When Cheng Qiaobei appeared in front of Chen Ningxi, she exclaid with delight, "What are you doing here? Finished with work?"
Cheng Qiaobei walked over to her desk, which was piled high with various approval docunts, "Finished, I sent you a ssage on WeChat but you didn’t reply, so I ca to find you for lunch."
"Already lunchti?" Chen Ningxi glanced at her watch, "I’ve been busy all morning and lost track of ti."
As she tidied up her papers, Cheng Qiaobei stood behind her, massaging her shoulders, "With all this work, aren’t you tired?"
"Not too bad." Chen Ningxi was concerned soone might walk in and see, so she shrugged her shoulders and pushed his hands away, "Don’t, or soone might notice."
"When I ca up, everyone had already gone to lunch. There’s no one left." Cheng Qiaobei helped her organize things, "What do you feel like eating?"
Thinking about an afternoon eting in the city, "Let’s just grab sothing quick nearby. There’s a eting at two in the city, and I need to leave by one."
"Sure, let’s get a bite around here." He rembered a place behind the power company in a small alley with a pretty good braised pork rice, "How about braised pork rice?"
"Zhang Ji’s?"
"Yeah."
"Sounds good, haven’t had it in a while." Chen Ningxi finished tidying up and grabbed her phone, "Let’s go."
They closed the office door behind them and walked side by side toward the stairs. As they descended, Cheng Qiaobei playfully tugged at the back of her shirt.
"Is everything going smoothly?" Chen Ningxi watched her steps.
Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Nothing major, or I wouldn’t have been back so soon."
"What about this afternoon? Heading back to Zhoushan?"
If there were any significant changes, he might be called back even if he did return to Zhoushan.
"No rush, I figured I’d stay ho with you."
Chen Ningxi slowed her pace, surprised, "Not leaving today?"
A mischievous smile curved on Cheng Qiaobei’s lips, "Happy?"
She lowered her eyes, smiling as she nodded.
Good things never hide in deep alleys. The small restaurant was tucked within one, but despite being away from the street, it had been open for many years. Its good and affordable taste attracted a lot of regulars.
Cheng Qiaobei ordered two portions of Taiwanese-style braised pork rice, and Chen Ningxi found an empty table inside, first wiping it with a napkin. Cheng Qiaobei ca over, holding two bottles of soda, and asked her,
"Orange? Cola?"
Chen Ningxi reached out and picked the orange one.
They sat and waited for their number to be called. Cheng Qiaobei took a sip of soda and set it down, "Since I have so ti this afternoon, I’ll visit Mom. Need to take anything?"
Chen Ningxi said, "While you’re passing through Rejuvenation Road, buy Xu Ji roast duck to take to her."
"Okay, anything else she likes?"
Chen Ningxi said, "That’s it, just bring my dad a pack of cigarettes."
He had already bought two packs of cigarettes at the supermarket near their community’s gate that morning and placed them in the trunk.
"I got them this morning, they’re in the trunk."
His thoroughness put Chen Ningxi at ease.
The server brought over two bowls of braised pork rice, and Chen Ningxi kept an eye on the ti, eating hurriedly. Cheng Qiaobei watched her eat like a little hamster and wiped her mouth with a napkin, "Take it easy, we have enough ti."
Chen Ningxi took a sip of soda to help her words along, "Who knows when that eting will end, what about dinner?"
Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "A grown man like won’t starve, I can grab sothing anywhere."
He figured if he couldn’t have dinner with Chen Ningxi, he’d just find so restaurant to eat at.
Chen Ningxi scooped another bite of rice, talking as she chewed, "Have dinner at my mom’s place tonight."
"...Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?"
Cheng Qiaobei had truly never considered it; he hadn’t even eaten Ding Yuan’s ho-cooked als when returning to Ningkou, so how could he trouble Chen Ningxi’s mom to cook for him?
"What’s inappropriate? It’s not like we do it often." Chen Ningxi opened Ye Yujun’s WeChat and typed,
"Mom, we’re coming over for dinner tonight, make sothing good."
