A Young Woman's Heart

The transparent glass dome won't block too much sunlight, and its biggest advantage is that central air conditioning can be turned on when it's hot, and the commercial street won't be all wet when it rains.

"...It feels like something out of place, neither like a pedestrian street nor a commercial complex," Wang Jiale said, looking around.

Yinshan Commercial Street has two main roads, and the roads are all connected.

Even bicycles are not allowed in; handcarts must be used to load and unload goods.

The commercial street wasn't particularly bustling, but there were still quite a few pedestrians coming and going.

Because the passageway is open from front to back, some people aren't there to buy anything; they're just passing by.

Taking the commercial street is a shortcut, which may have been part of the original design.

After all, we're not afraid you won't buy, we're just afraid you won't come.

As long as someone passes by, you're sure to sell something.

It's bigger than I imagined, with dozens of shops open for business, ranging from flower shops to snack shops to daily necessities stores—everything you could want.

"Wow, they even sell musical instruments here!" Mo Xueyao exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a Yamaha store.

"Hmm, but it's quite small. It only sells instruments like guitars and basses, and the selection isn't very large." Wang Jiale leaned against the shop window and looked around.

"What's that?" Sanhua Tongjue was drawn to a small snack shop with a storefront that was only wide enough for two people.

“Ah, that’s a specialty snack from Hangzhou.” Mo Xueyao looked away from the musical instrument shop. “It’s called Cong Bao Hui.”

“Scallion pancakes…?” Sanhua Tongjue read it out in Chinese with great difficulty.

"It's basically two flatbreads sandwiching a fried dough stick and a scallion, then frying it on a griddle. You press it down firmly with that spatula-like tool, then dip it in some sauce and it's ready to eat," Mo Xueyao explained generously. "Would you like to buy one and try it if you're interested?"

“Okay.” Sanhua Tongjue glanced at the others, walked to the front of the shop, and held up four fingers to the shop owner. “Boss, four, please.”

"Hey, I'll pay." Wang Jiale quickly stepped forward.

"I'll do it," Mo Xueyao decided, also deciding to show her 'generosity'.

“I’ll take care of it!” Sanhua Tongjue stood at the front, opened her pink wallet, picked out a hundred-yuan bill from a pile of bills and handed it to the shopkeeper. “I used up all my change taking the taxi, so I don’t have any change.”

"So rich..." Mo Xueyao had never even imagined that her wallet would be full of hundred-dollar bills, and that she would spend money in hundred-dollar increments.

What kind of sauce do you want to use?

"What sauce?" Sanhua Tongjue didn't quite understand.

“It’s that ‘sauce’,” Wang Jiale explained in Japanese, then repeated it in English to make sure he wasn’t wrong.

"Oh, what's there? Mayonnaise, ketchup, salad dressing?"

"Uh...we don't have any of those." Wang Jiale awkwardly pointed to the bottles and jars placed in front of the iron plate. "We only have sweet bean sauce, chili sauce, and sweet chili sauce."

"What are they? Hmm... how should I explain this..." Wang Jiale had to explain in English, but it might not be very accurate, or perhaps Sanhua Tongjue's English wasn't very good either, so she had to repeat it several times before she finally understood what it meant.

"I want this one! Sweet and spicy."

"Okay, boss, add sweet chili sauce to hers~" Wang Jiale looked at Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan, who couldn't get a word in edgewise, "What do Xiaoyao and the class monitor want?"

"Sweet sauce!"

"Same as Yao Yao."

Scallion pancakes are actually a very simple snack. They are inexpensive but filling, and they taste pretty good too.

It is said that the "hui" in Cong Bao Hui is actually the "hui" in Qin Hui, because the people hated the treacherous minister. So they tied two dough sticks together, fried them in a pot, and then wrapped them in dough and flattened them to vent their hatred.

Because it tastes good, and because it has been around for a long time, it gradually became what it is now.

……

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Familiar Customs and Traditions

China is a vast country with abundant resources, and its complex terrain and ecological environment have given rise to a wide variety of local customs and traditions.

Even within the same province, there can be two completely different lifestyles.

For example, in Zhejiang province, people closer to Hangzhou prefer sweeter food, while those further out prefer spicier food...

There are many other differences like these.

Sanhua Tongjue comes from another country and is particularly curious about many of Hangzhou's customs, even though many of these things are commonplace to others.

“Actually, if Tongjue comes to Hangzhou, she should still visit West Lake, right?” Mo Xueyao said, taking a bite of the scallion pancake in her hand.

The long commercial street is perfect for a stroll, and the shops along the way sell a variety of goods, with no two shops being exactly alike.

"What's so interesting about West Lake?" As a native of Hangzhou, Wang Jiale has completely lost interest in West Lake. "It's just a small puddle, and it's always packed with people. Plus, you have to pay an entrance fee to get in."

“It’s still quite novel for foreigners,” Li Wanyan shook her head. “After all, there are still many historical sites there.”

“Yes, I know, Su Shi!” Sanhua Tongjue shouted out the only ancient celebrity she knew who was associated with Hangzhou.

"So why don't you go take a look?" Mo Xueyao caught the sauce that was about to drip down her tongue to prevent it from getting on her hands or the ground.

“There will be plenty of opportunities later.” Mika Hitomi was in no hurry at all. Her words were a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and English, and it took everyone a while to understand her. “I want to go to those scenic spots when there are fewer people!”

