Jiang Xinyu was at ho tending the fire when she heard a knock on the door. Why is Wei Kaiyun here again?
"Jiang Xinyu, I’ve brought you a frying pan." Wei Kaiyun held up the griddle to show Jiang Xinyu.
"Director Wei, what’s this?"
"It’s a gift for you. Didn’t you say you didn’t have a griddle? I brought you one. You have a coal stove, so it’s perfect to use."
"Director Wei, I really can’t accept this."
"Are you rejecting this? I haven’t used it, and I don’t cook myself. A friend gave it to , and it’s just been sitting at ho."
"That’s not what I an."
"Oh? Then just take it."
"I don’t want it because I don’t want to cook in the room I sleep in. It feels too weird."
"What’s so strange about that? Alright, just take it for now. I’ll get you a coal stove. I don’t stay at ho, so it’s useless to . I’ve got a lot of briquettes too, and they’re all for you."
"Director Wei, I can’t accept sothing for nothing."
"It’s a gift between friends."
Are we friends? Wishful thinking. "Director Wei, this really puts in a difficult position."
"What’s so difficult about it? I know you went back to the textile factory today. When can we have so at pancakes?"
Jiang Xinyu squinted her eyes, "Director Wei, you’re giving these just to eat at pancakes, right?"
"Yes, I’m really craving them. The last ti I had them was two years ago when I was on a business trip to the capital. I can’t forget the taste."
"Alright, then I’ll thank Director Wei for the gift." Jiang Xinyu made sure to emphasize the word ’gift’ very clearly.
"Haha, I’ll go fetch the coal stove and the briquettes. You just wait. If you feel bad about it, invite to dinner."
I want to hit soone, what should I do? Jiang Xinyu gritted her teeth, "Fine, I’ll invite Director Wei to have cornbread. I stead so today."
"I’m satisfied just having sothing to eat." Wei Kaiyun said before riding away on his bicycle.
Jiang Xinyu thought to herself, since you’re willing to give, I’ll just consider it as paynt for having dinner at my place.
But only eating cornbread tonight, Jiang Xinyu wasn’t quite willing, so maybe cabbage stewed with vermicelli would do.
Within an hour, Wei Kaiyun knocked on the door again.
"No need for you, I can do it myself. I’ll put the coal stove in your main room, and I’ll co by tomorrow to install the chimney for you."
Wei Kaiyun moved quickly. A cartload of briquettes was neatly piled up in the woodshed in no ti.
Jiang Xinyu brought him water so he could wash up, and the two of them sat down at the table to eat.
"Jiang Xinyu, these cornbreads you stead are quite fluffy and delicious.
The cabbage stewed with vermicelli is cooked in at broth, which makes it taste fragrant."
"Director Wei, I’m glad you like it. By the way, I’ll have soone co over to install the coal stove tomorrow; they have a glass cutter, and you see, the bedroom glass isn’t damaged, so it’s not drafty."
"Sure, you could actually set up a kitchen in the spring."
"No, heating is a problem in winter." Jiang Xinyu did not want to say more.
"Jiang Xinyu, when are we having at pancakes? I’ve already told Old Yang; the guy said he’d co over to warm the new ho."
"On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, my sister has a big class. Just that day at noon."
"Jiang Xinyu, let’s do it in the evening. Noon is too conspicuous."
"Evening leaves a bad impression."
"More people will pay attention during the day."
In the end, Jiang Xinyu gave in, settling on the evening of the twelfth.
Wei Kaiyun left satisfied after dinner. Thinking to himself, the less you want it, the more I’ll co to eat.
On the morning of the twelfth, Jiang Xinyu t Wang Ailing on the street.
"You don’t need to wait for ; I can find it."
"Hmm, it’s alright, I’m not in a hurry. What’s that you’re holding?"
"Eggs they helped buy. These are good stuff, twenty of them."
"Where can you buy eggs now? That must have cost a pretty penny, right?"
"Ten cents each. If bought from the supply and marketing co-op, they’d only be five or six cents."
The two talked as they entered the courtyard.
"Xinyu, this house is really nice."
"It’s alright. Hurry inside and lie down for a while. We’ll have noodle soup with poached eggs for lunch."
"Weren’t we having dumplings?"
"Director Wei said he’d co over in the evening. We’re having at pancakes then."
Jiang Xinyu had already packed up her own bedding; this was Mrs. Jiang’s bedding.
"I’m not sleepy right now, just a bit hungry."
"Have a cup of malted milk first. We’ll eat together at noon." Though Jiang Xinyu said this, she still placed a cornbread on top of the stove cover.
Wang Ailing was indeed tired; after finishing the cornbread and drinking a cup of malted milk, she crawled into bed to sleep.
Before sleeping, "Xinyu, don’t wake up for lunch."
Watching Wang Ailing fall asleep in seconds, Jiang Xinyu sighed. Everything is not easy.
It wasn’t until four in the afternoon that Wang Ailing woke up, went to the bathroom, and then folded up the bedding on the bed.
"Xinyu, the bathroom is really clean."
"It’s alright, it’s just . No need to draw the curtains, they hang as they are."
"What ti is it? It’s much more comfortable sleeping at ho."
"It’s almost four o’clock. There’s hot water on the stove, so freshen up. We’ll need to start cooking soon."
"Hehe, I’m really embarrassed. I haven’t done any work while freeloading here."
"I’ve saved the work for you. The at filling hasn’t been chopped yet, it’s up to you. I’ve got everything else ready." Jiang Xinyu had indeed prepared; she had kneaded the dough at noon, peeled the spring onions, but had left the at filling for Wang Ailing, not wanting to disturb her sleep.
"Alright, I’ll chop the at filling. Xinyu, you’re so thoughtful, you must have not wanted to disturb my nap."
"Co on, get to work. I’m going to grab the cabbage. Use the stems for soup, and mix the hearts for a cold dish."
The vegetables are really too sparse, but there’s nothing I can do. Jiang Xinyu took out a radish too, shredded it into vinegar-sugared radish, to cut the grease. Add a sausage dish, that makes it three dishes and a soup, quite a high standard.
In the kitchen, Wang Ailing was furiously chopping at filling. "Xinyu, putting all this in, there’s too much at." It pains .
"Without enough at, the pancakes won’t taste good. Put all of it in."
Jiang Xinyu prepared the filling, adding a big scoop of soybean oil, and secretly adding so chicken essence, with an egg mixed in. After blending it well, she felt the filling was too dry, so she added water.
"Xinyu, this filling slls amazing."
"It’ll sll even better when cooked."
Jiang Xinyu checked the ti; it was nearly six o’clock, so she started making the pancake bodies. Given the frying pan, it wouldn’t make too many at once.
She heard a knock at the door, and Wang Ailing went to open it. "Director Wei, co in."
"Your na is Wang Ailing, right? How’s work going? Are you adjusting well?"
Wang Ailing complained internally, I’ve been working for almost two months, and you’re just asking now? Isn’t it a bit late? But she still replied politely, "It’s going well, thank you, Director Wei, for the opportunity."
Old Yang said nothing, following behind the two. In his left hand was a plastic bucket, the two-pound kind, and in his right, a strip of at.
"Young lady, congratulations."
"Master Yang, please co in. Why are you being so polite?"
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