Lamb Dumplings

Last night, Xia Jiao was utterly exhausted.

After work and lunch, she went for a walk by West Lake with Yu Qingzhen. At this time, the area was filled with tourists, and the patrolling staff was observing the traffic at the intersection. That evening, Yu Qingzhen listened carefully and talked a lot with Xia Jiao. She began to feel a bit doubtful about her boyfriend—

After all, it started because Yu Qingzhen had recently seen some authenticity comparison photos of a bag online. She casually sent her boyfriend a photo of the bag she received, and the more she looked at it, the less she believed it was “real.”

This wasn’t something quality control could reassure her about. Yu Qingzhen paid to send the photo for expert verification through a specialized app, and without exception, the verdict was “fake.”

She was considering whether to send it for a second-hand authentication, knowing that Xia Jiao used to work for the parent company of that luxury brand, and she asked Xia Jiao for advice.

Of course, Xia Jiao was happy to help. However, she didn’t have the ability to authenticate the bag herself, so she could only assist by contacting someone who could. Yu Qingzhen was relieved and was able to listen more openly after receiving help.

“I met him on Douban,” Yu Qingzhen said. “I saw his posts. He does charity work, cares for stray dogs, and raises funds for stray cats and dogs… I left a comment, and then he privately messaged me.”

The night breeze was cool, and the lights on the Broken Bridge of West Lake had already been turned off. People were slowly making their way back to the shore. Yu Qingzhen briefly explained how they met.

It was simple. She admired the kind and decisive man, and they got along well. The next day, he began aggressively pursuing her.

Yu Qingzhen had video-called him, and there were photos. She showed them to Xia Jiao. He was a man with well-proportioned facial features.

Yu Qingzhen said, “You know, we’re both working now. We can’t ask our families for living expenses… My dad insisted on giving me some, but I can’t accept it. So, I mentioned it to him, and he suggested this financial product…”

At this point, Yu Qingzhen seriously said, “He’s already given me the interest for the past month, and not a single penny less. If I ask, he gives.”

Xia Jiao didn’t comment directly: “When it comes to money, it’s better to be cautious.”

Yu Qingzhen murmured: “It’s not wrong to be vain. Everyone has vanity sometimes. If it’s really a fake bag, he should have told me…”

Xia Jiao comforted her a bit, and they walked to a lively street near the hotel, full of various vendors and food stalls. Yu Qingzhen seemed down, so they went to a nearby music bar and had a drink before returning to the hotel.

It was probably because of those two drinks that Xia Jiao had a slight headache when she woke up in the morning. However, she still called Wen Chongyue right away: “Teacher Wen.”

She explained why she hadn’t replied to the message last night: “I was with a colleague, and she wasn’t feeling well… Don’t worry, I have a sun protective jacket in my suitcase.”

Wen Chongyue replied, “A sun protective jacket won’t keep you warm.”

“I don’t have anything until 2 PM today. I promise I’ll go buy a jacket right away,” Xia Jiao said. “Don’t worry, I won’t freeze.”

Wen Chongyue stood on the balcony, the sun just rising. Xia Mi was lying on Wen Quan and forcibly licking his fur.

He looked down at the jasmine in the flowerpot. It was a small plant that didn’t stand out, but its flowering season lasted long, and it had been blooming all summer. Now it still emitted a faint, lingering fragrance.

Wen Chongyue said, “The jasmine is blooming again.”

Xia Jiao responded with a soft “Huh?”

“And your moss is growing well too,” Wen Chongyue added. “But you should come back soon. I’m worried I won’t take care of it properly.”

Xia Jiao smiled.

“Okay!”

Xia Jiao happily had her breakfast and then wandered around the Kerry Center connected to the hotel, buying a jacket. As her WeChat notification sounded, it was a photo from Wen Chongyue showing the blooming jasmine, flourishing moss, and the two cats.

Wen Chongyue really doesn’t know how to take care of plants.

The strange thing was, he was actually quite good at growing vegetables. There was an empty flowerpot at home, so Wen Chongyue planted lettuce seeds in it, and they grew well. Oh, in the winter, he took care of some narcissus flowers for a while. They didn’t bloom, but the leaves grew wildly, and what started as a pot of “Lingbo Fairy” turned into a crazy bunch of garlic. Looking at it, it was just a pot of flourishing garlic sprouts.

In the morning, there was not much to do. Yu Qingzhen missed breakfast and ordered just a salad and a pan-fried salmon. She wasn’t feeling well and had little appetite. However, this didn’t affect the afternoon’s plans. By the time she met with Yu Tan, she was once again full of energy.

Yu Qingzhen’s curiosity proved useful at this time. By the third day of visiting the flower shop, she had figured out the love-hate stories and other matters of the shop owner, Yu Tan, from her younger years.

In the morning, while drinking tea, she slowly shared these stories with Xia Jiao.

