The poor girl from the 1970s was forced to kiss by the damp educated youth.

Feng Ruyu was talking to Chen Zhi, but his gaze kept drifting towards Xi Lang beside him. Chen Zhi had shocked him greatly that day, but nothing compared to the few minutes Xi Lang spent with her, especially the scene of Xi Lang carrying Chen Zhi and disappearing in an instant. Two days later, he still found it surreal.

Is that a speed that humans can achieve?

But then I thought, I've seen ghosts before, so Xi Lang doesn't seem so unacceptable. The difference is, Xi Lang is alive.

"Stay for lunch," Xi Lang invited.

Yang Hong instinctively wanted to refuse, as it's considered polite not to eat at someone else's house these days, but Feng Ruyu was faster than him and agreed, "Okay."

Since Feng Ruyu was going to stay, Yang Hong naturally had no choice but to stay as well.

"I'll go back and tell my sister and brother that I won't be coming home for lunch."

As Yang Hong spoke, he walked outside at such a fast pace that it seemed as if something was chasing him from behind.

Feng Ruyu was puzzled. He remained seated and tried to strike up a conversation with Xi Lang. Xi Lang seemed aloof and unapproachable, but he could chat with anyone if he wanted to.

Feng Ruyu is now considered a friend of Chen Zhi, and Xi Lang has become more patient with him. In addition, Feng Ruyu is well-mannered and knowledgeable, so Xi Lang does not dislike him.

While the two were chatting, Chen Zhi went into the kitchen to wash vegetables and cut meat. It was cold, so hot pot was the perfect choice.

When the ingredients are almost ready, Xi Lang will come in to stir-fry the hot pot broth.

When the hot pot was served, Yang Hong returned, carrying two net bags of fruit, one bag of oranges and the other of jujubes.

"I saw some for sale on my way home and bought some." His face was slightly flushed, and his smile carried a hint of embarrassment.

Feng Ruyu: "......."

Do you even believe what you're saying?

Not only did Feng Ruyu not believe it, but Chen Zhi and Xi Lang also did not believe it.

Xi Lang raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat surprised.

Chen Zhi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "These are all my favorite dishes, thank you. Go wash your hands, dinner is about to be served."

Chen Zhi prepared two large bowls of beef and offal, along with tofu skin, frozen tofu, pork balls, fish balls, and two baskets of vegetables. The variety wasn't extensive, but the portions were plentiful.

At first, Feng Ruyu and Yang Hong were a bit reserved, but Chen Zhi and Xi Lang ate with such relish, the couple eating one bite after another, so openly and generously, without the slightest bit of shyness, which dispelled any embarrassment Feng Ruyu and Yang Hong had.

The four young people, at the peak of their appetites, finished all the dishes Chen Zhi had prepared, leaving no rice behind.

When Chen Zhi said she was going to throw away the soup, Yang Hong instinctively reached out to stop her.

Chen Zhi looked at him in confusion. Yang Hong's face turned bright red, and he stammered, "The broth that Brother Xi prepared is very fragrant. It would be a waste to throw it away. I want to pack it up and take it home."

At other times, Yang Hong would be too embarrassed to ask for it, but the hot pot was so delicious that he couldn't bear to part with the soup. He wanted to eat more of it and also wanted to take some back for his sister and brother to try.

He knew that Chen Zhi and Xi Lang wouldn't laugh at him for this.

"I want to take some home too." Feng Ruyu patted her round belly. "It's been so long since I've eaten this satisfyingly. Jiang You and I aren't very good cooks; we can only manage to cook it barely. If we want a proper meal, we have to go to a restaurant. If you ask me, Comrade Xi Lang's cooking skills are no worse than those of the head chefs at state-run restaurants, and they might even be better. This soup will be delicious even if we just add some vegetables to it and take it home."

Chen Zhi looked at Xi Lang. In the countryside, people would pack up leftover food, but it was extremely rare to see leftover soup being packed up.

"Let's leave this leftover; I'll make you two more portions of the broth," Xi Lang said.

Yang Hong panicked and repeatedly said no.

Feng Ruyu also refused, as it was really inappropriate to try to take food and gifts at the same time.

But Xi Lang ignored them and turned to go to the kitchen. "It'll be quick, it won't take much time."

Seeing their restless expressions, Chen Zhi smiled and said, "It's alright, we don't need these things at home. You just brought me so much money, consider it a reward for your hard work running errands."

Yang Hong and Feng Ruyu shook their heads. "We're the ones who benefited."

Chen Zhi didn't argue with them and was about to take the pot on the table to wash it when Yang Hong suddenly pressed her down.

"I want this one too, it's such a waste to throw it away," Yang Hong said with a pang of regret.

".......Okay." Chen Zhi reluctantly agreed.

In the kitchen, Xi Lang stir-fried the hot pot base, took out a pot of stewed beef ribs from his Qiankun sleeve, poured the beef ribs and broth into the pot, and a rich aroma immediately wafted out.

Chen Zhi couldn't help but swallow hard. Not to mention Yang Hong and Feng Ruyu, even she, who had eaten quite a bit, thought it smelled incredibly delicious.

Xi Lang glanced back at her. "Want some? Let's continue tonight."

Chen Zhi shook her head, "We'll eat tomorrow. Tonight we'll have steamed buns."

"Sure. Get two pots, I'll pack them separately," Xi Lang said.

"Thank you for your hard work." Chen Zhi knew that Xi Lang was being so polite to Feng Ruyu and Yang Hong because of her.

