Chapter 39: Chapter 33: I Will Write to You
’Comrade Zhou, did you really go to the market to buy fish since you couldn’t catch any?’
Zhou Yan pressed his lips together. Seeing all of Comrade Zhou’s fidgeting, he knew it was hard on the man to have to lie.
"These are great! They’ll be perfect for braising," Zhao Tieying said, taking the crucian carp and nodding repeatedly. She looked at Zhou Miao. "You should go fishing whenever you’re free from now on. I love fish, and Momo loves fish, too. Then our family can eat it all the time."
"Well... uh..." Zhou Miao was taken aback, stammering and at a loss for words.
Zhou Yan was shaking with suppressed laughter, barely managing not to burst out loud.
It was clear Comrade Zhou’s secret stash was running low on funds. It would be a real hardship for him if he actually had to buy two fish to bring home every day.
Zhou Yan considered secretly slipping him some pocket money.
In the past, Zhou had received plenty of help from Comrade Zhou.
[Ding! Side Quests Triggered: Initial Investment in the Ingredient Supplier. The empty-handed angler needs understanding and support. Sponsor Zhou Miao, support him in his all-consuming passion!]
[Quest Reward: Huo Xiang Carp Recipe]
[Accept: Yes/No]
A system quest suddenly popped up.
’Well, well, well, the system sure is brave,’ Zhou Yan thought. ’Daring to be an investor for a fisherman who can’t catch a thing.’
But of course he was going to accept such a great quest.
He could even have Huo Xiang Carp for dinner tonight.
"Dad, go ahead and clean these two crucian carp and the eel. You’re the expert at that. We’ll cook them for dinner," Zhou Yan chimed in, helping Comrade Zhou out of his tight spot.
"Got it," Zhou Miao replied, carrying the fish off to the side.
Zhou Yan then turned to Zhao Tieying. "Mom, could you go pick some *huoxiang* leaves? How about we have Huo Xiang Carp tonight?"
"Sounds good. Huo Xiang Carp is delicious," Zhao Tieying said, heading out the door in the opposite direction.
Zhou Yan picked up the small bucket of eels and followed Comrade Zhou.
"Preparing an eel takes a bit of technique. Want to learn?" Zhou Miao said, tossing the crucian carp into a bucket before grabbing an eel.
He clamped the slippery creature between two fingers, and no matter how much it writhed, it couldn’t escape his grasp.
"Sure, you can never have too many skills," Zhou Yan said with a smiling nod. "And in a couple of days, I’ll learn to fish from you. This fish looks great."
Comrade Zhou froze for a moment. He glanced in the direction Zhao Tieying had gone and mused, "Fish aren’t that easy to catch. I just got lucky today. It’s not like this every day."
"If you want a fish on your line, you’ve got to spend a dime," Zhou Yan said with a grin, pulling out a Great Unity bill and stuffing it into Zhou Miao’s pocket.
"What’s this?" Zhou Miao touched his pocket and looked at him in confusion. "What are you giving me so much money for?"
"Dad, you think I don’t know your skill level?" Zhou Yan said with a wide smile. "I sold one hundred sixty bowls of noodles and one hundred bowls of Kneeling Beef today. This is my personal sponsorship for your market trips. This way, you can hold your head high in front of Mom."
Zhou Miao’s face flushed. He hadn’t expected Zhou Yan to see right through him. He cleared his throat and stammered, "I just... I just had a big one get away. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to buy them."
"Right. I’m sure you’ll catch one next time. It’s probably an issue with your hook, line, or rod. You should go to town and get some better equipment when you have the time," Zhou Yan said with a supportive nod. "I fully support this hobby of yours. You’d end up fishing in your old age anyway, so if you start now, you’re just saving yourself a few decades’ detour."
’Comrade Zhou doesn’t play cards or drink. What’s wrong with him enjoying a little fishing?’
Besides, he only ever went fishing after all his work was done and everything at home was taken care of, and he never went more than four times a month.
