lerbook Chapter 124 A Simple Weekend
Chapter 124 A Simple Weekend
weekend.
Song Huan was awakened by the sunlight.
The curtains weren't fully drawn, and a ray of light squeezed in through the gap, landing right on his face.
He squinted at the ceiling, turned over, and buried his face in the pillow.
can not fall asleep.
He lay there for five minutes, tossing and turning, his mind a jumble of thoughts.
One minute it's math formulas, the next it's English words, and then it's the time Xiao Yunqing pinched his arm yesterday.
At 7:15, he sat up and rubbed his face.
When I was brushing my teeth, my hair was sticking up in the mirror and my eyes were a little swollen.
He wiped it with water a couple of times, but it didn't work, so he gave up.
A bowl of noodles was placed upside down on the kitchen stove, with the noodles Zhang Xuejuan had left underneath.
"There's soup in the pot, add it yourself."
The noodles had clumped together, but he stirred them with his chopsticks, took a couple of bites, and thought they were alright.
The landline rang.
He walked over and answered the call.
"Moshi Moshi?"
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
"Song Huan, where did you learn that bird language?"
Xiao Yunqing's voice came through the microphone, crisp and clear.
Why are you making a phone call?
Xiao Yunqing remained silent.
There was a breathing sound coming from the microphone, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, as if he was hesitating about something.
"Um..." She paused for a while, "My parents aren't home these past few days."
Song Huan's eyes widened as she stared at the microphone in her hand, as if she could see the person on the other end through it.
He thought for a moment.
Parents aren't home? What does that mean?
Could it be that……
"No one cooks for me at home." Xiao Yunqing's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Could you come over and make me lunch?"
Song Huan stood there, stunned.
The images in my mind were like they had been deleted, one by one, they all disappeared.
"that's all?"
His voice was dry and lifeless, like a bowl of soggy noodles.
"Hmm..." Xiao Yunqing hesitated for a moment, "Could you make another dinner?"
Song Huan remained expressionless.
"Get lost, I'm hanging up."
"Why!"
He pressed the hang-up button, and a dial tone came from the receiver.
On the other end, Xiao Yunqing sat on the bed, holding the plush bear in her arms, staring into the microphone.
She flipped the teddy bear over, patted it twice, and then patted its belly; it was soft and squishy.
"Bad guy."
She put the microphone back, tossed the teddy bear next to her pillow, and buried her face in the blanket.
Song Huan stood in front of the phone, hands in her pockets, staring at the black microphone.
Should I cook at her house?
He had just finished breakfast; lunch was still a long way off.
Besides, it's not like she can't walk. The Longjiang pork trotter rice restaurant at the entrance of the community has been open for several years, and it's not like she hasn't eaten there before.
He turned around to go back to his room.
The landline rang again.
He frowned, walked back, and answered the call.
"Xiao Yunqing, are you never going to stop?" His voice was impatient. "Don't tell me you wouldn't even bother to walk two steps to eat at that Longjiang braised pork trotter rice place near your apartment complex."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Then came a voice, cold and icy, like the wind blowing in through a crack in a door in winter.
"Is this how you usually talk to Little Cloud?"
Song Huan's hand trembled slightly.
"mom?"
Zhang Xuejuan's voice rose a half octave, "Your Aunt Xu called me and said that she and your Uncle Xiao are going back to their hometown for two days and won't have time to take care of Xiaoyunduo. They're worried about her being alone at home and asked you to look after her."
Song Huan swallowed hard.
"Mom, I understand."
"Good to know." Zhang Xuejuan's tone softened. "There's food in the fridge, go over and cook her a meal. Don't always let her eat out; it's not clean."
"understood."
"Speak politely, and stop arguing with people."
"understood."
Zhang Xuejuan gave a few more instructions and then hung up.
Song Huan put the microphone back and stood there sighing.
The weekend is over.
When we arrived at Xiao Yunqing's house, the doorbell was on the right. We pressed it once and it rang twice.
Song Huan's house does have a doorbell, but Xiao Yunqing, that violent woman, never rings it; she always knocks.
Song Huan was certainly not that kind of person. He politely pressed the button and waited a few seconds.
The door opened.
Xiao Yunqing stood at the door, holding the plush bear in her arms, her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a loose T-shirt with the neckline drooping, revealing a section of her collarbone.
She was wearing pink fluffy slippers with two rabbit ears on them.
When she saw it was him, she raised her head high, looking like a proud white swan.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming?"
The voice in my heart drifted over, clear and distinct.
[Hmph, it was me who called Aunt Zhang, and sure enough, I made him completely obedient!]
