msmithbooks Chapter 249 Society is a big melting pot
Chapter 249 Society is a big melting pot
Chapter 249 Society is a big melting pot
The wheels rolled slowly over the wet road, raising wisps of water vapor.
These water vapors quickly formed a thin fog in the cold air, spreading across the road surface in a hazy twilight, giving people a dreamlike feeling.
Although the light rain had stopped, the sky was still filled with rolling leaden clouds.
Yu Huan held the steering wheel firmly with one hand, while his toes lightly touched the accelerator pedal. He leaned back comfortably in the driver's seat.
He drove his little BMW leisurely and contentedly.
"Let's chase our dreams together~ Let's try to hold the sun in our palms~"
The car stereo was filled with Lin Yourong's melodious singing.
This prompted Yu Huan to pout involuntarily and whistle lightly along with the melodious tune.
He glanced casually at the time displayed on the dashboard; it was only 4:13.
I left the Lianhe Zaobao building an hour early, and my destination wasn't my garage at home, but the wet market.
It was not yet rush hour, and there were few vehicles around.
We sped along, then quickly turned right and entered the small road leading to the vegetable market.
Yu Huan parked his BMW on the side of the road and slowly walked into the quiet vegetable market. He wandered around for a long time, but his hands were still empty.
The variety of ingredients was dazzling, and he felt like he was suffering from decision paralysis.
I had already sent a message to Xie Gouhua saying that I wanted them to stay for dinner, so naturally, dinner needed to be prepared to be more lavish.
After much thought, nothing is more suitable for this cold winter night than a bubbling hot pot.
Having made up his mind, he went straight to select four catties of lamb spine, bought all sorts of side dishes, and then stepped out of the market, returning home with his load full.
Yu Huan traveled non-stop all the way home and went straight into the kitchen without even taking a short rest.
The lamb spine was placed in a pot of cold water, along with star anise, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, two knotted scallions, and some cooking wine. Everything proceeded smoothly under his methodical approach.
As the water temperature rose, a mouthwatering aroma gradually filled the kitchen.
Yu Huan was preparing the side dishes.
Just as I was about to turn on the range hood, my phone started vibrating in my pocket, and a ringtone came on.
The pot was bubbling and bubbling, with a thin layer of white foam rising to the surface.
Yu Huan remained calm and composed, gently skimming off the foam with a spatula and shaking it into the sink next to the stove.
He took out his phone with one hand, looked at the screen and saw that it was Xie Gouhua calling. Then he glanced at the time displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, which was already 4:47.
The call was then connected.
The moment the receiver was placed against my ear, I heard Xie Gouhua's loud and brash voice:
"Hey! Huan'er, where are you?"
Yu Huan smiled and asked softly, "Have you arrived?"
"Yeah, I just got to the entrance of your apartment complex." Xie Gouhua said, letting out a long sigh of relief, his voice carrying a hint of contentment, suggesting he was just putting down a cigarette.
"Okay, I'm coming out now." Yu Huan said as she put down the spatula in her hand and gently turned the knob to turn off the stove.
Okay! I'll be waiting for you—
Before he could finish speaking, the phone went dead with a "beep beep beep" sound.
Yu Huan casually placed her phone on the table, then turned her gaze back to the pot, lingering on some star anise that was gradually calming down from its bubbling.
They quickly scooped the lamb spine out, placed it in a stainless steel basin, and rinsed it thoroughly with clean water.
After quickly tidying himself up, he strode to the shoe cabinet by the door, changed his shoes, and stepped out the door.
The door closed gently, and the room fell silent instantly.
However, the silence did not last long and was soon broken by footsteps and laughter coming from outside the door.
The door opened again, and Yu Huan, carrying a heavy toolbox, stepped into the room first.
Following closely behind were Xie Gouhua and his cousin, who carried the window parts together, their steps slow but steady.
"Please come in, no need to change your shoes."
Yu Huan greeted them warmly and led them briskly toward the karaoke room.
Xie Gouhua, who was walking at the back, took a deep breath, sniffed, and a look of pleasure immediately appeared on his face: "Huan'er, it smells so good—is it mutton?"
The group entered the karaoke room one after another.
Yu Huan walked into the inner room, gently placed the toolbox on the long table, turned around with a smile and said, "Yes, I bought four catties of lamb spine, and I'm going to make a hot pot."
The two cousins steadily leaned the window components against the wall.
Xie Gouhua said half-jokingly, "Is your cooking any good? I've never seen you cook before."
"We'll only know if it works after we try it." Yu Huan smiled gently, a smile that revealed composure and confidence.
