A Young Woman's Heart

"Why does Yaoyao love traveling so much?"

"Because you can always see new things, right?"

"But the process of traveling is not always so wonderful."

"It's okay, that's what makes it fun, isn't it?"

Li Wanyan raised the corners of her mouth, neither confirming nor denying.

She carefully removed the stale parts from the vegetable leaves, and then placed the small pot on a small stainless steel stove.

This little gadget burns charcoal, so it produces very little smoke.

This was made by Uncle Xiong from the ice cream warehouse next door; Mo Xueyao borrowed it from him before leaving the house.

With the small pot set up, Li Wanyan waited patiently for the water to boil before putting the wild vegetables in.

It's not about making a wild vegetable stew, but rather blanching them in boiling water and then making a cold salad.

Mo Xueyao leisurely placed the electronic keyboard on her outstretched legs, wanting to try playing it, but it was not stable at all, and it would wobble after playing a few notes.

"Ugh, such a heavy discharge came out." She clutched her forehead in pain and shoved the keyboard back in annoyance.

"I've already told you it's very inconvenient."

"Tsk, the kind of instrument that Yin Yin and the others play is so much better. You can just hold it and play it. The electronic keyboard is so big, you can't play it like a shoulder keyboard."

Unable to play the piano, Mo Xueyao simply lay down on the lawn. The dark green grass was a bit prickly, making her regret not wearing cotton-padded trousers.

Wearing skirts is purely out of habit from wearing school uniforms.

Of course, the main reason is that it's warm today, so it's more comfortable to wear this.

"Hmph...Hmph~" Mo Xueyao gently patted the grass with her feet, finding her rhythm and humming an impromptu tune.

Blanching never takes long. Li Wanyan scooped out the wild vegetables, poured the water from the pot into a large thermos, and then used scissors instead of a knife to cut them into sections before putting them back into the pot.

There's the fluffy, black tatsoi, resembling a bunch of fresh flowers; there's also the chewy, smooth lichen, somewhat similar to wood ear mushrooms; and shepherd's purse, which looks a bit like cilantro—this was the most abundant, even the wintering animals hadn't finished it; of course, there's also the strangely flavored houttuynia cordata, which most people can't stomach, and the slightly curled wild fern, which looks like a lollipop; wild onions, which look like weeds but are exceptionally fragrant, are also plentiful, and mushrooms, available year-round, are also among them.

These wild vegetables were all quite common, and since Li Wanyan knew them, the two of them dared to pick and eat them. The mushrooms they chose were also the kind that were definitely safe. Although some other mushrooms were plain in color and didn't look poisonous, the two hesitated for a while and then didn't pick them.

Although it was just soy sauce, the aroma after mixing it still made Mo Xueyao's stomach rumble.

These wild vegetables also secrete some oil, which adds a special fragrance.

Although it cannot compare to lard and vegetable oil, it appears purer and cleaner, with a hint of bitterness.

It's probably somewhat similar to tea oil, right?

Li Wanyan took the pot down and placed a barbecue grill on it. She then opened a somewhat old aluminum lunchbox, inside which were clusters of small, white, tender insects curled up.

These are kudzu root worms. Although they don't have any seasonings, just washing them clean and roasting them on top, the sizzling golden oil is enough to make one's mouth water.

This wasn't the first time Mo Xueyao had eaten this; she had eaten it before at the farm where Huang Zhengyang worked.

Once you try it, you won't feel any resistance at all.

Just think of it as a plump shrimp.

In a sense, shrimp are also a type of insect, yet people still enjoy eating them.

The wind along the riverbank carried the enticing aroma to faraway places, and Mo Xueyao, who had been lying down, sat up again. Just as she was about to grab one with her hands to eat, Li Wanyan handed her a pair of chopsticks.

"Is it ripe yet?"

"Ah."

"Whoosh whoosh—" she blew on it, then tossed the grilled kudzu worm dipped in soy sauce into her mouth. She took a bite, making a crisp sound like chewing a potato chip, and inside was a lot of juice and chewy, elastic meat.

Mo Xueyao ate one whole and then eagerly picked up a second one.

However, this stuff is actually quite greasy, but luckily there are cold wild vegetables to help cut through the richness.

When these two come together, they are simply the most perfect match in the world.

"Is it good?" Li Wanyan also picked up a piece of wild vegetable and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully.

"Mmm! It's super delicious! Especially eating it here!"

The babbling of the flowing water is their accompaniment.

The wind occasionally plucks the strings of the leaves, causing the grass to bend low.

Mo Xueyao's soft humming sounded like a chant coming from a distant forest, making the spotlight called the sun even brighter.

"That's good."

"Wanyan, shall we eat too?"