"What do I need gear for? Bend an embroidery needle and you have a hook. A duck feather works as a float. Dig up a few worms, use a bamboo pole—it’s all the same. You should save the money you earn and pay off your debts first," Zhou Miao said, shaking his head. He pulled the bill out and tried to hand it back to Zhou Yan.
"You keep it. If you don’t, I’ll tell Mom you bought the fish," Zhou Yan said with a grin, taking a step back. "Don’t worry, I can pay back all my debts in two months, including the five hundred yuan I borrowed from you and Mom."
"This is your private stash. I won’t tell Mom. It’s a secret between us men."
Zhou Miao clutched the Great Unity bill, his expression complicated as he looked at Zhou Yan. After a moment, he finally nodded. "Alright. I’ll keep this money for buying fish, then."
"Alright, go on and prepare the eel. I want to learn the technique," Zhou Yan said, watching him.
"Preparing an eel is easy. There’s a little rhyme, just follow along," Comrade Zhou said. He grabbed an eel, pinned it to a wooden board by hammering a nail through its head, and took out a small knife. As he worked, he chanted, "One eel, yellow belly, pointy head, and a long tail. A nail through the head, and a little knife sends you to see King Yama..."
With a few swift motions, all five eels were prepared.
Zhou Yan understood the process, but he definitely couldn’t replicate it with such silky-smooth skill.
Comrade Zhou’s hand was just too steady with the knife. Zhou Yan had to admit he was outclassed.
"Brother! Daddy!" Zhou Momo’s voice called out.
Zhou Yan turned to see Zhou Momo running toward them, clutching a doll. Xia Yao followed behind her.
"Look! Yaoyao gave me a doll!" Zhou Momo held up the blonde Barbie in her hands. "Isn’t she pretty?"
"Yes, very pretty," Zhou Yan said with a smiling nod. He looked at Xia Yao. "You shouldn’t have."
"I saw it at the Jiazhou Department Store. It was so cute, I just had to get it for Momo," Xia Yao said with a gentle smile. "And I can see she really likes it."
"Uh-huh, I love it!" Zhou Momo nodded eagerly. "This is my very first doll."
"Good girl. I’ll bring you another one next time," Xia Yao said, patting her head.
"Okay, thank you, Yaoyao," Zhou Momo said sweetly, then ran off with her doll to find Fanwa.
"Are you heading back to Mountain City tomorrow?" Zhou Yan asked her.
"Yes. Our sketching trip is over, so we have to get back to school," Xia Yao nodded.
Zhou Yan wasn’t good at goodbyes and couldn’t bring himself to say anything sentimental. "You’re staying at the factory guesthouse, right? It’s a bit of a walk from here. Why don’t I give you a ride?"
"Oh, no need. It’s a pretty short walk..."
"I’ll go get my bike. It’s getting dark, and it’s not safe for you to walk alone." Zhou Yan had already turned and was wheeling his bicycle out of the shop. Three bags of puffed rice candy were hanging from the handlebars.
"Suji doesn’t have many local specialties, but we have this puffed rice candy. Take it for the road," Zhou Yan said, handing the bags to Xia Yao.
"This is... this is too much," Xia Yao said, a bit stunned as she held the three bags.
"I got one for each of your friends, too. You can just hand them out," Zhou Yan said, straddling the bike. "Get on."
"Okay," Xia Yao replied, settling onto the back rack. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
’He’s surprisingly thoughtful.’
The bicycle moved along the riverbank, the setting sun stretching their two shadows out long behind them.
Xia Yao tilted her head slightly, a little lost in thought as she gazed at Zhou Yan’s profile.
"After you graduate, are you planning to go back to Hang City or stay in Mountain City?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Huh?" Xia Yao was startled for a second before shaking her head. "I haven’t really thought about it yet. I might go back to Hang City, or I might go to the Capital City."
"That’s great. Both are big cities, good for a designer’s career," Zhou Yan nodded.
"What about you?"
"What?"
"Do you have any plans to open a restaurant in a big city? Rongcheng, for example," Xia Yao suggested earnestly. "I think your food is incredible. You’d have much better opportunities for growth in Rongcheng. Suji is wonderful, but it’s a little small."
