Chapter 54: Housewarming
Riding her bike all the way home, as soon as she opened the courtyard gate, Little Round Circle impatiently rushed forward and pounced at her feet, barking woof woof.
“Good, I know you’re hungry. Haven’t I come back now?”
Locking the bicycle securely, she carried the little guy clinging to her feet into the courtyard. Su Ning quickly scanned around and saw not much difference from when she left, so she satisfactorily praised it.
It seemed the last education was very successful.
Taking the food basin specially prepared for Little Round Circle from the kitchen, she sprinkled meat soup over the rice, mixed it well, and added two meat bones as encouragement.
“Eat up.”
“Woof~”
Shaking its short tail, Little Round Circle, eyes gleaming at the sight of the meat, barked happily and began quickly burying its head in the food.
For the next hour or so, busy watering and fertilizing the flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables in the courtyard and handling the chores in Peach Blossom Spring Space, time was about up.
When she arrived at the office right on time, Fu Jiaming immediately hopped up on one foot excitedly.
“Su Ning, you’re finally here!”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
Holding up two fingers, Fu Jiaming first pointed at the bag on the table. “You forgot this.”
“I heard you beat Tang Tian up badly?”
“As a male comrade, don’t you think you’re being too gossipy now?”
Smiling and shaking his head, he glanced at the paper bag with clothes on the table and remembered his previous proposal. “Tonight, I’m inviting you and Comrade Yan to my home for housewarming.”
“So soon? Arranging it for tonight?”
Fu Jiaming raised his eyebrows in some surprise, but as long as the purpose was achieved, early or late didn’t matter.
Anyway, the reason to drag that kid out of the lab would be more sufficient, and he would have more confidence!
Grinning dashingly, Fu Jiaming clapped his hands together and agreed readily. “Deal, we’ll definitely come.”
“Consider this your housewarming gift. If you bring anything else, don’t blame me for poor hospitality and letting Little Round Circle loose.”
“Hahaha, in that case, we really get to eat and drink for free tonight~”
“What are you two talking about? So happy? Tell me so I can be happy too.”
The half-closed door was pushed open as Hu Yong walked in from outside while speaking. “Those two haven’t arrived yet?”
“Not saying anything.”
“Don’t know.”
The two answered all his questions with perfect tacit understanding, one sentence each.
Hu Yong secretly curled his lip: Hah, they really thought he hadn’t heard. Clearly it was a housewarming with hosting dinner, yet they were giving special treatment by inviting only Fu Jiaming that kid alone?
So what if he had a pretty boy face!
Touching his own chin, Hu Yong puffed out his chest and instantly raised his head. He still had the most standard square face, the most resolute and upright face in everyone’s mouth. Was he proud?
His peculiar focus was naturally unknown to Su Ning and the other.
Fu Jiaming gave her a look. Seeing her nod in understanding, he changed the topic.
“Just right to tell you both. Director Liang approved a few days of sick leave for me. I’m planning to go home during this time. If there’s anything you want me to bring, remember to tell me in advance.”
“That’s great! I was just wondering if you’d go back for Mid-Autumn this year. Isn’t this perfect timing!”
Hearing this, Hu Yong dropped his narcissistic hand and looked at him full of eagerness. “Jiaming, wait for me a bit. I’ll prepare the list and money and ration coupons right now.”
With big brother at home preparing to marry, his mom was worrying about how to deal with the daughter-in-law’s high standards. If it was changed to things from Shanghai City, there shouldn’t be any objections, right?
Immediately returning to his own desk, Hu Yong took out paper and pen and began carefully listing the things he needed help bringing.
“When?”
“Probably in the next couple of days. You know my taste. How about it, need it or not?”
“No need to bring things. I’ll pick them myself.”
Hearing her intent, Fu Jiaming looked at her delightedly. “Mission? Shanghai City?”
“Yes, Director Liang just told me this morning to prepare to go to Shanghai City on a business trip.”
“Hahaha, perfect! Then we can go together. How about I book the tickets?”
Shanghai City could count as his turf anyway. Having someone familiar with the area along for support, Su Ning naturally had no objection and nodded.
Until nearly time to get off work, Tang Tian and Qin Jianjun still didn’t show. Not sure if they were out on tasks or for other reasons.
No mind to care about those two. She needed to go home and prepare for the evening housewarming. She told Fu Jiaming, still in the office, the address and agreed on the time, then left first.
