"Hey, little sis is here."
Fat Sister isn’t around, but her husband is here. Compared to Fat Sister, the man enthusiastically greeting Fang Qing has a more normal physique. After all, Fat Sister’s weight is estimated to be almost two hundred pounds,
but from her, young Jiang Chen learned not to judge a person by their appearance. Despite being a bit overweight and according to conventional standards, quite unattractive, she has an optimistic heart that faces life positively.
That’s right.
This is a husband-and-wife business.
The couple is from Sichuan and Shu, quite like fellow countryn to Lan Peizhi. Everyone knows running a breakfast shop is tough; one person certainly can’t manage alone. But for quite a long ti, when Jiang Chen ca here to eat noodles, he found only Fat Sister, with no sign of her husband. As a child, though curious, he couldn’t ask. Later, he overheard his father’s chat and found out that it seed Fat Sister’s husband had run off with soone else.
Yeah.
aning he abandoned his wife and child.
Later, on so unknown day, he ca back, busy in the shop as usual, as if he never had left. Fat Sister didn’t show any abnormality either, still using her Sichuan dialect and squeezing her chubby cheeks, smiling at every custor coming for noodles.
Back then, Jiang Chen thought.
Perhaps his father and others were spreading rumors.
Ti flies.
Even Zhang Zhongquan, who is like an uncle, couldn’t recognize Jiang Chen anymore, let alone Fat Sister’s husband.
But he seed quite familiar with Fang Qing.
Indeed.
Fang Qing has spent most of her recent days in Sha City and must have visited frequently.
Ah Fei Noodle House wasn’t just a favorite of Jiang Chen alone; its taste was acknowledged by everyone in their social circle.
"Two bowls of spice noodles."
Fang Qing finally smiled, but it was towards a stranger.
People.
Always reserve their greatest courtesy for strangers.
"Got it."
The extra presence of Mr. Jiang attracted Fat Sister’s husband’s attention, but he surely wouldn’t ask anything.
The shop’s custors were few and sparse.
The two casually picked a table to sit.
"There’s still free soy milk."
Jiang Chen surveyed the surroundings.
From multinational corporations to this tiny noodle shop, all have to keep pace with the tis.
"The price has gone up to eight bucks a bowl."
Jiang Chen’s gaze fell on the price list.
Fang Qing kept silent, drawing out two pairs of disposable chopsticks, placing one pair in front of soone.
Though Qing Gege tends to be a bit cynical, she has one prominent virtue.
That is, she doesn’t hold grudges easily.
No matter how fiercely they argue, she won’t care the next day; that’s always been the case, which is why Jiang Chen dared to make that move last night.
Counting the ti.
From elentary school to now, this noodle shop has been here for nearly twenty years. Though the decor has changed quite a bit, sitting here, an inexplicable feeling floods from all sides.
Jiang Chen gets lost in thought.
Fang Qing doesn’t interrupt him.
"Noodles are ready."
How many breakfast shops still have the owner personally serve noodles to the table?
The two bowls of spice noodles covered in crushed peanuts and at sauce are placed in front, Fat Sister’s husband enthusiastically asks with a smile, "Want so soup?"
Before Fang Qing could speak, Jiang Chen unabashedly responded in his funny Sichuan dialect, "Sure! Eating spice noodles without seaweed soup ans it lacks soul."
"Young man with taste!"
Fat Sister’s husband happily goes back to fetch two bowls of seaweed soup.
"Thank you!"
Jiang Chen breaks the chopsticks, eagerly takes a bite, chews for a bit, "Seems not quite like the taste from before."
"It’s been so many years. What can remain unchanged?"
Fang Qing doesn’t complain as much, quietly eating noodles, her gestures particularly serene and elegant.
"Makes sense."
Jiang Chen pushes aside the noodles, "Where’s Fat Sister?"
"Don’t know."
"You haven’t seen her either?"
"Nope."
"You didn’t ask her husband?"
"I’m not a community service worker."
Indeed.
Actually.
They’re not very familiar.
In the movie called life, oneself is the protagonist, with very few supporting roles, and most are rely extras who can wrap up at any mont.
So Qing Gege is not being cold, but rational.
Two professions, a doctor and a lawyer, need to be cautious with overly emotional tendencies.
"Young man, have a smoke."
At this mont, not too busy, Fat Sister’s husband walks over, offers Jiang Chen a cigarette, besides being hospitable, he undoubtedly does it for Fang Qing’s sake.
