Winter Returns

Chapter 169 "The Appointment"

12 month 16 day.

Sunday.

"Tongtong, Tongtong, where's my skincare lotion?"

The woman in front of me spoke in a very cute tone and gave me a very "kind" smile.

"mom."

Zhang Shutong blinked.

"what?"

The eggs weren't salted.

"Oh, I forgot." Mother was a forgetful woman. She slapped her forehead in realization and said, "Do you know why I forgot?"

"Ok?"

"I got up first thing this morning looking for the skincare toner you bought for me, but I just couldn't find it." She pretended to be on the verge of tears.

Zhang Shutong had no choice but to pretend he hadn't heard it.

I'm not pretending anymore:
"You spent the whole day playing with that girl and completely forgot about your mother?"

Zhang Shutong started eating slices of steamed bread.

Pan-fried bread slices.

Slice the slightly hardened steamed buns that have been left overnight, dip them in a little cold water, coat them with egg wash, and fry them in oil until golden brown. You can then eat them with fermented bean curd or stinky tofu.

I don't know about other places, but it's one of the most common breakfasts in his family.

But my mom can't stand the smell of stinky tofu, so unfortunately there were no condiments.

Actually, I used to love eating.

But this incident dates back to his childhood. One time, his mother was about to cook, and his father volunteered, saying, "Honey, you're tired. Let me do it."

He pushed his mother out of the kitchen, leaving Zhang Shutong inside to help. When his father came back, he searched for a recipe for fried mantou slices online, but after only glancing at his phone for a few seconds, he slapped his thigh:
"That's easy! Son, bring me some steamed buns!"

Zhang Shutong tiptoed to take the steamed buns out of the refrigerator and presented them with both hands.

Dad is also a man with good hands-on skills. He quickly mixed the egg mixture and sliced ​​the steamed buns. A few minutes later, a pot of golden-brown steamed bun slices was ready. Zhang Shutong smelled the aroma from the plate and was about to call Mom to start dinner when Dad slapped his thigh:
"Son, bring me some more stinky tofu!"

Zhang Shutong asked in confusion, "Why do you want stinky tofu?"
Dad said that's how it's taught online—to sandwich it between slices of steamed bread. If your dad hadn't found the authentic recipe, we almost missed out on this delicious dish. Your mom used to be too lazy and skipped this important step. Let's see how your dad does it today.

Zhang Shutong nodded in agreement, and his father handed him a jar of Wang Zhihe's Qingfang (a type of Chinese herbal tea). Zhang Shutong pinched his nose and ducked to the side, watching as his father deftly picked out a few pieces with chopsticks and placed them on a small plate. As he did so, he explained that this was the most authentic way for old Beijingers to eat it. Then, to Zhang Shutong's horrified gaze, the man flipped the plate over in the hot oil, and with a sizzling sound—

When my mom walked into the kitchen, she was so startled that her face mask fell off.

In the end, the whole pot of oil was poured out. Amidst her mother's frantic shouts and her father's explanations, Zhang Shutong secretly glanced at the "authentic" recipe on her phone.

The screen reads:

A collection of Guo Degang's crosstalk performances.

Many years have passed since then. Zhang Shutong brought it up with reminiscing feelings, but her mother said quietly:

"Don't change the subject. You've forgotten your mother now that you have a girlfriend."

Zhang Shutong looked exasperated.
"Where did you get a girlfriend?"

"You still know she's not your girlfriend? You've already forgotten your mom before you've even started dating?"

Zhang Shutong couldn't argue with her. There were very few women in his life he couldn't argue with. One was his own mother, and the other was... Zhang Shutong glanced at his phone. She should still be having breakfast at the temple.

"Alright, you can keep eating. I have to go to work at noon." Mom yawned and went back to her room to change her clothes.

"So busy?" Zhang Shutong asked, puzzled.

In fact, he had no idea why his mother was so busy all these years.

"Yes, there was a slight accident at the scene yesterday, so I'm going to sign some papers today."

"An accident?" Zhang Shutong couldn't help but ask. Could it be that someone died while digging the foundation?
"There's a hole that's collapsed, but it's nothing serious," Mom said lazily. "Guess what we dug out?"

She didn't keep him in suspense, and eagerly leaned over to show him her phone:

"Look, little fox."

Zhang Shutong's first thought was that Xiao Lu's last remaining fox had been smashed to death.

However, the image on the screen is a sculpture of a fox.

Material: stone.

The fox was perched on a stone base, its mouth wide open in a smile that was hard to miss. It was rather strange, and Zhang Shutong called it the Happy Fox.

"That's the most fun thing about geology; you never know what strange and wonderful things you might dig out from underground."

Mom leaned on his shoulder, beaming with joy:
"Do you remember the fossils that were on your desk when you were little? I dug those up."