Song Huan was amused by her arrogant demeanor.
But he didn't show any expression on his face as he squeezed past her and changed his shoes.
"I'll come over and make you a bowl of noodles and then I'll leave."
Xiao Yunqing stared wide-eyed as she followed behind him.
"No, I want to eat something delicious."
Song Huan walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
Eggs, tomatoes, green vegetables, a box of pork belly, and half a chicken.
"I'm busy. I'll make you a bowl of noodles; I have to go back."
Xiao Yunqing stood at the kitchen doorway, pouting.
"If that's the case, then I'll have to tell Aunt Zhang."
Song Huan's hand stopped inside the refrigerator.
He turned to look at her.
She stood at the door, hugging a teddy bear, chin raised, looking completely innocent.
"you……"
"Can't you make it yourself?" He took out the pork belly and placed it on the cutting board.
"Then teach me," Xiao Yunqing said matter-of-factly, putting the bear on the sofa, walking into the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves, "You teach me, and once I learn, I won't need to bother you anymore."
Seeing her serious expression, Song Huan put down the knife and leaned against the stove.
"Okay, you cut the tomatoes first."
Xiao Yunqing walked to the cutting board and picked up the knife.
The knife was a whole size bigger than her hand; she held it as if it were a weapon.
After washing the tomatoes, Xiao Yunqing picked them up, weighed them in her hand, and placed them on the cutting board.
The knife was raised, hovering in mid-air, before falling.
"How do I cut it?"
Song Huan leaned against the stove and pointed, "Remove the stems, then cut them into roughly the same size pieces."
Xiao Yunqing held the tomato down and chopped it down.
Juice splashed out and landed on her apron, and she pulled her hand away.
The tomato was cut crookedly, one side is thick and the other is thin, the thicker piece looks like a block.
"Cut it into smaller pieces," Song Huan said. "If it's too big, it won't cook through."
She nodded, then cut the thick piece twice more, this time into strips.
They come in all shapes and sizes; some are too big to swallow in one bite, while others are a little bigger than a fingernail.
After cutting three tomatoes, the cutting board was covered in red, white, and green juice.
"Alright. Beat the eggs."
Xiao Yunqing cracked the egg on the edge of the bowl, but with too much force, half of the shell broke, and the egg liquid dripped onto her fingers.
She quickly peeled open the eggshell, and a small piece fell in. She tried to scoop it out with chopsticks, but couldn't get it out after a couple of tries, so she pinched it out with her fingers.
My fingers were sticky with egg liquid, so I rubbed them on my apron.
Song Huan didn't say anything, but handed her the chopsticks.
"Stir well."
She was very focused when she was whisking the eggs, turning the chopsticks in the bowl at a steady pace and using force with her wrist.
The egg mixture was beaten until it turned a bright yellow color, with a layer of fine foam floating on the surface.
"That's enough, that's enough." Song Huan took the bowl from him. "If you keep hitting it, it'll get tough."
Heat the pan, pour in the oil, and let it melt in the pan.
Song Huan stood in front of the stove, and Xiao Yunqing stood next to him. The two of them were squeezed together, their arms touching.
"Pour the eggs in."
Xiao Yunqing picked up the bowl and poured it into the pot.
The egg mixture sizzled when it hit the hot oil, and she recoiled slightly, still holding the bowl in her hand.
Song Huan pressed her hand down and put the bowl down. "Don't be afraid, the fire isn't big."
The egg mixture spread out in the pan, and bubbles began to appear around the edges.
He pushed it twice with a shovel, and the egg solidified into a golden-yellow block.
"Flip it over."
Xiao Yunqing took the shovel, scooped it up, and flipped the egg piece over; the other side was a little burnt.
She pushed the eggs aside, and Song Huan poured in the tomatoes, stir-fried them for a bit, and the juice came out, red, mixed with golden egg pieces.
Add salt.
Xiao Yunqing pinched a pinch of salt, sprinkled it in, and then sprinkled another pinch.
"That's enough, that's enough."
She withdrew her hand and stood aside, watching the contents of the pot.
The tomatoes were cooked until they released their juices, which coated the egg pieces. The red and yellow colors looked alright.
"Alright, plate it."
Xiao Yunqing held a white plate, and Song Huan scooped the food into it.
She placed it on the table, put it down, and brought it close to her nose to smell it.
"It smells so good, I really am a genius girl."
The second dish was stir-fried pork belly with greens.
Song Huan sliced the pork belly into even slices and arranged them on a plate.
Xiao Yunqing washed the vegetables, rinsing them three times under the tap, examining each leaf.
