A Young Woman's Heart

Li Wanyan wrapped her arms around her waist, probably as a subconscious action, and then, after a moment, placed her hands on her shoulders.

"Ah, it feels like walking with a good buddy." Mo Xueyao gave her a very positive evaluation.

Li Wanyan's lips curled up slightly, though not dramatically, but you could still tell she was smiling.

"Is this what they call positive feedback?" Mo Xueyao suddenly realized something. "So that's what it means..."

Li Wanyan pinched the soft flesh on her neck, seemingly giving her 'feedback' as well.

Behind the fruit shop, in the small grove where the van was parked, my mother was cooking. The aroma of the dish was very strong; you could tell at a glance that it wasn't cooked with regular blended oil, but with vegetable oil.

"It smells so good! What are you cooking today?" Mo Xueyao leaned closer, but was driven back by the cooking fumes.

Although the cooking was done outdoors, the long-term fumes had blackened the white wall behind the fruit shop. You absolutely mustn't touch that area; the black grease stains stuck to your body are impossible to wash off.

"Oh, weren't you not coming back for dinner?"

"What are you being sarcastic about—"

"Pfft." Mother couldn't help but laugh. "Stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, I was worried you wouldn't have any to eat today."

"Wow, winter bamboo shoots!" Mo Xueyao started swallowing. "I love eating these! Especially stir-fried ones! But they have to be prepared properly, otherwise my tongue will go numb..."

"Don't worry about that, the bamboo shoots are very tender." Mother poured some soy sauce into the pot for color. "Perfect, bring the plate to the table, and remember to cover the cardboard box on the table, otherwise it will get cold quickly."

"So that's why there were cardboard boxes on the table." Mo Xueyao wiped her drool, watched her mother plate the stir-fried bamboo shoots, and then quickly took them and put them on the table.

"Don't you dare steal any food!"

"Just one!"

Mo Xueyao grabbed three with her hands and stuffed them into her mouth, making a crisp 'crunch crunch' sound.

Tonight's feast is all bamboo shoots, including stir-fried winter bamboo shoots with pork, braised bamboo shoots, winter melon and dried bamboo shoot soup, and stuffed bamboo shoots.

The most interesting dish is probably the stuffed bamboo shoots.

"Where is this local cuisine from?" Mo Xueyao asked with interest, pointing with her chopsticks.

"I don't know where it's from, I just saw it somewhere and made a little bit of my own." Mother moved a wooden crate and sat down at the table. "Alright, come and try it—Ali, dinner's ready."

"It's here." Mo Wenli mysteriously opened a small cup, took a sip, and let out a long, pleasant sigh. "Ah, warm rice wine is so delicious."

"Where did this come from?"

"It was given to me by Old Lu from above."

Old Lu is Lu Chengyuan's father. Although both families run fruit and flower shops, their relationship seems to have improved since they started exchanging ideas.

Unlike in typical TV dramas or novels, they should have been rivals, but they became friends instead.

Shaoxing rice wine?

"Yes, he said it was brewed in his hometown."

"Oh, right, his family is from Shaoxing."

"From the same hometown as Lu Xun?" Mo Xueyao stroked her chin.

"Yes, it can be considered a place of literature, right?"

"Tch, Lu Xun hated people from his own hometown the most, even if it's a literary place." Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes. "Dad, is it good? Give me some."

"What are you drinking? You're addicted to alcohol too?"

"Uh, no, I was just curious about what it tasted like."

"It tastes like rice wine, and also like eggs." Her father found a bowl and poured some for Mo Xueyao.

"So little."

"How much do you want?"

"Pour some more?"

After pouring out half a bowl, Mo Xueyao finally nodded in satisfaction.

The father laughed and scolded, "You brat, you'll definitely be an alcoholic when you grow up!"

"Tsk, drinking that little bit doesn't make you an alcoholic."

"Would you like some, Wanyan?"

Li Wanyan hesitated for a moment, glanced at what was in Mo Xueyao's bowl, and said softly, "Just let Yaoyao share some with me."

"Hey—? You asked Dad for it. He has a big cup. He's just stingy and doesn't want to share!" Mo Xueyao covered her bowl, the steam rising into her palm and making it feel damp.

"Why are you drinking so much? Hurry up and say something tactfully!" the father laughed loudly. "Quickly, quickly, this is just right, right? You should drink less too."

"Tsk, do you think you're someone with such a low alcohol tolerance?" Although she said that, Mo Xueyao still poured some for Li Wanyan.

In fact, Li Wanyan can't drink much alcohol. Even with rice wine, she only needs a small sip.

