After eating and drinking his fill, he accompanied the old man for some tea in Xia Nuannuan’s living room and played two games of chess, deliberately letting the old man win one.
Afterwards, Qin Tian repeatedly refused the old man’s request for him to stay longer and bid farewell.
Dragging his suitcase out of the community, he hailed a taxi by the roadside and returned home around three in the afternoon.
His mother was probably still at the clothing store and hadn't returned. Qin Tian went next door to chat with Grandpa Sun and Grandma Liu, then went out to buy groceries at a nearby market.
After buying some vegetables and a few things from the supermarket, Qin Tian quickly put away the groceries upon arriving home and then began to prepare dinner.
It got dark early in winter; after five in the afternoon, the sky outside gradually began to darken.
As Qin Tian was pan-frying a fish, his mother’s familiar voice called out from outside the kitchen.
“Xiao Tian? Are you cooking?”
“It’s me!”
Qin Tian quickly responded.
Immediately after, his mother walked into the kitchen with a bright smile.
“That’s nice, you’re different now that you’re in college, coming back and cooking a meal to honor your mother.”
Tang Xiuxia praised, then reached for a piece of duck neck from a plate of braised duck on the counter and began to nibble on it with relish.
“You make it sound like I never cooked for you before.”
Qin Tian turned to look at his mother, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face, and said, “Come on, why are you like a child? You’re eating without even washing your hands.”
“Who’s eating sneakily? I’m eating openly. I washed my hands when I got back, they’re clean!”
Tang Xiuxia rolled her eyes playfully.
“Well, since you’ve already eaten, can you help me carry a dish?”
Qin Tian asked with a helpless expression.
“No problem.”
Tang Xiuxia nodded with a smile, picked up two dishes from the counter, and carried them to the front room.
Soon, all the dishes were ready.
Since it was just the two of them, Qin Tian didn’t make too many dishes – just four dishes and one soup, a balanced meal of meat and vegetables, looking and smelling delicious.
Qin Tian was still pouring drinks when Tang Xiuxia, holding chopsticks, eagerly started to devour the food.
“Mmm, this fish is good too. Delicious, delicious.”
“Why do you eat like you haven’t eaten in three days?”
“I’m too lazy to cook for myself when I’m home alone. I have breakfast, and if I’m at the store in the afternoon, I just grab something to eat in the mall. It has indeed been several days since I’ve had a proper meal like this,” Tang Xiuxia replied with a smile, then winked at him. “The key is that you, my son, have good cooking skills, and it tastes great.”
“Didn’t I tell you to take it easy?”
Qin Tian placed the juice in front of her, frowning slightly.
“I’m very relaxed. I wake up naturally every day, then go out for breakfast, and then spend a little time at the store, or I might go shopping and play cards with Nuannuan’s mom. Life couldn’t be more comfortable!”
Tang Xiuxia finished speaking and raised her cup for a drink.
“Then why can’t you cook for yourself?”
“Cooking for one person is too much effort, and what I make doesn’t taste good anyway.”
“You’re something else.”
Qin Tian, quite speechless, poured her another glass of juice and then sat down.
“I don’t think I have any talent for cooking. How come your dishes are so delicious?”
Tang Xiuxia put a couple of pieces of chicken into his bowl, looking at him with a suspicious expression.
“That’s because you’re too lazy.”
Qin Tian said lightly.
“Nonsense? I’m clearly very diligent. I worked so hard before. It was you and Nuannuan who insisted I take it easy.”
“Then you should be diligent every day and buy groceries to cook for yourself!”
“Heh heh… Aren’t you on vacation now? For this winter break, I’m assigning the task of grocery shopping and cooking to you!”
Tang Xiuxia raised her left hand and patted his shoulder with a bright smile.
“Mom, I’m still a child!”
Qin Tian said with a bitter expression.
“Who isn’t a child!”
Tang Xiuxia smiled and stuffed a large mouthful of shredded cabbage into her mouth, speaking somewhat indistinctly. “If you count from the ten months of pregnancy, your mother has taken care of you for nearly twenty years, right? Now you’re grown up, and your cooking is much better than mine. Can’t you cook a few more meals and take care of your mom…”
“Alright, alright, don’t say anymore. I’ll cook, okay?”
Qin Tian interrupted her with a face full of bitter smiles.
“That’s my good son!”
Tang Xiuxia raised her left hand with a beaming smile and patted his shoulder with great satisfaction.
“Make a few more dishes tomorrow and invite Nuannuan and her mom over for dinner.”
“Yes, my dearest mother.”
“Alright!!”
…
…
His mother ate to her heart’s content and took the initiative to wash the dishes.
Qin Tian went out for a stroll with peace of mind.
His phone rang in his pocket.
Qin Tian took it out and looked at the caller ID. It was Xu Hao, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.
“Hello, Hao Ge!”
“Master, have you returned? Zhang Peng just called me, saying he wants to come visit me.”
“I’m back, arrived at noon.”
“Then do you want to join us?”
“Go where? The internet cafe again?”
Qin Tian asked with a smile.
“No, let’s go to the mall. They opened a roller skating rink on the fifth floor, and the arcade has a few billiard tables. Shall we play?”
“Okay, where are you? I’ll come find you.”
“I’m still at the internet cafe. Let’s meet at the mall. I’ll tell Zhang Peng to go there directly too.”
“Alright!”
“Okay, okay, see you later, I’m hanging up now.”
With that, Xu Hao hung up.
Qin Tian then dialed Xia Nuannuan’s number.
“Nuannuan, Zhang Peng and Xu Hao and I are planning to go to the mall to skate and play billiards. Are you coming?”
“Yes, yes, I want to go.”
“Then I’ll come find you?”
“Mhm, I’ll ask Su Yan and Jia Jia if they want to go.”
“Okay, I’m hanging up now, I’m already on my way.”
“Mhm, I’ll be down soon.”
After hanging up the phone, Qin Tian quickened his pace towards Xia Nuannuan’s community.
When he arrived, Xia Nuannuan was already waiting at the entrance of the community, typing a message on her phone.
“Nuannuan!”
Qin Tian called out.
Xia Nuannuan looked up at him, then trotted over happily, putting her arms around his.
“Are they coming?”
“Su Yan is still eating dinner and doesn’t really want to come out. Jia Jia has already been invited by Zhang Peng.”
“She’s back too?”
Qin Tian asked with a smile.
“She returned with Zhang Peng, arrived yesterday.”
Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly.
As they chatted, they walked hand in hand towards the mall.
It was cold, so Qin Tian suggested taking a taxi, but Xia Nuannuan refused, saying she had been in the air-conditioned house all afternoon and wanted to take a walk.
“Are any of your other girlfriends back?”
“You mean the class monitor and the others? I messaged them a couple of days ago. Mu Nan’s school has a late holiday, and Liao Juan is waiting for her to return together, which will be a few more days. As for Cui Ying and Qiu Man… I haven’t been in touch with them for a long time.”
At this point, a hint of sadness appeared on Xia Nuannuan’s face.
Qin Tian raised his hand and pulled up the hood of her down jacket for her, a doting smile on his face.
“Don’t be too sad. Life is like this. Even the best of friends can drift apart over time.”
“I know. When we first went to university, we still messaged and called each other often. Later, it became less and less frequent. Now, when I want to message them, I don’t know what to say anymore.”
“When Chinese New Year comes, the class monitor should organize a class reunion. When you see each other then, you might be able to chat and things will be okay!”
“Mhm, I hope so!”