After all, with ten more years of experience, cooking a simple lamb spine hot pot is no big deal for him.
"Okay, Ah Fa and I will go and move it again. You can show off your cooking skills!" Xie Gouhua joked with a smile.
talking.
His gaze swept over the various decorating tools on the long table, then he looked up at the newly installed ceiling.
He abruptly stopped in his tracks and exclaimed in surprise, "Holy crap, Huan'er, your skills are really professional!"
Yu Huan also looked up at the neat plasterboard ceiling and joked, "So-so, third in the world."
Once the soundproof ceiling was installed, the ceiling height immediately decreased by 15 centimeters. Fortunately, although my mother-in-law's apartment was quite old, it had a spacious ceiling height of 2.8 meters, so it didn't feel cramped.
Xie Gouhua chuckled and chimed in, "So-so, third in the world. The eldest had a car accident, and the second is paralyzed?"
The thin-looking Ah Fa couldn't help but chuckle, genuinely amused by the two of them.
He pulled out a box of fine white cigarettes from his pocket, took out three, and offered one to Yu Huan: "Brother, have one."
"I don't smoke," Yu Huan said with a smile, waving her hand in polite refusal.
"Oh." Afa nodded and then handed Xie Gouhua a cigarette.
Xie Gouhua took the cigarette, lit it with a lighter, and then led Afa downstairs again to move things.
The two groups had a clear division of labor.
Yu Huan busied herself in the kitchen, while her two cousins worked on installing soundproof windows, trying to finish before six o'clock.
Yu Huan and A Fa had already discussed the price of the windows on the phone and reached a consensus.
Aluminum alloy double-glazed casement window, 200 yuan per square meter, installation included.
Yu Huan learned that the price of a regular single-pane window on the market is about the same.
He put the lid on the pressure cooker.
Since I needed to suppress the urge for about half an hour and had nothing else to do, I went to check out the karaoke room.
Standing at the door, all you could see was an empty space inside; the old-fashioned steel windows had been removed and placed on the ground to one side.
The two cousins were carrying the window frame and carefully wedging it into the window opening.
The cold wind rushed in unchecked, causing Yu Huan to unconsciously tighten her collar in an attempt to ward off the chill.
He strode forward into the wind, hands on his hips, and stood quietly to the side, observing. Suddenly, Afa caught sight of Yu Huan; the cold wind made him sniffle, and a smile spread across his thin, pale face.
"Brother, let me tell you, the sound insulation effect doesn't just depend on the quality of the window. If it's not installed properly, even a casement window like this can leak sound—"
The words have not yet fallen.
Xie Gouhua released his grip on the doorframe, gave a thumbs-up, and pointed at Yu Huan: "This is my best friend of four years, we're practically inseparable! I even rushed over to help out, so you can't let me down!"
Ah Fa replied with a serious expression, "Brother Hua, don't worry. Since I've said so, I'll definitely use the best materials and ensure high-quality installation!"
Yu Huan saw this and knew that her younger cousin was a serious person who couldn't take jokes.
His lips twitched, as if he was about to speak.
Xie Gouhua patted Afa on the shoulder and continued half-jokingly, "My buddy even treated me to a lamb spine hot pot. If it were just a simple lamb stew, it would really be a shame."
"Dog, what you're saying is a separate matter," Yu Huan said, waving his hand.
"I know that a famous person personally cooks lamb spine hotpot, at least I know that's a good thing," Xie Gouhua joked, winking.
This made Afa look at Yu Huan with a puzzled and surprised expression: "A big celebrity?"
"You wouldn't believe it! My buddy's all over the internet now, people call him 'Boss Bro'." Xie Gouhua chuckled, strolled over, and sat down at the long table against the wall.
"I'm only slightly famous, nothing to brag about," Yu Huan said modestly.
Afa stared at Yu Huan in astonishment.
No wonder I was immediately struck by how incredibly good-looking my cousin's classmate was; I couldn't help but ask, "Brother, you're a celebrity? Are you an actor?"
“Not a celebrity,” Yu Huan smiled and shook her head, “but an internet celebrity.”
Ah Fa's small eyes widened, and after a moment's thought, he tentatively asked, "You mean... like Brother Sharp?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Gouhua couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yu Huan gently rubbed her forehead and nodded, saying, "Pretty much. I don't know how, but I became popular online just because of this face."
The Versailles-esque air that slipped out of his words made Xie Gouhua pick his nose and tease, "Why do I feel like there's a hint of pretentiousness in what you're saying?"
At this moment, after resting for a while, Ah Fa squatted down, opened his toolbox, and took out an electric drill, preparing to drill holes in the window frame and install screws.
