Her sky, darkened.
The shadows of residence, sisterly discussions, humble origins, all sorts of pressures, all returned.
Shen Qing’e squeezed out a smile uglier than crying: "This ti you’re not saying what I want to hear."
Jiang Ning: "Impressive."
...
Two o’clock in the afternoon.
Although Jiang Ning went to a relative’s house, he arranged a small warming array in front of the River Dam Bungalow before leaving.
Xue Yuantong fumbled around, found the position of the array, and nestled into the recliner to bask in the sun, so comfortable.
Then, so noise ca from the west side of the bungalow, Xue Yuantong moved her little ears; it was not Jiang Ning’s electric bike.
A delightful aroma wafted in from the west, Xue Yuantong opened her eyes, Mr. Qian drove past in a three-wheel vehicle, the aroma coming along grandly.
The neighboring Butcher Zhang greeted: "Old Qian, what’s so fragrant?"
Mr. Qian slowly got off the vehicle, holding two bottles like treasures: "Take a look, sesa oil, homade sesa oil!"
What is sesa oil, you ask? It’s sesa oil, possessing a rich toasted sesa aroma, an expensive condint, perfect for cold dishes or soups, just a little bit will do.
For young folks, when cooking instant noodles, a few drops of sesa oil, the taste will be marvelous.
Seeing Mr. Qian’s fond deanor, Butcher Zhang sneered, saying: "Isn’t it just sesa oil? What’s the big deal?"
Mr. Qian: "Hey, can ordinary sesa oil compare to mine? Authentic sesa oil, three pounds of sesa for one pound of oil, mine uses traditional craftsmanship, five pounds of sesa for just one pound of oil!"
Mr. Qian walked to Butcher Zhang, pulled out the cork to let him sll the fragrance: "Look how genuine the aroma is!"
Butcher Zhang barely inhaled half a breath, and Mr. Qian imdiately corked the bottle back up, reclaiming all the lingering aroma around.
Xue Yuantong witnessed this scene: ’...’
Mr. Qian used his professional skill, observing all around, he saw Tongtong’s expression; he quickly said: "What do you think, Tongtong, does it sll authentic?"
Xue Yuantong: "It’s pretty authentic."
Her family’s sesa oil really isn’t this fragrant.
Mr. Qian beca unbearably smug, "Oh, when I was young I ate this kind of sesa oil, recent years buying from outside, always felt off, today specially went to the village to have soone press two bottles."
Xue Yuantong didn’t like seeing people show off, especially when she couldn’t eat the thing; she simply closed her eyes for a nap.
Mr. Qian seized the opportunity to educate straight away: "Tongtong, as a teacher, I advise you, how can sleeping all day work? You need to strive, learn, labor, and compete!"
Xue Yuantong boldly replied: "Mr. Qian, why don’t you work during the day, watch gates for people at night, and sell breakfast early in the morning?"
Mr. Qian fell silent.
...
In the distance, Zhuang Jianhui carried a big bluefish with one arm, parading along the road.
This fish was his catch, already boasting around the pond, now relocating the scene to the bungalow for boasting.
Lin Zida expressed envy, he had caught nothing today.
Zhuang Jianhui deliberately mused: "Before, I didn’t know how to fish, seeing masters catch big fish, I thought it would be joyful, yet I’ve caught a big fish now, and I’m still not happy, why is that?"
He said he wasn’t happy, but his smiling mouth betrayed him, clearly boasting.
Lin Zida mastered fishing techniques earlier than Zhuang Jianhui, even proactively taught him fishing, yet now getting this boastful show-off.
Lin Zida sourly said: "Because you caught it by luck, right?"
Zhuang Jianhui didn’t mind, "Luck is also part of skill, like how soone is born."
He leisurely carried the bluefish, sauntering near Mr. Qian’s place.
Mr. Qian was describing how rare his sesa oil was: "Back ho, we use top-grade sesa for pressing sesa oil, unlike those unscrupulous street vendors, how could they neglect quality for cheap prices in sesa oil they eat themselves?"
"My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father all ate the sa type of sesa oil, just look at this color, that oil press, it’s a skill handed down for generations."
"This craft is almost extinct!" Mr. Qian sighed, boasting halfway, suddenly glimpsing the big bluefish in Zhuang Jianhui’s hand, Mr. Qian’s eyes rolled thoughtfully.
He thought of a delicious dish, stead bluefish with a teaspoon of sesa oil, oh the taste would be delightful!
Mr. Qian took the initiative: "Young man, that’s quite a catch!"