"Hey," before Cheng Qiaobei could stop her, Chen Ningxi had sent the ssage, and Ye Yujun replied quickly. Chen Ningxi opened the voice note and heard:
"What ti will you be here? Ask Cheng what he likes, and I’ll go to the market now."
"Did you hear that? My mom even asked what you want to eat." Chen Ningxi knew what he worried about and reassured him, "Don’t feel like it’s a bother, my mom loves having us over for dinner, it makes the house feel lively."
Cheng Qiaobei had never experienced a warm family atmosphere before, but it felt a little less daunting when with Chen Ningxi. Alone, he would feel much more reserved.
She gently patted his hand and heard her say with a smile, "Don’t worry, eat openly. What’s to be awkward about at your mother-in-law’s? Haven’t you heard how mothers-in-law dote on sons-in-law?"
Cheng Qiaobei chuckled, "We’ll see, you might not even be late."
Chen Ningxi held down the voice button and replied to Ye Yujun, "Qiaobei will co over soon. If you need groceries, let him deliver them or help carry them."
Cheng Qiaobei agreed readily, "Alright, tell Mom to wait for ."
The two parted at the office entrance, and Cheng Qiaobei first went to buy the roast duck and then popped over to a nearby fruit shop to purchase fresh fruits. He carried the items and knocked on the door, and Ye Yujun was already prepared.
"No need to bring stuff when coming ho. Next ti, don’t buy anything."
Cheng Qiaobei walked into the kitchen with the goods, "Ningxi said you like Xu Ji roast duck. I happened to pass by, so I bought it, and the fruit shop next door had fresh items."
"Bought cigarettes as a whim, too?" Ye Yujun laughed, "Cheng, we’re all family. You’re coming back to your parents’ house; do you buy things every ti you visit your parents? I bet not. Listen to , don’t buy anything next ti."
Cheng Qiaobei nodded, "Got it, Mom."
"Leave things here and let’s go grocery shopping."
"Alright."
At the entrance, Ye Yujun grabbed two eco-friendly bags. Having this son-in-law around was truly nice; she selected the items while he patiently carried them behind her.
Ye Yujun handed him a bunch of garlic chives, "You’re much better than your dad; can’t rely on him for anything at ho. At least you accompany to buy groceries, I can’t even rember the last ti we went to the market together."
Cheng Qiaobei replied, "Mom, as long as I’m in Danjiang, just give a call anyti you’re shopping."
Ye Yujun laughed, "A son-in-law more considerate than a daughter."
"Hehe..."
Suddenly Cheng Qiaobei felt invigorated, like he’d carry the entire market if needed, never mind just the groceries.
Coming to the market regularly, they beca familiar faces at several stalls, with friendly chats occasionally exchanged.
The seafood vendor recognized Ye Yujun and called out, "Jun, today the prawns just got off the boat, want so?"
Ye Yujun walked towards the seafood stall, "Let see. They look pretty fresh and big. Sure, give four pounds."
As the vendor scooped them, she glanced behind Ye Yujun, "Who’s this young man? Your son? He’s quite handso."
"Not my son, my son-in-law." Ye Yujun bead with delight.
"Oh wow, he’s a catch." The vendor complinted Cheng Qiaobei generously and even gave them a discount.
After buying groceries, Cheng Qiaobei’s hands were full of shopping bags.
They visited almost every stall that Ye Yujun regularly patronized, and today, everyone knew Jun had a handso son-in-law.
Once inside the car, Ye Yujun asked, "Tired?"
Cheng Qiaobei started the car with a smile, "Not tired."
He genuinely didn’t mind shopping with Ye Yujun; on the contrary, he thoroughly enjoyed this vibrant lifestyle, letting him feel a sense of life’s flavor.
After all, life was about rice, oil, salt, and the mundane grind.
Gathering together ant warmth, and laid out, it was the essence of life.
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