1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 373 I'm Really Hungry (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets: 1255)

"Hey friend, give me some air." Xia Yao loosened her scarf a little, suppressing a laugh: "I thought you were going to tie a tight knot. Tell me, have you never worn a scarf before?"

"I've never worn one before." Zhou Yan nodded a little awkwardly. When he was a child, the orphanage didn't provide scarves, so he was always quite resistant to the cold and had a habit of winter swimming. He had never worn a scarf before.

Xia Yao thought tying the scarf for him would be easy, but when she tried it herself, she realized that wrapping it around him wasn't quite the same.

"Come on, I'll teach you." Xia Yao took off the scarf and tied it while explaining to him, "If you're just wrapping it around, two wraps at most are enough. When you're riding your bike, tuck the ends of the scarf inside your jacket so it doesn't unravel and get caught in the wheels..."

Zhou Yan looked down at her gently explaining the different ways to tie a scarf, and the feeling of being treated so gently warmed his heart.

"Have you learned it?" Xia Yao looked up at him and asked.

"Got it. Wrap it around twice and tuck it into your clothes." Zhou Yan nodded.

"I clearly described so many ways to tie it up!" Xia Yao stomped her foot in anger.

“I learned the most practical kind,” Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay, even if you only know how to tie one, it's fine. I'll tie it for you later." Xia Yao took off the scarf and looked at the sales clerk, saying, "Sister, do you have any small hats and scarves for a three-and-a-half-year-old?"

"These are all for children, which one do you want?" the salesperson said.

"Is that yellow tiger-head hat the same style? And I'd also like a red scarf," Xia Yao said.

"It's the same style." The sales clerk brought over the little hat and scarf and handed them to Xia Yao.

Xia Yao checked them carefully and nodded, "Okay, sister, then I'll take these three hats and three scarves."

"Okay, I'll take you to pay." The clerk wrote out the receipt and led them to the cashier.

Zhou Yan took out his wallet, but Xia Yao stopped him, saying, "This is a gift for you and Momo. You're not allowed to pay for it."

"You're still in school."

“I have an internship salary, a gold medal in the arts performance, and a 50 yuan bonus. Plus, I got an order for the Jiading silk series, so the textile factory will give me another 50 yuan bonus,” Xia Yao said with a smile. “I have quite a bit of money.”

"Then I won't stand on ceremony with this rich little lady." Zhou Yan put his wallet back in his pocket, smiling broadly. "I, Zhou Yan, am now living off a woman!"

"Eat up, eat up. I'll earn lots and lots of money in the future." Xia Yao's smile held a hint of smugness as she tiptoed closer to his ear and whispered, "When I earn enough money, I'll buy you a car!"

"Huh?" Zhou Yan looked at her incredulously.

"Were you sitting in the car just now, thinking about when you could buy a car?" Xia Yao asked, looking at him.

“The car is so expensive.” Zhou Yan looked at her. “But I’m so happy. This is the first time in my life, whether it was my past life or not, that a girl has ever told me she would buy me a car.”

"It's okay, if I can't afford it next year, I'll save up for another year, and I'll definitely be able to buy it for you." Xia Yao clenched her fist, full of confidence: "Do you believe me?"

"I believe you." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.

"Let's go, I'll buy you a scarf and hat first~~" Xia Yao took his hand and jogged to catch up with the sales clerk.

"Huh? How did you become the older sister?"

“I asked Aunt Zhao about your birthday. You’re half a year younger than me, Zhou Yan.”

"Being half a year younger doesn't count; I'm still fifteen centimeters taller than you."

"No matter what, being one day older counts, you have to call me 'older sister'~"

"Then let's address each other separately. You call me brother first, and then I'll call you sister."

"Brother~"

"Hey."

"Okay, it's your turn."

"Good sister."

"Don't do that! You're so mean!"

Xia Yao paid the bill; three hats and three scarves cost thirty yuan.

not cheap.

When it came time to pay, the girl pulled out three ten-yuan bills without even blinking.

Zhou Yan loved her cool and confident spirit; she had such a great presence.

"Your girlfriend is really great, cherish her," the sales clerk advised Zhou Yan, her gaze no different from that of someone looking at a gigolo.

"I will! I definitely will!" Zhou Yan quickly assured him.

"Alright, alright." Xia Yao took his hand, looking at the hat and scarf he was wearing. "Should we put them away for now?"

"No need, I want to wear it. I want the whole world to know that my girlfriend bought it for me. My girlfriend is the best in the world!" Zhou Yan shook his head.

Xia Yao couldn't help but laugh when she looked at him, and shook the tiger-head hat on her head: "Then I won't take it off either."

Although he can be a bit slow at times, he provides a lot of emotional value.

I'm so happy to be with him.

“But you need to take off your scarf, it’s a bit hot in here.” Zhou Yan reached out and took off the scarf, then took the bag from Xia Yao’s hand and carried it. “Let’s go, I’ll take you somewhere.”

"Hmm?" Xia Yao was a little confused, but she still followed him.

The two stopped in front of the gold counter.

Compared to other counters, the gold counter was a bit quieter.

"What are you going to do?" Xia Yao asked in a low voice.

"Young man, you're here again." The sales clerk recognized Zhou Yan at a glance. This young man was handsome, had a sweet tongue, and was filial, which left a deep impression on her.

Zhou Yan said, "Sister, I brought my girlfriend over to look at necklaces. If she finds one she likes, could you please let her try it on?" "Sure," the saleswoman replied with a smile, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Xia Yao. "This girl is so pretty, just like a celebrity. You're a lucky girl."

"Of course! Look, she bought me my hat and scarf. Aren't they nice?" Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"It looks good." The auntie nodded with a smile.

