"Are you sure about this?"
Wei Kaiyun nodded. "I’ve been tired over these years; the one above is considerate and won’t disagree."
"As long as you can let go, that’s good."
"Haha, what’s there not to let go? With loss comes gain."
"We’ve been together since we were fifteen, over ten years now," Old Yang sighed.
Wei Kaiyun shifted his position, looking particularly laid-back. "Yeah, remembering those days."
Old Yang laughed too, remembering those times.
"Xiao Wei, I wish you all the best."
Old Yang stood up and patted his shoulder.
Wei Kaiyun watched Old Yang’s silhouette, feeling a deep loneliness. This was a brother he had gone through thick and thin with.
"Old Yang, let me introduce a wife, how about Jiang Xinyu’s friend? Old Yang, someone that pure suits you."
Old Yang didn’t turn around, just waved his hand. He feared tainting her innocence.
"Old Yang, she’s the one, I’ll find a way for you."
They started training at ten, so they have a good eye for people. Those who’ve seen darkness often prefer the light.
In the afternoon, Jiang Xinyu stitched all the edges; tomorrow the clothes can be finalized.
It’s already getting late; if it were just her, she’d make do, but since Old Yang and Wei Kaiyun are coming for dinner, she decided to prepare something.
It’s quite extravagant to cook at night.
The fish was already prepared, the fire lit up, using a big pot for stew, nothing beats fish stew in an iron pot.
The cornmeal was ready, but a bit runny; might as well cook it on the flat griddle.
When Old Yang and Wei Kaiyun stood outside the door, they smelled the rich aroma of stewed fish.
"Xiao Wei, this is the kind of life you’re longing for, right?"
"Yes, this morning I saw that carefree silly girl sitting across me eating porridge, and decided she’s the one."
Jiang Xinyu opened the door and hurried back to the main room, she was just finishing up the dish.
As they entered, Wei Kaiyun carried a piece of pork, about five to six pounds.
"Director Wei, are we having pork dumplings tomorrow?"
"No need, if you have time, make braised pork; with those slender arms and legs of yours, I’m afraid the spring breeze might blow you away."
Jiang Xinyu pouted; she had put on some weight, nonsense, how could the wind blow her away?
There were chunks of radish in the fish soup, stewed until tender, a whole basin full.
Tonight was still a large plate of vermicelli, and the rest was fish.
Jiang Xinyu ladled out some fish soup and crumbled a patty into the bowl.
"What kind of eating style is this?" Wei Kaiyun looked at Jiang Xinyu dismissively.
"What do you know? This is fish soup with crumbled patty, try it, it’s absolutely delicious."
Wei Kaiyun used his chopsticks to pick some up and put it in his mouth.
"Well, the fish soup is certainly tasty."
"You just don’t know how to enjoy."
After the three finished dinner, Wei Kaiyun went to wash the dishes. Old Yang sat on one side, feeling envious of the two; if Xiao Wei had his mind set, the girl wouldn’t escape.
"Xiao Jiang, I have spare money, what can I invest in?"
"Then buy a house in the Capital; houses there will definitely be worth a fortune in the future."
Old Yang laughed, "Alright, I understand, I’ll buy when I get a chance. Okay, Xiao Jiang, I’m heading back."
By now, Wei Kaiyun had finished the dishes too. The two left together.
"Xiao Wei, you need to act fast, it would be a pity if she ran away."
"Yes, she can’t escape if she’s already on my ship."
The next day, Jiang Xinyu really didn’t want to get up, but knowing the Demon King was coming for breakfast, she had no choice but to get up.
In her past life, she never lingered in bed, it seems the old saying is true, learning good habits is hard, but picking up bad ones is easy.
Breakfast was egg fried rice, plenty leftover from yesterday’s lunch.
She also prepared two large bowls of milk powder. Wei Kaiyun wrinkled his nose at the milk powder; he ate beef and lamb but didn’t like the milky taste.
"Do you like drinking this?"
"Yes, it’s so nutritious; since I started drinking milk powder, I’ve grown a whole foot taller."
"Then you should drink more. You can have mine?"
"No need, I can’t finish it, you don’t like it, so I won’t prepare it for you anymore, it’s wasteful, and I’m still drinking it sparingly."
"Drink up, today I’ll get you some more bags."
"No need, I still have a packet here, and it has an expiration date, I’ll buy new ones once I finish it."
Wei Kaiyun quite liked egg fried rice. Jiang Xinyu only ate a small bowl, the rest went into Wei Kaiyun’s stomach.
"Is your friend coming today?"
"Yes, I told her a few days ago, or else I’d be too slow making dumplings alone."
"I’ll chop the meat filling afterwards."
"That’s great, now is a good time for it, not fully thawed. It’s up to you."
After Wei Kaiyun left, Jiang Xinyu made dough, then took out two large radishes. Wei Kaiyun and Old Yang loved meat; if she put too many vegetables in, they wouldn’t be satisfied, given the meat they provided, better cater to them.
Wang Ailing came over herself, "Sis, here’s Ovaltine, do you want anything else to eat?"
"No need, I’m saving my appetite for dumplings at noon; I’ve been craving them for ages.
Xinyu, there’s a piece of fabric in my bag, I swapped it with someone in our dorm, pure white cloth, you can make two shirts. I see city girls wearing white shirts."
"Sis, don’t spend too much."
"What’s the big deal?"
"We’ll each have a piece, I’ll make them."
"Alright, you cut, I’ll stitch the edges."
How could girls resist the temptation of new clothes, the two of them soon sat on the kang sewing clothes.
"Is this fabric Terylene?"
"Yeah, it’s good fabric, isn’t it?"
"I still feel cotton clothes are more comfortable in summer.
Next time we come across it, we’ll each make a set of cotton shirts."
Wang Ailing was skilled too, the two sat on the kang stitching edges.
By ten, they hadn’t finished the edges, but it was time to start cooking.
This time they made two hundred dumplings, just in case there wasn’t enough; Wang Ailing had quite an appetite too.
Half past eleven, the dumplings were ready, Wang Ailing lit the fire; Jiang Xinyu went to fry peanuts. Eating with dumplings was especially tasty.
"Sis, stay for dinner tonight, we’ll have lamb hot pot, you haven’t had it yet."
"That’s great, getting to eat meat, I’d love to eat every meal," Wang Ailing laughed out loud after saying.
Hearing the door knock, Wang Ailing went to open it; Jiang Xinyu couldn’t leave her hands, or the peanuts would burn.
"Director Wei, Master Yang."
"The little girl is here too?"
"Yes, I’m here for the free meal," Wang Ailing said smilingly.
The two saw Jiang Xinyu sitting by the stove frying peanuts, Old Yang greeted and went to the western room, sat at the table, and saw the cut vermicelli.
"Has this girl still not finished the vermicelli?"