If Mo Xueyao finds drinking from a bowl more enjoyable, then Li Wanyan is probably the kind of person who can only drink from a small glass the size of a thumb.

On a cold winter night, a sip of warm Shaoxing wine first tastes salty, then the alcohol. If you taste it carefully, you'll also find it very umami, like MSG added to the wine, but it's different from the umami of regular MSG—it tastes more natural and mellow.

"Let me tell you, back then, only rich people could afford to drink yellow wine, while white wine was for poor people, you know? In the past, the brewing process for yellow wine was much more complicated than that for white wine!" Once the alcohol hit his mark, Father became more talkative.

Only then did Mo Xueyao refocus her attention on the dish she had just eaten.

—Stuffed bamboo shoots with meat.

It's actually not very complicated. You just scoop out a small part of the bamboo shoot, stuff it with minced meat, and then steam it in a rice cooker.

This dish not only contains stuffed bamboo shoots, but also stuffed green peppers—the kind with bell peppers. You can remove the top and stuff the peppers inside. The best part is that you can put the top back on...

However, compared to other options, stuffed bamboo shoots are definitely tastier, and they also have the refreshing effect of green peppers.

After dinner, Mo Xueyao leaned against the cardboard box, rubbing her stomach, "So full..."

"Sit down after you've eaten, or you'll get as fat as a pig," the mother warned. "Move around a bit more."

"The teacher said you can't exercise after you've eaten a full meal..."

"Walking around doesn't count as exercise; it's called aiding digestion, okay?"

"Good good..."

She yawned and looked up at the cool, clear starry sky.

There are few stars in the night sky tonight, and the bright moon hangs high in the sky, looking rather lonely.

Mo Xueyao had almost forgotten about Hua Yinyin; it felt like it had happened just a few days ago.

"Oh, right, I need to spend money tomorrow... What should I do? Should I apologize?" She patted Li Wanyan's shoulder with a banana and asked.

“Of course.” Li Wanyan nodded and tapped the other person’s head with another banana.

"Ah... how should I apologize?" Mo Xueyao tapped her head with a banana. "Should I give her something?"

"What matters is the sentiment."

"What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your classmate?" The father appeared behind the two of them without them noticing.

"Dad, stop scaring me! You look like a ghost." Mo Xueyao nudged her father's stomach with her elbow. "Dad, what should I give you as an apology?"

"The apology depends on the matter, how serious it is, whether the other person is male or female, and whether they are the same age or an elder."

"She's a classmate, the one who came to our house before... Hua Yinyin."

"Huh?" Father seemed to not quite remember.

"The one with the really big breasts."

"Oh—" he suddenly remembered.

"Tsk."

"Haha, how about we send some flowers?"

"Dad, can you wrap a bouquet for me tomorrow?"

"Yes, no problem."

……

Chapter 197 Haze

The term "smog" seems to have been traced back to the industrial era of London.

At that time, London was also known as the Foggy City.

At first glance, it seems like a word with a touch of hazy beauty, but in reality, smog is not the same as pure fog. Long-term smog can seriously affect people's health.

As soon as Mo Xueyao pulled open the roller shutter door, she couldn't help but cough a few times: "Ugh! Why is the fog so thick today?"

Standing in front of the fruit shop, I couldn't even see the grocery store across the small street clearly; I could only make out a blurry outline.

She covered her mouth, pulled the roller shutter down a little, then filled a cup and basin with water outside and brought it inside to wash up.

Su Tang, who had planned to go out for a stroll this morning, only took a short walk outside before rushing back inside.

"Wanyan? It's so foggy today." Because she was waiting for her father to come and wrap flowers later, Mo Xueyao got up at the same time as Li Wanyan.

"It's smog." Li Wanyan walked to the door, covered her mouth and coughed. "That's what the weather forecast said this morning."

In the small room, the Sony cassette player that her godfather had given her was now serving as a radio, broadcasting station announcements.

Radio broadcasts in the early morning typically include news and weather forecasts.

Because not many people listen to the weather forecast in the morning, it is repeated several times so that everyone who wakes up during this time can hear it.

The fog was so thick it wouldn't dissipate, and even the wind couldn't make the visibility any clearer. Mo Xueyao tried to walk down the steps and found it was like walking in sticky air.

"Cough cough...! It feels a bit uncomfortable." She rubbed her throat and spat to the side, which made her throat feel a little better.

"Ring ring—"

Just then, the fruit shop's landline rang.

Standing nearby, Li Wanyan picked up the phone. Her father's voice came from the other end: "Hello? Xiaoyao?"

“It’s me,” Li Wanyan said softly. “Godfather, should I call Yaoyao for you?”