They were chatting away when Su Yuelan came in.
Zhang Zhaodi, seeing everyone had arrived, proudly took out the food she brought: "I brought pickles and spicy rabbit meat from home. Who wants to try?"
Su Yuelan chimed in: "I brought mahua from Eighteenth Street."
At this moment, Cui Haili also joined in: "I brought brittle sugar and biscuits from my hometown."
Then everyone started taking out the food they brought from home and placed it on the table.
Xinyan had fried small crispy meats and also brought some homemade preserved fruits from her space.
Jiang Peiqin brought braised beef.
Bai Aiwen directly brought pancakes, which were obviously mixed with delicate grains, probably worried that everyone wouldn’t be used to them.
Even Fan Xiaoxing took out the dried fish she brought: "These were sun-dried by my family, specially treated, no fishy smell, everyone give it a try."
The dormitory became lively, with everyone chatting about their various amusing misadventures at home during the holiday.
Finally, Xinyan shared the news of her engagement and handed out the prepared milk candies and chocolates: "Everyone, enjoy something sweet, grab some joy, and may you all find your Mr. Right soon."
Bai Aiwen, who initially didn’t look too happy, now had a smile: "When will your fiancé invite us for a meal?"
Xinyan laughed: "Today might not be possible, but tomorrow at noon, he happens to have two days off."
Bai Aiwen was merely making a casual remark and didn’t expect Xinyan to agree straight away: "I was just saying it offhand, and you’re really agreeing."
Xinyan chuckled: "If it weren’t for the holidays making things inconvenient for everyone, such a big event like my engagement, I would definitely have invited you all to witness it. So, it’s a deal."
Since those troublemakers left the dormitory, everyone has been getting along quite well, and now that Bai Aiwen suggested it, there’s no reason to refuse.
Seeing that Xinyan sincerely invited them, everyone cheered and agreed.
Su Yuelan approached Xinyan: "Xinyan, when I came here today, I saw Qiao Shanmei. She didn’t go back home and has been staying in Beijing."
Previously, it was said that Qiao Shanmei didn’t return home, but to think she didn’t even go back for the New Year: "Where did you see her?"
Su Yuelan replied: "My aunt’s child is sick, so we went to my aunt’s house, and I encountered her this morning on the road, not far from the Children’s Hospital."
Hearing what Su Yuelan said, Xinyan thought she must be too embarrassed to go home, but didn’t dwell on it, merely saying, "Probably doesn’t dare go back."
This morning, there wasn’t much going on, just cleaning and having the class meeting.
At noon, when Xinyan returned to the small courtyard, He Jinxuan already had lunch prepared. Besides the two dishes mentioned, he also made braised prawns.
Seeing the dishes on the table: "Where did these prawns come from?"
He Jinxuan smiled as he served the rice: "While buying groceries, I ran into an acquaintance who said his relatives from the south sent them over, and insisted on sharing some with me.
I know you like prawns, so I gave him the ribs I had in hand, then went back and bought a portion."
Xinyan looked at the dishes, which seemed quite appealing in color, aroma, and flavor: "You’ve worked hard."
He Jinxuan, seeing her face full of smiles, was eager for praise: "Quick, have a taste, see how it is?"
Xinyan graciously sat down, picked up a rib, started eating, and seeing him watching intently, decided to tease him a bit, sometimes frowning, then nodding, causing He Jinxuan’s heart to rise and fall, inwardly muttering: "Tell me, how does it taste after all?"