Curry Beef Brisket

Xia Jiao never thought that driving at a slow speed could be so difficult.

Growing up, her academic skills had been greatly nurtured, but her practical skills were somewhat lacking.

This included, but was not limited to, learning to drive.

It took almost the entire day for her to vaguely grasp the technique for parking. Unfortunately, she was still a beginner, managing to park correctly only three or four times out of ten, with the rest of the attempts showing some flaws.

Wen Chongyue praised her wholeheartedly, telling her she was doing great.

Xia Jiao felt like he was the television host from her childhood, always encouraging with a cheerful “You can do it.” But unlike that host, Wen Chongyue didn’t have cardboard, old newspapers, or glue. Instead, he patiently explained the mistakes she made after each failed parking attempt, showing her how to correct them, and giving her a celebratory hug when she succeeded.

With this kind of encouragement, learning to drive didn’t seem so bad.

In the evening, as a reward for his wife’s hard work learning to drive, Wen Chongyue took Xia Jiao to Songhelou for some squirrel fish.

The place was famous as the location where the heroes from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils formed their brotherhood, though Wen Chongyue didn’t really read martial arts novels. He cared more about how the food tasted.

The food from Suzhou’s cuisine is often sweet, with famous dishes like squirrel fish, crispy oil-braised eel, secret sauce meat, and clear stir-fried shrimp. Picky diners don’t just care about the restaurant but also about the chef. Wen Chongyue called ahead to ensure that the chef skilled at preparing squirrel fish would be there before bringing Xia Jiao to taste the food.

In contrast to the city center of modern Suzhou, the ancient district had a unique flavor. Here, famous restaurants were often clustered together. Places like Bifengfang and Taijian Alley were home to old, classic establishments. Whether the food was good or not, the prices were high, and they adhered to tradition. For more affordable, homestyle meals, locals preferred spots like Shiquan Street or Fenghuang Street, where other types of cuisine could also be found.

However, today’s meal was different.

Wen Chongyue didn’t cater to Xia Jiao the way he normally did.

The squirrel fish had a sweet and sour flavor, accompanied by Suzhou date paste cake, wild herbs, chicken head rice with sweet beans, and stir-fried shrimp. The portions weren’t too large, and with Xia Jiao’s small appetite and Wen Chongyue’s larger one, they finished it all.

Xia Jiao asked, “Are the shrimp in this dish river shrimp? They’re so delicious.”

Wen Chongyue suggested, “Why don’t you ask the waiter?”

Xia Jiao quickly shook her head. “Forget it, it’s just a small thing. I don’t want to trouble them.”

When eating out, Xia Jiao usually avoided speaking to anyone. For example, when she had stayed in a hotel and noticed a missing shower cap, she simply didn’t use it instead of calling the front desk to ask for one.

Unless absolutely necessary or if she needed to change the subject, Xia Jiao preferred to avoid creating any “trouble.”

Wen Chongyue disagreed: “This isn’t adding trouble.”

Xia Jiao fell silent, staring at the table as she listened to Wen Chongyue say, “If there’s a problem, tell them yourself.”

Xia Jiao said, “You know I’m not very confident about it…”

“You’re the customer,” Wen Chongyue said, unusually speaking to her in such a way. “Jiao Jiao, we should give it a try. It’s natural for a customer to want to understand what’s in a dish before ordering. Just like when customers at flower shops ask you questions about flowers, right? I’ll be here with you.”

Xia Jiao hesitated. “But won’t this increase their workload? I see there are quite a few customers now…”

“Their job is to address customer questions,” Wen Chongyue took Xia Jiao’s hand. “Go ahead, ask.”

His hand was warm, and with a boost of courage, Xia Jiao called the waiter over. In a soft voice, she asked, “Excuse me, I’d like to ask if the shrimp in the stir-fried shrimp dish is river shrimp or sea shrimp?”

