

Her excitement made Xie Junli temporarily forget his unease, looking at her tenderly.

On the way, there were many people, so Xu Yuqing held back until they got on the bicycle. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Do you know what? If you were to retire now, I could support you."

She said boldly.

All her efforts had paid off. Even Xu Factory Manager hadn't expected the success of the pork intestine canned goods.

Indeed, in the city, meat tickets were scarce, and getting meat was difficult. With the availability of cheap, tasty canned pork intestines that required no tickets, curiosity was piqued.

Following Xu Yuqing's suggestion, they held a tasting event, giving out ten cans of canned goods for free at each cooperative store.

This method was tested last Monday at the cooperative store closest to the Beicheng Canning Factory, and it sold out quickly.

Demand exceeded supply, and the reputation of Beicheng's pork intestine canned goods spread far and wide.

Reducing profit margins and serving the people, next Monday, reporters from the Beicheng newspaper would conduct an on-site interview.

Excitedly, she told Xie Junli everything, feeling her enthusiasm almost bursting.

"I'm so happy!" she concluded, eagerly awaiting his response.

Pedaling slowly, feeling the excitement of his lover, Xie Junli curved the corner of his mouth and praised her without reservation, "Very good, this is all your own doing."

In this canned food battle, the most important thing was still the taste.

If the taste wasn't good enough, the people wouldn't buy it. Only with a good taste would there be such a frenzy now.

Xu Yuqing admitted that Xie Junli's resolute attitude pleased her. Satisfied, she hugged his waist, "Hehe, you're quite good at talking!"

The two enjoyed this rare moment of tranquility. When they got home, Xu Yuqing followed Xie Junli closely, watching him lock the bike, unwilling to go in first.

Xie Junli indulgently went along with her, but the smile on the corner of his mouth wouldn't fade.

Seeing him like this, Xu Yuqing found it amusing, "You're completely different from when I first met you."

Xie Junli raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

She gave him a sidelong glance, "What do you think?"

Xie Junli laughed helplessly, "Let's go inside; it's too cold out here."

Seeing him evade the topic, Xu Yuqing pouted and walked in.

She took off the shoulder bag from Xie Junli and found two thick envelopes inside. Looking at Xie Junli, she laughed boldly, "Shall we open them?"

Xie Junli took them over, feeling the thickness. He could tell what was inside. Tearing it open, he found a thick stack of large denomination notes.

"There's a thousand here," Xu Yuqing leaned in and whispered.

And this was just part of the payment already settled. The canned food factory would continue to settle the rest monthly.

Filled with large denomination notes, Xie Junli looked at the money in front of him, somewhat shocked. In less than a month, they had earned more than a year's salary for him. Smiling, he looked at her, pride welling up within him, "You can support me now."

"Hmm, definitely."

Xu Yuqing hummed proudly, "Tomorrow, let's go on a big shopping spree! Have a good New Year. When the time comes, bring He Xiang over. Anyway, it's pretty quiet with just the two of us, and after the New Year, he'll be leaving." She said softly.

She knew how it felt to spend the New Year alone; it wasn't pleasant.

Even though Xu Yuqing and He Xiang weren't very familiar, during such times, they could still offer each other some companionship.

Xie Junli agreed, looking at her gently. Xu Yuqing, the money-loving one, happily went to the wardrobe, took out the box, counted all their savings again and again, then carefully put them away. Just as she closed the box, she suddenly opened it again. Xie Junli sat beside her, watching silently, "What's wrong?"

"Where's your wallet? Bring it over."

Taking out his wallet from his pocket, Xie Junli watched as she stuffed several large denomination notes into it like a landlord hoarding gold.

"Here, some pocket money for you."

Xu Yuqing waved her hand, looking proud and adorable, like a tiger standing majestically on a peak.

Reaching over, he took the wallet, five notes, fifty yuan. If he took this wallet out, everyone would be shocked.

Two or three months' worth of food expenses for a family, given as pocket money by her.

Xie Junli laughed helplessly, suddenly finding this feeling quite comfortable.

After dinner, Xie Junli had gotten used to going for a run before bed. However, Xu Yuqing had never seen him run after coming home. This time, after finishing dinner, he hurriedly washed the dishes and told Xu Yuqing he was going out.

Xu Yuqing found it strange that he was running in his military coat, but Xie Junli ran off like a wild horse, uncontrollable, zooming away.

Xu Yuqing closed her mouth; she was about to ask him to get her a glass of water.

After leaving, Xie Junli ran to the Yu family's house at his usual speed. In the courtyard, Yu Wenyao was playing with his son. Seeing Xie Junli's silhouette from afar, he curiously picked up his son, "What's up with you? Little Xu came back today, right?"

Looking at Xie Junli with curiosity and a hint of gossip, he asked, "Why are you here?"

Xie Junli pretended to be reluctant as he approached, "I ate too much."