The domestic floral industry started a bit later compared to other countries. While other countries had already set up related courses and cultivation systems, domestic floral design was still a vast and untapped market. 2016 was the year when the domestic floral market was the most prosperous, complicated, and chaotic. Capitalists, like vultures sensing blood, rushed in when online floral design was just starting. They didn’t care about the market conditions or quality; they simply invested huge amounts of money to capture the market.

This was similar to the car rental market of 2015 or the shared economy phase. During this period, the market expanded rapidly and chaotically, with some domestic flowers even costing more than imported ones. That year was not only a competition between floral brands but also a behind-the-scenes battle of capital.

In such a situation, the floral brand founded by Yu Tan stood strong, skillfully avoiding being swallowed by capital. Her personal charisma, business skills, and iron-fisted approach were evident.

“…Only gossips would bring up the boss’s personal matters,” Yu Qingzhen didn’t mention Yu Tan’s scandals. “Who wouldn’t want to date a 20-year-old male college student when they’re in their 40s or 50s?”

Xia Jiao was surprised. “You’ve changed your attitude?”

“I’ve come to terms with it,” Yu Qingzhen said. “Men can’t be relied upon.”

Xia Jiao agreed with her and reminded her, “Remember to get your money back soon. During the dating phase, it’s best not to mix too much money into it.”

Yu Qingzhen mumbled a response, but Xia Jiao wasn’t sure if she heard her advice.

Xia Jiao valued personal boundaries in her relationships, especially with strangers or less familiar friends.

In middle school, Xia Jiao witnessed a case of bullying at school. She took the initiative to call the teacher, but the boy who was beaten didn’t appreciate her help. In fact, he blamed her. If it hadn’t escalated, the situation might have been resolved with just one beating. But because she got involved, it might continue happening.

That’s when she realized that, sometimes, her “good intentions” might be avoided by others.

From then on, Xia Jiao became more cautious about her boundaries and whether or not she should offer help. In college, a roommate’s boyfriend cheated, and Xia Jiao caught him with his new girlfriend. After thinking it over, she chose to send an anonymous message to her roommate, warning her about the affair.

It turned out to be the right choice, as her roommate found out the truth but didn’t break up with the guy. Instead, she forced him to choose between them. They only separated after graduation due to work differences.

People’s choices and priorities vary, and Xia Jiao learned to not create unnecessary trouble or add to others’ burdens.

She always avoided meaningless socializing. Even though she was a consumer, she thought, “I shouldn’t cause trouble for them.” Her phone was almost always on silent, and headphones were a must. When communicating with people, she always typed on WeChat, even if they sent voice messages. She would first convert it to text before reading it.

Xia Jiao had created a little garden for herself, a quiet space where she could be undisturbed by others. She made sure it was sealed off with glass, so no sounds or smells would interfere with others, and she didn’t want anyone disturbing her either.

But one day, Teacher Wen came. He brought a lunchbox and politely knocked on the door to her little garden.

In the Jiang-Zhe area, food is often discussed together, though Hangzhou cuisine and Suzhou cuisine have subtle differences. Hangzhou cuisine values the quality of ingredients, knife skills, and cooking time. Yu Tan had high standards for food, so even the people traveling with her enjoyed delicious meals. The pickled bamboo shoots were topped with a layer of steamed, sliced pork belly, stacked like a golden pagoda, glistening with red oil. The Longjing shrimp were fresh and tender, the shrimp a soft red, with a few green tea leaves to garnish. There was also “fried sound rings,” where tofu skin was thin and transparent, lightly coated with minced meat, rolled up, and fried to a crisp.

Besides authentic restaurants, Xia Jiao and Yu Qingzhen also visited some of Hangzhou’s famous affordable spots.

The cat ears^[1]a type of Chinese pasta or noodle dish that is shaped like cat ears. It is a common name for small, hand-shaped pasta pieces, similar in concept to Italian orecchiette. The name is derived from their … Continue reading from Zhiwei Guan, paired with wontons and fresh meat dumplings for breakfast, tasted best at the original shop. The lamb dumplings at the lamb soup restaurant were said to be made with a three-to-seven ratio of lamb hind leg meat, paired with lamb liver, brain, and tripe cooked together into a rich lamb soup. However, Xia Jiao wasn’t particularly fond of lamb, though Yu Qingzhen praised it highly. There were also the two-sided noodles and shrimp-filled eel noodles from A Liang’s noodle shop, the Pianshuan from Ju Ying noodle shop, and other famous dishes like sweet and sour pork from Grandma’s house.

Before leaving, Xia Jiao brought some local specialties for Wen Chongyue.

Vegetarian roast goose, salted snacks, marinated chicken feet, and smoked fish.

Yu Qingzhen didn’t expect the specialties she brought to be so “rustic” and laughed for a long time. Xia Jiao seriously corrected her, “When it comes to food, taste comes before looks.”

Yu Qingzhen shook her head. “I’d rather bring back something pretty but not tasty.”

