Garlic Oil Grilled Shrimp

The weather was getting colder, and Wen Chongyue was wearing a round-neck black shirt. Xia Jiao leaned over and smelled the pleasant, light plant fragrance on him. She said, “Do I have to start drinking fruit vinegar again to prevent a cold?”

“Forget it,” Wen Chongyue disagreed, tapping her forehead and adjusting the tablet again. “It seems we still need to focus on our diet.”

Xia Jiao mumbled a vague “Hmm.”

Vitamin pills could indeed supplement the body’s elements, but they should be taken according to the doctor’s instructions and not overused. Wen Chongyue knew Xia Jiao’s temperament—she didn’t like taking medicine. Moreover, compared to long-term medication, a balanced diet would be better in the long run.

When Xia Jiao felt sleepy and went to bed, Wen Chongyue turned off the lights and began thinking of a few new dishes.

In autumn, Suzhou had a wide variety of seasonal fruits and water vegetables. Fresh fruits from Dongshan, Sanshandao, and Xishandao had started to hit the market. The current seasonal fruit was oranges, and everywhere, from temples to parks, orange trees were surrounded by the sweet scent. There were also chestnuts, pomegranates, pomelos, and persimmons… The sight of a persimmon tree laden with fruit against a backdrop of dark tiles and white walls made people stop to take pictures.

In the small water towns, it was common to see elderly women selling water chestnuts and lotus roots. Now that the red water chestnuts were almost out of season, they were a once-a-year treat. Once the season was over, you’d have to wait until next year. The red water chestnuts were particularly beautiful and special. If the common water chestnuts were like elegant ladies, then the red water chestnuts were more like charming, playful young girls. They were not only pretty but also had a unique taste—crunchy and sweet when eaten raw, soft and slightly sweet when cooked, with a tender and sticky texture.

Xia Jiao loved to eat them raw for their fresh fragrance with a hint of sweetness, but considering the parasite issue, Wen Chongyue usually cooked them before eating.

There were many ways to eat red water chestnuts. The simplest method was to boil them and eat them directly or peel them and stir-fry them with just a little oil. Stir-frying them with shredded meat made them even more fragrant.

An autumn rain fell, and the temperature dropped. It was the perfect time for chestnuts.

After cracking open the chestnuts, boil them in cold water for five minutes. Partially peel the shells, brush them with a layer of sticky honey water, and bake them in an air fryer. Xia Jiao kept an eye on the air fryer until the chestnut fragrance filled the air.

Wen Chongyue bought a lot of chestnuts. Besides having some for dinner, a portion was used to make honey-roasted chestnuts for Xia Jiao as a snack to nibble on. The rest were combined with cooked chestnuts, taro, oats, and milk to make a hearty chestnut oat milk stew.

Today, he had a video conference with his overseas colleagues, so after preparing the chestnuts, he changed into a shirt and trousers and went to his study. He reminded his wife not to forget to drink the chestnut milk when she had time.

Xia Jiao, who was doing fifty ropeless skipping exercises, nodded seriously.

The meeting wasn’t too long, starting at 9 PM and finishing at 10:10 PM. There was one small interruption. During the video conference, Song Xiao, who was also attending, had her grandmother push a wheelchair into the background, delivering some snacks, which caused the overseas colleague’s speech to pause for a moment. However, once they realized she was in a video conference, her grandmother quickly left.

After the overseas colleagues logged off, the team in Suzhou continued discussing and verifying some details. Once the meeting ended and Wen Chongyue turned off the camera, his internal company account received a message.

It was from Song Xiao.

Song Xiao: “Director, my grandmother and I spent the whole evening praising your wife.”

Song Xiao: “I forgot to say, wishing you a happy marriage and a lifetime of bliss.”

She even included a big smiley face.

Wen Chongyue replied politely: “Thank you.”

After replying, his phone buzzed with a message from Xia Jiao, who was in the next room.

Xiao Jiao: “Is the meeting over? Come out and eat chestnuts! The chestnut, oat, and milk drink is really delicious.”

Wen Chongyue smiled, took off his glasses, and walked out after reading the message.

Chestnuts aren’t just great for desserts; they also make excellent dishes. A chestnut and chicken stew with a rich, thick broth, topped with a sprinkle of green and red peppers just before serving, is a delicious treat. They’re also perfect for braised pork ribs or chicken wings, making them savory and satisfying.

If you’re tired of stewed meat with chestnuts and want some chestnut soup the next day, add some yam to the stewed pork ribs. If you’re not in the mood for meat, you can make a vegetarian soup. Using this year’s sweet corn, tender lotus root, red dates, cashews, and chestnuts, cook it on high heat, then simmer on low for a while. Half an hour before finishing, sprinkle in some cordyceps flowers brought back from Yunnan.

