Xia Yao rode her aunt's bicycle to get some noodles. Zhou Erwa Restaurant wasn't hard to find; it was right in front of the textile factory.
The bicycle stopped, and Xia Yao jumped off. She immediately spotted a little girl in a flowered jacket sitting at the restaurant entrance.
The girl was adorable, with a round face, delicate features, and rosy skin. She was chewing some candy. When she looked up, she was stunned for a moment, then spoke in a soft, adorable Sichuan accent, perhaps complimenting her.
"Little girl, you're so sweet!" Xia Yao felt her heart melt. She searched her pockets for a moment, but she hadn't packed any snacks.
"Here, baby, have some candy." Meng Anhe parked her bike, fished two White Rabbit candies from her purse, and handed them to Zhou Momo with a smile.
"Big Rabbits!" Zhou Momo's eyes lit up, and she reached out to take the candy. Then, she looked up at Meng Anhe and said with a smile, "Thank you, pretty auntie!"
"Mm, so sweet." Meng Anhe was also very fond of the little one, her eyes curved as she smiled. She couldn't help but sigh to Xia Yao, "Daughter is so sweet. Unlike those two troublemakers at home, they only cause me trouble."
"Cousins them are pretty well-behaved after all." Xia Yao said with a smile. "At least they're quiet when they sleep, haha."
"Are you two here for noodles?" Zhao Tieying greeted them with a smile.
Zhou Yan, who was about to count that money had earned, also glanced toward the door, his eyes lighting up.
The girl on the left had a beautiful oval face, dark eyebrows like distant mountains, a small cherry mouth, and skin so pale it seemed to glow.
She was tall, with long black hair draped over her shoulders. Her white dress was gathered at the waist, highlighting her slender waist and elegant figure. She wore a light beige sweater and carried a bulging handbag.
As she looked down at Zhou Momo, her eyebrows curved, and the dimples at the corners of her mouth made her look bright and gentle.
The woman on the right looked to be in her early thirties, with long, wavy hair, and looked about half as similar to the girl next to her.
She wore a white, pointed-collar shirt with an intricate gold button at the tip, flared pants that covered her black, half-heeled leather shoes, and a red knitted cardigan.
With a light blush and lipstick on her face, she looked imposing, exuding a bold and fashionable air.
Zhao Tieying looked at the two people standing at the doorway, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She subconsciously drew back her feet, hiding her patched, old cloth shoes.
Among the middle-aged women in Zhou Village, she was considered fashionable.
But in front of these two women, she looked like a new soldier.
She'd only seen those wavy hair, flared pants, and high-heeled leather shoes in movies. This fashion trend hadn't yet reached the village, and even in town, it was rare.
"Auntie, my name is Xia Yao. I've come to thank Comrade Zhou Yan for saving my life." Xia Yao smiled at Zhao Tieying and said.
Her tone was gentle, with the softness of a Jiangnan water town.
"Ah, it's you." Zhao Tieying suddenly realized that it was Deputy Director Lin's niece. The other one must be Deputy Director Lin's wife. No wonder she was so fashionable. She quickly turned around and called out, "Zhou Yan!"
Zhou Yan had already heard their conversation and put the money in the drawer.
The light at the door dimmed, and a tall figure walked out.
Xia Yao glanced up, startled. She instinctively looked up. How tall!
Zhou Yan stood 1.82 meters tall, definitely considered tall in this era of material scarcity. He was even a few centimeters taller than Lin Zhiqiang, who had come from the north. He definitely stood out in the crowd of local people.
His face, with its sharp features, deep brows, and clear brows, gave him a refreshing and handsome look. His eyes, however, were a pair of peach blossoms, their corners smiling, and they looked affectionate even to a dog.
He was wearing a white cotton shirt, the kind common among chefs in large restaurants. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, the collar unbuttoned, and a dark blue apron tied around his waist. The same clothes looked clean and well-fitting on him.
Xia Yao felt that even the captain of their academy's basketball team, the most popular among the girls, wasn't as good-looking as him.
Meng Anhe looked at Zhou Yan and couldn't help but nod slightly. She was suddenly reminded of the time when she first met Lin Zhiqiang in Moscow. Back then, he was the most popular international student in campus, but now he's sporting a beer belly. Men's blooming years are simply too short.
"Comrade Zhou Yan, I'm Xia Yao. Thank you for risking your life by jumping into the river to save me the day before yesterday." Xia Yao extended her hand to Zhou Yan, gracefully.
"You're welcome." Zhou Yan reached out and gently shook her hand. Her hand was fair and slender, her skin exceptionally smooth, like a piece of warm jade, though slightly chilled.
Xia Yao, however, felt that Zhou Yan's hands were exceptionally rough, especially his fingertips, which were covered in thick calluses. Despite his youth, he hadn't shirked his culinary skills.
"Are you from Zhejiang?" Zhou Yan's heart fluttered at the familiarity of her accent.
Xia Yao nodded in surprise. "I grew up in Hangzhou, but my ancestral home is in Zhoushan. Have you ever been to Zhejiang?"
