Chapter 16: World One [16]

Jing Ke didn’t notice the conversation between Shang Siyu and Mother Shang in the kitchen; she was busy mentally reviewing the basic etiquette required when visiting a friend’s home.

This time, Jing Ke had learned from her previous experience. She didn’t blindly trust the answers found on search engines. Instead, she combined information from books like The Art of Language and The Art of Social Conduct with High EQ for a more comprehensive study session.

Seeing Mother Shang and Shang Siyu emerge from the kitchen together, Jing Ke immediately rose from the sofa and helped take the cup from Mother Shang’s hands.

“Auntie, please sit. I can pour the tea myself,” Jing Ke said.

Mother Shang already viewed Jing Ke through a favorable lens. Seeing her thoughtfully pour tea for her made her gaze even more kind and affectionate.

“Little Jing, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat? I’ll make it for dinner tonight,” Mother Shang said, sitting down in the armchair with a warm tone.

“Jing Ke, my mother’s cooking is even better than mine. If you want something, just say so,” Shang Siyu added.

Jing Ke thought seriously for three seconds, then quickly gave her answer. “Auntie, I really like braised spare ribs and braised prawns. Other dishes are fine too, I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything.”

“Alright, we still have plenty of ribs at home. I’ll go out and buy some large prawns.” Seeing Jing Ke’s unpretentious answer, Mother Shang’s smile deepened.

“I’ll go. I’m already troubling you to cook for me, Auntie. I can’t trouble you to go shopping as well,” Jing Ke said, standing up.

Jing Ke: “Auntie, besides the large prawns, does the house need anything else? Shang Siyu and I can drive there and be back very quickly.”

Shang Siyu nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’ll take Jing Ke around the neighborhood on the way. Mom, if you need anything bought, just tell us.”

Mother Shang looked at Jing Ke, whose eyes were clear and sincere, then at her own daughter, and finally decided not to stand on ceremony with Jing Ke.

“Alright. Besides large prawns, you can also buy a live fish. We can keep it and make fish congee tomorrow morning.” Mother Shang said, “As for vegetables, just pick whatever you two like. The house isn’t short on anything.”

Shang Siyu’s hometown, Mu’an County, couldn’t compare to the bustle of River City, but the streets were still very lively on the eve of the holiday. Not only were there many people, but roadside vendors were also plentiful, with many elderly people pedaling their tricycles to sell vegetables they had grown themselves.

Jing Ke found this scene somewhat novel and glanced over a few more times while waiting at a red light. “I remember traffic laws state that roadside vendors like this shouldn’t be here.”

Shang Siyu followed her gaze. “Laws are laws, but the level of enforcement differs. Big cities care more about the System, but smaller places have a bit more of the human touch.”

“The aging population in Mu’an County is quite severe. The young people have all left. If these elderly folks can’t even earn a little pocket money, they wouldn’t know what to do with themselves,” Shang Siyu added.

Jing Ke nodded thoughtfully. When the light turned green, she released the brake and stepped on the accelerator.

Their destination was a larger farmer’s market. It had everything—rice, flour, oil, grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk. Not only were the goods fresh, but the prices were also cheap and fair.

“In the past, my mother and I would take the bus here to buy groceries. We’d bring a small cart and buy a week’s worth of food in one trip,” Shang Siyu introduced as they walked.

“After I left for university in River City, this place has been renovated and upgraded many times, but the people setting up stalls here are basically the same group.” Before Shang Siyu’s words had even faded, a stall owner recognized her.

“Isn’t that Little Yu? Back home for the holidays?” The owner’s tone was very enthusiastic. “Want to buy some vegetables to take home? These zucchinis and cauliflowers just arrived this morning.”

“Aunt Liu, long time no see. I’m here to buy some seafood,” Shang Siyu responded with a smile.

“Seafood, huh? Then take a piece of ginger back with you; it removes the fishy smell,” Aunt Liu said. She placed a piece of old ginger into a small plastic bag and leaned over, trying to stuff it into Shang Siyu’s hands.

“No need, Aunt Liu. I still have some at home,” Shang Siyu was a bit overwhelmed by this enthusiasm.

“It’s fine, ginger keeps for a long time. If you have some at home, just save it. You’ll always find a use for it in cooking.” Aunt Liu said with a beaming smile. “Next time you buy vegetables, just remember to patronize my business, okay?”

Unable to refuse, Shang Siyu could only take the plastic bag in her hand. “Alright, next time I need something, I’ll definitely come to Aunt Liu for my vegetables.”

Jing Ke watched this scene with slight puzzlement. It wasn’t until they were almost at the seafood section that she asked, “Are you very close with that Aunt Liu?”

“Quite close, I suppose. My mother likes buying vegetables from Aunt Liu, and Aunt Liu’s daughter and I went to the same University,” Shang Siyu said, glancing down at the ginger she was holding.

A piece of ginger weighing half a kilogram had to cost six or seven yuan at least. Next time she came to Aunt Liu’s stall to buy vegetables, she’d have to remember to pay a little extra.

Jing Ke nodded thoughtfully, committing this newly learned lesson in social conduct to memory.

Buying the fish went very smoothly. Upon hearing they didn’t need the fish killed, the owner simply filled another black bag with water and put the lively, flopping black fish inside.

Jing Ke was a step ahead and took it. She even pulled out her phone with one hand and paid, saying with a serious face, “Auntie is already going to the trouble of cooking for me, so the cost of the ingredients should be on me. When we lived together, wasn’t I the one who paid for things, too?”

“Fine, you have a point. You can pay then,” Shang Siyu said, preparing to silently retract her half-extended hand.

However, Jing Ke seemed to misunderstand Shang Siyu’s intention. Seeing her hand out, Jing Ke took it with her own free hand, interlacing their fingers very naturally.

Shang Siyu stole a glance at it, then pretended she hadn’t noticed anything and continued walking forward.

The previous few stalls didn’t have very large prawns. The two walked all the way to the stall at the very end before finding ingredients that met their requirements.

Giant prawns, sixty-six yuan per half kilogram. A very auspicious price.

“Boss, give us one kilogram of large prawns,” Shang Siyu glanced at the price tag and called out to the stall owner, whose back was turned to them.

“Coming.” The response came in a voice that was a little rough and husky, a female voice. She quickly put down her work, wiped her hands with a towel, and turned her head to look.

“Yes, one kilogram…” The owner froze upon seeing Shang Siyu. A look of embarrassment slowly surfaced on her face. She immediately tossed the towel aside and subconsciously began straightening her clothes.

“He Minmin?” Shang Siyu said her name first.

“Shang Siyu, long time no see.” A smile squeezed onto He Minmin’s face, which wasn’t very fair. Her gaze briefly paused on the clasped hands of Shang Siyu and Jing Ke.

“You came back so early? The holiday doesn’t start until tomorrow,” He Minmin proactively made polite small talk.

“Yeah, to avoid the rush, so we came back a day early.” Looking at her old classmate, Shang Siyu’s tone was somewhat complicated.

In Shang Siyu’s memory, He Minmin was a classmate she remembered rather vividly.

There were two reasons. First, He Minmin was the only female sports student in the class, training in track and field. Besides being the sports committee member, she always took first place in any event she participated in at the school sports meet, even breaking the school record once.

The second reason was that He Minmin was the only girl who had confessed her feelings to Shang Siyu during high school.

Although Shang Siyu’s answer was still that she wanted to study, not date, that didn’t stop her from remembering the rather unique He Minmin.