Don’t worry about the soup lacking flavor without meat; nuts themselves contain natural oils that slowly release during the long cooking process, blending into the soup. The original flavors of the ingredients come through, making the soup both fragrant and warm, with a slight sweetness. There’s no need to worry about purine content.

This soup has a mild flavor and is good for strengthening the spleen and stomach, ideal for those who prefer lighter flavors.

Xia Jiao ate most of the chestnuts.

After simmering for a long time, the chestnuts had a texture similar to lotus seeds but were smoother and more delicate.

Vegetarian soups and meals often emphasize the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Natural, with no burden.

Xia Jiao held the bowl thoughtfully and said, “I think I’ve discovered the essence of Guangdong’s soup-making.”

Wen Chongyue was intrigued by her comment, “What is it?”

Xia Jiao explained, “First, process the ingredients, then blanch them before adding them to the pot. Cook everything in one pot, and just add salt before serving. It’s simple.”

Wen Chongyue sighed, “Next time we go to Guangdong, don’t say something like that. I’m worried they might put you in the pot too.”

“It’s fine,” Xia Jiao replied, “I’m not from Fujian, so they won’t eat me.”

She was stingy and only gave the food to Wen Chongyue.

The autumn air grew heavier, and the maple leaves of Tianping Mountain turned a fiery red, painting the entire mountain with vibrant colors. On weekends, many locals came to admire the red leaves, and occasionally, people from nearby cities would drive here as well, for Tianping Mountain is one of China’s four major maple-viewing spots.

Not only Tianping Mountain, but the entire Suzhou city also carried the deep hues of autumn—Tiger Hill, Xiyuan Temple, Wen Miao, with ginkgo trees glowing yellow like gold. Ginkgo leaves covered the streets of Daoqian, and golden leaves rained down in Xishan village. The whole city seemed to fall into this golden dream.

Xia Jiao swapped her long dress for a knitted sweater and later a long coat, as the early mornings and evenings were chilly. Although there’s an old saying that goes, “Dress warmly in spring and endure autumn chills,” Xia Jiao, having just recovered from a cold, was strictly instructed by her husband to always carry a thick coat with her when going out, just in case.

Their first team-building activity of the late autumn season was an outdoor hiking trip.

In most people’s eyes, Suzhou is elegant and understated, but autumn in Suzhou is highlighted by the red maple leaves and the stunning scenery, vivid like a painting.

Initially, their team-building plan was to hike Tianping Mountain, but after an internal vote, it was changed to the Lingbai Line because several people had already been to Tianping Mountain. The new route would lead them through Lingyan Mountain, Tianping Temple, Dajiao Mountain, Chaqiang Ridge, with the final destination at Baima Gorge.

Suzhou’s mountains aren’t very tall, but they have unique sharp stones and steep paths. Lingyan Mountain wasn’t very high. Xia Jiao and Wen Chongyue had been here once before. It was close to Mudu, and she was still thinking about the delicious date paste sesame cakes there, wondering whether to return next week with Wen Chongyue.

Outdoor enthusiasts considered this hiking route starting from Lingyan Mountain, passing Tianping Temple, Dajiao Mountain’s summit, and Chaqiang Ridge, and ending at Baima Gorge as beginner-level. It’s suitable for those who don’t exercise regularly but want to experience something new and thrilling.

Otherwise, the paved mountain path at Lingyan Mountain, which is more like a community walking trail, is perfect for elderly people, but for younger folks like them, it might feel a bit underwhelming.

Before the hike, Wen Chongyue, a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, prepared the gear. He packed licorice olives to replenish salt, a small packet of salty lemon, an emergency energy drink, chocolate energy bars, salted water, mineral water… but the load was too heavy. Xia Jiao was going on the hike with her colleagues, not carrying a heavy load for a run, so she couldn’t bring too much.

Wen Chongyue carefully considered and removed the heaviest items, taking out the energy drink and a bottle of mineral water. He then reminded Xia Jiao, “I’ll bring you two bottles of salted water. After you finish one, if you come across a vendor selling water, buy a bottle to replenish. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to remember to buy water. You might not find any vendors on the way. Understand?”

Xia Jiao nodded.

There was a pile of things on the table. Xia Jiao’s outdoor backpack had limited space, and as she watched Wen Chongyue carefully choose items, she wondered if she should take everything with her. But she was also concerned that the weight might be too much.

Wen Chongyue had been packing for half the day and sighed, “Why don’t you just take me with you too?”

Xia Jiao pressed her hands together in front of her chest, crossing them firmly. “No.”

