When Jing Li was eating, Jing Ran went out to buy chicken.

Grandma walked up to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down to chat with Jing Li: “Lili, thank you for not disliking Ranran.”

Jing Li felt a bit embarrassed and answered with her head lowered: “Ranran is pretty good.”

“Hmm.” Grandma smiled, proudly praising her silly grandson: “Although Ranran is usually a bit slow, he is very outstanding. Look at how well he studies, he even became the top scholar in the province. He is diligent and kind-hearted.”

Jing Li pursed her lips, nodded, and said: “I know.”

Grandma: “I’ll scold Ranran later and tell him not to be so arrogant.”

“Yes, yes.” Jing Li nodded like a little chick pecking at rice.

The bakery was not far from the market, and within 20 minutes, Jing Ran bought a fresh frozen chicken and went straight to the kitchen to deal with it.

Jing Li couldn’t stand that Jing Ran entered the house without greeting her. Previously, no matter what he was doing, he would call her “Lili,” but not anymore.

Jing Li knew that intellectuals like Jing Ran were stubborn. His intention was to have a relationship that would not end, to head straight to the marriage hall. But, they had only been dating for less than a month, was it too hasty to decide on marriage?

She herself was a person who quickly lost interest in things. As a child, she liked drawing, singing, and so on, but when she got tired, she stopped doing them. She didn’t even know how long her liking for Jing Ran would last.

Perhaps, she really isn’t suitable for love. She doesn’t even dare to make promises to others.

Jing Li stood at the kitchen door, watching Jing Ran dealing with the frozen chicken. With a strong swing of the big kitchen knife, he chopped the frozen chicken into pieces. Before he left, he soaked some medicinal herbs in a soup bowl. He picked up the bowl, covered the herbs, and poured out the water. Then he took a stewing pot, filled it with water, and added the herbs and chicken pieces. He placed the stewing pot back in the appliance and set the timer.

After Jing Ran finished his busy work, he turned around and looked at Jing Li standing at the door. He said, “It will be ready in about two hours.”

“Okay.”

“Jing Li—”

“Yes?”

Jing Li felt a bit disappointed that he no longer called her “Lili” but addressed her by her full name.

“Do you want to take a nap first? I’ll call you when the food is ready.”

Jing Li asked, “Did you cook?”

Jing Ran nodded.

Jing Li also nodded and responded, “Okay.”

Did Little Prince want her to stay and have a meal at home? Does that mean Little Prince also wants to reconcile with her?

“Can I sleep in your room?”

“Um.”

Jing Li pulled at her own dress, looking somewhat troubled. “I don’t have pajamas, and I’m afraid my dress will get wrinkled.”

“Then just sleep while sitting.”

Jing Li: “…”Jing Li took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. ‘Jing Li, you’re seeking reconciliation, don’t get angry.’

“Can you give me a set of pajamas to change into?”

“Mine?”

Jing Li nodded. “Yes.”

Jing Ran walked into the bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and casually took out a clean set of pajamas to hand to Jing Li. He said, “Then rest well.” After speaking, Jing Ran walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

After changing clothes, Jing Li stood in front of the mirror on the antique dressing table in the room. She looked at the reflection of a young girl in the mirror, wearing oversized men’s pajamas, resembling a little girl who sneaked into her father’s clothes. The long sleeves covered her whole hand, and she covered her nose with both hands, sniffing the smell on it, which was the smell of the little prince! She looked at the mirror, and she was stupidly happy, and she said to herself: “Retarded!”

The sun has set, and the room gradually darkens as the light fades. The street lamps outside illuminate and shine into the room. Jing Li is sleeping soundly, having not slept so well in a long time.

“Knock, knock!” The door is being knocked.

“Lili, it’s time to eat.” Grandma is knocking on the door from outside, waking up Jing Li.

“Okay!” Jing Li responded and reached for the switch by the wall, turning on the lights and changing back into her own clothes.

Jing Li opened the door and was greeted by the various aromas of different dishes. There was a rich chicken soup aroma, a braised flavor, the fragrance of rice…

Every time she came to Grandma’s house, her appetite was excellent.