“That one…” Zhang Shutong remembered it was an ammonite.

He glanced at the fox sculpture again, his interest waning by half, and casually asked, "An antique?"

“Maybe it really is,” Mom said, intrigued. “I studied archaeology in college, and this thing that looks like a deity statue used for worship is definitely an old artifact.”

Zhang Shutong thought about it for a moment, and the sight of a bunch of people worshipping a grinning fox... to be honest, it was a little creepy.

"That has to be handed over," he joked.

"I'll just put anything that's uncertain on my desk for now."

"so small?"

"Hmm, the bottle of Nutritional Express is that big."

Zhang Shutong was about to ask if the thing was dirty when his phone rang. He glanced at it and replied with a few words.

"Who is it?" Mom asked casually. "Has it been going on since before dinner?"

"a friend."

"Gu Qiu Mian?"

“No. She shouldn’t be up yet at this hour.” Zhang Shutong said subconsciously, then added helplessly, “Mom, stop nagging her.”

The woman moved her lips, thinking that this was her own son, and she was a little reluctant to scold him.

"So who is it?" she asked curiously. "If it were Ruoping or the others, you would have just said their names. Are they new friends you made recently when you changed shifts?"

"We met in the city yesterday."

"You can make a friend in a day?" Mom was extremely surprised.

"I can only say we just met," Zhang Shutong replied dismissively.

"Oh, right, don't forget to bring Xiaolu home for dinner today. I've already bought the groceries."

My mom is urging me again.

"Uh……"

"What are you staring at? Didn't I tell you this Wednesday that I'd treat Xiao Lu to a meal this weekend since I'm free? She saved your life."

Zhang Shutong came to his senses. He had indeed forgotten about it because he had mentioned it to Lu Qinglian at the hospital last time, but she had refused, so he had temporarily put it out of his mind.

Of course, the reason given last time was rain. Today the weather is sunny, so theoretically we could just call her over, nod, and accept the situation, but—

He glanced at his phone again; he already had a dinner appointment, though it wasn't confirmed yet.

Moreover, the other party is coming to the island.

He looked at the chat history, his gaze lingering on a message from last night:

"What a coincidence! I'm going to the island tomorrow. If you're free, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. You can book the restaurant."

Zhang Shutong's mind was a bit confused:

"……decide as things go."

"What do you mean 'depending on the situation'? It's a must." Mom said in a commanding tone, "You went out to play yesterday, but you can't put it off any longer today. If you do, it'll be next week again."

Mom had always wanted to thank Lu Qinglian for saving her life, but she couldn't find the opportunity due to overtime work. Finally, she got the weekend off and gave a firm order: Lu Qinglian must be brought home for dinner.

He wanted to ask if lunchtime was okay, but his mother had already changed her clothes. As she spoke, she went in and out of the room, constantly looking at herself in the mirror. Zhang Shutong couldn't understand why she was so vain just because she was working overtime. But once a woman stops caring about her appearance, she might quickly become an old lady.

"The dress your dad bought me last year is too small," Mom complained, pouting. It was unclear whether she was complaining about Dad or the extra weight around her belly.

Zhang Shutong also couldn't understand something: it was winter, yet his mother was trying on spring dresses, just as he couldn't understand why Gu Qiumian would buy an anklet that could only be worn in summer.

"Mom, do you have an ex-boyfriend?" he suddenly asked a seemingly random question.

"No, your dad and I were each other's first love." She said this with a hint of pride. "Why?"

"Just asking casually." Zhang Shutong glanced at the time. "I'm leaving now."

"Wash the dishes."

"well……"

He carried the empty bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen. He was usually a quick person and never did anything else while washing dishes. But this time, Zhang Shutong turned on the tap and, unusually, didn't move. The water was running loudly. He wiped the water splashed on his sleeves and stared at the ceiling for a while.

It was already past eight o'clock when Zhang Shutong went downstairs. He got on his bicycle and temporarily put some troubling matters behind him.

After riding a motorcycle, he suddenly felt that bicycles were incredibly slow, but his mother confiscated the motorcycle, and he became a middle school student riding a bicycle again.

Bicycles can be cool too, as long as there's a modified tail box on the back seat filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful things, like fishing rods, flashlights, and batons... However, this Sunday, he left the cool tail box at home.

Zhang Shutong quickly rode to the foot of the mountain.

He looked around; the agreed time was 8:30, but he couldn't see that figure at the entrance.

A few minutes later, Lu Qinglian walked down the mountain path.

"morning."

"morning."

"You are late."

"Twelve minutes left," she said nonchalantly.

Zhang Shutong glanced at his phone: 8:18, exactly the second. He was about to wonder if the temple keeper had the ability to estimate time when he suddenly realized—

Lu Qinglian now has a mobile phone.

