Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Xu Yuqing immediately shook her head. "No, I want to eat outside! Eating in the room is too messy!"

She put on her cotton shoes, took the bowl from Xie Junli's hand, and sat down at the dining table.

The dumplings he had cooked this time looked much better. Xu Yuqing ate one after another—some with pickled cabbage, some with Chinese cabbage, mixed together, they tasted quite good.

Dinner was simply a plate of dumplings. After eating, she went to wash up, yawned sleepily, and strode towards the bed.

As soon as she lay down, before even covering herself with the quilt, she fell asleep. Xie Junli, who had finished tidying up the house and wiped his hands clean, came in to find Xu Yuqing already fast asleep.

He brushed away her scattered hair, untied her braids, covered her with the quilt, and then turned to wash up.

The next morning.

Xu Yuqing woke up feeling refreshed. Finally, she didn't have to eat canned food right after waking up. Excitedly, she got out of bed and ran to the kitchen.

"Let's have meat porridge for breakfast today. I'll fry some eggs too."

"Okay."

Xie Junli responded instinctively, putting down the spatula in his hand. The path in the yard had already been cleared, and he walked over to the storage room to fetch a piece of lean meat.

Xu Yuqing was washing rice. There wasn't much rice left at home; she needed to buy more soon. Perhaps there would be more ration tickets available during the New Year.

The clay pot was placed on the small stove, waiting for it to boil while Xu Yuqing prepared the meat.

She sliced the still-frozen meat into pieces, strips, and then diced them. The cold weather made handling the frozen meat even colder, turning her fingers red. Fortunately, she had prepared a basin of warm water nearby.

After chopping the meat into smaller pieces, she added some pepper and salt for seasoning, ready to dump it into the boiling porridge.

Frying eggs was even simpler. A simple breakfast was ready.

Before seven-thirty, the two had their breakfast. Soon, Xie Junli had to go for training, while Xu Yuqing planned to visit Yan Lan to ask what they needed for the New Year.

Xie Junli was running out of time. He quickly finished his porridge, wiped his mouth clean, and said, "I'll wash the bowls when I come back. I'm off to training."

He instructed.

Xu Yuqing nodded, her eyes on the newspaper, absentmindedly responding.

Fortunately, Xie Junli didn't mind. He put on his cotton coat, looked at Xu Yuqing, went over, and kissed her.

Xu Yuqing, suddenly pulled by him, looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing?"

Xie Junli didn't respond, just put on his shoes and left.

Xu Yuqing pouted, watching the closed door, and continued reading the newspaper.

After leisurely finishing her porridge, Xu Yuqing cleaned up, picked up five cans of pork intestine, and carefully headed towards the Yu family's house.

Luckily, Xie Junli had already cleared the snow in the yard and outside, creating a path from one house to another.

Arriving at the Yu family's house, she called out, "Sister Yan Lan? Are you here?"

She knocked loudly, but there was no response. Xu Yuqing leaned against the door, wondering if she had gone out.

She knocked again, still no answer. Just as she was about to give up and turn back, she heard footsteps inside, and the door suddenly opened.

However, the person who came out was an unfamiliar old lady.

With silver hair neatly combed, only a few wisps at the temples were loose. Her face was kind and radiant.

"Comrade, who are you?"

The old lady asked curiously.

Xu Yuqing smiled awkwardly. She was never good with the elderly. Clearing her throat, she said, "My name is Xu Yuqing. I'm here to see Sister Yan Lan."

The old lady's eyes lit up with surprise. "You're Yuqing! My daughter has told me about you. Come in, come in. Oh, that peanut candy you made is so delicious!"

She held Xu Yuqing's hand tightly and pulled her inside.

Xu Yuqing tried to back away but couldn't resist the strength of the old lady, who dragged her in.

The familiar living room was empty. The old lady asked Xu Yuqing to sit down and poured her a cup of tea. "Wait a moment. Lanzi has gone to the supply store to buy some sugar."

"Um, okay, I'm not in a hurry," she said awkwardly, waving her hand. The weight of the cans stopped her movement, and she looked down.

Cans. She breathed a sigh of relief, now having a topic to talk about. She quickly extended the cans forward. "Auntie, these are cans from my factory. I don't know if you like them, but please try them."

She handed them over.

The old lady had noticed the cans earlier, thinking Xu Yuqing had bought them. Not wanting to embarrass her, she hadn't asked. But she was surprised that Xu Yuqing offered all five cans.

She quickly shook her head. "No need, no need. Keep them for yourself. We have plenty of food here."

Pointing to the snacks on the table, she proved her point.

Xu Yuqing insisted, determined to give the cans to Yan Lan. "I promised Sister Yan Lan these cans. Besides, they're from the factory, and I didn't pay for them. I can't finish them all myself."

She smiled and said.

Seeing her determination, the old lady didn't insist further. She could return them later. Curious, she asked, "Do you work at the canning factory?"

"Yes," Xu Yuqing replied, slightly puzzled.