"I don’t smoke, thank you."
Jiang Chen politely declines with a smile.
Fat Sister’s husband retracts, lights one for himself, starts chatting, "Seems I’ve never seen you before."
It can be said.
This noodle shop, run by Fat Sister and her husband, has watched them grow up.
Flicking ashes as he smokes, he doesn’t forget to size up Jiang Chen, probably feeling this young man seems familiar.
"I’ve co to eat here so many tis, and yet the boss can forget , huh."
Jiang Chen deliberately said,
"I just feel like you look familiar. Let think."
Fei’s husband’s expression furrowed deeply, then his eyes lit up, "You’re that Jiang kid?"
Jiang Chen was astonished, surprised that the other could really guess it.
Just know that even his cousin, Zhang Zhongquan, didn’t recognize him.
"Boss, what good eyesight you have!"
He laughed, admitting his identity.
The man, whose appearance hadn’t changed much except for so gray hair at the temples, chuckled proudly, clutching a cigarette, leaning against the wall, "You ca to eat noodles here when you were in elentary school, how could I not rember?"
"But I haven’t been here for so long."
"There’s a little sister. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have thought of it."
Over there, it seems that’s how they call young girls.
"Eat, eat noodles."
Seeing the kid who ca to his shop for noodles as a child return years later, as the boss, the man’s heart was also full of sentint, as he puffed on his cigarette, "Where do you work now?"
"Busy with nothing."
Jiang Chen slurped a mouthful of noodles, "Where’s Sister Fei?"
"She, oh, retired and went to enjoy life with her son."
Jiang Chen relaxed inwardly, smiling bitterly to himself.
Indeed.
How could there be so many tragedies in the world? Perhaps there are inevitable twists and turns, but in the end, things turn out well.
"Then you’re the only one left here."
"Yeah, can’t say how tiring it is."
The man took a drag on his cigarette, "I’ll keep going until the day I can’t anymore, then I’ll quit."
"That can’t be done, you’re still the pillar of the entire family."
"Haha, you’ve all grown up, and I’m not retiring yet? Now I just want to save so retirent money, so as not to burden the kids."
"Boss, a bowl of cold noodles!"
Soone called out.
"Coming!"
The man tossed his cigarette aside, "Take your ti eating."
"Looks like one day, we won’t be able to eat noodles here anymore."
Jiang Chen felt a sense of longing for the past.
"Then eat a few more bowls today."
What is this called?
This is called simplicity on the grand avenue!
How profound.
The future is beyond control, so just cherish the present, cherish what’s in front of you.
Jiang Chen took a sip of kelp soup, exhaling in enjoynt, "This soup is free, I’ll definitely drink a few more bowls."
"Ringing..."
Fang Qing’s phone rang.
"Fang Qing, are you up? I’m planning to head out now."
It’s Tong Dan.
"Where to?"
"My Qing Gege, didn’t you promise to be Tie Jun’s bridesmaid? You need to try on bridesmaid dresses, they need custom sizes. You haven’t forgotten, right?"
Fang Qing’s cheeks showed a rare hint of embarrassnt, and she quietly responded "Mmm."
"Send the location, I’ll co over right away."
"Rember to hurry, Tie Jun is already there."
Fang Qing put down the phone.
"Sothing up?"
Jiang Chen asked.
He could hear Tong Dan’s voice, but not the specifics.
"Nothing."
"I heard it all."
Poor acting skills.
Fang Qing glanced at him, obviously realizing he was bluffing. As a lawyer, she often dealt with police officers, such tactics were their specialty.
But Fang Qing thought of sothing else and said, "Together?"
"Alright."
Soone nodded easily, then picked up chopsticks to quickly slurp noodles.
"No need, no need, no need to pay."
Seeing the two finish their noodles and about to leave, the busy man hurriedly exclaid, though the paynt prompt still sounded.
"Prosperous business!"
As they left, Jiang Chen wished.
Watching the young couple leave the noodle shop shoulder to shoulder, the noodle-cooking man couldn’t help but smile, as if he was transported back to his own youth.
Back then.
The two young people were still children.
"Boss, two portions of burnt noodles to go."
Another custor arrived.
"Alright!"
Every city has an Ah Fei Noodle House.
Perhaps we’ve never been there, but it’s always there, always.
The lost are lost, and those who et will et again.
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