Xia Yao rode on the back of her aunt’s bicycle to get so noodles. Zhou Yan Restaurant wasn’t hard to find—it was right at the main entrance of the textile factory.
The bicycle ca to a stop, and as Xia Yao hopped off, her eyes imdiately landed on a little girl sitting at the restaurant’s entrance, dressed in a little floral-print jacket.
The little girl was adorable, with a round little face, delicate, doll-like features, and fair skin with a rosy glow. She was eating a piece of candy and looked up at Xia Yao, pausing for a mont. When she spoke, it was in a soft, adorable Sichuan accent, and she even complinted Xia Yao on her beauty.
"You’re so adorable, little one." Xia Yao felt her heart lt. She fumbled in her pocket for a mont. ’But I didn’t bring any snacks with .’
"Here, sweetie, have so candy." After parking the bicycle, ng Anhe pulled two Dabai Rabbit milk candies from her leather handbag and smilingly offered them to Zhou Momo.
"Big bunny!" Zhou Momo’s eyes lit up. She reached out for the candies, then looked up at ng Anhe with a cheerful smile. "Thank you, pretty auntie!"
"Mm, such a good girl." ng Anhe looked at the little one, whose eyes curved into crescents when she smiled, and was completely chard. She couldn’t help but remark to Xia Yao, "Girls are so much sweeter. Not like the two little hellions I have at ho. They only ever give headaches."
"My cousins are pretty well-behaved," Xia Yao said with a smile. "At least, they’re quiet when they’re asleep. Haha."
"Are you two here for noodles?" Hearing their voices, Zhao Tieying ca out to greet them with a smile.
Zhou Yan, who was about to count the morning’s earnings, also looked toward the entrance, and his eyes lit up.
The young woman on the left had a beautiful oval-shaped face, delicately arched dark brows, and a small, cherry-like mouth. Her skin was so fair it seed to glow.
She was tall and slender with long, black hair cascading over her shoulders. A long white dress, cinched at the waist, accentuated her slim, elegant figure. She wore a light beige cardigan over the dress and carried a bulging handbag.
When she looked down at Zhou Momo, her eyes curved with her smile, faint dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth, and she radiated a gentle warmth.
The woman on the right looked to be in her early thirties. Her hair was styled in large waves, and she bore a strong resemblance to the young woman beside her.
She wore a white shirt with a pointed collar, a delicate gold button pinned to the tips. Her slightly flared trousers draped over black, mid-heel leather shoes, and she had a red knit cardigan on top.
A touch of blush and lipstick adorned her face. She had a commanding presence, exuding an air of confidence and high fashion.
Zhao Tieying stared at the two won in the doorway, her eyes filled with awe. She subconsciously drew back her feet, hiding her old, patched cloth shoes from view.
Among the middle-aged won of Zhou Village, she was considered quite fashionable.
But in front of these two, she felt like a total amateur.
The big wavy hair, the flared pants, the high-heeled leather shoes—she had only ever seen such things in the movies. That trend hadn’t blown into the village yet; it was a rare sight even in town.
"Auntie, my na is Xia Yao. I’m here to thank Comrade Zhou Yan for saving my life," Xia Yao said to Zhao Tieying with a gentle smile.
Her voice was gentle, with the soft, lodic lilt characteristic of the Jiangnan Water Village region.
"Oh, it’s you!" Zhao Tieying’s face lit with recognition. ’So she’s Vice Director Lin’s niece, and the other one must be his wife. No wonder they’re so fashionable.’ She quickly turned her head and called out, "Zhou Yan!"
Zhou Yan had already heard their conversation and put the cash away in a drawer.
The light in the doorway dimd as a tall figure stepped out.
Xia Yao looked up and froze for a second. She had to tilt her head back farther. ’He’s so tall!’
At six feet tall, Zhou Yan was considered a giant in this era of scarcity. He was even a couple of inches taller than Lin Zhiqiang, who was from the north, and he certainly stood out in a crowd in the Ba and Shu Region.
As for his face, it was chiseled and his features deep-set. He had a clean-cut, handso look, but this was offset by a pair of "peach blossom eyes." The corners seed to perpetually hold a smile, eyes so full of feeling they could make a look at a dog seem like a profound declaration of love.
He was wearing a white cotton shirt, the kind common for chefs in large restaurants, with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and the top button undone. A dark blue apron was tied around his waist. On him, the simple uniform looked exceptionally clean and well-fitted.
Xia Yao thought that even the basketball team captain at her art academy, the most popular boy on campus, wasn’t as handso as this man.
ng Anhe sized up Zhou Yan, nodding slightly in approval. ’For a second,’ she thought, ’he reminds of the first ti I saw Lin Zhiqiang in Moscow. Back then, he was the campus heartthrob among the international students. Now, in the blink of an eye, he’s got a beer belly. A man’s pri is just too short.’
"Comrade Zhou Yan, I’m Xia Yao. Thank you for fearlessly jumping into the river to save the day before yesterday." Xia Yao extended her hand, her manner poised and graceful.
"You’re welco." Zhou Yan reached out and lightly shook her hand. It was fair and slender, her skin exceptionally smooth, like a piece of warm jade, though it felt slightly cool to the touch.
Xia Yao, however, felt how rough Zhou Yan’s hand was, especially the pads of his fingers, which were covered in thick calluses. ’He’s so young,’ she thought, ’but he clearly hasn’t slacked off when it cos to his craft.’
"Are you from Zhejiang Province?" Zhou Yan asked. Her accent sounded familiar, causing his heart to stir.
Xia Yao nodded, surprised. "I grew up in Hang City, but my family is originally from Zhoushan. Have you been to Zhejiang Province?"
Zhao Tieying, standing to the side, also gave him a puzzled look.