As he spoke, he walked over and casually took out his wallet in front of Yu Song and his father.

Yu Wenyao looked at him in confusion, "What are you doing? You're not trying to buy my son, are you? I'm telling you, I won't sell my son! You can buy anything else with your money!"

He joked, but Xie Junli ignored him, calmly taking out his wallet, opening it wide, and pulling out a single yuan note. "No worries, my wife gave me some money today. Since he's also my nephew, here, Uncle Xie is giving you this."

As he spoke, holding the wallet with one hand, where five large denomination notes were clearly visible, he handed the single yuan note to Yu Song with the other hand.

Yu Wenyao instantly understood what he meant and laughed, "Good one, showing off to me? Why don't you give all of it to my son? And do you think I don't have any?"

He huffed angrily but then realized he didn't have any.

He only had less than five yuan, and it was all in small denominations.

Glaring at Xie Junli, he picked up his son and turned to leave, throwing the yuan note back at Xie Junli, "Get lost!"

Xie Junli raised an eyebrow, surprised that Yu Wenyao couldn't take a joke. He caught the yuan note mid-air and, since Yu Song didn't want it, put it back in his wallet. Pleased, he returned home.

Xie Junli was happy, but little did he know that after he left, the Yu family had a bit of a commotion. Of course, it ended with Yu Wenyao sulking while holding his son.

"I don't want fifty, at least give me a five-yuan note!" He shouted indignantly, using his son as a shield.

Yan Lan ignored him, applying face cream, and didn't spare him, "Old Xie has money but doesn't spend it recklessly. What about you? You'd spend everything in your pocket in a heartbeat. Do you think you're a tycoon?"

Hearing her impatient words, Yu Wenyao immediately shut up, feeling guilty and not daring to argue further.

On the other side, when Xie Junli returned home, Xu Yuqing was knitting. She wanted to finish a new sweater for him before the New Year.

After washing up, on the kang, one person held a book, and the other held yarn. The small room was warm and cozy.

As night deepened, Xu Yuqing's head nodded, starting to feel sleepy. Xie Junli, as if he had been waiting for this moment, put down his book and took away what she was holding. They lay down and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next day, Xu Yuqing got up eagerly. Although they were supposed to spend money, there really wasn't much to spend it on. She checked what they had at home; the half pig they bought last time hadn't been eaten much, so there was still plenty left, enough for the New Year.

Sugar tickets were scarce now; otherwise, she would have bought more.

After tidying up the house, Xu Yuqing looked at their cellar and storage room, rubbing her chin. "We're short on vegetables."

However, everywhere was short on vegetables, and there was nothing they could do about it.

Fortunately, they could occasionally grow bean sprouts to satisfy their cravings.

But she wondered, with no meat or vegetables in the village, what did everyone eat? Surely they couldn't gnaw on tree bark?

Xu Yuqing looked at Xie Junli and asked her question hesitantly. He paused for a moment before replying calmly, "Potatoes, I guess."

Still, hunger and cold were common occurrences.

Potatoes, it seemed, were the same in both northern and southern regions.

Xu Yuqing quieted down, suddenly remembering her days as a sent-down youth. She moved closer to Xie Junli, holding his arm, her eyes distant. "Do you know? I used to go hungry often."

Not because there was nothing to eat. Though they had three children, their family was made up of two workers, so there was food available.

It was just that her parents didn't give her any.

"I got used to being hungry. When I first went down to work as a sent-down youth, I would often faint in the fields. The team leader hated me, but he couldn't let me starve. Yet, I had no work points either."

She smiled bitterly, her eyes showing little emotion. It felt like those events happened a long, long time ago.

"Besides when I was young, the only time I ate well was when I was a sent-down youth. Back then, I was so despised that to regain some dignity, I worked extra hours digging wild vegetables for everyone."

And perhaps due to luck, only the wild vegetables she dug were tender enough to be edible.

"So I kept digging wild vegetables every day. That's how I eventually saved you." She looked at Xie Junli seriously, wondering how she managed to save him with such strength back then.

Later, following him, she met her mother-in-law He Xiuhua, who made her life miserable. Xie Junli was busy with military duties and never came back, and she didn't dare say anything out of guilt.

So she endured.

She often thought that if she hadn't remembered her past life, she would have died miserably this time too.

Indeed, an environment could change a person so drastically.

She was once weak and timid, yet now she was confident, strong, and cheerful.

Suddenly, she felt a sense of emotion. "This year, we must have a good New Year."

The person beside her responded gently. Xu Yuqing looked at the ground, calming herself before pulling the man back to the main room. "What do you want for lunch? Something we haven't tried?"

"Sure."

Xie Junli quickly agreed, feeling a bit guilty and regretting his lack of words.

Last time, they bought a lot of cumin for the barbecue, which was still unused. Xu Yuqing placed the cumin seeds in a garlic mortar and pounded them hard.

Last time, she did the same, resulting in a strong cumin smell when pounding garlic.