Heat the pan without adding oil, then add the pork belly and fry over low heat.
Oil seeped from the slices of meat, sizzling as the edges curled up and turned a golden brown.
"The meat is done pan-frying. Now add the vegetables."
Xiao Yunqing poured the vegetables in, and the pot was full.
She used a spatula to stir the vegetables, which spun around in the pot twice, shrinking in size by half and mixing with the meat slices.
"Salt, just a little bit."
She sprinkled salt, then a little more.
"That's enough, have some soy sauce."
Xiao Yunqing picked up the soy sauce bottle and poured some in, but Song Huan quickly stopped her, saying, "Too much, too much."
It was late; the soy sauce had been poured around the soup, and it had turned black.
She stuck out her tongue and quickly stirred the food.
The soy sauce coated the vegetable leaves, darkening their color, but they smelled quite delicious.
"Plate it."
She quickly cut the vegetables out and piled them on a plate, burying the pork belly at the bottom and covering them with greens. The presentation was mediocre.
Two dishes were placed on the table.
Tomato and egg stir-fry, red and yellow, with a bit too much juice.
The pork belly stir-fried with greens was a bit too dark in color, and the greens were wilted, but it still looked alright.
Xiao Yunqing picked up a piece of egg with her chopsticks.
He chewed a couple of times, frowned slightly, then relaxed.
"It's a bit salty."
He picked up another piece of pork belly, chewed it several times, and swallowed it.
"This is alright."
She tasted the greens again, took a bite, and frowned again. "It's a little bitter."
Song Huan also picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and chewed it.
The eggs were definitely too salty, the vegetables were overcooked, and the pork belly was alright. But for a first attempt, it's not bad.
"Not bad," he said. "It's quite good for a first-timer."
Xiao Yunqing's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Really. Much better than my first time."
She laughed, picked up another piece of egg, and chewed it with relish this time. "I told you I had a talent for cooking."
Song Huan brought the food over and placed it in front of her, saying, "It's mainly because the teacher teaches so well."
Xiao Yunqing gave him a disdainful look and lowered her head to eat her rice.
He ate a piece of pork belly, then picked up a piece of green vegetable, eating quite attentively.
After finishing her meal, Song Huan stood up to clear the table.
Xiao Yunqing also stood up, put her chopsticks into the bowl, and stacked them together.
"I'll wash it."
"No need," Song Huan said, taking the bowl from him. "You can sit down."
Xiao Yunqing didn't sit down, but stood at the kitchen door watching him wash the dishes.
The tap was running, and water splashed onto the bowl, creating tiny droplets.
He rinsed the bowl twice, dried it with a cloth, and stacked it on the stove.
"Alright, I'm going back."
Xiao Yunqing stood there, her fingers rubbing against the door frame.
"I still have some physics problems I don't understand," she said. "Come and teach me."
As Song Huan looked at her, her inner thoughts drifted over again.
[I don't want to be alone. The house is so empty, I'm so scared.]
He stood at the kitchen doorway and draped a rag over the faucet.
"Okay. Which question?"
Xiao Yunqing laughed, turned around and ran into the room, her ponytail swinging.
She ran a few steps and then came back, pulling his sleeve to lead him inside.
"Hurry, hurry, I'll find it and show it to you."
The physics test paper was spread out on the table. The last big question had three lines of writing, and the rest was blank.
Song Huan sat down, pulled the test paper over, and read the questions once.
Electromagnetic induction is a bit convoluted; it's not the kind of thing you can see at a glance.
He took the draft paper and began to calculate.
I wrote two steps, then stopped and crossed them out. I changed my approach, wrote two more steps, and stopped again.
Xiao Yunqing sat beside him, without urging him.
She rested her hand on the table, propped her chin up, and watched him write.
He frowned, the tip of his pen touched the paper, paused for a few seconds, and then started moving again.
This time it went smoothly. Line by line, formula derivation, number substitution, and finally the answer was obtained.
He pushed the draft paper over and placed the pen on it.
"First analyze the forces, then set up the equations. See this step..."
He pointed to the first line and began to speak.
Xiao Yunqing leaned closer to look, her hair almost brushing against his face.
He spoke slowly, pausing at each step to wait for her to nod.
She nodded, and he continued.
She frowned, so he repeated himself in a different way.
When it was the third time, she finally nodded, nodding very forcefully.
"Got it?"
"I understand." She picked up the pen and rewrote it on the draft paper, reading it aloud as she wrote. When she got to the answer, the pen tip pressed down a little, leaving a small mark.