"No, I just t soone from Zhejiang Province once and thought your accent sounded similar," Zhou Yan said, shaking his head with a smile as he casually brushed it off.
"Well, that’s quite impressive. Xia Yao’s accent is actually very subtle now," ng Anhe said with a smile. "I’m her aunt. Thank you for saving her. My husband, Lin, couldn’t stop singing your praises when he got ho yesterday. He had to leave on a business trip in the afternoon, so I brought Xia Yao over today."
"You’re too kind," Zhou Yan said quickly. "I didn’t think too much of it. Anyone in that situation would have done the sa."
’Lin Zhiqiang’s wife doesn’t look like a housewife at all,’ he observed. ’She has the air of a powerful career woman—the type whose word is law at the office.’
"Not just anyone would have that kind of courage. You’re a true hero," ng Anhe said with admiration.
The factory workers had all gone to their shifts, and the vendors at the gate were idle. Seeing two fashionable won arrive at the entrance of Zhou Yan Restaurant, they all perked up their ears and craned their necks, eager for gossip. A few of the more curious ones even shuffled closer to watch the spectacle.
Upon learning that the two were Vice Director Lin’s wife and niece, and that they had co to thank Zhou Yan, they all began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Didn’t Vice Director Lin just give him one of those big 28-inch roadster bicycles yesterday? Why are they here to thank him again today?"
"City folk are particular. The young lady probably had to co and thank him in person. But man, she’s a real looker. Prettier than any of the girls from the textile factory."
"They look good together, her and Zhou Yan. A talented man and a beautiful woman."
"A good match? What are you talking about? Zhou Yan’s just a self-employed cook. You think a college girl from the city would give him the ti of day?"
...
"I brought a few small gifts to thank you." Xia Yao opened her handbag and began to take items out one by one.
Shanghai-brand malted milk extract, Friendship-brand vanishing cream, Pechoin cold cream, a whole carton of Yuxi cigarettes...
The onlooking vendors’ eyes went wide, growing more envious with each item revealed. These were all luxury goods! None of them would ever dream of splurging on such things. City people were really generous!
"Sweetie, this malted milk is for you," Xia Yao said, handing the container to Zhou Momo.
"Thank you, pretty sister!" Zhou Momo clutched the malted milk extract, her eyes sparkling. She’d had so at her great-uncle’s house during the New Year. ’It was so, so sweet!’
"Auntie, this vanishing cream and cold cream are for you. You can use them in the winter to keep your skin from getting chapped."
"Oh, this is far too expensive, I can’t possibly accept. We just use a little clam oil, that’s good enough for us. We’d have no use for this," Zhao Tieying said, waving her hands in refusal.
"It works much better than clam oil. When it gets cold, you can dab a little on the little one’s face, too. These cigarettes are for Uncle; my own uncle says this is a good brand, though I’m not sure if it’s what he’s used to smoking. And here’s the lunch box from yesterday." Xia Yao pressed the items directly into her hands.
"Well... I really shouldn’t," Zhao Tieying said, but she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning up in a smile.
’This city girl really knows her etiquette,’ she thought. ’She said she was here to thank Zhou Yan, but she brought gifts for everyone. So generous, and so well-spoken... If only I could find a daughter-in-law like her.’
Then, Xia Yao took a peacock-blue fountain pen from her bag and offered it to Zhou Yan. "My father gave this pen. I hope you’ll accept it."
Zhou Yan looked at the Parker fountain pen with its 24-karat gold-plated clip and cloisonné cap jewel, then shook his head. "This imported pen is too valuable. I already feel I don’t deserve the bicycle; I can’t possibly take sothing you cherish as well."
’She’s a genuine rich girl,’ he thought. ’Her family must be as well-off as Lin Zhiqiang’s, if not more. And her upbringing is impeccable.’
ng Anhe glanced at Zhou Yan, surprised. ’He recognizes it,’ she thought. ’This Parker 45 sells for forty-five yuan, and you need foreign exchange certificates to even get your hands on one. It was a birthday present from Xia Yao’s father.’
"You saved my life. If my father were here, he would insist you take it," Xia Yao said, her gaze firm and unwavering.
After a mont’s hesitation, Zhou Yan reached out and accepted the pen. "In that case, I’ll accept it. Thank you."
"You’re welco." A smile returned to Xia Yao’s face. "I had your pork rib noodles yesterday, and they were delicious. My aunt and I haven’t eaten breakfast yet; we ca especially for them."
"Oh, my dear, co on in and sit down! I’ll have Zhou Yan make so for you right away," Zhao Tieying said with a warm smile.
"Okay," Xia Yao replied softly, the dimples at the corners of her mouth deepening. The affectionate way won in the Sichuan and Chongqing region address people always felt so welcoming.
"The nu’s on the wall," Zhou Yan said, following them inside.
As Zhou Yan and his guests went inside, the vendors burst into another round of fervent discussion.
"Friendship vanishing cream, Pechoin cold cream... That’s the stuff only wealthy won from the city use, and she just gave it all away!"
"An entire carton of Yuxi! That costs at least thirty yuan!"
"The Zhou Family has really struck gold!"
"And did you see that pen? The factory director keeps one just like it in his breast pocket, only in a different color. I heard Director Liu say it’s called a Parker pen. An Arican import! A single one costs forty-five yuan!"
"Whoa! Forty-five yuan?!"
A collective gasp went through the crowd. Everyone was stunned into silence.
A single, small fountain pen cost more than a textile worker’s entire monthly salary! And that girl just gave it away like it was nothing!
Zhou Yan had really hit the jackpot this ti.
Listening nearby, Wang the Fifth and his wife’s faces turned green with envy. It was bad enough that their business was being stolen away, but seeing Zhou Yan get this kind of windfall was simply more than they could bear.
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