"Hmm, that would probably be around the Lunar New Year period. It would be even better if it snowed; it would be especially beautiful." Mo Xueyao nodded gently. "Oh, that's sugar painting. Does Japan have it?"

Sanhua Tongjue could understand most common Chinese, but there were still some words she didn't quite understand. At this moment, she looked at Wang Jiale with a puzzled expression, waiting for her explanation.

At this time, Sanhua Tongjue was no longer as shy and timid as she was at school. She interacted with everyone naturally and even seemed quite lively.

Despite their unusual attire, they seemed no different from ordinary high school students after spending time with them.

And just then, they ran into an old acquaintance on this commercial street.

"Hey, Xiao Xi—!" Mo Xueyao waved vigorously. In front of a vegetable shop, a dark-skinned and muscular young man was unloading goods from a cart piled high with items, while Huang Yuxi stood quietly watching from the side.

When he heard someone calling his name, he looked around in confusion and soon spotted Mo Xueyao walking quickly towards him.

He lowered his head and wrote a few words on the whiteboard, then held it up when she got close: "What a coincidence."

"Oh, what a coincidence, are you accompanying your brother to work again?"

"Mmm." Huang Yuxi nodded gently, blinking her large, pure eyes that were like glass beads.

"I actually ran into Xiaoxi here." Wang Jiale smiled mischievously, then subtly nudged Sanhua Tongjue's arm. The girl who had been so lively and natural just moments before was now blushing.

Li Wanyan pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, looked at Sanhua Tongjue, and then at Huang Yuxi, seemingly already understanding everything.

As for Mo Xueyao, she naturally didn't notice anything at all.

"Three-Flower Pupil Jade?" Huang Yuxi lowered her head and wrote a few more words, then held it up to the Three-Flower Pupil Jade.

"Hey, it's me! You recognize me?" Sanhua Tongjue said happily yet shyly, clenching her hands and placing them on her stomach.

"Of course!" Huang Yuxi smiled brightly, then lowered her head and wrote a Japanese homonym, "Kawaii."

"Eh... Eh!" Mika Hitomi clutched her chest, instinctively bringing her legs together. "Really?"

"Is your heart racing?" Wang Jiale whispered teasingly in her ear.

"N-no, I didn't!" Sanhua Tongjue glanced at Huang Yuxi with her face flushed, then looked away in a panic.

Even the slow-witted Mo Xueyao could sense that something was amiss.

"Huh, does Sanhua Tongjue have feelings for Xiaoxi?" Mo Xueyao whispered to Li Wanyan beside her.

“Yes.” Li Wanyan nodded. “It’s obvious.”

"It's only been a short time... Are all Japanese people this enthusiastic?"

"do not know."

"Tongjue really likes cute boys. She told me that she has absolutely no resistance to cute boys," Wang Jiale chimed in, gossiping.

At this moment, Huang Zhengyang had already unloaded all the goods from the cart and walked over while wiping away sweat.

The weather was already a bit chilly, and some people were already wearing long sleeves, but he was still wearing a brown vest, showing off his strong, bronze skin, which made Mo Xueyao a little envious.

"Are you a classmate?" Huang Zhengyang asked with a smile.

"Ah."

"This pink-haired girl... could she be the Japanese transfer student you told me about?"

"Ok!"

"Oh, hello, hello! I've never seen anyone with pink hair before, and your eyes are pink too, are you born that way?"

“She has dyed hair, and her eyes are colored contact lenses,” Wang Jiale said on behalf of Sanhua Tongjue.

Sanhua Tongjue merely glanced at Huang Zhengyang's outstretched hand, but did not grasp it. Instead, she took a half step back and looked at him warily.

"Cough... What's wrong...? Do I look like a bad guy...?" Huang Zhengyang felt a bit shocked.

Huang Yuxi was leaning against Huang Zhengyang very naturally at this moment, not minding at all even though he was covered in sweat, as if leaning against him made him feel safe.

This made the jealousy in the air even stronger.

A cute younger brother and a strong older brother—such a combination is bound to make people think the wrong thing—in any case, Sanhua Tongjue's thoughts turned to the worst.

Xiaoxi is so cute, it wouldn't matter if she were a boy, right?

Maybe when she wears women's clothes, I can treat her like a little sister...

In that case, her brother Huang Zhengyang would be her rival.

"Hmph!" Thinking this, Sanhua Tongjue snorted coldly in dissatisfaction, as if issuing a challenge to Huang Zhengyang.

However, the latter did not grasp this meaning at all; he just felt uneasy, as if he had done something wrong.

"Well, this is the last place this morning. We can take a break and have lunch. Want to join us?" Huang Zhengyang asked with a dry laugh.

"Let's go together!" Wang Jiale patted Sanhua Tongjue on the shoulder, agreeing on her behalf.

What would you like to eat?

"Whatever, shall we ask Tong Jue?"

However, Sanhua Tongjue was staring straight at Huang Yuxi, showing no intention of answering.

Or perhaps she simply didn't hear what the others were saying?

Huang Zhengyang finally realized what was going on, and patted Huang Yuxi's shoulder: "Xiaoxi, isn't she your deskmate? She's probably a little nervous because she doesn't know many people here. Why don't you go and keep her company?"