Zhuang Jianhui got praised, he toned down his smile: "It’s alright, my skills are good."
Mr. Qian adopted a ntor persona, educating: "Young man, the day before yesterday you fished, yesterday you fished, today you fish again! Fishing is fishing, but don’t neglect your studies, how’s your academic performance?"
Zhuang Jianhui was originally happy, but hearing this, and looking at Mr. Qian’s stance, he inexplicably felt uncomfortable.
Zhuang Jianhui kept a calm expression, responding: "985, definitely."
Mr. Qian was shocked: "Wow, young man, you talk big! 985, huh!"
Zhuang Jianhui saw the frightened reaction from the other side, and felt inexplicably delighted: "Not bad."
Imdiately, Mr. Qian’s complexion changed. He shook his head, denying: "Being a 985 student is amazing, but you go fishing every day. Can you still be a 985 prospect? Young man, don’t talk nonsense!"
He no longer talked to Zhuang Jianhui, instead he praised his sesa oil: "This sesa oil pressing thod, passed down only one person can do it now. The older the ancestors’ stuff, the more aweso it is, like ancient prose."
Zhuang Jianhui, initially annoyed by Mr. Qian’s pestering, didn’t want to deal with him. Now being denied, and seeing him babbling, he suddenly got displeased.
Zhuang Jianhui said: "It’s not always the older, the better. Didn’t ancient horse carriages get replaced by trains?"
Mr. Qian: "Then why haven’t ancient prose been eliminated? Take the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng, what a beautiful article that is! I can still recite it backwards, better than your 985 backing!"
As he spoke, he glanced askance at people, his expression full of ridicule.
Zhuang Jianhui got angry, grasping the loophole in his words: "Recite it backwards, huh?"
He returned the sa contemptuous look to confront back.
Mr. Qian showed his fangs: "Hey, you don’t believe , huh? If I can recite it backwards, let’s bet on that fish you have. Do you dare?"
Lin Zida suggested with his eyes to Zhuang Jianhui, realizing sothing was off.
Zhuang Jianhui beca competitive, ignoring the suggestion, raised his head: "I really don’t believe it, you? Go ahead!"
The full text of Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng is several hundred characters, in complex classical language. A small village old man, reciting backwards? Laughable!
Mr. Qian opened his mouth: "Flow from the empty river’s long outer bars, In what now son empire middle pavilion..."
He rambled quickly, recited it backwards completely, then extended his hand: "Give the fish!"
...
Zhuang Jianhui returned to rural tourism empty-handed.
He felt depressed: "What kind of person is this, such age, betting on a fish with !"
Recollecting, he realized he had been tricked by the old fellow at that ti.
Born with remarkable background, how could he renege for a fish?
Lin Zida said: "Definitely not a good person."
Passing by Bi Yue’s house, he pouted, saying: "This family isn’t good people either."
Zhuang Jianhui sumd up: "There are only a few households at the river dam, and two are no good. Surely, treacherous people co from poor mountains and evil waters!"
Then he thought of Jiang Ning, and said: "The house he lives in is nearby that old guy, maybe he has been tricked too?"
Thinking like this, Zhuang Jianhui felt much more balanced.
The old fellow wasn’t simple, reciting Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng backwards, definitely a talent.
...
"Today is great! Really great!" Mr. Qian brought up the big bluefish, showing off lavishly.
He is a teacher, taught for countless years.
Classical texts? That’s his bread and butter!
Butcher Zhang spat: "You dog, not letting the fish for grandpa to eat, what are you showing off for!"
Mr. Qian dismissed him, thinking: ’What level are you, worthy of sharing a fish with ?’
Outwardly encouraging: "Xiao Zhang, didn’t you lose multiple tis to Xiao Jiang from next door? You need to win so more!"
By comparison, Old Qian holding the big bluefish is entirely on another level!
If up against Jiang Ning, a slight use of wit, wouldn’t it be an easy victory?
Mr. Qian temporarily defeated the rough Butcher Zhang, becoming the bungalow’s victor, he was spirited.
See mountain isn’t mountain, see cloud isn’t cloud.
Thus, Mr. Qian swelled with pride!
Mr. Qian heard that nearby was building a park, building a branch office; the land of their bungalow may well like in news reports undergo demolition, riding the wave of the big era!
Mr. Qian carrying the montum of big victory, looked to the sky: ’This land should have a spokesperson!’
Just then, Xue Yuantong, who was originally resting her eyes, suddenly opened them, looking west, cheerfully calling: "Jiang Ning, you’re finally back!"
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