A young man came over and gently explained, “Ma’am, we use river shrimp, which are carefully cultivated…”

The waiter continued explaining about the dish, and in the end, asked, “Is there anything else I can assist you with?”

Xia Jiao shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Enjoy your meal,” the waiter said before leaving.

Once she was sure he wouldn’t hear their conversation, Xia Jiao let out a quiet sigh, wiped the sweat off her hands with a tissue, took a sip of water, and noticed Wen Chongyue’s gaze.

“Look at you,” Wen Chongyue smiled, “Talking to someone like it’s a blind date.”

He teased her, and Xia Jiao shot back, “It’s worse than a blind date. At least on a blind date, I wasn’t nervous because I knew it wasn’t going to work…”

Wen Chongyue sharply picked up on the hint. Without reacting, he said, “Not nervous? The first time we met, you were as nervous as a little squirrel trying to steal peanuts.”

Xia Jiao retorted, “I’m not talking about a blind date with you—cough, cough, let’s just eat.”

She paused before adding, “You must know, these days, it’s normal for people to meet many others during blind dates… You’ve probably met quite a few, right?”

Wen Chongyue said, “I’ve only been on one blind date.”

Xia Jiao was taken aback. “…”

He added, “I was just lucky.”

Xia Jiao was surprised. “Huh?”

She had assumed that Wen Chongyue would have gone through several “potential partners” just like she did. Before meeting Wen Chongyue, Xia Jiao had endured countless strange blind dates that made her lose all hope for marriage.

She had assumed Wen Chongyue was the same. Was she really so lucky to have appeared just when Teacher Wen was thinking about getting married?

Wen Chongyue refilled her water. “So, I should thank those people who came before me.”

Xia Jiao looked confused. “Thank them for what?”

“Thank them for not being persistent, so I could smoothly find my wife,” Wen Chongyue smiled. “It’s fate.”

Xia Jiao nodded thoughtfully. She too was lucky.

Just like when she was 17, buried in her books, solving equations, she never imagined she’d end up sleeping in the same bed with someone she admired.

The driving test had a time limit, and with the number of people registering, it would be hard to schedule for the second part of the exam before the National Day holiday. Xia Jiao had plenty of time to practice. Wen Chongyue reassured her not to rush or worry, telling her to take it slow. There would be plenty of opportunities. Unlike exams like the college entrance exam, this wasn’t something that would determine her future.

Encouraged by his words, Xia Jiao gradually relaxed.

Yu Tan’s students came to visit her, bringing many pastries.Yu Tan didn’t eat much sweet food, so she passed them all on to her. Suzhou pastries were abundant, but her favorite were the freshly made ones sold on the streets. They were much more fragrant than those that had cooled down.

The red bean pork lard cake was sweet and sticky, packed with ingredients, and well-seasoned. It could be heated in the microwave and eaten right away, with the sweet red beans and pork mingling on the taste buds. The begonia cake should be eaten while hot. When bitten into, it was filled with sweet red bean paste, and the outside was a layer of caramel, fragrant but not greasy. The small plum-shaped cakes, with a layer of green and red threads and melon seeds on top, were soft and tasty.

Not to mention the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. Suzhou mooncakes were excellent, with various sizes and fillings. Xia Jiao’s favorite were the flaky small mooncakes, and she could easily eat several of different fillings in one sitting.

During the holidays, even flower shops had to prepare mooncakes for their loyal customers. While chatting at the shop, Sister Lan casually mentioned that it was almost time to prepare Mid-Autumn gifts for all the major clients. Other hotels and brands would also send flowers and Mid-Autumn gifts to their special clients. At that time, they would have to be busy for a while. During holidays, the flower shop business always picked up.

Xia Jiao was ready for the busy days ahead.

The three of them were observing Yu Tan’s new work, a Mid-Autumn floral arrangement for a resort hotel.

