Translator: SJade, Editor: Dj22031
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Having known each other for many years, even though they hadn’t seen each other for three years, the unfamiliarity quickly faded away. Sheng Chuan talked to Ye An, and from time to time he glanced at the two sisters who were busy in the kitchen.
Ye Ning was originally a delicate young lady who had never done housework. She never even entered the kitchen, let alone washing vegetables or cooking. Unexpectedly, now she not only entered the kitchen, but also cooked.
This was a good change. It turned out that the person he was most worried about was Ye Ning, but in the end, she was the one who supported the family.
“Brother Ping’an, is Beicheng fun? I heard that the buildings there are very tall, and there are a lot of delicious food.” Beicheng was the capital of China and a holy place in the minds of most ordinary people.
“It’s indeed bigger and more prosperous over there, so you have to study hard and get admitted to a university in Beicheng. Then you can go to Beicheng as well.” Sheng Chuan carefully observed Ye An’s mental state. He was no longer as shy as before and spoke more confidently and boldly, which showed that even if Ye Qingshan was gone, his two sisters had taught him well. “How about going to school in the county?”
“It’s great. The teachers and classmates are all very nice to me.” Because Ye Lan helped him with his lessons during the summer vacation, his learning progress was several times faster than other students. He always got first place after entering school, so of course the teachers liked him.
Enjoying the treatment of an excellent student, Ye An studied harder. He didn’t want to become a nobody ignored by the teacher again.
To be honest, the three children of the Ye family were all good at studying, otherwise Ye Qingshan would not have worked so hard to earn money to support the three children’s schooling.
“Sister, don’t you think Brother Ping’an has changed a lot?” Ye Lan sat behind the stove and glanced at Sheng Chuan. He had grown taller and his skin had become whiter. The main thing was… she felt like a lot had changed.
Ye Ning knew what she wanted to say. Mainly, his temperament had changed. He used to be in the countryside and didn’t know when he could go back. Maybe it was because he saw no hope, so he was rather taciturn, or a little gloomy. The Sheng Chuan she met this time was indeed very different from the one she remembered. He was more confident and generous, and more importantly, much more cheerful.
“He’s from Beicheng and he’s a college student, so it’s natural for him to change a lot. If you study hard and get admitted to Beicheng, and then work in Beicheng in the future, you will also be a different person.” Ye Ning said a few simple words and didn’t discuss it any further.
She could cook, but her food wasn’t as good as Ye Lan’s. However, the braised pork she learned from the master chef was pretty good and presentable.
Seeing Ye Ning cutting and frying the meat skilfully, Sheng Chuan was even more surprised. He thought she was just helping out, but it turned out she was the chef. Seeing Ye An’s expectant look, the dish looked very delicious.
“Try it quickly. I learned how to make this braised pork from the master chef in the factory. Xiao Lan and Xiao An both said it was delicious.” Ye Ning brought out the braised pork and handed a pair of chopsticks to Sheng Chuan, asking him to try a piece first to taste it.
“Delicious.” Sheng Chuan ate a piece and his eyes lit up slightly. Not only did she enter the kitchen, but her cooking skills were unexpectedly good.
“If you like it, eat more. The braised duck was made by a master chef in the city in the past. I heard it is a secret recipe passed down for hundreds of years. It tastes really good to me. You should try it too.” The braised duck tasted amazing. After Ye Ning had eaten it, she would buy it from time to time.
“The braised duck is delicious, too.” The taste was indeed good, not inferior to that of some master chefs in Beijing.
“Let’s eat here tonight. I’ll go to Qingfeng Street to buy beef. That shop also uses a secret recipe passed down from generation to generation. It’s especially delicious.” Ye Ning said with a smile.
Now that the world was becoming more and more open, some craftsmen who were previously hidden among the people had come out to make a living. Once they ran their business well and their shops grew bigger, it would be difficult to know what they had made with their own hands.
After a while, Ye Lan brought out the dishes and the four of them sat down around the table. After taking a few bites of food, Ye Ning felt that it was too awkward to remain silent, so she took the initiative to start a conversation.
“Last time you wrote to me saying that Grandpa Sheng liked chili sauce, so we pickled some and sent it to you. It may still be on the way, and perhaps you will receive it when you return to Beicheng.” The chili peppers and ginger were all grown by Ye Lan herself. They couldn’t finish eating them, so they made them all into sauce, and they also kept a lot for themselves.
“Don’t spend money. Grandpa and grandma will definitely be angry if they find out. You are in financial difficulty now, so don’t send us anything.” Sheng Chuan knew that the sauces were not very expensive, the problem was that the postage was too high.