Yu Huan turned her gaze away from him and waved to Xie Gouhua: "Enough of this, I'm going to the toilet."
After saying that, he strode off leisurely to the restroom.
Time flies, and everything changes quietly without us even noticing.
Just like the hands of a clock, they have unknowingly moved from the five o'clock position to the eight o'clock position.
The sky remained overcast with dark clouds.
Without stars or moon, the entire city was shrouded in gloom, appearing exceptionally cold and silent.
Yu Huan tightened his collar and escorted his two cousins downstairs.
Ah Fa opened the tailgate and carefully carried the old-fashioned steel window inside.
Xie Gouhua plopped down in the passenger seat, the door ajar. He patted his full stomach and exclaimed to Yu Huan standing beside him:
"Huan'er, I never expected you to be so talented! You actually have such a unique skill! The lamb spine hot pot is absolutely authentic!"
"Just average, third in the world."
As Yu Huan spoke casually, her gaze inadvertently fell on the words painted on the car body. Below the large characters "Shangding Doors and Windows" was an eleven-digit mobile phone number.
This brand-new van is clearly Ah Fa's vehicle.
Xie Gouhua's van was only slightly worn, while Yu Songnian's cargo van had been through many battles.
Seeing that Afa had gotten into the driver's seat, Yu Huan immediately took a step back and gently closed the passenger door for Xie Gouhua.
Upon seeing this, Xie Gouhua exclaimed in surprise and said in a pretentious manner, "My leader actually closed the door for me personally. I am truly flattered!"
Yu Huan chuckled: "What I call being courteous to the virtuous and humble, understand?"
"I know a little bit." Xie Gouhua turned his head, handed a cigarette to his younger cousin, and put one in his mouth himself.
He lowered his head slightly and lit a cigarette with a windproof lighter.
Yu Huan's gaze swept over the crimson flame, then she leaned down slightly to look at Afa in the driver's seat: "Afa, thank you for today."
"Brother, you're too kind! I should be thanking you!" Ah Fa said, tucking a cigarette behind his ear, preparing to enjoy it later.
Yu Huan smiled brightly.
"See you later!" Xie Gouhua raised an eyebrow at Yu Huan.
"See you later." Yu Huan nodded slightly.
"Brother, I'll take my leave now!" Ah Fa slowly stepped on the gas, and Yu Huan outside the window waved to him with a smile on her lips.
On this cold winter night, the van slowly drove along the deserted inner roads.
Ah Fa finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked the question he'd been holding back for so long: "Brother Hua, is your classmate really like Brother Sharp, famous just because he's handsome? You're not kidding, are you?"
Xie Gouhua rolled up the car window, leaving only a crack, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and the smoke that slowly escaped his nostrils flowed away through the crack.
He chuckled softly, nodded, and said, "Just kidding."
"Huh?" Ah Fa looked completely bewildered.
Are you kidding me?
Xie Gouhua took another drag of his cigarette, exhaled a long trail of smoke, and explained, "My buddy here is the deputy director of the Jiangnan Morning Post. He's quite good-looking, and he became famous online because of his very sharp anti-intellectual remarks. He's not like Sister Feng, who became famous through being eccentric; he's more of a positive person."
"Huh?" Ah Fa was still completely bewildered.
Xie Gouhua patiently explained further: "What I mean is, my buddy is famous for his real skills. Being handsome is just a bonus. He's a proper leader, you know?"
“I understand.” Afa nodded.
However, Xie Gouhua shook his head: "But actually, I don't quite understand."
"Huh?" Ah Fa was completely bewildered.
Xie Gouhua sighed and said with emotion, "What I don't understand is that he's like a completely different person since he graduated from university and entered the workforce. Especially in the last few months, both his personality and temperament are completely different from what I remember."
"Isn't this normal? Society is a big melting pot!" Afa said, puzzled.
He slowly applied the brakes and gently honked the horn.
After the gate opened, the van slowly drove away.
"I used to be a bit humble and introverted, but now I'm very polite and generous." Xie Gouhua leaned back in his chair, a look of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.
After getting to know him, Afa nodded with deep feeling: "Your buddy is indeed very cultured. He's obviously not an ordinary person, and he's not arrogant at all."
“Indeed, if you were as arrogant as him, you’d be so cocky you wouldn’t even recognize me,” Xie Gouhua said with a sidelong glance.
Ah Fa gripped the steering wheel and chuckled sheepishly, "Brother Hua, you're joking. How could I possibly be that kind of person?"
(End of this chapter)