Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1167 You Make It Sound So Easy

Xiao Hong, with a bitter face, leaned into Qin Xuemei's arms: "I'm afraid that what I fear most will come true. Thinking about it like that makes me even more afraid. And there's no one to talk to, so it's no use even if I do."

Xiao Wei said, "All you do all day is think about these useless things. Let it be, or just don't do it now and wait until you're thirty."

Xiao Hong remained silent as Qin Xuemei gently combed her hair, and the car quieted down. Xia Qiu said, "Actually, if you ask me, you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself. You're still young, so if it doesn't work out, you can always have another one. It's not like we can't afford to raise one."

Xiao Hong said, "I work in the provincial capital, and so many eyes are watching me. If I'm having another child, it'll only happen if I quit my job. Family planning is no joke."

Xia Qiu said, "Silly you, why are you going around shouting that you've had another baby? Just say you adopted it, that you got it from someone else, or just say it belongs to someone else, that's all. Just keep it to yourself."

Qin Xuemei ran her fingers through Xiao Hong's hair and said, "Just say she's mine, and I'll take care of her for you."

Xiao Hong said, "You'd better find me a brother-in-law and have a baby yourself first, otherwise who'll believe you? You can give birth by yourself? Do you have some kind of superpower?"

Qin Xuemei smiled and pinched Xiao Hong's cheek.

Xiao Wei was worried that Xiao Hong's words would upset Qin Xuemei, so he secretly observed her for a moment. She seemed fine. Although he couldn't figure out why, he knew it was a good thing, and the worry that had been weighing on his mind eased.

With a smile, Xiao Wei said, "You have to believe in my luck. Besides, this is just asking for trouble. What's the point of thinking about it? Just do what you like and be happy."

Xiao Hong buried her face in Qin Xuemei's arms: "You make it sound so easy."

Xiao Wei said, "I'm only twenty-one, I'll be twenty-two after this year, are you all cursing me?"

Xiao Hong sat up and glared at Xiao Wei for a few seconds, then rolled her eyes left and right: "That's true, he's only in his early twenties, he's still a long way from fifty or sixty."

Xiao Wei said, "Well, if it doesn't work out, we can have another one when we're thirty or forty. There's plenty of time. Worrying about this is just making trouble for nothing."

Xiao Hong leaned against Qin Xuemei and thought for a moment before saying, "Thirty or forty? Forget it, it's too embarrassing. Why don't you find a young man instead?"

Xia Qiu laughed heartily: "I'm just afraid you'll drown yourself in vinegar."

When the car arrived at the restaurant, Xiaowei glanced at the street, which was empty and deserted.

This is a row of single-story houses with red brick tiles.

The storefront was small, with a simple single wooden door and a tin sign hanging above the entrance that read "Three Thousand Miles Dog Meat Restaurant" in red paint. Below the sign, above the transom, was the chimney of a coal stove, which made the sign smoky and charred.

Wang Jiwei parked his car behind Liu Xiaodong's blue Santana. There was also a red car next to it, which must also be there for a meal.

Xiao Wei reached out and lifted the heavy cotton curtain. Xiao Hong pulled Qin Xuemei inside, and Xia Qiu followed behind. Xiao Wei then told Wang Jiwei to go in as well, and only then did he enter the room himself.

It was warm inside. I could barely open my eyes when I first came in. The warmth on my face was incredibly comforting, making my whole body relax. You know, in the cold, without you even realizing it, all your muscles are tense. It's exhausting.

The room wasn't large, with a coal stove burning brightly in the center. On the stove sat a blackened aluminum steamer, its lid on, from which steam occasionally pushed open and hissed out with a popping sound.

The room was quite old. There were four tables, one large and three small. A bar counter was located in the corner near the door, and next to the bar counter was the kitchen door. There was a corridor on the other side, presumably leading to private rooms.

Four people were sitting at a small table further inside, turning their heads to look at them.

Liu Xiaodong took off his glasses and held them in his hand, standing at the entrance of the corridor, squinting and waving: "Over here, over here."

Xiao Wei squinted for a moment to catch his breath, then followed Xiao Hong and the other two towards that direction. In the Northeast winter, everything is pitch black when you go from outdoors to indoors.

Xiao Hong asked, "Has my sister arrived yet?"

Liu Xiaodong put his glasses back on: "No, come inside and have some hot water. I'll wait here. I've already ordered the food."

Xiao Wei said, "No need, everyone come inside. Boss, there will be two women in a bit, surnamed Wang, let them come in."

The proprietress at the bar agreed.

Once inside the private room, Chen Degang and Liu Bin were leaning against the radiator, holding cups of hot water and talking. When they saw Xiao Hong and Qin Xuemei come in, they quickly stood up and said, "Come on in, this is your place. The radiator is really warm."

Liu Xiaodong said, "Be careful with your coat, don't burn yourself. His self-heating radiator is a bit hot."

Chen Degang said, "Who told you all to be wearing fur coats or mink coats? Look at us, are we scared? Feel free to lean against us, it'll make us even warmer."

The group sat down around the table, chatting and laughing. Qin Xuemei glanced at the table and whispered to Xiao Hong, "I'm a little scared. Can they do anything else?"

Xiao Hong giggled: "You chose it yourself, so you can't regret it. You eat pork too, it's all meat."

Xiao Wei said, "Let's observe first, and then we'll talk about it once we're up here. You give it a try first."

Qin Xuemei puffed out her cheeks, looking a little conflicted.

Chen Degang said, "It's delicious. Dog meat is more fragrant than pork or mutton. Dog meat is so good that even immortals can't resist it."

Xiao Hong said, "I only try it occasionally, not all the time. North Koreans are the best at cooking this, and they make it very well."

Qin Xuemei lowered her head, turned her face to the side, and asked Xiao Hong, "Have you eaten?"

Xiao Hong nodded: "I ate here when I was in high school, but this shop wasn't even around then. I wonder if it's owned by the same person."

Qin Xuemei asked, "What does it taste like?"

Liu Xiaodong went to the door to greet her: "Sister, come in, we've been waiting for you."

Wang Guifang and Beibei's maternal grandmother walked in. Xiaohong, Qin Xuemei, and Xiaowei all stood up. Xiaohong waved and said, "Come, come, sit here, Auntie, it's warm here."

Grandma Beibei laughed and said, "That's nonsense. I've already started cooking. I told you not to come, but you insisted. It's such a hassle."

Xiao Hong said, "It's no trouble at all. It's just a meal together. There are no outsiders here. These are all my classmates from the county."

Everyone sat down again, and Liu Xiaodong went to the door and called out, "Boss, everyone's here, let's go."

A voice answered from outside, and the proprietress came over: "Would you like some drinks? What would you like to drink?"

Liu Xiaodong looked at everyone and said, "What would you like to drink? How about we get a couple of drinking glasses and some beer? We can drink as much as we want."

The proprietress turned and left. A moment later, a waiter came in with an alcohol stove, placed it in the middle of the table, and lit it. The proprietress then brought in a pot the size of a washbasin: "Excuse me, excuse me, don't burn yourself, this stuff is very hot." She placed it on the alcohol stove, straightened it, and said, "Eat up, it's been stewing for ages, the other dishes will be ready soon."

Xiao Hong distributed chopsticks to the group, Liu Xiaodong opened the wine and poured it, and they started eating in a lively atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)