This morning's task was to get her a SIM card.

Zhang Shutong initially thought that getting a credit card was easy these days, and that he could do it by spending a little money. However, after learning more, he discovered that the island's branches had already started requiring real-name registration. There was only one branch on their island, and while it's said that policies in smaller places are more flexible, the opposite was actually true.

Minors also need to be accompanied by a guardian.

For adults, it's a bit easier; all they need to do is show their ID. Zhang Shutong decided to go all the way and, since he'd given them a phone, he couldn't just let them play Snake on it all the time.

He asked his mother for her opinion, and she generously showed him her ID card, saying she would use his. Not only did she agree to the application, she also gave him some money to top up his phone credit.

So he made a point of setting aside time on Sunday. The branch opens at nine o'clock, so it was just in time for him to get there.

It was something we arranged this Friday.

Lu Qinglian wasn't wearing a green robe today, but a down jacket. It was a very ordinary, dirt-resistant gray, and you couldn't tell if it was new or old. It looked like a promotional item she bought in a shopping street. Zhang Shutong thought that she probably didn't buy a fitted style back then, but now the down jacket was a bit small, which actually accentuated her slender figure.

"Zhang Shutong, you'd better change your habit of staring at people as soon as you meet them."

"First time seeing you," Zhang Shutong shrugged. "Why do you have a down jacket?"

Lu Qinglian sighed softly.

She seems to be in a good mood today.

Zhang Shutong then noticed that she was holding a red plastic wrapper, which was easily recognizable as a sausage wrapper. He seemed to understand why Lu Qinglian was in a good mood.

"gone."

Zhang Shutong patted the back seat of the bicycle.

“I can keep up,” Lu Qinglian replied.

Normally, Lu Qinglian doesn't like being driven around, and she's never been driven around by anyone.

But today is clearly not a normal situation.

Zhang Shutong reminded him:

"Didn't I tell you to walk less? You'll probably get another lecture when you go to the hospital for your follow-up appointment."

Lu Qinglian looked at him, seemingly wanting him to continue, as she almost never said nonsense like "And then?"

“Yesterday, the doctor called my mom and asked when she would come for a follow-up appointment. My mom asked if today was okay, and she said yes, so they made an appointment together.”

Yes, this arrangement was made without the knowledge of the parties involved.

Lu Qinglian stopped talking, but a hint of helplessness still appeared in her eyes. Zhang Shutong was carrying her. He remembered that last time he was riding a motorcycle. He was really getting worse and worse. Was he going to have to walk next time?

How's your phone working? Are there any functions you don't understand?

"Luckily, there were instructions in the box." She said it casually, as if it were a trivial matter that wouldn't stump her.

But Zhang Shutong was too embarrassed to say that we basically don't read the instruction manual when using mobile phones.

"You'll need to get a data plan and choose a number. Data is expensive, but it'll be cheaper if you get a plan within the province. I suggest you get one within the province."

"I'll remember it, thank you."

"By the way, do you know what data traffic is? Can you explain it to me?"

"Do you still have any chewing gum?" Lu Qinglian asked directly.

Zhang Shutong touched his pocket:

"You want to eat?"

"I suggest you eat one; it will be quieter that way."

After riding for a while longer, Lu Qinglian asked:

What's the approximate price range for the meal packages?

Zhang Shutong blew a bubble at her.

Lu Qinglian glanced at him expressionlessly.

To avoid being called childish, Zhang Shutong hid her chewing gum under her tongue and recalled:
"It's not too expensive, ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars, twenty-one months is more suitable."

"What about China Mobile?" she asked earnestly.

"Uh...you know about China Mobile?"

"This advertisement is frequently shown on television."

Zhang Shutong used to think that the target audience for television commercials was middle-aged and elderly people, but now she realizes that there is another group sitting behind her.

I'm really worried about her future children.

You wouldn't buy a reading pen, would you?

"I can't remember either, I'll check when we get to the store."

"it is good."

"But let me make this clear first, my mom said she'll cover all your phone bills. She's giving me this task today, so don't be shy."

"That's not a good idea."

"It's a life-saving favor. The more you refuse, the more effort she'll put into repaying it. I advise you to agree, so that next time she wants to buy something, you can say you've already topped up her phone credit, and then you can refuse."

Lu Qinglian thought for a moment and nodded.

Zhang Shutong couldn't see her nod, but he could feel her breath on the back of his neck sway slightly.

The two of them quickly rode into the city.

Despite it being a leisurely Sunday, Zhang Shutong sighed.

Some things haven't been decided yet, but some things have already been agreed upon.

For example, he also mentioned that he would go to the tunnel later.

(End of this chapter)