Zhao Tieying, standing nearby, also looked at him in confusion.
"No, I just met someone from Zhejiang before, and I thought their accent was a bit like yours." Zhou Yan smiled and shook his head, evading the question.
"You're quite incredible, then. Xia Yao's accent has actually faded quite a bit," Meng Anhe said with a smile. "I'm Xia Yao's aunt. Thank you for saving her. My husband, Lin, came home yesterday and praised you profusely. He was out on a business trip yesterday afternoon, so I brought Xia Yao here today."
"You're welcome. I didn't think much of it at the time, but anyone would do the same if they encountered this." Zhou Yan said hurriedly.
He saw that Lin Zhiqiang's wife didn't look like a housewife. She exuded the aura of a strong woman, definitely someone who would call the shots at work.
"Ordinary people don't have that kind of courage. You're a true hero." Meng Anhe praised.
The workers had all returned to work, and the vendors at the factory gate had also idled. Seeing two fashionable women arrive at Zhou Erwa Restaurant, they all pricked up their ears, craning their necks to listen to the gossip, and some even leaned in to watch the fun.
Upon knowing that they were Deputy Director Lin's wife and niece, and that they had come to thank Zhou Yan again, they all whispered.
"Didn't Deputy Director Lin just gift him a 28-inch bicycle yesterday? Why are they here to thank him again today?"
"City folks are very particular. Today, it must be the young woman who came to express her gratitude in person. But she's so pretty, even prettier than the women working at the textile factory."
"She and Zhou Yan look quite compatible, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."
"What's the deal? Zhou Yan's a self-employed person, how could a city college student like him?"
...
"Here are some thank you gifts I prepared." Xia Yao opened her handbag and began taking things out one by one.
Shanghai brand malted milk, Friendship Vanishing Cream, Pechoin Cold Cream, a whole carton of Yuxi cigarettes...
The onlookers' eyes widened, their envy growing. These were rare items. Who would normally afford them? City people are so generous!
"Hey, sweetheart, this is malted milk for you." Xia Yao handed it to Zhou Momo.
"Thank you, pretty sister." Zhou Momo's eyes sparkled as she held the malted milk. She'd had it at her uncle's house during Chinese New Year; it was so sweet!
"Auntie, these vanishing cream and cold cream can help prevent frostbite and cracking in the winter."
"That's too expensive. I can't have it. We usually just use some clam oil. There's no need for that." Zhao Tieying waved her hands.
"This is better than clam oil. You can even put some on little baby's face when it's cold. These cigarettes are for Uncle. My uncle said they're good to smoke. I wonder if he's used to them. And here's yesterday's lunch box." Xia Yao stuffed the things directly into her hands.
"This... look not quite good." Zhao Tieying said, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
This city girl is so particular. She said she came to thank Zhou Yan and brought them all gifts. She's generous and sweet talking. It would be great to have a daughter in law like her.
Xia Yao pulled a peacock blue pen from her bag and handed it to Zhou Yan: "This pen is a gift from my father. I hope you'll accept it."
Zhou Yan looked at the Parker pen with a 24K gold-plated clip and a cloisonné top bead and shook his head. "This imported pen is too expensive. I already feel unworthy of the bicycle. I can't take it away from someone else."
This woman is truly a wealthy woman. Her family is probably as well off as Lin Zhiqiang. She's so well-educated.
Meng Anhe looked at Zhou Yan, a little surprised. He really knew what he was talking about. This Parker 45 was 45 yuan, and had to have foreign exchange coupons to buy it. It was a birthday gift from Xia Yao's father.
"You saved my life. If my father was here, he would definitely want you to accept it." Xia Yao looked at him with a firm attitude.
Zhou Yan hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the pen and nodded, saying, "Then I'll take it. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Xia Yao's smile returned. "I had the pork ribs noodles you made yesterday. They were delicious. My aunt and I hadn't had breakfast yet, so we came here just for the noodles."
"Hey, come in and sit down. I'll have Zhou Yan make you noodles right away." Zhao Tieying said with a quick smile.
"Okay." Xia Yao replied softly, her dimples deepening. The Sichuan-Chongqing lady always felt endearing.
"The menu is on the wall." Zhou Yan also entered.
Seeing Zhou Yan and the others enter the shop, the vendors began to chat again.
"Friendship Vanishing Cream and Pechoin Cold Cream—these are the kind of things only rich city ladies use. They're just giving them away."
"Yuxi just gave them one carton. A carton of these cigarettes costs thirty!"
"The Zhou family is truly blessed!"
"Did you see that pen? The factory director always wears the same one in his breast pocket, just a different color. Last time, I heard Director Liu say it was a Parker pen. American, and it cost 45 yuan!"
"Oh my god! Forty five?!"
The crowd gasped, stunned and speechless.
A tiny pen cost more than a textile factory worker's monthly salary! That girl just gave it away!
Zhou Yan had truly struck it rich.
Wang Laowu and his wife's faces turned green upon hearing this. Not only had their business been taken away, but seeing Zhou Yan's sudden wealth was truly unbearable for them!