This was just a small episode. Yu Qingzhen accidentally tried the vegetarian roast goose that Xia Jiao brought back, which was actually tofu skin wrapped around fillings. She couldn’t help but place an order for more that night.

When his wife finally returned, Wen Chongyue didn’t completely relax.

The end of each quarter was always the busiest time for Wen Chongyue.

At this stage, his working hours would be extended by half an hour compared to usual. After dinner, he would spend some time using his work computer. Unless something unexpected happened, this work schedule would last for a week.

Wen Chongyue wasn’t someone who liked to work overtime. There probably isn’t anyone in the world who enjoys it. It’s not so much that he was a workaholic, but more that sometimes work was beyond his control, like now.

The weekend vacation with Xia Jiao was canceled at the last minute. She wasn’t upset. Instead, she comforted him and smiled, saying it was a good opportunity to relax at home, soak up some sun, and catch up on sleep.

Bai Ruolang had been spending a lot of time with Wen Qiming recently, and Wen Chongyue didn’t approve. The father and son had differing opinions, which left Wen Chongyue feeling somewhat helpless.

Wen Chongyue respected Wen Qiming. He was not only his father but also his best teacher. However, when it came to matters regarding Bai Ruolang, it was hard for the two to have a peaceful discussion.

…

Xia Jiao was happily playing with the cat in the living room. She had finished her bath, while Wen Chongyue couldn’t chat with his wife. Instead, he was attending an online meeting with a colleague from a foreign country.

There was a separate room in the house that served as a study. Besides Wen Chongyue’s desk, there was Xia Jiao’s table where she combined her hobbies of crafting, reading, and gaming. Now, it was empty.

After the meeting ended, Wen Chongyue lay back in his chair. There had been so many trivial matters recently, and he felt a little tired. He reached up to massage his temples. He heard the sound of the study door opening gently. The movement was slow and cautious, and a soft voice followed, “Is it over?”

The chair shifted direction, and Wen Chongyue saw Xia Jiao holding Wen Quan in her arms, his little head peeking out. After confirming that his computer screen had gone dark, she sighed in relief, quickly crossing the room and placing Wen Quan in his lap. Then, she stood behind his chair, asking, “Is it a headache?”

As she spoke, Xia Jiao reached out to rub Wen Chongyue’s temples. He flinched slightly, but she didn’t notice and continued chatting with him. “When Wanju had a headache, I used to rub her temples like this. You’re just like her. Could it be that the pressure from work has been too much lately?”

Her hair and fingers carried a faint fragrance of crushed fig leaves. Her tone was gentle, and her touch was warm and tender. Suddenly, Wen Chongyue remembered what Jiang Wanju had said when they were eating together.

“Xia Jiao is a very gentle and thoughtful girl,” Jiang Wanju had said. “Wen Chongyue, I trust you so much that I’m willing to introduce her to you.”

…

Indeed, gentle and thoughtful.

But there was something Jiang Wanju hadn’t mentioned.

Xia Jiao was actually very clever. She just didn’t want people to misunderstand her, so she had developed a habit of being reserved. She was sensitive and always silently considered the feelings of others, never arguing over small matters.

Wen Chongyue understood all these wonderful qualities about Xia Jiao, but right now—

Under Xia Jiao’s kind and gentle care, that familiar, rapid heartbeat began to return.

Wen Chongyue reached out to touch it.

Thump, thump, thump.

It felt like a coin falling onto the basketball court under the winter sun.

Or like a bottle of soda in midsummer, opened with a single hand, bubbling furiously.

It was like a long-time resident of a flower field finally catching the scent of jasmine.

The sensation was so clear. Xia Jiao was carefully massaging his temples, doing her best to relieve his discomfort. “Do you want to rest this weekend? I’ll cook for you so you can enjoy being pampered and waiting for your meal.”

As she spoke, she thought of ways to help Wen Chongyue relax. Unexpectedly, he grabbed her hand and asked her to stop.

Xia Jiao looked at Wen Chongyue in confusion.

This was just their usual routine. Xia Jiao had rubbed his temples several times before, but he had never stopped her in the middle.

Wen Chongyue’s brows were relaxed, and a hint of a smile played on his lips. His eyes were bright, like black gemstones washed in clear, cold spring water.

Xia Jiao asked, “What’s wrong? Oh, right, do you want to get a checkup this week? I remember you mentioned that your heart wasn’t feeling right last time. Has it been bothering you lately?”

“No need for a checkup,” Wen Chongyue said, squeezing her wrist gently with a smile. “I think I know the reason for my fast heart rate.”

Xia Jiao thought for a moment. “What’s that?”

Wen Chongyue didn’t speak but continued to gently rub her wrist with his thumb.

After a moment, Xia Jiao suddenly realized.

She lowered her voice and asked softly, “Is it that thing that makes you lose your conscience stirring up again?”