“It’s not bad actually. I sold the land at home. The money is enough for Xiao Lan and Xiao An to go to school. I have a job now, and the monthly salary is more than enough to support us three siblings.” At this point, Ye Ning couldn’t help but smile proudly, “What’s more, Xiao Lan and Xiao An have done well themselves. They don’t have to pay tuition fees for school, and they can even get bonuses. Not only do they not spend money, they also make money.”
After dinner, Ye Lan didn’t let Ye Ning start, she cleaned up the dishes and went into the kitchen. Ye An felt uncomfortable in the stomach and went to the toilet. Only Ye Ning and Sheng Chuan were left in the room, and suddenly the atmosphere felt a little awkward.
“I’m sorry about my mom’s matter. I didn’t expect her to do such a thing.” In his childhood memory, his mother was a very gentle and kind person. He didn’t expect her to change so much.
“It’s okay, it’s over.” After saying this, the two fell into silence again. The atmosphere only eased a little when Ye Lan came out after cleaning up the dishes.
“It’s getting late. I have to catch a bus to the provincial capital.” Sheng Chuan pointed at the things his fellow villagers gave him and frowned, saying, “These things were given to me by my fellow villagers. I carried them all the way. It’s nearly 30 hours’ drive from the county to the provincial capital and then to Beicheng. I can’t take so many things with me. Can you help me use some of them?”
There were indeed a lot of things, so Ye Ning said, “Why don’t I take you to the post office to mail it.”
When he asked her for help, he was actually helping her. How could she have the nerve to take the gifts given to Sheng Chuan by his fellow villagers?
“The postage can buy three of these. Forget it, Comrade Ye Ning, you’re not so unwilling to help with such a small favour, are you?” Sheng Chuan frowned.
“Okay then.” Since he said so, Ye Ning had no choice but to accept it.
There were two snakeskin bags of mountain products, including chestnuts, dried sweet potatoes, dried green beans, dried mushrooms, etc. Sheng Chuan took the dried sweet potatoes and dried green beans, and gave the rest to Ye Ning.
“We have everything else at home, but these two are harder to find over there. I brought them because my grandma likes them. These eggs are all cooked, and I can’t finish them all, so just take a few. You, Xiao Lan and Xiao An can help eat the rest to avoid waste. And these sauces are too much and too heavy. I’ll pick out a few that grandpa and grandma like, and leave the rest to you.”
He picked out the things he didn’t want to take and put them aside, and his entire luggage shrank by two-thirds in an instant.
“Is this all you brought?” Ye Ning saw that there were too many things next to her feet.
“I brought quite a lot.” If he wasn’t afraid that Ye Ning wouldn’t take them, he would have left them all to them. Sheng Chuan took out the bacon again, “And this, one piece is enough for me.”
Mountain products and sauces were fine, but bacon was too expensive, so Ye Ning refused no matter what.
Sheng Chuan couldn’t persuade Ye Ning, so he had to continue taking all the bacon.
There was still some time before work, so Ye Ning sent Sheng Chuan to the station. Without those things, the bicycle could be ridden. She hung the things on the front bar, then Sheng Chuan got on the bicycle and took Ye Ning to the station.
“You really don’t plan to continue to go to college?” Without Ye Lan and Ye An, Sheng Chuan finally said what was in his heart, “Your current job is not bad, but it will be completely different to join the work after graduating from college. Only when you stand high can you see far.”
“I know this, but you also know the situation at home. Someone needs to go to work.” Ye Ning gave a reason.
“Although it’s not nice to say this, uncle Qingshan has compensation money. You can use it to go to college first. Things will be different after you get through these few years.” Sheng Chuan still thought Ye Ning should go to college.
Ye Ning shook her head, “I have my own plans. Don’t worry, I have a plan in mind.” Ye Ning looked up at Sheng Chuan’s straight back, with a slight smile on her face, “What about you? What do you plan to do after graduation?”
“You haven’t decided which unit you want to join yet?” Based on his school and grades, he was not bragging, he could really choose any unit.
Ye Ning seemed to remember that he wanted to be a teacher like Grandpa Sheng, teaching and educating people, so why did he want to pursue a career in politics?
“You’re not going to stay in school as a teacher?”
“No.” Sheng Chuan turned his head and smiled at her. After the incident with the man surnamed Yao, he changed his mind.
Huanshan County was so small that Sheng Chuan could get there even if he rode his bicycle slowly. Ye Ning helped him carry his things into the station and waved goodbye.
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