"I don’t know when I’ll make it to Rongcheng, but I know that day will come," Zhou Yan said with a small smile. "Rongcheng is huge, but for now, it has no place for me."
"You’s a clear-eyed optimist," Xia Yao said, looking pensive.
He pedaled slowly, and they talked about all sorts of things—their dreams, their plans for the future, even literature and music.
In this era, there were no cell phones, no internet. After dark, the world fell into a deep silence, as if it had been switched off.
It was hard not to feel a sense of solitude.
For the first time, Zhou Yan discovered he had the desire to open up to someone.
Talking with someone his own age was a joyful experience, making the world feel more real.
It was the feeling of a drifting ship finding its anchor.
’Or maybe it was just because she was a pretty girl?’
Xia Yao was an eloquent conversationalist. Many of her ideas were far beyond the constraints of the times, so progressive they even surprised him.
They weren’t so different, except for his knowledge of a future she couldn’t yet imagine.
The bicycle slowly came to a stop in front of the guesthouse.
Xia Yao hopped off and smiled. "Thank you for the ride back."
"You’re welcome." Zhou Yan watched her for a second before turning his bike around.
"Zhou Yan," Xia Yao called out, taking a step forward.
"Yes?" Zhou Yan replied, turning back to look at her.
"I’ll write you a letter," Xia Yao said, looking at him with a poised and open expression. "I hope... I’ll get one back from you, too."
"Okay," Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. "Then you’d better remember to include your address."
Xia Yao laughed and waved at him. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Zhou Yan said, raising a hand in farewell before pedaling away.
Xia Yao watched until he disappeared around the corner, only then turning to enter the guesthouse.
The moment Zhou Yan rounded the corner, he nearly collided with someone.
"Zhou! It’s you! I was just about to come looking for you!" Ma Xingye said, grabbing Zhou Yan’s arm, his face beaming.
"So, it worked out?" Zhou Yan asked with a knowing smile, looking at Ma Xingye’s triumphant expression.
"It worked! Deng Hong said she likes me too," Ma Xingye said, nodding vigorously. He then shoved an oil-paper bag into Zhou Yan’s hands. "This is just a small token of my appreciation. If you ever come to Mountain City looking for Yaoyao, you have to find me. I’ll take you to eat the best food in all of Chongqing."
"I’m happy for you two. You don’t need to give me anything..."
Before Zhou Yan could finish, Ma Xingye had already dashed away.
"Zhou, you have to call me when you get to Chongqing!"
"Okay, I’ll be sure to call you."
Zhou Yan shook his head with a helpless smile. The paper bag was heavy, and from the feel of it, it contained glass bottles of Coke.
He tossed the bag into his bike basket. The important thing now was to get back to the restaurant and cook dinner.
...
"Zhou Yan brought you back? Yaoyao, what were you two talking about at the entrance? We saw everything! Confession will be met with leniency!"
"Whoa, he gave you all this food? He’s so thoughtful!"
The moment Xia Yao pushed open the door, Deng Hong and Zhu Yuyu swarmed her.
"These are for you guys, one bag each. Puffed rice candy, a Suji specialty, from the best shop in town," Xia Yao said, putting the items down and handing a bag to each of them.
"Zhou Yan’s a really great guy. He even thought of us," Zhu Yuyu sighed emotionally.
"Yeah, he really knows how to treat people. And he takes good care of our Yaoyao," Deng Hong added with a nod. She unwrapped a piece of candy, took a bite, and looked at Xia Yao. "So, did he confess his love?"
"Just eat your candy. We currently share a pure and revolutionary friendship," Xia Yao said as she packed her own bag of candy into her suitcase, though her lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
’Zhou Yan... he really is an interesting person.’
He was humorous, knowledgeable, and full of wild, imaginative ideas that left even her in awe.
Even though he was a Chef, she felt there was no difference between them.
In fact, he seemed even more of an artist than she was.
...
