Chapter 16

Song Ruan went to Yang Bin’s house first.

Because the 18 meat buns she bought were for the six people in her family and the three people in Yang Bin’s family, two for each person.

Seeing Song Ruan coming over, Yang Bin’s mother was very happy: “Xiao Ruan, why are you here?”

Yang Bin’s mother’s health has improved a lot now after being treated with Yuquan water.

“I went to town today and bought you some meat buns.”

Song Ruan handed the bun over, but Yang Bin’s mother quickly refused.

“This is so expensive, I don’t want it, you can take it back and eat it.”

“I have them all. I bought some for my family, too.”

“Okay.” Yang Bin’s mother smiled and did not refuse, and regarded it as a gift from her daughter-in-law.

She hasn’t eaten anything good since the special period, and she almost forgot what white flour meat buns taste like.

Song Ruan looked around for a few times but didn’t see Yang Bin, so she turned around and asked, “Aunt Yang, isn’t Yang Bin at home?”

“Oh, him, he’s not here. He hasn’t been home much recently. I don’t know what he’s been busy with.”

So busy?

She hadn’t seen him much in the past two days, and she always felt that someone was hiding something from her.

People get hungry slowly during the off-season, so they eat later. When Song Ruan got home, it was just the right time to start cooking.

She transferred the contents of the space into a bamboo basket and took it to the kitchen.

When Ye Hongmei saw that she had bought so many things, she exclaimed, “Girl, why did you buy so many things? Where did you get the money?”

“Uh… Yang Bin’s.” Song Ruan evaded the question.

But Ye Hongmei’s eyes widened: “My girl, you haven’t even married him yet, why are you taking his money? Don’t bully Yang Bin just because he’s nice to you.”

Song Ruan: “…”

It is really difficult to get money from unknown sources.

Besides, what does it mean to bully him? He hasn’t seen anyone for two days. Where can she bully him? Humph.

“Mom, you take the meat buns and go out to eat. I’ll cook today.”

“Meat buns? You bought meat buns?” Ye Hongmei glared at her daughter: “How can you be such a spendthrift?”

An egg is only 5 cents now. How many eggs can these buns be exchanged for?

For a moment, Ye Hongmei didn’t know whether she should feel sorry for Yang Bin’s money, or be glad that her spendthrift daughter could find someone who was so generous to her.

Song Ruan had no idea how much her casual excuse had earned Yang Bin an impression in front of her mother.

“How can this be called a waste of money? These meat buns are filled with your daughter’s filial piety to you.”

“Okay, okay, it’s my filial respect as a good daughter.”

Ye Hongmei was immediately coaxed into smiling by her daughter’s sweet little mouth.

“By the way, remember to prepare the food and bring some to Yang Bin’s house.”

“Okay, I know.”

There is no farming season these days, and the family is reluctant to eat and drink, but her biggest goal is to keep her family healthy, so she must make sure they have enough oil and water today.

Ye Hongmei walked out of the kitchen and continued to sew shoe soles, while Song Ruan began to cook dinner.

She bought pork bones, ribs, pork offal, spices, flour, sugar and oil today.

She first put the flour and white sugar away. These two things would be needed later when she made red date cakes to sell.

She plans to use the pork bones to make broth, the ribs for braising, and the offal and spices to make braised pork offal, which she will sell on the black market tomorrow.

The reason she bought the oil was that her mother would usually wipe the bottom of the pot with cotton gauze dipped in oil when cooking, as if it was filled with oil. She really felt that this was too little oil and water.

After arranging everything, Song Ruan started in an orderly manner.

“Brother Bin, this is today’s money.”

In a room in the black market, a man with peach blossom eyes handed a stack of money to another tall and strong man.

The tall and strong man was Yang Bin, and the man with peach blossom eyes was Yang Bin’s long-time friend.

“Okay, thanks, Third Brother.” Yang Bin put the money into the cloth bag without counting it.

“Fuck, we are sworn brothers, so thank you for what you have done.”

After the third brother finished speaking, he glanced at Yang Bin, thought for a few seconds, and couldn’t help asking: “Brother Bin, can I ask why you changed your mind and came to work with us? No matter how I persuaded you before, it was useless. You even said that as long as your family didn’t starve, it would be fine.”

As the third brother spoke, he hugged Yang Bin and pulled him towards the table and chairs in the room.

“Of course, I welcome Brother Bin very much. Your arrival will really give our business a boost.”

Yang Bin frowned slightly. “Two days ago, there was a landslide in the village and people died. Suddenly I feel that I don’t know which will come first, tomorrow or the accident.”

“So, Brother Bin now thinks that making money is the most important thing, right?”

“People are the most important.”

“Brother Bin, please sit down.” The third brother handed Yang Bin a cigarette, “This cigarette is said to be from Hong Kong.”

He then asked: “Is it possible that your mother is not feeling well again?”

Yang Bin took the cigarette with his fingertips and sat down on the wooden chair: “No, because I have a partner.”

“Ahem…” The third brother choked on his own cigarette, “Do you have a partner?”

“Fuck, Brother Bin, you know what? I made a bet with the boss that you like men.”

Yang Bin laughed and scolded: “Get lost.”

The two laughed and joked for a while, and the third brother thought about it for a while, and asked with some concern: “So, your partner dislikes your family background?”

After all, Yang Bin’s family background is not very good.

Yang Bin smiled silently and shook his head: “I just found a girlfriend and wanted to give her money to spend.”

The third brother was relieved, and then he punched his shoulder with a smile, “I really want to know which girl can charm you who has such high standards. Back then, there were so many girls in school who liked you openly or secretly, but I never saw you fall in love with any of them.”

Yang Bin usually doesn’t talk much, but when he mentions Song Ruan, he thinks of her delicate and seductive appearance, and can’t help but want to show off.

“She is very special and very good.”

“Hiss, Brother Bin, stop talking. You’re making my teeth sore.” The third brother teased and exhaled a cigarette, “Why don’t you smoke? This stuff helps relieve fatigue.”

Yang Bin played with the cigarette in his hand: “No, I’m afraid she doesn’t like the taste.”

“Fuck, Brother Bin, aren’t you a henpecked husband?”

Yang Bin lowered his head and smiled, it seemed like there was indeed a little bit?

The third brother couldn’t stand it anymore. He felt that his smile was all showing off and was too sour.

The third brother stood up and said, “Let’s go and have something to eat.”

“No.”

He wanted to go back early to see Song Ruan, even if it was just to talk.

He has been very busy these past two days and it feels like he hasn’t seen her for a long time and he misses her a lot.