Xia Xiaolan visited Nanluoguxiang, Xiushui Street, and Xidan. Only after checking both of her stores did she feel at ease to return home.

She arrived home at 6 PM sharp. The front door was open, with people bustling about creating a lively atmosphere. Yet stepping inside, it became surprisingly quiet, completely different from outside.

“What’s going on?”

Grandmother Yu pointed toward the kitchen, “Haven’t you smelled it?”

Indeed she had – the aroma of meat. More specifically, lamb was the most prominent, followed by pork knuckles and trotters stewed with mung beans, then braised carp.

When she first experienced her rebirth, Xia Xiaolan would have salivated at these smells – there was no comparison between sweet potatoes and meat! But those hard times didn’t last long. After returning home with her uncle and starting the egg business, they could afford better meals every few days. Now, their family could easily afford meat; sometimes she even had to control her portions for fear of gaining weight!

Seeing the neighbors sitting neatly, occasionally glancing toward the backyard kitchen, Xia Xiaolan suddenly understood.

Just because her family didn’t lack good food didn’t mean others were the same.

The temptation of such a feast was impossible to resist. Nobody felt like chatting; they all secretly craned their necks waiting for the dishes to arrive.

Xia Xiaolan decided to check the kitchen. Chef Gu perked up when he saw her:

“Young Miss Xia, you’re back? Then we can start serving!”

“You finished cooking earlier but were waiting for me?”

Chef Gu found her question strange. Xia Xiaolan had hired him and was the host – how could they start without the host present? It wasn’t proper!

Xia Xiaolan instantly understood his expression. “Alright then, please start serving.”

Chef Gu’s apprentices coordinated well – announcing dishes, and serving them – what Xia Xiaolan considered an ordinary meal that hadn’t cost much in materials and labor had achieved its intended effect.

Her mother and Grandmother Yu weren’t tired, and the neighbors ate happily.

They ate so happily that they soon became familiar. The neighbor’s auntie asked Liu Fen about Xia Xiaolan’s age.

“She’ll turn 20 this June.”

“She’s of marriageable age then… Does she have a boyfriend? If not, I know several excellent young men with great prospects!”

“She has someone – he came with her when they bought the house.”

Ha! The gossipy elders had excellent memories. They were wary of any strangers in the alley, and Zhou Chengye had certainly caught their attention – such a handsome young man was hard to forget.

Someone protested, “What if he was a relative?”

Nonsense – what relatives would hold hands? He must be her boyfriend.

Liu Fen confirmed it decisively: “Yes, she has a boyfriend.”

Zhou Cheng’s parents had just visited days ago; Liu Fen couldn’t lie about it.

The would-be matchmakers were disappointed.

The conversation turned to Xia Xiaolan still a student at Huaqing University, and the gossipy neighbors united in praise: “From your accent, you’re not local – your daughter is really accomplished.”

As for why three women of different generations had moved in together, out of appreciation for the generous meal, no one pried further.

Nobody thought about divorce – divorce rates were low back then.

They assumed Xia Xiaolan had lost her father… but didn’t dare ask, fearing to touch upon a painful subject.

If Xia Xiaolan had known their thoughts, she would have said “thank you for the blessing.” In their situation, losing a father was the simplest explanation. They didn’t hide it from the Zhou family since they would learn eventually, but why announce her mother’s divorce to the neighbors during their first dinner? Xia Xiaolan wasn’t that foolish!

Old Man Zhao put a piece of braised pork in his grandson’s bowl:

“See why I made you eat from a small bowl at lunch?”

His grandson ate with gusto, wondering why his grandfather hadn’t told him to skip lunch entirely.

The meat was better than noodles, but he’d eaten so much that his stomach felt ready to burst!

The chef and kitchen helpers ate separately, waiting until everyone else had finished. After the neighbors were satisfied, Chef Gu and his apprentices quickly cleared away the bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs, even cleaning the courtyard.

“I’ll send someone to dismantle the stove tomorrow. Will someone be home?”

If the stove weren’t still hot, Chef Gu would have dismantled it immediately. Xia Xiaolan handed him the agreed payment in a red envelope with both hands, “Thank you for your hard work!”

Chef Gu was pleased with the envelope’s thickness. “No trouble at all. If you need this service again, I’ll come earlier.”

Was it tiring when well-paid?

Better than being tired without pay. Xia Xiaolan’s event had been particularly easy – Chef Gu just needed to cook, with apprentices helping to wash and cut ingredients. It wasn’t summer, so being near the stove was warm rather than stifling. Xia Xiaolan’s family was generous with ingredients, letting Chef Gu handle the purchasing without penny-pinching. Such clients were rare, perhaps once a year, so of course he was delighted!

Xia Xiaolan felt the money was well spent. Just one meal had dramatically improved their relationship with the neighbors.

When Xia Xiaolan pushed her bicycle out that evening to return to school, she met neighbors.

“A young lady like you shouldn’t ride alone to school at night. There’s a bus that runs until 9 PM – take that instead.”

Others knew the bus routes and schedules better than Xia Xiaolan.

She left her old bicycle at home and took the bus back to school. Upon returning to the dormitory, she met Teacher Dai doing room checks, verifying that everyone had reported back and was staying in the dorm – the school was strict about these matters, and Teacher Dai was very responsible.

“Xia Xiaolan, why are you just arriving?”

Teacher Dai checked off his list – all residents of Room 307 were present.

Yang Yonghong was from the Civil Engineering Department; Teacher Dai helped check her dormitory for her advisor. Xia Xiaolan took the opportunity to notify him about not staying in the dormitory on weekends. Last semester, she only requested leave for outings, otherwise staying on campus. Even on weekends, the dormitory aunt checked attendance, requiring explanations for absences.

This semester, Xia Xiaolan expected to live at home, so it was best to notify Teacher Dai in advance.

Though the strict management limited her freedom, Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind. Perhaps it was precisely this strictness that allowed 1980s university students to focus entirely on their studies, without various distractions – in the future, universities would keep lights on all night and allow students to rent off-campus housing. These conveniences didn’t make students study harder; those with poor self-control used the all-night lighting to play games, and off-campus housing mainly facilitated couples living together.

Teacher Dai didn’t make things difficult, specifically noting:

“Your family is like Mencius’s mother, moving three times for education.”

Xia Xiaolan’s family had moved to Beijing for her studies. People don’t easily leave their hometown – moving from southern Henan to Beijing requires courage, courage that usually comes from parents’ dedication to their children. Teacher Dai was deeply moved.

Xia Xiaolan understood this best. Though she wasn’t particularly social by nature, the elaborate dinner for neighbors was arranged to help her mother adapt to life in Beijing!