Grandma was already sitting on the dining chair, ready for the meal, while Jing Ran was busy cleaning in the kitchen.

“Lili, sit down and eat quickly,” Grandma beckoned to her.

Jing Li sat down but didn’t pick up her chopsticks.

Grandma could see through her intention of waiting for Jing Ran to join the table with just one glance. “Start eating, don’t wait for Ranran.”

“It’s okay, I’m not very hungry,” Jing Li shook her head in response.

A few minutes later, Jing Ran came out and sat down at the table. Only then did Jing Li start using her chopsticks and said, “Ranran, let’s eat.”

Jing Ran nodded, “Hmm.”

On the day they had a fight, Jing Ran had said he would make her stewed chicken soup, but she didn’t get to drink it. Fortunately, she had the chance to taste the chicken soup made by Jing Ran, which was actually quite similar to the one Grandma made. They were both stewed in the same pot for the same amount of time. However, Jing Li felt that this bowl of chicken soup was particularly delicious because it was made by Jing Ran’s own hands.

For tonight’s dinner, there was also braised goose meat, poached prawns, and two plates of stir-fried vegetables.

After the meal, it was still early, around seven o’clock. Jing Li and Grandma sat on the sofa in the living room, enjoying some fruit.

Jing Li didn’t know what her plans were for the next step, whether to stay overnight at Grandma’s house or go back to school. However, she didn’t have any spare clothes here because on the second day after their breakup, Ranran took all her things back to school and returned them to her.

Jing Li hesitated for a moment and finally decided to go back to school. She held her handbag, stood up straight, and said to her grandmother sitting next to her, “Grandma, it’s getting late, so I’ll go back to school first.”

Grandma tried to persuade her, “It’s already so late, why go back to school? Just stay overnight at Grandma’s house.”

“But I didn’t bring any clothes to change into,” Jing Li replied.

Grandma politely said, “It’s just clothes. You can buy them at the pedestrian street ahead. Let Ranran take you there for a stroll.” Grandma called out towards the kitchen, “Ranran, are the dishes washed yet?”

“Almost done!” Ranran responded from inside the kitchen and came out a minute or two later.

Grandma instructed, “Ranran, take Lili to the pedestrian street ahead, let her go shopping for clothes.”

Ranran looked at Jing Li and asked, “Do you want to stay here overnight?”

Jing Li nodded, feeling that this place was also Ranran’s home, and asked for his opinion, “Is it okay?”

Ranran casually said, “It’s fine, but if that’s the case, I’ll have to go home to sleep.” If he gave up his bed for Jing Li, he would have nowhere to sleep and could only go home.

Thinking that she might be bothering Ranran, Jing Li asked, “Then… should I go back to school now?”

“Don’t go back, just stay overnight at Grandma’s house. Grandma will cook you a delicious meal tomorrow and make you nice and plump,” Grandma said.

Grandma pushed the two young people to the entrance and said, “Go buy clothes, the sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be back.”

In front of Enning Road is a famous pedestrian street in City G, with the entire street lined with arcade buildings from the Republic of China era. The street is bustling with a steady flow of people.

Jing Li and Jing Ran walked at a slight distance from each other. Jing Li wanted to hold Jing Ran’s hand, but she was shy. Jing Ran was taller with long legs, while Jing Li was shorter with shorter legs. Originally, they were half a step apart, but now it became one step, two steps… and eventually three to four meters apart. To outsiders, they looked like two completely unrelated individuals.

“Beauty, this is for you!” A handsome young man handed a small windmill to Jing Li.

Jing Li had never encountered this kind of sales technique before and took the small windmill with a confused expression. The young man started to pester Jing Li with his sales pitch, “Would you like to visit our beauty salon and learn about our new package…”

Jing Li finally realized that the person was trying to sell something and quickly returned the windmill to the young man. The young man persistently continued, “Beauty, don’t be like this. Just hold onto it and listen to what I have to say…”

Jing Li didn’t know how to deal with this persistent person and kept saying, “I don’t need it, I don’t need it…” She wanted to leave the scene, but the young man blocked her and continued to pitch his sale.

