Xiao Su left soon after and Luo Huimei approached her daughter, quietly saying, “I feel that Xiao Su is quite a nice person. He is hardworking, capable and also kind to others. He looks like a pretty worthy choice.” Listening to Luo Huimei, Yan shot her mother a gloomy look.
Luo Huimei immediately smiled. “I’m just saying. Besides, he’s already left.”
Yan thought to herself, She’s right. Xiao Su has already left and whatever she says, he won’t hear about it, so what’s the point? Elders always act like this. I’ll let her say what she wants. I won’t lose much anyway.
For the next few days, Yan was unable to lift her spirits up. When Little Bean visited the shop, she forced a smile on her face as she talked to him, but quickly became discouraged again soon after.
“Aunt Yan, the shop isn’t busy today. Can you come out and play with me?” Little Bean pulled her hand coquettishly, shaking it gently.
Yan stopped for a while before looking at him. “Where do you want to play?”
“The amusement park.”
The amusement park? Little Bean never fancied going to the amusement park because he didn’t like the things that other normal kids would like, but when they were abroad, Yan always liked to bring Little Bean along with her to an amusement park. She would scream loudly whenever they rode the rollercoaster and pirate ship and most of the time, Little Bean despised her for it. “Aunt Yan, you’re already a mature woman now. Can you not be this childish everytime? Why do you always like to play children’s games?”
Upon hearing Little Bean’s comment, Yan pulled his ears and scolded, “What do you mean that I always play children’s games? Everyone is able to use this kind of facilities for entertainment, okay? Can’t you see that there are a lot of adults here too?”
After being pinched by her, Little Bean responded while slapping her hand away, “You’re so bad, Aunt Yan. They all came with their kids.”
“Me too!”
“But I didn’t want to come. If you pull my ears again, you can come here alone the next time!”
Listening to him, she finally released her hand and changed her expression as she spoke to his ear, “Hey, I’m sorry, Little Bean. Did my pinch hurt you? Let me blow it for you. Remember to accompany me the next time, alright?”
“Hmph! You need to blow it twice!”
Those memories seemed to have happened yesterday. When she regained her senses, Little Bean was pulling on her sleeves. “Aunt Yan, can we go there?”
“Sure.” She nodded. It is rare for him to be this considerate. He must have seen that I’m not happy, so he wants to bring me to the amusement park to have fun so that I can be happier.
After informing Luo Huimei, Yan brought Little Bean out with her to the nearby amusement park, where the two of them went giddy with excitement before returning home at night. When they arrived home, Yan was so exhausted that she collapsed straight on the couch. As she closed her eyes and slept, Little Bean went to the washroom to grab a basin of hot water to wipe her face. Just when he was doing it halfway, Luo Huimei came out and rushed over to him.
“It’s okay, Little Bean. Put it down,” Luo Huimei spoke. “Let me do it.”
Little Bean obediently wiped Yan’s face before he was escorted to his room by Luo Huimei to sleep. When she returned to the living hall, she observed that Yan was rolling on the couch. Yan’s body was almost suspended in the air, looking as if she was about to fall down to the floor.
Luo Huimei’s face changed drastically as she rushed up to save Yan. However, Yan, who was quietly asleep, rolled her body again and fell straight on the icy cold floor. She groaned so loud that it sounded painful to the listening ear. The pain also caused her to wake up as she sat with a shocked face on the ground.
“You’re awake? It’s good that you’re awake. Now, you can return to your room and sleep. If you actually sleep here, I really don’t know how I’m supposed to carry you back to your room. You know that now you’re no longer the same as before. You’re a big girl now. I can’t carry you anymore.”
Yan blinked her eyes at Luo Huimei while reflecting on what happened during the day. Then, Yan quietly nodded before returning to her room, becoming so obedient that it became scary. Luo Huimei was even more worried about Yan being like that because the former had seen the latter’s sad expressions that night. Her actions lately have been quite quiet. Even though she looked as though she has no strength, she seems to suppress everything inside her by not crying out loud. If she keeps on like this, will she become ill in the end?
On the second day, the business in the shop was extremely good since it was a Sunday. Even if Yan lacked the energy, she still needed to work. When she had completed her work in the kitchen, she happened to see Luo Huimei having a chat with Mrs. Zhang after the former came out. Mrs. Zhang? Why is she here? Just when Yan became suspicious, Mrs. Zhang suddenly spotted her before rushing to the former’s front. Luo Huimei wanted to stop Mrs. Zhang, but wasn’t quick enough to do so and quickly came over with an obvious look of frustration on her face.
“Hello, Yan. You’re so amazing,” Mrs. Zhang commented. “You have a ramen shop of your own at such a young age. The business here seems good too.”
There was a saying that went, ‘Don’t hit a smiling face’. As Mrs. Zhang was still in Yan’s shop, the latter quirked up her lips and returned the smile to the former. “Mrs. Zhang, you’re being too kind. How did you have the time to visit today? Why don’t I treat you to a bowl of ramen?”
Mrs. Zhang rubbed her hands embarrassingly. “Thank you. In that case, don’t mind if I do.”
“Please have a seat. I’ll serve the ramen over to you later.”
“Alright. Alright.”
As soon as Yan entered the kitchen, Luo Huimei followed her in. “Why are you keeping her here? Don’t you know why she came here today?”
Yan was initially speechless before unconcernedly asking, “Why is she here? Isn’t it because she came out to shop and gossip due to boredom?”
Seeing that Yan didn’t take any notice of it, Lui Huimei knew that her daughter had no idea about it, so she directly said, “She came to find you a date.”
Yan was startled. “To find me a date?”
“Why else would she be here? Our house is quite far from here. Do you actually think that she would come all the way here just to have a bowl of ramen? Do you really think your magic ramen is that good?”
Yan remained silent for a moment. “It is a delicious bowl of magic ramen. You’ve had it yourself too.”
Luo Huimei was instantly rendered speechless after being called out by her daughter. Not only was her daughter adept in cooking, she knew how to season the food with flavors. With the same kind of seasoning, she could use varying amounts of it to create different flavors. This was why their shop had a better business and food as compared to others.
“You’re right. What if she comes here everyday to eat after finding it delicious?”
Hearing Luo Huimei’s words, Yan glanced at her mother quizzically. “Mom, what are you saying? Isn’t it good that she comes here to eat everyday?”
“Are you stupid? Why is it good?”
“Why is it bad then?”
“What if she doesn’t pay?”
Yan was immediately speechless. “I don’t give out free meals. If she doesn’t pay, she can’t eat here.” With that, she walked out with a bowl of ramen.