The old lady's eyes brightened. "Comrade, do you have a significant other? I know a young man who also works at the canning factory. Perhaps you both know him. The benefits at the canning factory are great. Two young couples working together could earn a house and live happily."

Huh?

Xu Yuqing was stunned, not knowing how things had turned out this way. She frantically waved her hands, about to refuse, when a familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Mom! Yuqing is already married. Didn't I tell you? To Old Xie, Xie Junli—he's still the captain!"

A bucket of cold water was poured over the old lady's head. Married, huh? Being married is good too, she muttered somewhat reluctantly. The young Little Xu and that person were so well-matched.

She knew Little Xie too; she had met him. His face looked fierce; if they had children, the babies would cry at the sight of him.

But now, people always encourage reconciliation rather than separation. The old lady closed her mouth and said nothing.

Yan Lan took off her coat; the room was warm. She tossed a bag of sugar to the old lady and walked down. "Yuqing, why did you suddenly come today?"

Suddenly?

Xu Yuqing smiled faintly, picking up the canned food on the table. "This is tripe canned food. You can try it."

Tripe! Yan Lan's eyes lit up. "Isn't this the popular tripe canned food from Beicheng Canning Factory? Yesterday, I wanted to buy some, but by the time I got to the city, they were all sold out. How did you get so many, Yuqing?"

Curious, she picked one up. It was indeed marked with the logo of Beicheng Canning Factory. Suddenly, she remembered the gossip she had heard at the supply store earlier.

Two women were talking about someone working at the canning factory, saying it must be a lie.

Yan Lan looked at Xu Yuqing in surprise. "Oh my goodness, is this really true?"

"Huh? What thing?" Xu Yuqing asked, puzzled.

Yan Lan slapped her hand excitedly. "Are you working at the canning factory?"

Xu Yuqing looked at Yan Lan in surprise. How did Sister Yan Lan know? She hadn't said anything yet.

"Oh my goodness, Yuqing, if you had told me you worked at the canning factory, I wouldn't have made that trip yesterday for nothing. Oh, with these five cans of canned food, how many people will envy me this year!"

Yan Lan exclaimed happily, looking at the cans back and forth.

She had heard from her sister that these cans were hard to come by, cheap, and delicious. Getting them was like hitting the jackpot. She didn't know how tasty they were.

Happy, Yan Lan quickly stopped Xu Yuqing from leaving. "Yuqing, listen to your sister. Stay for dinner tonight. If I were cooking, I wouldn't dare stop you, but today, it's my mom cooking!"

Yan Lan said proudly, raising an eyebrow at the old lady, who couldn't help but chuckle kindly at Xu Yuqing. "Yes, stay for a meal. I've heard so much about you from my daughter. You've eaten here so many times; today, taste our family's cooking."

The old lady held Xu Yuqing's hand, taking it as a yes, and put on an apron to start cooking.

Xu Yuqing tried to help but was stopped by Yan Lan and the old lady. "Yuqing! Don't move. My mom has her own way of cooking and doesn't like others interfering!"

"That's right. Don't move. I cook very fast. If you get in my way, I won't be happy. Girl, go pick up Song."

Yan Lan hugged Xu Yuqing and hurriedly responded, "Got it."

To prevent Xu Yuqing from helping, Yan Lan dragged her outside. "Come, taste my mom's cooking. Let's go pick up Song."

Yu Song had made many friends at the daycare, and he liked this family's child the most. Yan Lan liked them too. This family wasn't like others who would eat anything off the ground. She couldn't trust them and had to follow along.

After walking past two or three houses, Yan Lan linked arms with Xu Yuqing and knocked on the door.

"Sister-in-law, I'm here to pick up Yu Song."

Yan Lan called out, and Li Man quickly responded, "Oh, come in! He's playing in the yard."

Hearing the voice, Yan Lan opened the door without hesitation. As soon as she entered, she saw Yu Song happily playing hopscotch with a little girl in the snow.

Yan Lan couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, you two are pretty brave, playing hopscotch in the snow. Aren't you afraid of falling?"

Beside the yard, a plump woman laughed too. Her belly was a bit big, suggesting she was pregnant. She was squatting, washing clothes. "They're quite skilled. They haven't fallen once."

Yan Lan grabbed Yu Song. "Time to go home. Aunt Yuqing is here to pick you up too."

Initially reluctant to leave, Yu Song's eyes lit up at the mention of Xu Yuqing's name. Seeing her standing beside Yan Lan, he rushed over. "Aunt Yuqing!"

"Hey!"

Xu Yuqing chuckled, catching Yu Song and lifting him up. Thankfully, she had been exercising recently; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to lift this little bundle of joy in his thick clothes.

"Did you have fun?" she asked, smiling.

Yu Song nodded happily. "Yes! I played hopscotch and picked stones with Fangfang. I can even jump rope!"

He shouted, laughing.

Yan Lan playfully smacked his head. "Playing girls' games, and you're so happy."

The woman nearby wrung out her clothes and stood up, her large belly making her wobble slightly. Yan Lan, quick-eyed, rushed over to support her.

Immediately, cries filled the yard.