Water tends to be abundant in vegetables and seeps out naturally when stir-fried, so there’s no need to add more.
Cough...
While the dish was only half-cooked, the phone started ringing.
"Mom, come here for a sec, I need to take a call," Qin Guanglin shouted from the kitchen.
After Qin’s Mom stepped in, she fanned the air in front of her nose, "How many chilies did you put in? It’s so pungent."
"Just two," he replied as he dug for his phone, then headed outside, "I haven’t even added salt, nothing yet."
"Got it."
The call was from He Fang; Qin Guanglin pressed the answer button and walked toward the bedroom, "Hello? What’s up?"
"I miss you. What are you doing?"
His mood instantly improved, a smile spreading across his face, "Just stir-frying some vegetables. I miss you too."
"What are you cooking?"
"Water spinach and garlic shoots with wood ear mushrooms... What are you up to?" Qin Guanglin heard cars honking in the background and asked, "Are you outside?"
"Yeah, just wandering around the shops."
At that moment, the sky was dimming but hadn’t fully darkened yet. Street lights were already on, and pedestrians bustled, mingling with the sounds of cars and horns.
He Fang sat alone on a flowerbed across the street, gazing sadly at the newly completed building opposite, her whole demeanor radiating a sense of unspoken gloom.
This residential area would later be named Four Seasons Flower, featuring Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Gardens. The third building from the left was the Golden Autumn Garden.
"I want to come over to your place," she said, swinging her dangling legs as she spoke to Qin Guanglin on the phone.
I really want to go home...
Even if it wasn’t their home, as long as he was there, it felt like home.
"Sure, have you eaten yet? I can save some for you... never mind, let’s go out to eat later," Qin Guanglin agreed instantly, "How long till you get here? I’ll come to the intersection to meet you."
"But it will be very late by the time I get there."
He Fang sat still on the edge of the flowerbed, "Let’s just forget it; I’ll come over the weekend."
"It’s okay if it’s late, I’ll drive you back anyway," Qin Guanglin turned over on the bed, "The weekend is still two days away, and I really miss you."
Even though they had just seen each other yesterday, he still longed for her, wishing they could be together every day.
"I... it will take a long time to get there, and I can’t stay for long," He Fang wavered slightly.
The sky grew darker, and the unfinished building across the street looked bleak and foreboding, more oppressive the longer she stared.
Home.
The word meant more than just a house; what mattered most were the people. A place became a warm home when someone was there, without people it was just a cold building.
"Then I’ll come to you, where are you?" Qin Guanglin sat up in bed, ready to head out.
"No need, I’ll come over," He Fang couldn’t suppress the urge, lightly hopping down from the flowerbed and walking toward the bus station, "I’ve already eaten, don’t need to save any food for me."
"Hmm... okay."
Knock knock knock.
The sound of knocking followed by Qin’s Mom’s call entered, "Time to eat!"
"Got it, in a sec," Qin Guanglin muffled the phone in response.
"You go ahead and eat, I’m on my way now," He Fang, on the other side of the phone, heard Qin’s Mom’s shout, "Gotta go, bye."
"Alright, let me know when you’re close so I can meet you at the intersection," he added, but there was no reply; the call had ended.
He left the bedroom, Qin’s Mom and aunt were already eating. Qin Guanglin served himself a big bowl of rice, settled at the table ready to start eating, then set down his chopsticks and sent He Fang a message to let him know when she was almost there.
It’s always polite for a guy to go out and meet his girlfriend, rather than having her come in and knock on the door by herself.
"He Fang?" Qin’s Mom inquired.
"Yes," Qin Guanglin nodded, took a bite, and then added, "She’ll be here soon."
"You should have said earlier; I would have slowed down so she could join us."
"She’s already eaten."
Aunt, curious, chimed in from the side, "Who is it?"
"His girlfriend," Qin’s Mom didn’t want to elaborate.
"Guanglin has a girlfriend?" Aunt looked at Qin Guanglin, "When did this happen? How long have you been seeing her?"
"..."
Not eager to engage, Qin Guanglin ambiguously said, "Quite a while."
"Where’s she from? What does she do? How old is she?" Aunt was always the most curious about these things, firing off her inquiry in rapid succession.
Annoyed and stuffing his mouth with food to avoid responding, he finally said, exasperated, "Aunt, do you work at the registry office or something?"
This woman could outtalk Uncle Pan, and God knew how she would gossip once home, which just irked him more.
Aunt was a bit taken aback by his tone, "Hey, I’m just asking, watching out for you."
Since when did you need to watch out for me?
Without looking up, Qin Guanglin dismissed her, "No need, thank you."
"Kids in love, why fuss so much?" Even Qin’s Mom was displeased with her sister-in-law, thinking, Does she need to watch over when I’m right here?
"Nowadays, girls..."
Aunt was about to continue when Qin Guanglin cut her off, "Let’s just eat. Just take care of Ting."
"..."
Slightly choked up, Aunt retorted, "I’m just reminding you..."
"No need for reminders, worry more about Xiaocheng’s matters, help him when he’s grown." Qin Guanglin consistently interrupted her.
Frustrated, Aunt poked at the vegetables with her chopsticks, rummaging for leaves, "Are you guys always eating vegetarian?"
"We follow Buddhism, no meat or fish."
"..."
After half a bowl, Aunt lost her appetite, placed her chopsticks down, and moved back to the couch to watch TV.
The nephew had no sense, spoiled by his sister-in-law. That sister-in-law, too, could’ve made some effort to cook better, always just setting out a table of vegetarian dishes.
With one less irritating person at the table, Qin Guanglin’s appetite improved dramatically. He finished his bowl and loaded it with another heaping portion, the little chili in the food making his nose sweat.
After eating, he cleared the table, drank a large glass of water, and checked his silent phone—no clue where He Fang was.
He planned to take He Fang straight to his bedroom when she arrived, offering no chance for his aunt to speak to her.
People could be so annoying.