Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Private Home Cuisine
Xu Ancheng lay on the deck chair, letting Yi Roujing lie on him, his chin resting on the top of Yi Roujing’s head, gently rubbing, feeling a unique sense of ease under the warm sun.
"What do you want for lunch?" Xu Ancheng asked, "Should we eat out?"
"I don’t feel like going out." Yi Roujing’s voice was muffled.
"Oh, I just called Aunt Guixian; you’re fine." Xu Ancheng still couldn’t bear to let Yi Roujing feel too sad.
"Huh?" Yi Roujing looked up at Xu Ancheng’s gentle eyes in confusion.
"Wang Qiushuang’s daughter, Ding Lingli, doesn’t have tuberculosis, just pneumonia. The test results came out, and the previous hospital must have misdiagnosed it." Xu Ancheng explained.
Yi Roujing’s eyes widened with uncontainable joy, and she sat up straight, "Really?"
"What good would it do me to lie to you?" Xu Ancheng snorted softly.
"Wow, then I..." Before Yi Roujing could stand up, Xu Ancheng pulled her back down again.
"Don’t be so obvious about crossing the river and tearing down the bridge." Xu Ancheng tightened his arm around Yi Roujing’s waist with one hand and directly removed the mask from her face with the other, "Can I kiss you now?"
With that, he blocked her tender lips immediately, with a touch of emotion, kissing firmly. Yi Roujing’s heart swelled full as she wrapped her arms around Xu Ancheng’s neck, sweetly returning the kiss.
Knowing there was nothing to worry about, Yi Roujing took off her mask, changed into a well-fitting outfit, and went out with Xu Ancheng. The two headed to the nearest state-run restaurant, and Yi Roujing even hummed a little tune in a good mood.
"Hey, shall we pick up Baozi and go out to eat with Dad?" Yi Roujing missed her son, and immediately stopped in her tracks.
"Heartless," Xu Ancheng laughed in exasperation, and then hummed, "Sorry, I’ve already called Dad, and we’re staying in the little western-style house for one night; we’ll return home tomorrow night."
"I cleaned so much today; don’t you plan on not staying overnight?" Xu Ancheng smiled at Yi Roujing, but Yi Roujing saw a hint of threat in his eyes.
"Stay, of course, we’ll stay." Yi Roujing quickly raised her hand to cooperate, "But we could also take Baozi..."
"Hmm?" Xu Ancheng leaned closer, staring straight into Yi Roujing’s eyes, "What did you say?"
"I think it’s nice for the two of us to be alone; it’s been a while since we enjoyed each other’s company." Yi Roujing quickly changed her tune, joking—if not now, then when to keep him happy.
"At least you’ve got some heart," Xu Ancheng felt satisfied.
"But it’s really great, Niuniu is okay, so Wang Qiushuang should be able to return to school soon." Yi Roujing sighed, "Ding JianShe really is a scumbag; Ailing found happiness, and I hope Wang Qiushuang can find her own happiness too. She’s become somewhat likable now."
"Such a soft heart." Xu Ancheng ran a hand over Yi Roujing’s soft hair reluctantly before letting go, "Alright, stop worrying about others. What do you want to eat?"
"I want to eat fish fillets, I miss mom’s pickled fish; I also want beef, with some chili, like the fish fillets, marinate first, then boil the beef, the meat is tender, the vegetables are fresh and crisp, goes great with rice." Yi Roujing was making herself hungry, "I probably just live to eat."
"Then follow me, we’re not going to the state-run restaurant today." Xu Ancheng led Yi Roujing to take a bus, the ride lasted more than half an hour, out of town and to the suburbs. After getting off, there were hardly any people on the road, so Xu Ancheng boldly held Yi Roujing’s hand, leading her for another fifteen minutes, finally stopping in front of a self-built courtyard with red lanterns hanging outside.
"Is this a place to eat?" Yi Roujing was a bit surprised, not like a secret private kitchen hidden away.
"Knock knock——" Xu Ancheng directly knocked on the knocker on the big door.
The sound of slow footsteps approached, "Who is it?"
"Aunt Huo, it’s me, Xu Ancheng."
"Squeak," the door immediately opened, revealing a smiling elderly face, "Ancheng is here."
Aunt Huo immediately noticed Yi Roujing standing half a step behind Xu Ancheng, her eyes showed surprise, and she then smiled at Xu Ancheng, "Brought your wife, come in, come in and sit."
"Aunt Huo, this is Yi Roujing, Jing; Jing, this is Aunt Huo, she has an outstanding skill in Sichuan cuisine." Xu Ancheng introduced them.
"Roujing, come in quick, come in quick, I heard before that Ancheng got married, just never met his wife, seeing you today, so pretty." Aunt Huo pulled Yi Roujing inside.
"By the way, what do you want to eat? Aunt will make it for you."
Yi Roujing entered the main room, being seated by Aunt Huo on a bench by the large eight-immortal table. Yi Roujing looked curiously—it was a private home, not a restaurant.
"Whatever you have is fine." Yi Roujing said a little embarrassedly.
"Aunt Huo, do you have fish and beef?" Xu Ancheng asked bluntly.
"Yes, freshly got." Aunt Huo replied cheerfully, "Can you eat spicy?"
"Boiled beef, pickled fish, leave the rest to you, Aunt." Xu Ancheng said, "We can eat some spicy."
"Alrighty, sit tight, it’ll be ready soon." Saying this, Aunt Huo went out to the kitchen.
"What is this place?" Seeing Aunt Huo leave, Yi Roujing looked at Xu Ancheng with inquiry in her eyes.
"Aunt Huo’s house." Xu Ancheng explained, "Used to help the police station with a case at Aunt Huo’s place, lent a helping hand, Aunt Huo thanked me by cooking an amazing Sichuan feast, later on I’d come during university life."
Yi Roujing nodded, but didn’t ask any specifics about what happened.
Soon, the courtyard was filled with aroma, rich and spicy, and Yi Roujing uncontrollably swallowed hard.
Then, dishes like Mapo Tofu, Fish-Flavored Pork, Pickled Fish, Twice-Cooked Pork, Boiled Beef, and Tomato Egg Soup were served one by one, the main dish was steamed white rice, crystal clear, every grain distinct.
Yi Roujing was tempted, the beef slices were tender and smooth, while the accompanying vegetables, cucumber slices, mung bean sprouts, and fresh mushrooms were incredibly flavorful; the twice-cooked pork used cured meat, savored with a single bite filling the mouth...
Yi Roujing ate two and a half bowls of rice before putting down her chopsticks; Xu Ancheng had three and a half, finishing off all the dishes.
Xu Ancheng took out ration coupons, meat coupons, industrial coupons, and even placed a banknote, then pulled Yi Roujing to thank and bid farewell to Aunt Huo, who also slipped them two fragrant sweet melons before they left the door.
"Does Aunt Huo live alone?" Once outside, Yi Roujing curiously asked.
"Aunt Huo had only one son, but he died on the battlefield; her daughter-in-law remarried and took the child away." Xu Ancheng sighed, "Later, Aunt Huo’s grandson was kidnapped, her daughter-in-law reported it, and by the time he was found, he was already unconscious from burning, couldn’t be saved, but many other kidnapped children were rescued too."
"Aunt Huo’s daughter-in-law was devastated, went a bit out of her mind, abandoned by her later husband, divorced. Aunt Huo being kind, found her original daughter-in-law back, and the two rely on each other now."
"They get by through selling goods on the black market, once I caught sight of the Red Guards taking them away, pulled some strings to get them out, then introduced some diners to her, allowing them to make a living through private meals."