The hotel had previously worked with another large flower shop, directly purchasing ready-made floral arrangements. Perhaps because the holiday was approaching, or due to other considerations, the new general manager of the hotel was dissatisfied with the resort’s floral arrangements, feeling that the tropical-themed flowers didn’t match the resort’s style. That’s why they found Yu Tan.

At work, Yu Tan never revealed her relationship with Xia Jiao. Xia Jiao understood it was to avoid suspicion and make things easier for her at work. Like with other florists, Yu Tan rarely spoke to Xia Jiao while working. Instead, she engaged with the hotel’s staff, walking around the hotel, observing the surrounding environment and décor.

Yu Tan was very particular about the choice of flowers. Unlike others who always used “imported flowers” as a selling point, her floral materials were simple and inexpensive. She never chose flowers based on price or rarity, but rather based on local availability and suitability. Suzhou was different from other places, and Yu Tan preferred to use pine branches and osmanthus wood to create scenery. Considering the high ceilings, she followed the principles of “no symmetry, no shaping,” inspired by Jiangnan landscape art, to complete the floral arrangement perfectly.

The work was highly favored by the client. As the three of them continued their conversation, they sat in the resort’s lounge, sipping tea and chatting while waiting for the driver to pick them up and take them back to the store.

Recently, Yu Qingzhen had become generous with her spending. Not only had her lunch upgraded to a higher level, but her clothing and other items had also taken a step up. Half of these things were gifts from her wealthy boyfriend, while the other half were things she bought for herself. This was in stark contrast to her previous frugal lifestyle.

Gao Chan, on the other hand, was the typical “moonlight clan” member—living paycheck to paycheck. Like most working people, she felt too embarrassed to ask her family for money, but she still hadn’t kicked her bad spending habits. With only one week left until payday, her little savings were almost depleted. Now, she lamented, blaming the “paper dolls”^[1]a term for games for draining her wallet. Domestic games were basically money grabbers, offering no time for people to breathe. She vowed to be more careful with her spending and save more from now on.

Yu Qingzhen thought for a moment and suggested, “Why don’t you invest in some financial products? It could help you save money.”

Gao Chan shook her head and sighed. “Forget it. With my luck, whether I buy stocks or funds, I’d just end up getting cut down like an unripe crop. I lost a lot when I bought Maotai stock. I’m still recovering from it.”

Yu Qingzhen asked when she bought the fund and smiled. “You’re so silly. Did you really think those people were the god of wealth? Back then, those funds were trending online. Think about it—do you really believe they were letting everyone make money? We’re always late to the game, and by the time we hear about which fund is profitable, it’s already too late. They deliberately let the rumors out to get us to buy in.”

Gao Chan shook her head violently. Just thinking about the money she lost made her feel the sting. “From that moment on, I decided I would never touch funds again.”

Xia Jiao, who had been silently sipping her tea, agreed with Gao Chan. She nodded. “Buy bank financial products. They’re the safest.”

“The interest on bank products is too low,” Yu Qingzhen thought for a moment and suggested, “How about this? My boyfriend knows some people at a securities company. They have a product with high interest—up to 12% annually. You get interest every month. Want to give it a try?”

“Wow!” Gao Chan was intrigued. “That high!”

Xia Jiao didn’t speak but frowned.

“Yes,” Yu Qingzhen continued. “This is different from those P2P investments that exploded before. It’s much safer. The interest is paid monthly. You can withdraw it if you want, or roll it over into the next term. I’ve already made quite a bit this month. Look at these shoes I bought…”

Gao Chan was tempted and asked, “What’s the minimum investment?”

Xia Jiao placed her cup on the table, paused for a moment, then asked Yu Qingzhen, “Do you think this is reliable?”

Yu Qingzhen looked at her like she was crazy. “Would I deceive you?”

“I mean, the product your boyfriend mentioned,” Xia Jiao said. “It sounds too good to be true.”

“Even large bank deposits can offer high interest,” Yu Qingzhen shrugged dismissively. “This interest rate isn’t unreasonable.”

No, Xia Jiao thought, it is unreasonable.

