Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

As dishes such as braised pork belly with sauerkraut and vermicelli, braised carp, scrambled eggs with scallions, and rice were served one after another, the table was gradually filled with food.

Xu Bei also began to make the most skill-intensive step of making candied sweet potatoes, boiling the sugar syrup in the wok placed on the stove.

Many people fail to make candied sweet potatoes at home because they get stuck on this crucial step.

Given the limited resources available, Xu Bei wasn't sure if he would mess things up and fail in front of the girl he liked, so he was extremely careful in preparing the soup.

With constant stirring, the syrup in the pot changed from large bubbles to small bubbles, and its color gradually changed from transparent to an enticing sesame oil color.

Xu Bei sensed the perfect moment and quickly poured the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside sweet potato chunks into the pot.

Then he quickly tossed the wok with his wrist, coating each sweet potato evenly with a glistening sugar coating.

Zhou Qingwan and Xu Juan, who were watching from the sidelines, were both amazed and full of admiration.

Zhou Qingwan, in particular, was surprised that Xu Bei was not only handsome and manly, able to help her fight off hooligans, but also quite humorous and a great cook. Her big, watery eyes were filled with admiration and affection.

Xu Bei's hand movements were fluid and graceful, while his gaze was also focused on the people watching from the side.

Naturally, he took in every move the little girl made, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

I feel that I made the right move by showing off my cooking skills, and it can be considered as a comprehensive display of myself.

Soon, the steaming hot candied sweet potatoes were plated and served.

Xu Bei urged them directly, "Eat quickly, it tastes best while it's hot!"

Xu Juan picked up her chopsticks first and handed them to Zhou Qingwan before picking up a pair for herself.

"Sister Xiaowan, let's all try my brother's cooking."

After saying that, fearing that Zhou Qingwan might have reservations, she first picked up a piece of sweet potato with stringy bits.

"Okay, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Zhou Qingwan carefully picked up a piece of sweet potato, and with a gentle pull, she instantly produced long, golden, translucent strands, just like Xu Juan, continuous and unbroken like a silkworm spinning silk.

She quickly dipped the sweet potato into the bowl of cooled boiled water next to her, and the sugar strands snapped with a crack, solidifying into a crisp sugar shell.

Then take a bite, and you'll find a crispy, caramelized sugar shell on the outside and soft, sweet, and juicy sweet potato flesh inside.

It tastes several times better than the roasted sweet potato that Xu Bei asked her to buy from the old man selling it outside the department store that day.

"Brother Xu, your candied sweet potatoes are so delicious, even better than the chefs at the state-run restaurants."

Xu Bei wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead, feeling that all the hard work and fatigue had been swept away by this compliment. "If you think it's delicious, eat more. There's plenty for you."

Xu Juan's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter as she praised indistinctly, "Yes, brother, it's so delicious! You must make it often in the future."

"No problem."

Xu Bei readily agreed, then called to Zhou Qingwan, "We were too rushed today, so we didn't prepare many elaborate dishes. Just have something light for now, and we'll treat you properly another day."

Zhou Qingwan blushed and quickly said, "Brother Xu, you're too kind. This is such a feast, with meat, fish, and candied sweet potatoes."

Xu Bei smiled and said, "Then use longer chopsticks, don't be shy."

Xu Juan chimed in, "Sister Xiaowan, you feel right at home here."

Faced with the brother and sister's warm hospitality, Zhou Qingwan gradually relaxed a bit after trying the other dishes.

Xu Bei watched the little girl eat so delicately and with great relish, and found her exceptionally beautiful and appetizing. He also started eating with great enthusiasm and managed to eat more than two bowls of rice.

Because they started eating early, the three of them finished eating before 11 o'clock.

However, Xu Bei could tell from Zhou Qingwan's frequent checks of the time that she was in a hurry to leave.

Therefore, he not only politely declined her request to help clean up the mess, but also offered to ride his bike to take her part of the way.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Qingwan nodded shyly in agreement.

Seeing her brother take the initiative, Xu Juan was naturally happy and gratified, and even the disappointment of not being able to catch up on her lessons disappeared.

Xu Bei had some understanding of Zhou Qingwan's situation, especially since this era was very feudal and conservative, so he only rode his bicycle along the back roads and dropped her off some distance from the Liang family before stopping.

After Zhou Qingwan nimbly jumped off the bike, she said with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Xu. Take your time on your way back."

Xu Bei gazed intently at the little girl's bright, smiling face. "Okay, don't worry. Happy New Year in advance!"

Zhou Qingwan was clearly taken aback by Xu Bei's words. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly said, "Then I'd like to wish Brother Xu a Happy New Year in advance."

The two couldn't help but look at each other and smile.

An ambiguous and relaxed atmosphere flowed between them.

However, Xu Bei hadn't forgotten that the little girl was in a hurry to go home, so he waved casually and said, "I'll be going now. Goodbye."

"Okay, goodbye, Brother Xu."

Zhou Qingwan also raised her hand and waved, then watched Xu Bei ride away before looking down at her watch by lifting her coat sleeve.

When I realized the clock was almost eleven, I quickened my pace to head back.

It was lunchtime for everyone, and wisps of smoke were rising from the chimneys of almost every household.

The Liang family's gate was half-open, two bicycles were parked in the yard, and white smoke was billowing from the chimney.

After Zhou Qingwan entered the house with her bag on her back, she found that a table had already been set up in the living room, with a bowl of pickled vegetables and several sets of chopsticks on it.

The woman who came out of the kitchen wearing a floral apron was her aunt, Anya Ping.

"Wanwan's back. Hurry up and wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon."

Zhou Qingwan put her bag down next to the shoe rack by the door, and while taking off her shoes, she said, "Auntie, you got off work very early today."

"Yeah, I was running some errands, so I left work early." An Yaping sniffed, then leaned closer to smell again. "Wanwan, weren't you at your classmate's house studying? Why do you smell like food and fried stuff on you? Do they eat so early?"

Zhou Qingwan didn't tell anyone the truth about tutoring Xu Juan, so she continued to lie, saying, "We didn't eat, but we did fry meatballs. I guess it's because the door wasn't closed, so I smelled a bit on my body."

"Some families don't care about these things; the cooking fumes fill their sleeping rooms." An Yaping looked at her niece with a hint of disbelief. "But haven't you been going out a bit too often lately? You should stay home and study by yourself tomorrow. Your sister can teach you if you don't understand something."

Zhou Qingwan nodded obediently, "Okay, Auntie."

Seeing how obedient she was, An Yaping dispelled some of her doubts. "It's not that your aunt is strict with you. It's just that you'll be nineteen after the New Year. If you were in the countryside, you'd be ready to get married by now."

Especially since you're so pretty, what if some guy sets his sights on you and keeps pursuing you, using sweet talk to deceive you? I wouldn't be able to explain that to your mother.

Zhou Qingwan suddenly saw Xu Bei's figure flash before her eyes, and quickly lowered her eyes to hide the strange look in them. "I know, Auntie, don't worry, I won't."