She poured out the cumin powder, washed the mortar, and set it aside. Xu Yuqing took the peeled potatoes from Xie Junli.

She cut the potatoes into chunks, heated oil in the pan over low heat, and slowly fried them until cooked. She then removed them and continued with the next batch.

For lunch, they planned to eat potatoes, as there were too many to finish otherwise.

Rice and flour were running out fast, but with the New Year approaching, they were hard to buy.

Everyone was short and wanted more.

But there weren't enough food tickets.

Xu Yuqing sighed helplessly. How long would this ticket system last?

Xie Junli ate a lot, so his portion was larger. A large plate of golden-brown potato chunks sat on the table. "Now, turn up the heat high."

Xu Yuqing called out, and Xie Junli immediately responded, adding a few bamboo chips to the fire, which flared up instantly. He then added a piece of wood.

Feeling the increasing heat in the pot, Xu Yuqing added a little more oil, ensuring it wouldn't stick.

Once the oil was hot, she quickly added the potatoes, reheating the cooled ones until crispy, ready to add the seasonings.

But the seasoning had to be done quickly.

First, the scallions went in, followed by a quick stir, then soy sauce, mixed evenly. Then came chili powder and cumin powder. "Turn off the heat!"

Using the residual heat, she mixed the seasonings thoroughly.

The kitchen filled with the aroma of cumin, making Xu Yuqing's stomach rumble.

But potatoes alone weren't enough. She boiled some water on the side, added sliced meat, and shredded cabbage. Timing it right, she poured beaten eggs along the edge of the pot.

"Done, let's eat."

She sprinkled salt, a little pork lard, and pepper powder, creating a simple yet delicious soup.

Xie Junli extinguished the fire and picked up the soup bowl before Xu Yuqing could. Seeing this, she didn't argue and fetched the bowls and chopsticks. On the table, the golden potato chunks emitted a tempting aroma, garnished with bits of green, looking particularly appealing.

Xie Junli loved the taste of cumin. He had been swallowing uncontrollably earlier, and as soon as he sat down, he picked up his chopsticks and took a piece for himself.

"How is it? Is it good? Is it different from roasted?"

Xu Yuqing said proudly; cumin potatoes were once her favorite dish.

After filming videos late into the night, almost to the point of collapse, she would go downstairs with her assistant and head to the nearby night market. They would order two servings of cumin potatoes, add some stir-fried noodles, and have two glasses of wine.

A perfect and comforting late-night snack was ready.

Eating this similar taste now, Xu Yuqing felt like she had suddenly returned to those times, except now there was someone by her side to rely on.

Thinking that there might be some leftovers from the large plate of potatoes, Xu Yuqing didn't expect Xie Junli's appetite to be so voracious. Before long, the plate was empty.

She watched him eat, and Xie Junli would take two pieces of potato and then sip some soup, very methodically. If he became a food broadcaster, just with his face and figure, he would definitely become famous nationwide.

By the end, Xu Yuqing barely managed to finish the last sip of soup in her bowl. "I can't drink anymore. Let's leave the remaining soup for noodles tonight."

"Okay." Xie Junli patted his stomach, not forcing himself further.

They both stood up in unison, cleaned their bowls and chopsticks, put on their cotton coats, and went out for a walk in the snow.

The weather had been quite nice these past few days, though cold, the sun was still visible. The children in the residential area who had been confined indoors were now running around freely. However, one look from Xie Junli's stern face would send them all scurrying away.

Now, with Xu Yuqing by his side, he seemed different. A young girl, with a bold demeanor and rosy cheeks, approached them.

"Auntie Xie! Auntie Xie! Uncle Xie was really mean when you weren't here!" She grabbed Xu Yuqing's hand and reported seriously.

Then she glanced provocatively at Xie Junli.

Xu Yuqing bent down to play along but couldn't help laughing.

She teased Xie Junli, mimicking the little girl's tone, whispering, "Really? How could he be so bad? What should we do about it?"

Her gentle voice made the girl even more affectionate, and she hugged Xu Yuqing's leg. "I know! Just like my dad! Give him a beating with a bamboo whip! Bamboo whip on you!"

Imitating her mother's scolding, she acted it out vividly, nearly making Xu Yuqing laugh so hard she could barely stand.

Supporting herself with both hands on Xie Junli, she wiped away tears from laughter and added, "Alright, I got it. I'll beat him later so he won't be so mean next time."

The little girl smiled happily and ran off to her friends waiting nearby, excitedly boasting about what had just happened.

Xu Yuqing stood up, "Uncle Xie~ Be gentler next time, okay?"

Xie Junli's ears turned red, almost breaking his composure at the mention of "Uncle Xie." He hurriedly covered Xu Yuqing's mouth, "We're outside!"

"So it's okay inside?" Xu Yuqing teased with a smile.

Xie Junli's eyes darkened, "You can try."