Chapter 56: 055: Visit from Mr. Song II I
Translator: 549690339
During dinner, Wang Meifeng and her son Yang Guobao just happened to drop by the Ni’s residence.
Arriving just in the nick of time, Ni Yang warmly invited them, and the mother and son duo sat down for the meal.
It was Wang Meifeng’s first time eating the dishes prepared by Ni Yang. She couldn’t praise her enough: “Yangyang, your culinary skills are simply exceptional! Even better than a professional chef at a restaurant!”
Ni Yang felt rather embarrassed by the glowing compliment.
Wang Meifeng’s trust in Ni Yang had grown over time and she often visited the Ni residence.
For the past month, Yang Guobao’s illness had been acting up less and less. What used to be every three days had now become once every week.
However, Wang Meifeng was not planning to return home yet.
She intended to return after three months and then take Yang Guobao to the city hospital for a full-body check-up.
Only by returning with a medical report from the hospital would the Yang Family believe what she had been through, and her grievances might well be understood.
And only then could they, as mother and son, truly be accepted by the Yang Family.
After they finished the meal, Wang Meifeng offered to do the dishes, but Ni Yang quickly retorted: “Absolutely not, Aunt Wang. You’re our guest – we can’t have you doing the dishes.”
Wang Meifeng, however, insisted: “1 need to return the favor. Washing a few dishes is nothing. If you refuse, I may feel uncomfortable visiting your home in the future!”
After such a scrumptious meal prepared by Ni Yang, it would be unconscionable if they left a whole table full of dirty dishes for Ni Yang to clean on her own.
Wang Meifeng was not someone who lacked consideration.
Seeing how determined Wang Meifeng was, Ni Yang reluctantly agreed: “Alright, then let me help by drying the dishes.”
In the kitchen, Wang Meifeng and Ni Yang washed the dishes.
Meanwhile, Ni Chenggui was chatting with Ni Cuihua in the living room. Looking at Ni Yun, she smiled: “This child is growing so quickly, Cuihua. You’re fortunate to have such competent and adorable daughters. Unlike me — I only have a disobedient daughter who married and moved far away…” Ni Chenggui’s eyes welled up with tears as she spoke.
Iler life had been tough – she lost her husband before turning forty, and her only daughter married into a family far away. This made it hard for them to even meet. As she got older, she thought she wouldn’t be able to count on anyone.
Whenever these thoughts struck her, Ni Chenggui would feel an overwhelming sadness.
Ni Cuihua sighed, carefully choosing her words to console Chenggui: “Have you ever thought about finding someone else? You’re still young, you cannot possibly spend your life alone…”
Ni Chenggui bitter laughed: “My daughter is about to have a child. If 1 get another man now, won’t it be a laughing stock?”
This era was not as progressive as the modern times.
If a woman lost her husband, she’d often stay a widow for life.
Upon hearing this, Ni Cuihua fell into a deep silence, tightly hugging the child in her arms; words failed to escape her lips.
Back in the kitchen.
Wang Meifeng finished washing the last dish and looked at Ni Yang: “Thanks to the medication you provided last time, Guobao’s condition has improved tremendously. It’s been over a week since he last fell ill. By the way, I forgot to ask you last time. Are there any restrictions while consuming the medication? Like what he can or cannot eat?”
Ni Yang smiled: “There isn’t any particular dietary restriction. He just should avoid foods that can reduce the potency of the medicine, like bananas and pineapples…”
Although these fruits should not be eaten with traditional Chinese medicine, they were quite precious and rarely accessible, especially in rural areas. Even catching a glimpse was tough, let alone consuming them.
Wang Meifeng nodded in understanding: “Ok, I got it, Yangyang. Thank you.” If it hadn’t been for Ni Yang, Yang Guobao wouldn’t be where he is now.
Over the past month, not only had Yang Guobao’s physical health improved significantly, but his mental state and personality had also undergone a tremendous transformation compared to a month ago.
When Yang Guobao was in Beijing, he only had one friend, Mo Fludie. Since Hudie fell ill and was bedridden, no other children were willing to play with Yang Guobao. Here, however, Yang Guobao made a bunch of friends through Ni Yang.
Even though Yang Guobao didn’t express it, her mother knew very well that her son had been genuinely happy lately.
**
The next day, at the morning market on Yurtist Road.
Perhaps because of the change in pickled vegetables, the Pickled Vegetable Noodles sold extremely well. It was barely ten o’clock in the morning, and Ni Yang was already preparing to close her stall.
Just then, a black car slowly stopped by the roadside.
Li Gongcheng emerged from the driver’s seat, circled over to the passenger side, and respectfully opened the car door: “Second Master, we’ve arrived.”
The car door opened to reveal a neatly clad leg stepping out. The first thing to catch the eye was a shiny pair of leather shoes. Moving upward, the man was seen wearing a tailored handmade suit, a neat tie, and his fine phoenix eyes were hidden behind gold-rimmed spectacles. He stepped out of the car, and his eyes turned towards the alleyway. “Is this the place?” he asked, sounding incredulous.
He hadn’t expected that the noodles, so highly praised by the elderly lady of the Mo family, would be from such a decrepit alleyway.
“Yes, Second Master, this is the place,” Li Gongcheng replied respectfully.
Song Beicheng nodded slightly and said, “Lead the way.”
“Right away, Second Master. Please follow me,” Li Gongcheng strode ahead.
“Xiaoni.” Li Gongcheng brought Song Beicheng to Ni Yang’s stall and called out to her.
“Mr. Li.” Ni Yang looked up in surprise, a faint smile appearing on her face.
Ni Yang was facing away from the sun. As she turned her head, it seemed as if her smile was the only thing left in the sunlight – illuminating like a starry river, everything else became a mere backdrop.
Song Beicheng hadn’t expected that the noodle maker would be a woman, and such a young one at that…
In Song Beicheng’s imagination, whoever could make such delicious noodles should at least be an old craftsman with decades of expertise.
Just as Song Beicheng was still recovering from his surprise, Li Gongcheng introduced: “Xiaoni, this is my boss. Second Master, this is the noodle master, Xiaoni.”
The first sentence was addressed to Ni Yang, and the latter was for Song Beicheng.
Song Beicheng quickly collected his thoughts and extended his hand toward Ni Yang, “Hello, Miss Ni. I’m Song.”
After reaching out, Song Beicheng regretted it a bit. He was accustomed to shaking hands in business environments, but this time he was dealing with such a young girl. Would she understand that shaking hands was a courtesy?
At that time, China had not yet adopted the more open customs of foreign countries, and the practice of shaking hands was not widespread. If this young lady misunderstood and thought he was acting indecently, it would be quite embarrassing.
Caught in this predicament, Song Beicheng didn’t know whether he should retract his hand or leave it hanging mid-air.
Just as Song Beicheng felt embarrassed, Ni Yang politely smiled and lightly shook his extended fingers, “Hello, Boss Song. You can simply call me Xiaoni..”