"Lin Wei," Xu Nianhua called out while chasing.
Lin Wei stopped when she heard her name.
"Wei-jie (Sister Wei)."
Xu Nianhua called out sweetly.
"It’s Nianhua." Lin Wei, with a smile on her lips gentle as a spring breeze, gave a warm feeling. She said, "It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? My dad often talks about you, says you were one of his brightest students."
"I’ve only been back for a few days and haven’t visited Mr. Lin yet," Xu Nianhua replied with a smile. She asked, "Wei-jie, where are you working now?"
"Still teaching in Lianxin Village. What about you? I heard from my dad that you got into Beining University in Ningbei. How’s that going? You’ve changed since going to college, becoming more and more beautiful," Lin Wei, who used to live in the school dormitory with her dad, was fairly familiar with Xu Nianhua, as Nianhua was one of the students her father most valued.
"Not at all. Wei-jie is the one who’s become more beautiful," Xu Nianhua said with a light smile. She hadn’t thought of it earlier, but now, seeing Lin Wei, she remembered something very important.
It was the eve of Chinese New Year’s Eve in 1980, in other words, it was the eve of Chinese New Year’s Eve in 1981, when Wei-jie had an accident.
At that time, she had moved on to teaching at a primary school in the county with Mr. Lin’s help. When Wei-jie had the accident, Mr. Lin seemed to age ten years overnight. And since it was the eve of Chinese New Year’s Eve, the incident was particularly memorable for her.
"Right, Wei-jie, are you up to something today?" Xu Nianhua inquired, noting the clothes Lin Wei was carrying, which were clearly men’s garments, yet not Mr. Lin’s.
Lin Wei glanced at Xu Nianhua, a bit embarrassed.
Xu Nianhua didn’t press the issue, only suggesting, "How about this, Wei-jie, I’ll come see you at noon on New Year’s Eve."
"Sure," Lin Wei agreed without hesitation, not knowing why Xu Nianhua specifically chose the New Year’s Eve, but she didn’t have any plans for that day.
"Wei-jie, then it’s settled. We’ll come visit you on New Year’s Eve," Xu Nianhua reminded her repeatedly, "Wei-jie, you can’t forget about me."
"I won’t. I’ll ask my mom to make something delicious for you," Lin Wei assured, indicating that she had taken note.
Only then did Xu Nianhua say goodbye to Lin Wei.
Pei Yining looked curiously at Xu Nianhua, who explained, "That’s my teacher’s daughter. I know her well, Lin Wei, Wei-jie."
"Oh," Pei Yining nodded and then didn’t say anything more, only taking Ji Nianhua and Zheng Jin around for some shopping. At noon, they deliberately chose a restaurant to eat.
Pei Yining tried the spicy diced fish head and fell in love with it at first bite.
The red "Xiaomila" chili pepper mixed with the pickled chili, not only vibrant in color but also a taste she had never experienced before, sour and spicy, with the fish meat particularly tender.
"Nianhua, I love this," Pei Yining declared, giving a thumbs up.
"Then next year when we come back to Beining, we’ll bring some pickled chili. I can make it too," Xu Nianhua said.
Her words immediately brightened Pei Yining’s eyes, who said, "Nianhua, you’re so good."
Just for making a dish, she’s ’so good’?
"Brother, there used to be so many people chasing after Nianhua in school. But, I feel like they didn’t deserve her," Pei Yining said as soon as she got home, sharing the news she had gathered. "Brother, when are you going to chase after Nianhua? If you don’t hurry, Nianhua will belong to someone else."
Pei Yining was getting anxious!