Suddenly, a warm hand rested on Jing Li’s shoulder, and the next moment, she fell into a warm embrace, recognizing the familiar scent.

“What are you doing?” Jing Ran, who was 1.85 meters tall, lowered his head and stared at the 1.7-meter tall young man.

Jing Li, who was beautiful and fashionable, and Jing Ran, who was plain-looking and old-fashioned, left the young man in disbelief and asked, “Do you know each other?”

Jing Li nodded.

The handsome young man was a little frustrated. Is this beauty paired with the beast?

“If there’s nothing else, please don’t bother my friend,” Jing Ran said, then he hugged Jing Li and left.

Jing Ran came over to help Jing Li out of the situation. She was very happy, but he just called her “friend”. It seems that she was really just being overly sensitive, and Jing Ran doesn’t actually like her that much.

Jing Li went to a women’s underwear store and bought a small bag of disposable underwear, as well as bras and a set of home clothes.

Jing Ran waited outside the store until she came out.

Jing Li came out carrying a paper bag and said, “I’m done shopping. We can go to Grandma’s house now.”

Jing Ran suggested, “Let’s have some snacks.”

This pedestrian street has many authentic local delicacies. Jing Li nodded and agreed, saying, “Okay!”

Jing Ran took Jing Li to a less noticeable alley in the pedestrian street, where there was a small stall with a few small tables and chairs. Jing Li looked at the stall’s offerings, which included oden, beef offal, and pig’s trotters with ginger.

Jing Ran told the stall owner, “Two bowls of pig’s trotters with ginger!”

“But, Ranran, I don’t eat pig’s trotters,” Jing Li said.

“We’ll have it!” Jing Ran said firmly.

Jing Li: “…”

Seems like the obsession has resurfaced, hasn’t it?

Pig’s trotter ginger is a local specialty that is considered a must-eat for postpartum women. Due to its delicious taste, many people now sell pig’s trotter ginger.

Jing Ran and Jing Li found an empty table and sat down, and the landlady brought two big bowls of pig’s trotter ginger. Each bowl contained two small chopped pig’s trotters, a peeled boiled egg, and a piece of ginger. Jing Li used a soup spoon to scoop up the dark soup and took a sip. It tasted sour, sweet, with a hint of ginger spiciness, very tasty. However, the pig’s trotter was a bit fatty and had a thick layer of pigskin, with a thick layer of fat inside. It felt greasy, and Jing Li couldn’t eat it.

“Eat,” Jing Ran looked at her and said.

“Oh,” Jing Li picked up a piece of pig’s trotter and took a bite of the pigskin. It was soft, like eating jelly, and didn’t feel too fatty. It seemed quite delicious. She took another bite of the fat layer and didn’t feel disgusted at all. It wasn’t greasy.

How can it taste this good?

Jing Ran saw her enjoying the pig’s trotter and asked, “Is it delicious?”

“Mmm,” Jing Li nodded with a mouthful of meat, her lips curling up.

“If you like it, eat more,” Jing Ran pushed his untouched bowl of pig’s trotter ginger towards Jing Li and said, “Eating more pig’s trotters can prevent wrinkles.”

In the afternoon, Jing Ran noticed that Jing Li’s hands were as thin as skeletons, with dull skin, so he brought her here to eat pig’s trotters to replenish her nutrition.

The two middle-aged women at the neighboring table stood up to prepare for payment when they noticed Jing Ran and said, “Oh, Ranran, come over and have some pig’s trotters?”

“Yes. Aunt Mei, Aunt Fang, good evening!” Jing Ran greeted politely.

The two middle-aged women glanced at Jing Li, a little figure who looked like a high school student in her teens. Jing Ran had always been a well-behaved child, so they naturally didn’t think that Jing Ran was in a romantic relationship. They assumed Jing Li was just a relative’s child. Aunt Mei asked, “Ranran, are you eating with your sister?”

“She’s not my sister,” Jing Ran paused and said, “She’s my girlfriend, Lili.”

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Pig’s Trotters With Ginger