Money doesn’t come so easily. She had always been cautious and knew there was no such thing as free lunch.

Yu Qingzhen glanced around, leaned in closer, and lowered her voice. “There’s some inside information on this. Once this opportunity is gone, there won’t be another one.”

Xia Jiao thought of the bad things she had heard about before and warned her, “Zhenzhen, have you seen the news? Illegal fundraising can cause you to lose everything.”

“Do you think my boyfriend would deceive me?” Yu Qingzhen replied nonchalantly. “If you don’t believe me, that’s fine.”

Gao Chan was still excited, asking Yu Qingzhen more questions, and Yu Qingzhen answered all of them as long as she could.

Before they left, Xia Jiao still couldn’t shake her worry. She reminded Yu Qingzhen, “Don’t trust people too easily, especially when money is involved. It’s best to be cautious.”

“I know,” Yu Qingzhen replied, “But as I said, my boyfriend would never deceive me.”

Seeing she couldn’t convince Yu Qingzhen, Xia Jiao gave up.

In the time since Yu Qingzhen had fallen in love, she had been unable to listen to anything else, influenced by the rush of hormones. No matter what Xia Jiao said, she couldn’t change her mind. The more she spoke, the more Yu Qingzhen thought she was being overly cautious and insincere.

Xia Jiao really didn’t know how else to advise her.

It was like trying to convince a close friend to break up with a bad boyfriend—always so difficult.

However, privately, Xia Jiao did remind Gao Chan not to hand over her money too easily.

Gao Chan nodded, laughing bitterly. “I don’t even have that much money right now.”

Xia Jiao really hoped she was just overthinking things.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the moon was round, and the osmanthus gently bloomed.

For the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wen Chongyue brought back the mooncakes distributed by his company. The packaging was simple, but inside were classic Suzhou-style fresh meat mooncakes, sweet and not greasy, with a delicate, flaky crust. There were also the famous salted vegetable and fresh meat mooncakes from Hangzhou, savory and spicy, with a crisp exterior and tender filling, along with a few other varieties like pepper-salt mixed fruit, rose red bean paste, and seaweed nut-filled mooncakes… a full selection.

Xia Jiao also received mooncakes from the flower shop where she worked. The flower shop only offered traditional flavors, unlike Wen Chongyue’s diverse selection. They had the classic pickled vegetable and fresh meat filling.

However, Xia Jiao’s mooncake box was much more beautiful!

Naturally, the flower shop has to put a lot of effort into the packaging. The mooncakes were placed in a custom-made bamboo basket, with fresh flowers inserted into the handle. Each basket was unique, tailored to the recipient’s preferences, and filled with mooncake gift boxes, covered with a layer of flowers.

Although the baskets given to customers were all decorated with roses, it didn’t matter. Xia Jiao picked out some other flowers from the shop and arranged them in a wide-mouth vase with floral foam, placing them in the basket.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the beautiful flower basket was placed in the center of the dinner table, making the meal even more delightful.

Wen Chongyue praised his wife for everything—from her thoughtful preparation to her cooking skills.

After several days of effort, Xia Jiao had finally managed to change Wen Chongyue’s view of her cooking.

Wen Chongyue, noticing her efforts, wasn’t stingy with his praise. He realized that his wife just needed encouragement and praise, a little recognition, and occasional affection—like kisses, hugs, and lifting her up high.

Tonight’s dinner was a collaboration between the couple. The scallops were especially plump, and Wen Chongyue made steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli. Green and red peppers were sprinkled on the succulent scallops, and the broth was sweet and fresh. The vermicelli, which had soaked up the scallop juices, was soft and delicious. The curry beef brisket was simmered over a low fire, its flavor rich and powerful, with a thick, hearty broth. It was perfect to mix with steamed fragrant rice using a small spoon and eat it together. The lotus root and pork rib soup was refreshing, clearing the heat and offering a clear, fragrant broth with bits of tender green onions floating inside. 