After she finished writing, she looked up with a big smile on her face, indicating that she had truly understood the material.
Song Huan leaned back in her chair and glanced out the window.
It was getting dark, the streetlights weren't on yet, and the streets were shrouded in a gray haze.
Are you hungry?
"A little."
Song Huan stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
There's a little food left over from lunch, but it's definitely not enough for two people.
There was half a chicken left in the refrigerator, wrapped in plastic wrap and placed on the bottom shelf.
He took it out, removed the plastic wrap, rinsed it under the tap, and quickly thawed it.
Xiao Yunqing followed her in, carrying a notebook and a pen.
"What do you need to remember?"
"I'll write down how you did it." She opened her notebook, her pen tip touching the paper. "You tell me, and I'll write it down."
Song Huan glanced at her, put the chicken into the pot, added water to cover the chicken.
I added a few slices of ginger and a knotted scallion, then put the lid on.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Xiao Yunqing wrote with his head down, writing very slowly, stroke by stroke.
"Why braise it?"
"Use the residual heat to cook the inside, so the meat won't become tough."
She nodded and wrote it down.
The water in the pot boiled, bubbling and steaming from the edge of the lid, carrying the aroma of ginger and scallions.
Fifteen minutes later, Song Huan turned off the stove without opening the lid.
After simmering for another ten minutes, the chicken was taken out and placed on a plate to cool.
Xiao Yunqing leaned closer to look; the chicken skin was golden yellow, shiny, and steaming.
"It smells so good."
Song Huan took a knife, made a cut on the chicken leg, and cut along the bone to remove the entire leg. The meat was very tender, and juices seeped out as the knife cut into it.
He put the chicken leg in a small bowl and handed it to her.
"Try it."
Xiao Yunqing took it, grabbed it with her hand, and took a bite.
The skin is smooth and the meat is tender, the juices burst in your mouth, and the saltiness is just right.
She chewed twice, then took another bite, her cheeks bulging, and mumbled indistinctly.
"How come you cook such delicious food?"
Song Huan also cut a piece of chicken wing and took a bite. It was actually not bad.
Just then, the streetlights outside the window came on, and the light leaked in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on the floor in a dim, yellowish glow.
Xiao Yunqing sat at the dining table, holding a chicken leg and gnawing on it. Her fingers were oily, so she wiped them on a napkin and then picked it up to eat again.
Song Huan sat opposite him, slowly eating the chicken wing.
"What are we having for tomorrow?" she asked, a little sauce still on the corner of her mouth.
What would you like to eat?
She thought for a moment, "Braised pork?"
"OK."
Xiao Yunqing smiled, finished the last piece of meat, and placed the bone on the side of the plate.
He leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.
"I'm full."
Song Huan stood up to collect the bowls, but she snatched them away.
"I'll wash it."
"Do you know how to wash?"
"Teach me."
Song Huan stood beside her, watching her wash the dishes.
The water was turned up high, splashing onto the bowl and then onto her T-shirt, wetting a small area.
She squeezed out too much dish soap, and the foam filled half the sink. The bowl slipped in her hand and she almost dropped it.
She grabbed it hastily, glanced back at him, and blushed.
Song Huan didn't say anything, but turned the water down a little and moved the dish soap bottle away.
"Try to squeeze in less."
She nodded, rinsed the bowl twice, and placed it on the drainer.
The process was slow; each bowl was rinsed in a circular motion, and after rinsing, it was checked against the light to make sure it was clean before being placed on the table.
After washing the dishes, she wrung out the dishcloth and wiped her hands.
Song Huan stood at the door and changed her shoes.
"I'm leaving now. I'll come over again tomorrow morning to cook for you."
Xiao Yunqing stood in the entryway, holding the teddy bear, and nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work, see you tomorrow."
"It's not hard work, it's just a tough life."
The door closed.
Xiao Yunqing stood at the door, listening to the footsteps echoing in the hallway before fading into the distance.
She looked down at the teddy bear in her hand, picked it up, and flicked it on the forehead.
"We'll have braised pork tomorrow!"
The little bear tilted its head and didn't say anything.
She hugged the teddy bear to her chest and turned to walk towards the living room.
The lights were on, the kitchen was clean, the bowls were lined up on the drainer, the pots were washed, and the stove was wiped down.
She watched for a while, then turned off the living room lights and went back to her room.
I lay in bed, placed the teddy bear next to my pillow, and rolled over.
The streetlights outside the window were on, and the light seeped in through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a line on the ceiling.
She stared at the light, and after a while, closed her eyes.
There will be braised pork tomorrow.