Ye Liu looked at Liu Duo doubtfully as he was dragged along, “Little Duo, where are we going? What is this frozen fruit salad you’re talking about?”
Liu Duo giggled, keeping the mystery to herself, “You’ll find out in a bit, we have to purchase some fruit first.”
She opened up the umbrella she had brought with her, and soon the two of them were walking along the streets.
On the floor, above the tailor’s shop, Dongfang Ming stood by the window, watching them. His eyes fell on the umbrella with the striking illustration, and it managed to peak his interest.
It was his first time seeing the portrait of a person drawn that way. He had already been surprised to see drawings of different animals. Who knew there were more surprises in store!
It was only when they vanished from his sight that Dongfang Ming returned to his seat and slowly drank his tea.
Liu Duo and Ye Liu returned to the tailor’s shop after buying their fruit. They asked a female employee working there, “Is there a kitchen here that I can use?”
The employee nodded, “Yes, it’s at the back. Let me take you there.”
They all knew who she was, so they plied with her requests. Several employees lived in the hostel behind the shop, so it came with a kitchen.
The employee left once she had brought them to the kitchen. Qin Fang greeted them jovially, “Sister Duo, what brings you here?”
“I have reason to be here, of course, but first let me borrow your kitchenware,” she replied with a smile.
Then she said to Ye Liu, “Liuzi, let’s peel them first.”
Qin Fang lent a hand too. Several workers in the kitchen were busy preparing food.
“Miss Fang, are those people the kitchen staff Mr. Dongfang brought with him?” Liu Duo asked, referring to the group of workers, most of whom were rather overweight.
She thought about it. If the boss had made the effort to transport a block of ice across such a long distance, and if he was willing to treat her to a meal – not at a restaurant, but instead, at Qin Fang’s shop – then it wasn’t too far fetched to think he would bring along a team of kitchen helpers.
Qin Fang nodded, “Yes, they came from the capital with our boss. I supposed he’s not used to the food here.”
Liu Duo didn’t ask anymore questions. She just wanted to get this over with and leave. She didn’t want to spend too much time with him.
They cut the fruit into granular sizes and placed the pieces in a giant porcelain bowl. Then they mixed the fruit with the honey they had just bought. After that, Ye Liu grabbed four empty bowls, a spoon, and a kitchen knife, while Liu Duo carried the giant bowl upstairs to Dongfang Ming’s room.
Dongfang Ming saw that they had returned and asked, out of curiosity, “Madam Ye, what is all this about?”
Liu Duo didn’t answer him. Instead, she responded, “We have the frozen fruit salad, so now all we need is some shaved ice.”
She placed the porcelain bowl on the table, and walked to the ice wall with the kitchen knife and an empty bowl in hand. Carefully, she struck an ice cube.
She sliced the ice into small pieces, placed them in the bowl, and continued slicing.
Ye Liu went up to her and took over the kitchen knife. He said, “Little Duo, let me handle the rough work. You take a rest over there. Look at you, already sweating.”
Liu Duo took his offer without hesitation, “Alright, two bowls of fined shaved ice should be enough.”
She went back to sit by the table, and Dongfang Ming poured her a cup of water. Qin Fang had mentioned that Liu Duo didn’t like tea.
“Thank you.”
Liu Duo took the water to Ye Liu, “Drink some, Liuzi. You must be thirsty.”
He finished it all in one go, and grinned like a fool, “Little Duo is such a sweetheart. You know I’m thirsty, and here you are.”
Dongfang Ming observed their interaction and found that they had a loving relationship. He wondered if Liu Duo’s relationships with her three other husbands were the same as this one.
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