Wen Chongyue also made lotus seed tofu, combining tofu puree, dry starch, and grass carp puree. After placing it in a special container, eight green beans were used to represent lotus seeds, which were then steamed and placed in chicken broth. The dish was white and tender, like a bowl filled with the breeze and moonlight of a lotus pond. The salmon in September was the freshest, just lightly pan-seared with black pepper for a delicious taste. It was served alongside sautéed asparagus and garnished with golden lemon slices, Xia Jiao’s favorite.

Not to mention the rosemary roasted potatoes, curry lemongrass roasted chicken, and baked rose apples made in the oven…

The two cats were also having their feast, each enjoying a can of mackerel without any added water, happily eating away.

Wen Chongyue opened a bottle of wine, smiling as he shared a drink with Xia Jiao.

After a sip, the two began reminiscing about past funny moments. Xia Jiao was laughing when suddenly Wen Chongyue’s phone rang.

He glanced at it, and Xia Jiao saw the name Bai Ruolang flashing on the screen.

Wen Chongyue seemed uncertain about answering, but Xia Jiao spoke first: “Go ahead, it’s a holiday today.”

Wen Chongyue sighed softly, then answered the call, his tone calm: “Hello.”

“Mm.”

“You too.”

“Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”

His call ended quickly, just a few simple exchanges, almost like the rush of a child getting home after school. Xia Jiao observed Wen Chongyue’s expression, carefully assessing that the call seemed to have ended amicably.

At least, Wen Chongyue appeared calm and there hadn’t been any argument or conflict with the other person.

Xia Jiao took a bite of the roasted potato.

It was so fragrant.

But Wen Chongyue lost control of his emotions at night, and the two even accidentally broke a condom. Fortunately, they noticed in time before things got worse. The house had emergency medicine stocked up, but Xia Jiao still took one, feeling uneasy.

Wen Chongyue brought over some warm water, apologizing slightly: “Sorry.”

Xia Jiao, sitting on the bed, wasn’t bothered: “It’s fine, the doctor said it’s okay to take one in an emergency, just in case.”

Anyway, she doesn’t want to have children at the moment. Although she doesn’t have any grand career ambitions, but…

It’s not the right time yet.

The drive was abruptly interrupted, and nothing was more uncomfortable than that. Furthermore, Wen Chongyue had been a little careless, and there wasn’t enough stock at home. The one that had just broken was the last, and the remaining box was the wrong size. Xia Jiao had bought the wrong one and couldn’t use it.

He tidied everything up and came back upstairs. Xia Jiao lay quietly on her back, staring at the ceiling. He reached down for Xia Jiao, smooth and tender like spring rain on moss. Leaning in, he wordlessly used his hands and lips, savoring and tasting, lingering deeply until he successfully sampled the essence.

Xia Jiao cuddled him, not paying any attention to the medicine. She just clung to him, kissing his face and gently pinching his ears. His wife always has many little intimate and quirky gestures, and Wen Chongyue indulged her. But he didn’t expect that Xia Jiao would continue kissing him until he sighed in resignation, sitting up and cupping her face, his fingers pressing against her still-moist lips.

“You don’t need to do this,” Wen Chongyue said. “I have hands.”

Xia Jiao blinked: “Reciprocity, repaying kindness.”

Wen Chongyue shook his head: “Forget it.”

Xia Jiao suggested: “Well, while the medicine is still effective…?”

Wen Chongyue pinched her cheek, a mix of exasperation and amusement: “You’re being silly.”

After lying back down, Xia Jiao said again: “I really think it’s a good idea.”

“It’s not,” Wen Chongyue emphasized. “Unless you want to have a child right now.”

For some reason, when he said this, Wen Chongyue felt a thin layer of sweat on his palm. The sensation was strange. Even when she had kissed him earlier, his emotions had urged him to press her head down further. But reason reminded him that she needed to rest, and today, after taking the medicine, it was his mistake, so he shouldn’t let her continue with such things.

