Chapter 149 - 149

Chapter 149 Cooking is a plus during the probationary periodIt was time to buy groceries and cook lunch, and the market was bustling with activity. As soon as Duan Xingye, such a handsome young man, arrived, he immediately became the center of attention, with all the older women looking in his direction.Duan Xingye stood calmly in front of the vegetable stall in the South Vegetable Market. The spinach on the stall was fresh and vibrant, with glossy green leaves and roots still covered with a little damp soil.He looked at the price tag next to him, which read: Spinach, eight cents a pound.He grabbed some, enough for two people. "Auntie, how much will it cost?""Young man, do you have a girlfriend?" Theauntie wasn't in a hurry to weigh him, but instead asked gossipily."Yes, I have two children now. Can you weigh them for me?""Ah... okay, it's almost two pounds, I'll make it up for you, okay?""Okay…" Duan Xingye gave her 16 cents. Theauntie tore off a piece of twine from the ball of twine next to her, bundled the spinach together, and handed it to him: "Here you go."Duan Xingye took the spinach, turned around to look at other things, and paid no attention to the gossip behind her back.Thinking of the little girl's satisfied expression as she ate, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. He knew Yun Ting liked spinach, so he planned to cook all her favorite dishes today.Next, I bought a few more tomatoes, planning to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes. It's simple and I won't mess it up. I didn't know if she had any eggs at home, so I bought a bag of them too.He went to check the meat; there was only a little lean meat and ribs left. He ordered two pounds of lean meat and two ribs.I bought some more celery, planning to stir-fry it with meat.Then I picked a firm winter melon, thinking of making a winter melon and pork rib soup.I had planned to leave, thinking that was all I needed, and then I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker at the market: "A small quantity of fresh carp has arrived at the seafood counter. Limited supply, so buy now!"Duan Xingye had a sudden thought: Little girlloves braised fish.He immediately plunged into the crowd rushing towards the seafood section. When he reached the counter, there were only a few half-sized carp left in the enamel basin. " Comrade, I want this one!" he said, pointing to a fish that weighed about two pounds, with bright red gills and its tail still thrashing. The sales clerk scooped it up with a net, weighed it, and tapped the abacus: "Two pounds and two ounces, three mao three."Duan Xingye immediately handed over the money and accepted the heavy carp.His steps were light and quick, his mind filled with the image of the girl smiling with her eyes narrowed when she tasted the first bite.Although he rarely cooks, he does have some talent for it.Back in the courtyard, Duan Xingye went to the kitchen first. The coal stove wasn't lit, and it would take time to light it again. Seeing that there was firewood, he decided to cook rice over it first, and then light the coal stove to stir-fry vegetables later.After cooking the rice, I quickly killed and cleaned the fish, chopped the ribs, and prepared the meat and vegetables.He also kept an eye on the firewood and the cooked rice.After some stumbling and bumping around, they finally managed to prepare the meal before Yun Ting was about to leave school.Looking at the food I had made myself, although it didn't look very appealing, I tasted each dish and found it quite good, which put my mind at ease.I glanced at the time and decided to ride my bicycle there just in time to pick up Yun Ting so we could have dinner together.When Yun Ting saw the table full of dishes, he was stunned." Duan Xingye, you can cook too?""Of course, I know a lot more." Duan Xingyelooked at Yun Ting with a plea for praise."Great!""Try this fish." Duan Xingye handed her chopsticks.Yun Ting leaned over to take a look and burst out laughing: "How come your fish is 'disfigured'?"The fish skin broke in half while being pan-fried, and the edges were slightly charred. The sauce didn't coat the fish evenly either, so the presentation was far from satisfactory."Not under control..."Yun Ting had already picked up a piece of fish meat with the skin intact and put it in her mouth."Mmm—" Yun Ting's eyes lit up suddenly. "It's delicious! You added sugar and soy sauce, it's so flavorful, and even a little sweet!" She picked up another bite with her chopsticks, and sipped the broth along with it. "It's just that the presentation is a little lacking, but the taste is pretty good. Keep up the good work!"Men need encouragement to have the confidence to do better and better.Duan Xingye breathed a sigh of relief and picked up a piece to try. Indeed, the fish was stewed until it was tender enough, and the aroma of ginger and garlic and the saltiness of soy sauce had seeped into the meat. Although the presentation was sloppy, it was barely acceptable." Duan Xingye, I never knew you had this trick up your sleeve!""How about it? Would you consider it a plus during the probationary period?""Hmm, I guess so! Keep trying.""Yes, I guarantee the mission will be completed perfectly.""I'm going home for dinner tonight, do you want to come? My mom keeps saying she wants to meet you!""Dream on! You think you can lure me home? You're still a long way off! I'll give her the chicken soup my aunt gave me another day."After having lunch and resting for a while, Duan Xingye took Yun Ting back to school.He planned to go home to have dinner with his family before returning to school...."So? Did you find out?""I only know it's from Peking University, but I haven't been able to find out which one."Wan Huanhuan clenched her fists, her thoughts churning. Peking University? She wanted to see just how outstanding the other person really was."Then what are we waiting for? Let's continue the investigation."Wan Huanhuan's actions naturally did not escape Duan Xingye's notice. Although he was at the Military Academy, he had already asked someone to keep an eye on things before he left.Therefore, she won't be able to trace it back toYun Ting for the time being.Duan Xingye naturally wouldn't let it go so easily, so he sent someone to warn her; that person was Han Yang.After returning to Capital City, Han Yang did notcontinue to attend Military Academy like Duan Xingye did.Instead, his family arranged for him to join the system."Miss Wan, you should stop now! Duan Xingyesent me to inform you that if you dare to make any more moves, he will not show any mercy. He will make you lose whatever you value most. I hope you will listen to my advice. He means what he says."Wan Huanhuan's face turned deathly pale. "Is he... really that heartless?""You're right, he'll never show mercy to people he doesn't like.""But when I was little, he would help me when others bullied me," Wan Huanhuan murmured to herself."He would have helped anyone else too. You don't think he treats you differently just because of that, do you?"Han Yang found it amusing. That kid A Ye probably had no idea that he had gotten himself into trouble just for helping out."Alright, I've delivered the message. If you continue to be stubborn, no one can help you then. You also know that the Wan family will never offend the Duan family for your sake."Han Yang said what he needed to say and then left.He needs to go and talk to that kid, give him a reply, and maybe even claim some credit.Wan Huanhuan was filled with resentment and jealousy, but Han Yang was right, the Wan family wouldn't help her, and she didn't dare to gamble.Unbeknownst to Yun Ting, her potential boyfriend had nipped her romantic prospects in the bud without her knowledge.At this moment, she was happy because she had just received accurate information that the exchange trip to Shanghai was scheduled to depart at the end of November.Besides the time for exchange and learning, there should be an opportunity to exploreShanghai.If possible, you can also resell them to make a little extra money.The school covered all their travel, accommodation, and food expenses, so it's like they went on a government-funded trip toShanghai, hehe…