"...Hmm, you eat it. I don't really like eating bugs."

"Wow, this is so delicious! It's even better than pork belly!"

"You can eat it." Li Wanyan lowered her head and picked up another piece of houttuynia cordata and put it in her mouth.

Perhaps in many situations, happiness in life is very simple and unpretentious.

Wild vegetables and roasted insects, seasoned simply, can still create a delightful experience.

"Wanyan, do you know what happiness is?"

"What."

"Happiness is when a person wishes everything could stay the way it is, to maintain the status quo, to not change, and to feel happy and joyful."

Do you wish time could stand still?

"That's right!"

"And what about Yaoyao now?"

"Huh? Hmm—it's like wishing time could stand still."

"But why do you wish time could stand still? Is it because you think you won't be happy after that?"

Li Wanyan's question left Mo Xueyao speechless for a moment.

"Um...I...I guess it's because, well..." She couldn't find the words to explain, "...maybe it's because I'm worried I won't be able to experience happiness like this again in the future?"

"Keep going, and you'll find even more different kinds of happiness."

"Hmm—but I still don't want to change. Perhaps I'm not worried about not having happy days, but rather I'm running away from change?"

"Maybe."

……

Chapter 141 Wet

Stepping into the sunlight's shadow, Zhou Yong left the bus stop.

Sunday afternoon in Hangzhou had a languid, almost reluctant feel to end.

An old man pushing a tricycle on the street was selling sizzling tofu. Students attending after-school tutoring classes walked out of a small building with a sign that read "100% English," followed by their foreign teacher with a high nose and blue eyes who had just finished class.

The atmosphere of the end of the semester is gradually getting stronger. The exams at the end of this semester will be over and the holiday will begin, which makes people feel both nervous and hopeful.

This is especially true for high school seniors like Zhou Yong.

Although his grades have always remained stable at an average level, he doesn't expect much improvement, but at least he hopes they won't slip.

This is a microcosm of the ordinary life of a common person—not seeking to do well, but seeking stability and tranquility.

For an ordinary person like him who is content, a simple life is the greatest happiness.

Now, he feels that he may be on the path to pursuing future happiness.

Once he graduates, if Tian Tingchan is still in Hangzhou, he'll try... confessing his feelings, or testing the waters to see what she thinks.

This is what Zhou Yong told himself. Of course, he wasn't a fool. In fact, he understood many things, but he always doubted and distrusted himself, so he kept hesitating and putting off the opportunity until the next one, and the one after that.

Just like many principles that many people understand, but when it comes to themselves, they can't do them.

This apartment building was the tallest in the area. Zhou Yong checked the change in his pocket, bought two packets of coffee as a gift at the small supermarket downstairs, and then took the elevator upstairs.

The elevator, which was often dark and damp, made Zhou Yong feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Although he was just an ordinary person, he still longed for sunshine.

"Ding dong."

A crisp sound rang out. He glanced at the floor number displayed on the pixelated light tube and then stepped outside.

The long, narrow corridor always gives one the illusion that there is no end in sight. No matter how exquisitely designed it is, the apartment still gives him a sense of oppression, like a pigeon coop.

The doorbell on the security door also rang with a 'ding-dong' sound, and this monotonous electronic sound sometimes sounded as noisy as the incessant chatter of electronic birthday candles.

There was no response for a long time, leading Zhou Yong to believe that no one was inside.

He hadn't contacted Tian Tingchan beforehand, partly because he didn't have a cell phone, and partly because he probably wanted to surprise her.

—Although he didn't know whether the other person would be particularly happy to see him suddenly.

Just as I was hesitating whether to leave, I heard a soft footstep coming from the room, which wasn't very soundproof.

The irregular footsteps drew closer.

Until the doorknob was turned open with a 'whoosh'.

Zhou Yong took a step back and saw Tian Tingchan with slightly greasy and messy hair.

She barely opened her sleepy eyes, her loose robe simply draped over her body, with part of it slipping down her right shoulder.

Only a small portion of her fingers protruded from the long sleeves, and most of her pale legs were exposed to the air. With the sunlight streaming in from the window behind her, the fine downy hairs on her skin could be seen.

"Ah... good morning... still not awake?"

"Hmm..." Tian Tingchan nodded unsteadily, and seemed to relax even more after seeing Zhou Yong standing at the door.

"Achoo!" Even though it was a sunny day, it was still winter after all. Wearing only a thin bathrobe, she tilted her head back and sneezed loudly.

Zhou Yong watched helplessly as the robe hanging on the other shoulder slipped down, then fell open like a peeled banana—

The dazed Tian Tingchan finally realized something. Before her robe could completely slip off due to gravity, she quickly turned around, squatted down, and pulled it back up.