CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: SWOONING OVER HIS HANDSOMENESS

After breakfast, Bai Ruxue originally wanted to ride the bicycle that Zhang Yuan gifted her yesterday. However, Zhang Yuan couldn’t bear to let Bai Ruxue ride in such cold weather, so it ended up with Zhang Yuan cycling and Bai Ruxue sitting at the back. The two of them headed to Pingyang Town.

As they approached the town, Bai Ruxue took out a five-pound bag of white flour, a five-pound bag of rice, and five pounds of pork belly from the supermarket.

She mainly kept ribs, as she loves eating ribs. There were over thirty pounds of pork belly and lean meat; she had taken out fifteen pounds, leaving only fifteen pounds. Due to the supermarket being unable to restock supplies before the New Year, she couldn’t take out any more. Thankfully, she hadn’t taken out the minced pork for sale; the supermarket sells fresh minced meat, so there were only about twelve pounds shown in the display cabinet.

"Xiao Xue! I’ll come pick you up later!" Zhang Yuan said as he dropped her off at Chen Qiyue’s house.

"Okay!" Bai Ruxue agreed without asking where he was going, taking her things inside Chen Qiyue’s house.

"Grandma, I’m here!" Bai Ruxue called out as she opened the door, fearing to startle the old lady.

There was only the old lady at home, as everyone else had gone to work.

"Xiao Xue girl? Come on in, Grandma’s here!" Grandma Chen responded happily upon hearing Bai Ruxue.

"Grandma, are you still home alone today? It’s almost New Year, aren’t uncle and aunt on holiday?" Bai Xue asked politely.

"The holiday starts tomorrow, everyone will be back then!" Grandma Chen said joyfully, implying her grandson who works in Chenxi County would return.

"Oh, then grandma won’t be lonely! It’s boring sitting alone, isn’t it? Are you feeling better?" Bai Xue walked over to the kang, set down her things, and asked.

"Much better, much better! Lying around all day is making these old bones of mine useless! Girl, have you brought Grandma some good food?" Grandma Chen couldn’t help but ask while eyeing the things Bai Ruxue put down.

"Yes! I just got them yesterday afternoon! Brought them over as soon as possible, since it’s only four days until New Year, so Grandma can eat something delicious early!" Bai Xue pushed the items towards Grandma Chen, "Five pounds of rice, five pounds of flour, and five pounds of pork! It took a lot of effort to get these things, supplies are really scarce now!"

"Good girl, so many good things! Grandma truly thanks you!" Grandma Chen excitedly opened the cloth bags, looking inside happily, "Grandma’s just saying it, doesn’t know how to thank you..." she fiddled with them.

"Grandma, I heard Sister Qiyue say the other day that uncle is the factory director of the milk powder factory. I want to inquire about what conditions are needed to work in the factory?" Bai Ruxue asked tentatively.

"Ah, Grandma doesn’t really understand either. I’ll ask your uncle for you later, and let you know when you have time to come by!" Grandma Chen replied.

Though she is the mother of the director, she never meddles in the factory’s affairs. Having lived a privileged life, she’s never worked, so doesn’t know much.

"Alright, thank you Grandma, I’ll head back first and come by again when I’m free!" Bai Xue said as she stood up.

"Xiao Xue! This is money! Grandma calculated based on the black market price!" Grandma Chen took out some money from the kang cabinet and handed over a hundred and five yuan to Bai Xue.

"Grandma, a hundred is fine, I’ll forgo the running fee!" Bai Ruxue returned five yuan.

It was like she was running errands on the black market.

But Grandma Chen seemed to believe it, "Thank you, Xiao Xue girl, you’re truly a good girl!"

Grandma Chen took back the five yuan, smiling as she thanked Bai Xue.

"I’ll be off now!" Bai Ruxue bid farewell to Grandma Chen, and after staying a while, headed out.

When Bai Ruxue came out, Zhang Yuan hadn’t arrived to pick her up yet, so she slowly walked towards the courtyard Zhang Yuan rented.

After walking a short distance, she saw Zhang Yuan riding the bicycle over.

Bai Xue smiled at him. The person with an awkward walking posture yesterday was now cycling a long way today, his butt injury might not heal well.

"Let’s go home!" Zhang Yuan saw Bai Ruxue smiling at him and smiled back happily.

"Going back already?" Bai Xue asked.

"Yes! Everything’s done! Why not head back? Unless you want to have a meal at the State-Owned Restaurant before returning?" Zhang Yuan asked.

"Well, it wouldn’t be bad..." Bai Ruxue glanced at her watch; it was not yet eleven.

"Forget it! The State-Owned Restaurant doesn’t taste as good as your cooking. Let’s head back so you can make me something good tonight as a reward, okay?" Zhang Yuan tried his luck.

"Hmm... seeing how hard you worked cycling..." Bai Xue sized up Zhang Yuan, "Not only something delicious, but there’s also a gift!"

Upon hearing it, Zhang Yuan laughed.

"What do you want to eat? Shall we prepare something at your rented courtyard before heading back?" Bai Xue suggested.

However, Zhang Yuan understood what "prepare" meant. She intended to get ready things from her space to take out.

"Alright! Hop on, sit tight! Let’s go!" Zhang Yuan patted the rear seat.

"Forget it, let’s walk and push the bike. It’s not too far, and we have time!" Bai Xue said, feeling sorry for Zhang Yuan cycling hard.

"Okay!" So the two of them pushed the bicycle slowly home through the pure white snow.

Upon reaching the courtyard, they locked the gate, and the two entered the space.

"Zhang Yuan, come here!" Bai Xue pulled Zhang Yuan to the men’s clothing section.

She picked out the mid-length black British-style windbreaker she had eyed earlier and handed it to Zhang Yuan, "Go try it!"

"Gift?" Zhang Yuan pointed at the clothes, asking.

"Not just this!" Bai Ruxue said.

"Alright!" Zhang Yuan took the clothes, and Bai Ruxue picked out a pair of straight-leg black pants and a white turtleneck sweater, pushing him into the fitting room.

Soon, Zhang Yuan emerged fully dressed. Even though Bai Ruxue was prepared, she was still captivated by his handsome look. With her styling, Zhang Yuan resembled someone more familiar, Bai Ruxue stared dazedly, drooling.

"So, my face is still more attractive to you, right?" Zhang Yuan snapped his fingers in front of Bai Ruxue and complained.

"Handsome... too handsome..." Bai Xue murmured as she snapped back to reality.

Zhang Yuan happily followed behind Bai Ruxue, watching her gather food, ribs, and lots of cotton.

When they finally came out, Zhang Yuan had changed back into his own clothes, not wanting to be too conspicuous. Bai Ruxue had no objections either; she liked watching his handsome self all to herself, not wanting to share with the big-eyed girls at the educated youth spot.

By the time they returned home, it was past 3 p.m.

Just in time to prepare dinner, Bai Xue handed all the cotton to her two sisters and was busy bustling about in the kitchen.

For dinner, there was rich and fragrant rice, braised spare ribs, and chicken with potatoes, all in generous portions. Wang Cuihua also had a separate egg custard.

If it weren’t the middle of winter, when vegetables were hard to get, she could set out a Manchu Han Imperial Feast.

But even with just these two meat dishes and rice, everyone was drunk with the aroma.

Zhang Yuan ate four bowls of rice and a considerable amount of meat, growing more fond of his little girl’s cooking.

The saying goes, to win a man’s heart, you must first captivate his stomach.

Zhang Yuan was already wholly attached to Bai Ruxue, but eating her homemade dishes bonded him even tighter to her, making it impossible for him to leave.