"It's no trouble at all, it's nothing. Besides, they are both good people and worth befriending." Xi Lang was telling the truth. If Feng Ruyu and Yang Hong were not good people, he wouldn't even let them in the door.

Chen Zhi took out two deep enamel pots, which could hold quite a lot, and they even had lids. She put the lids on, tied them with ropes, and carefully carried them without worrying about the contents spilling out.

Yang Hong carried an enamel pot in one hand and Chen Zhi's copper pot in the other as he went home. His cautious manner made Chen Zhi both amused and exasperated.

Feng Ruyu was going back to the hospital, where there was a place to cook. He could borrow the hospital's stove for 50 cents. He planned to put some vegetables and sliced ​​meat in the pot, and buy four steamed buns. That would be his and Jiang You's dinner.

With the Lunar New Year approaching and the snow just melting, it's a cold time of year.

While everyone was busy buying New Year's goods, Yang Hong returned carrying two pots, and everyone in the yard looked at him curiously.

"Yang Hong, your family's life is getting better now," an auntie teased, craning her neck to look at the pot in Yang Hong's hand, but the pot was covered with a lid, so she couldn't see anything.

"Auntie, you're joking. What good days could my family possibly have?" Yang Hong smiled shyly. His tattered cotton-padded jacket was already a bit short and no longer fit him well. There was a hole in the hem, revealing the blackened and stiff cotton inside.

Still the same poor, stingy person.

The aunt thought to herself, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, but she smiled and asked, "What's in those two pots?"

Yang Hong's expression became even more unnatural. "I went to a friend's house for dinner today. We had hot pot, and I praised how delicious it was, so they let me pack the soup and vegetables to take home."

"Your friend is really generous." The aunt was even more curious. When did Yang Hong make friends?

Yang Hong grinned foolishly, "He's very generous. My friend is a really good person. Auntie, I'm going home now. I still need to return the pot later."

"Go on, go on," the aunt waved her hand. "We don't have many pots and pans, so we should return them after we're done using them."

Yang Hong grunted in agreement, went back inside, and closed the door, cutting off any view from the outside.

"Tsk, he even has to pack up leftovers to bring back. I don't think his friendship with his girlfriend will last long." The aunt looked disdainful.

"I don't think they really considered him a friend. Otherwise, what friend would pack up leftovers for someone else?" another person said.

"We should be grateful to have food at all, who cares about anything else? You all know their family's situation."

"But not long ago, his house often smelled of meat!"

"Is it coming from his house? Not yours?"

"I thought it was your house."

Inside the house, Yang Jialing and Yang Rong were still pasting paper boxes.

Yang Jialing: "Where did you go today? Your lunch is on the stove, still warm for you."

"I've already eaten at Chen Zhi's house." Yang Hong put down the two pots, then found two basins in the house and poured the contents of the two pots out separately. When he saw that the enamel basin was half full of beef ribs, he was stunned for a moment, and his heart warmed.

Yang Rong leaned closer and asked, "What smells so good?"

"The hot pot broth and beef ribs are very fragrant. I brought some back for you to try," Yang Hong said with a smile.

Yang Rong swallowed hard. "It smells delicious. Brother, is this what you had for lunch?"

Yang Hong nodded, patted his stomach, and said, "I'm stuffed."

Yang Jialing: "Why did you suddenly go to someone else's house for dinner?"

"I went to deliver money with another friend. This is my own money," Yang Hong said, taking out 120 yuan from his pocket.

"So much money!"

Yang Jialing and Yang Hong's eyes widened, and they both leaned forward, asking, "Have you counted them? How many are there?"

Yang Hong laughed and said, "One hundred and twenty yuan, twelve bills, easy to count."

"How come there are so many? What were you doing?"

Yang Hong recounted his search for the person and the dangers he encountered along the way. He concluded by remarking, "Feng Ruyu and I were able to receive so much thanks to Chen Zhi. Everyone else only received sixty."

Yang Jialing and Yang Rong were terrified when they heard this.

Yang Jialing: "I'd better not take on such dangerous jobs in the future."

"Yes, I know what I'm doing. I didn't realize it was so dangerous at the time; I thought it was just about finding someone. Sister, I plan to use seventy yuan of this money for your dowry, and I'll keep fifty yuan to start a small business after the New Year," Yang Hong explained his plan.

"I'm not getting married," Yang Jialing said. Seeing her brother's unpleasant expression, she immediately added, "If I were to get married, it wouldn't be now. Given our family's situation, who would want to marry me? I'll consider my personal life after things get better."

With two younger brothers and no matchmakers coming to her door, who could she marry?

Yang Jialing is self-aware.

Yang Hong looked guilty. "We've dragged my sister down."

Yang Jialing shook her head. "We're family, so let's not talk about being a burden. You've earned so much money this year, that's already amazing. You're the pillar of our family now. By the way, you said you wanted to start a business, what kind of business are you planning to do?"

Yang Hong had thought about this before: "I plan to buy some things and set up a stall on the street. The cost is low, and I should be able to make some money."

Yang Jialing hesitated: "There are red armbands and patrol teams."

"I run fast, they can't catch me. Sister, Xiao Rong, I'm going to return the pot first, we'll have hot pot tonight."

At night, a rich and overpowering aroma wafted from the Yang family's house. The smell was so enticing that it made everyone's mouths water.

Several furtive figures appeared in the courtyard.

"What are they eating?"

"It seems to be from the Yang family."

"His house? What good stuff could his house possibly have?"

"Yang Hong packed up some leftovers from a friend's house today."

"oh--"

Leftovers smell so good!

They wanted to eat too.