On the way back, she conveniently went to City Z Courtyard to notify Luo Shuangshuang.
……
It had just rained at night, and Lishui River had no usual green, just murky. The wind blowing on her face carried a strong earthy smell.
Laughter and play of children came from the river embankment.
Two kinds of climbing vine flowers by the small courtyard wall grew wildly, with tender green leaf buds on vines wrapping around the trellis and successfully climbing the wall.
“Ding ding ding~”
Sitting on the grass mat under the eaves in the courtyard, raised half a person high along the corridor, Su Ning was picking beans and vegetables when she heard the bell at the gate.
“Is Comrade Su Ning home? You have mail!”
“Coming.”
Putting down the things in her hand, she quickly stood up and opened the gate.
It was the second consecutive day delivering mail to her. The postman smiled, took out the letter from the green postal bag and handed it to her first, then handed over two package slips pre-separated in his pocket.
“Thank you, comrade.”
Taking the items and thanking him, Su Ning looked down at the envelope with a smile and walked into the courtyard. “Sure enough, it’s Ying Ying that girl.”
Wondering how long it would take for the package she mailed to arrive?
First storing the letter in the space, she’d read the reply when she had time at night.
Quickly finishing picking the remaining vegetables, she carried the basin to the kitchen. The rice steaming in the pot would be done in about ten minutes.
Checking the time with her hand, she figured the rice would be ready just as they arrived. Perfect time to stir-fry the dishes now.
“Little Round Circle, go wait at the gate for our guests.”
“Woof~” Little Round Circle shook its tail and obediently darted out the door, straight to behind the gate and lay down.
Rice cooking on the coal stove nearby, Su Ning bent over to light fir leaves under the earthen stove, then slowly added dry firewood. Only when the fire was burning did she add a ladle of water to the large pot to clean the pot.
Double pepper stir-fried pork, braised lion’s head, squirrel fish, dry-fried beans stewed winter melon, finally seaweed shrimp soup.
Housewarming was also a big event for the new home. Three meat, two veg, one soup, plus herself and Little Round Circle—six dishes were plenty.
With chopping, washing, and stir-frying becoming more skilled, her culinary skills rose rapidly. In no time, with bursts of appetizing dish aromas wafting from the kitchen, plate after plate of food appeared on the Eight Immortals table.
“So fragrant! Mmm, better late than never. Ning Bao Gai, I’m coming fast~”
“Woof woof woof~”
“Where’d this dog come from? Looks kinda… cute.”
Seeing the gate ajar, Luo Shuangshuang pushed it open boldly without ceremony. After shouting, she noticed a little black ball squatting behind the door.
“Hey, little thing, what’s your name? I’m half the master of this courtyard, you know!”
“Woof woof woof~”
“Hey, bark at me again and we’ll add another dish tonight!”
“Woof, woof woof, woof woof woof~”
Hearing the one-person-one-dog clamor in the courtyard, Su Ning put down the spatula, full of smiles as she poked out half her body. “Little Round Circle, stop barking. Xi You, sit for a bit first. It’ll be ready soon.”
“So the little thing is called Little Round Circle. Alright, you keep watch at the door. I’ll go help your master!”
Releasing her hand pressing its head and petting it along the way, Luo Shuangshuang smiled, stood up, and quickly headed to the kitchen. “Ning Bao Gai, anything I can help with?”
“You sit nicely. Don’t do like last time—that’ll be helping me. Okay?”
“Cough, that… that was an accident last time. Fine, fine, I’ll just watch and not touch. That okay?”
Embarrassedly touching her nose, Luo Shuangshuang smiled on the surface and indeed just watched, no longer approaching the stove.
Speaking of which, starting the fire wasn’t hard—just stuffing in wooden blocks. Why had she nearly burned down the kitchen?
Like mom said, was she not only a disaster for plants and animals but also a kitchen killer?
“Didn’t you say two friends were coming? Where are they? Your dishes are almost done and ready to serve.”
“They should be on the way.”
“Tell me, why suddenly invite two male comrades for housewarming?”
“Didn’t I already tell you?”
Luo Shuangshuang, face full of disbelief, poked her back with a hand and mysteriously continued asking. “No other reasons? Like…”
“Stop it, you’re getting way off track.”
Slapping away her mischievous hand, she ladled the soup from the pot onto the table. Su Ning breathed a sigh of relief—finally done.