Xia Yao pursed her lips, wanting to escape, feeling a little ashamed, but she couldn't suppress the urge to smile.

Who goes around showing off their hats and scarves to everyone? It's unbearable.

"Let's see if there's anything you like." Zhou Yan pulled Xia Yao to the counter, where rows of necklaces were displayed, each labeled with its weight.

The small blackboard at the back reads: Today's gold price: 27.4 yuan.

"Why did you give me a necklace?" Xia Yao looked up at Zhou Yan, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Zhou Yan said earnestly, "Because I think you're missing a necklace. Every time I see you wearing earrings, but no necklace, your neck looks bare. I've been wanting to give you a necklace for a while now, and we just happened to come to the department store together today. I think your taste is better than mine, so you know what suits you better."

“But you already gave me the bracelet.” Xia Yao raised her hand, revealing her slender, fair wrist, the silver bracelet sparkling. “I wear it every day, I love it.”

"I know, consider this a gift from me for your internship. Congratulations on successfully completing your internship and returning to school to finish your university studies." Zhou Yan looked at her with a smile and said, "Is that alright?"

Xia Yao looked into his eyes and remained silent for a moment before smiling and nodding, "Okay, but I don't like gold necklaces. Can I choose a pendant and have it braided into a cord to wear? I prefer simpler styles."

“Sure, of course your preference is more important.” Zhou Yan nodded.

The auntie behind the counter had a big, warm smile on her face, watching the young people fall in love – it was really interesting.

This young man is sensible, and the girl is caring; they're so good.

Xia Yao went to the pendant counter, scanned the display cases, and her gaze fell on a small gourd pendant. Pointing at the counter, she said, "Sister, can I take a look at that gourd?"

"Sure," the auntie replied, putting on gloves and taking out the gourd, handing it directly to Xia Yao.

The gourd is small, but its workmanship is exquisite. The surface has a brushed finish with a slightly matte feel. It's not a dazzling gold color, but rather has a more textured look. The hanging ring is inlaid in the middle of the gourd at the rim.

"Isn't it pretty?" Xia Yao handed the gourd in her palm to Zhou Yan.

"It looks good. The gourd symbolizes good fortune and prosperity, which is nice." Zhou Yan nodded.

"You're quite knowledgeable." Xia Yao smiled, glanced at the tag, six grams, her brows furrowed slightly, and then turned her gaze to the other pendants on the counter, pointing to a three-gram heart pendant and saying, "Sister, let me take a look at this heart pendant too."

"Okay." The aunt took out the heart-shaped pendant and handed it to Xia Yao.

“I think this is quite cute too,” Xia Yao said, looking at Zhou Yan.

“I think the gourd looks better, and it has a better meaning.” Zhou Yan smiled at her and said, “You’ll definitely look good wearing it.”

"Hmm, I think the young man has good taste. Wearing a gourd brings good fortune and prosperity. This little heart is too petty," the auntie added.

"Then let's choose the gourd." Zhou Yan handed the little heart back to his aunt and made the decision directly.

"But this gourd..."

"It looks great. I think your first impression is really excellent." Zhou Yan smiled and picked up on her words. "What color rope do you think you should choose to tie it? Would it look even better if you added a few little gold beads as embellishments?"

"Then I'll have a light gold braided cord, and three small gold beads as embellishments, like leaves." Xia Yao moved closer to the counter and began to carefully select a cord.

"Come on, let me braid a rope for you." The aunt took out a rope and picked out three small, shiny gold beads.

"Sister, I'll braid it myself. I used to braid all sorts of ropes when I was in school," Xia Yao said.

"Sure, then you can do it yourself." The auntie didn't stand on ceremony and handed Xia Yao a roll of silk thread and a small pair of scissors.

Xia Yao took the rope, measured its length, folded it in half and cut two pieces. She first put the gourd's button on it, and then began to braid the rope.

Her fingers flew across the paper, and in no time she had finished braiding the rope. She even made a slipknot to adjust the rope's length. Three small gold beads were woven next to the gourd as a small embellishment.

"How is it?" Xia Yao placed the gourd with the braided rope in her palm and handed it to Zhou Yan.

"Master Xia, your craftsmanship is amazing! This gourd feels so different to me, it has such a great texture. You have such a great eye for aesthetics!" Zhou Yan exclaimed.

"I often make my own bracelets and hairpins, so braiding a rope is a piece of cake," Xia Yao said with a smug look.

I was happy to receive the gourd, and even happier to receive praise from Zhou Yan.

In his presence, you can be yourself to your heart's content.

How can life be the same no matter who you are?

"Girl, your skills are amazing! It's even prettier than what I make," the auntie exclaimed in amazement.

"Sister, can you give me a receipt? I'll go pay the bill," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay," the auntie replied with a smile, taking the tag to calculate the bill and write it down.

"Shall I put it on you?" Zhou Yan asked Xia Yao.

"Okay." Xia Yao nodded and took off her hat.

Zhou Yan took the necklace, pulled the clasp to its longest length, put it on her, and tightened the clasp a little to make the necklace the perfect length.

Xia Yao pulled her coat open slightly to the sides, revealing her black, tight-fitting sweater, which accentuated her ample chest.

Zhou Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he could no longer see the gourd in his eyes.

Xia Yao suddenly realized something, blushed, quickly closed her coat, and glared at Zhou Yan.

"It looks great, it matches your clothes perfectly, and it adds a bright touch, so it doesn't feel like something's missing around your neck. You have such good taste, your fashion sense is already excellent, and the gourd you chose today is also very nice," Zhou Yan said earnestly.

"Then why were you swallowing your saliva just now?!" Xia Yao leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"That means I'm really hungry," Zhou Yan said honestly.

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(End of this chapter)