Autumn had already arrived, and the weather was cooler. Although Wen Chongyue wasn’t cold, he felt warm, especially after saying the words “have a child now.” He was surprised to realize he felt faintly excited, faintly anticipating. They had long agreed that they wouldn’t discuss having children until five years after their marriage, yet now—

Now, Wen Chongyue found himself strangely hoping she would continue.

Say “Okay,” or, “It’s not impossible now.”

Honestly, their marriage had started very “formally,” “rigidly,” like a business contract. They laid everything out clearly, with no emotional foundation, just an exchange of benefits.

In the past, he could calmly and clearly analyze the pros and cons with Xia Jiao, talking directly about the “terms.” Now, he couldn’t do that anymore. He couldn’t stay calm while talking about it with her.

It was just a joke, after all.

Wen Chongyue felt thirsty, lying down just like Xia Jiao had earlier, his palm sweating, his mind clear but carrying a sense of anticipation.

Xia Jiao, feeling satisfied, began to grow drowsy. She yawned and hugged Wen Chongyue tightly.

“Forget it,” she said. “I don’t want to have a child right now.”

Wen Chongyue didn’t speak.

This answer was expected. He thought, maybe it was the lemon from the salmon dish tonight that made his stomach feel like it had been touched by lemon juice.

“Yes,” Wen Chongyue replied seriously, “so let’s sleep early.”

Xia Jiao obeyed, tired and soon fast asleep.

She didn’t even care about the states of Big Wen Chongyue and Little Wen Chongyue.

Wen Chongyue loved her quiet and composed nature. Though being obedient and sensible wasn’t exactly a virtue, he admitted he found the obedient and sensible Xia Jiao very cute.

Now, Wen Chongyue no longer thought the same way. He felt that his wife was too obedient; she actually fell asleep “early.”

Wen Chongyue couldn’t figure out why his thoughts were so disordered. He could only attribute it to the beautiful moon tonight, his wife’s gentle nature, and the poor quality of that condom.

Maybe it was just the unfulfilled desire acting up, sending these random thoughts to his brain because he wasn’t satisfied or comforted.

It must be that.

As National Day approached, Xia Jiao was once again traveling with Yu Tan for a business trip. Their destination was Hangzhou. Although the two cities weren’t far apart, she would still need to stay there for three nights before returning.

Wen Chongyue was alone, feeding the cat and fish, watering the plants carefully as per his wife’s instructions, letting them get some sun, and even changing the positions of the flowerpots.

On the first night, Wen Chongyue found that he didn’t feel motivated to cook dinner.

Maybe it was because he was too tired from work.

That’s what he thought.

On the second night, after waking up, Wen Chongyue immediately went to hug his wife, wanting to give her a good morning kiss.

But he hugged nothing.

Probably because he wasn’t fully awake.

That’s what he concluded.

On the third day, Wen Chongyue, out of habit, made two lunch boxes, only to realize that Xia Jiao hadn’t come back yet.

It was probably just muscle memory.

Wen Chongyue firmly believed this… but maybe not.

He opened his phone, and the chat interface was still showing yesterday afternoon. Wen Chongyue saw the weather forecast and specifically sent a message to remind Xia Jiao that it would be cooler in Hangzhou today, so she should wear a jacket.

If she didn’t have one, she could buy one nearby. When they were packing together, he had made sure his credit card was in her usual bag.

The conversation ended there. He had sent that message at 9:15 PM last night, and now it was already 8:00 AM. His wife had not replied.

Wen Chongyue thought for a moment and sent a caring message to Xia Jiao.

Hangzhou.

At the hotel, Xia Jiao heard her phone buzz. Lying on the clean pillow, she struggled to pick up the phone, her sleepy eyes catching a message from Wen Chongyue.

Wen Chongyue: “Can you reply to me now?”

Wen Chongyue: “I’d like to confirm if I can still read.”