However, it was amusing to watch Wen Chongyue pack for her. When Xia Jiao was younger, her school didn’t organize any spring or autumn outings. There was a hiking activity in middle school, but since her parents were busy, they usually just gave her some money and sent her to the store to pick out some fruit that didn’t look great.

Xia Jiao rested her chin on the back of her hand, watching Wen Chongyue zip up the backpack. She suddenly threw herself at him from behind, hugging him.

Imitating a tone she had seen on TV, Xia Jiao said, “You really are worrying about everything.”

Wen Chongyue calmly took her hand. “Could we change the object of the sentence from ‘heart’ to ‘Xia Jiao’?”

Xia Jiao shook her head. “No.”

Before their trip, Wen Chongyue also roasted garlic shrimp and made a thin-crust basil and salami pizza for her, even giving up his morning workout for it. He cut everything into small, easy-to-eat pieces and neatly placed them in disposable boxes. Considering the possibility that they might not be able to wash their hands or share with colleagues, he also packed disposable plastic gloves.

Xia Jiao truly admired Wen Chongyue. He was meticulous in his preparation, a trait that reflected his engineering background.

A long time ago, Xia Jiao had believed that most straight men were careless, inattentive, unable to distinguish lipstick shades, and always gave the wrong gifts to their girlfriends.

But that wasn’t true.

Those were excuses men invented to cover up their lack of effort.

Wen Chongyue, for example, always remembered the small things like Xia Jiao’s menstrual cycle and every anniversary. His phone was filled with calendar reminders. He knew what foods she was allergic to and what tastes she couldn’t stand. When they ordered food or bought anything, he made sure it didn’t contain allergens. He also knew that she needed water as soon as she woke up, so there was always a cup of warm water beside her bed. He paid attention to her skincare products, took pictures of them, and bought the exact same ones when they ran out. When it came to choosing gifts, he avoided picking lipsticks—since he wasn’t very sensitive to colors—and instead chose clothes, shoes, bags, or jewelry.

Xia Jiao didn’t think men who gave their girlfriends overly emotional gift sets were “straight men,” and she didn’t find it funny when some men used “I’m just a straight guy” as an excuse. That was pure negligence.

Could straight men really just search for gifts for their girlfriends without thought? Could forgetting birthdays or making their girlfriends angry be easily covered by the “straight man” excuse?

Xia Jiao used to believe that, but not anymore.

After all, she had seen how seriously her male colleagues worked. They could read their clients’ minds like Sherlock Holmes.

However, this outdoor hike was a bit beyond Xia Jiao’s expectations. The path wasn’t flat but rather rugged mountain trails with steep slopes and piles of scattered rocks. In some places, she had to use both her hands and feet. Going downhill, she had to hold onto the safety ropes, and at that moment, Xia Jiao understood why Wen Chongyue insisted that she wear gloves.

The group was dressed in sportswear and hiking boots, and they were all at ease. However, Gao Chan sighed, not knowing where they would wash their hands later.

Using bottled water seemed a bit wasteful.

Xia Jiao actually enjoyed the hike. No wonder Wen Chongyue loved outdoor activities—there were so many different views along the way that you couldn’t see on regular paths. They passed several intersections, but there was no need to worry. Every turn had signposts, and there were red ribbons tied by experienced hikers to guide them. A colleague who loved hiking even played jokes to lighten the mood, making the walk enjoyable. By noon, they had reached Baima Gorge.

With its reputation as the “Little Jiuzhaigou of Jiangnan,” Baima Gorge was beautiful, with the particularly attractive “peach blossom jellyfish.” The group washed their hands and went to a noodle shop for lunch. Wen Chongyue’s pizza and shrimp were a hit among the colleagues, and Xia Jiao distributed everything. To her surprise, he had even packed a small box of bento for her, with green curry chicken skewers and boiled asparagus.

Xia Jiao ate it all with care.

Like most tourist spots, the noodle shop wasn’t crowded. Yu Qingzhen answered a call and was initially impatient to hang up, but then she nodded and said, “Jiao Jiao, I got my money back.”

Gao Chan asked, “Money? What money?”

Xia Jiao was delighted. “Did the police call you?”

Yu Qingzhen nodded. “Yes, they said they were in charge of cyber fraud cases. Apparently, the scammers were caught, and they were gathering information on the victims.”

Xia Jiao sincerely congratulated her. “That’s great.”

Yu Qingzhen was in an excellent mood and played with her phone. In the afternoon, the group rested at Baima Gorge, then went to a café to chat. As they were about to leave, Yu Qingzhen excitedly told Xia Jiao that the money had already been transferred to her bank account.

Xia Jiao felt something was off. “You didn’t have to go to the police station?”

“No,” Yu Qingzhen said. “It’s that simple.”

Xia Jiao was cautious. “Are you sure it’s not another scam?”

Yu Qingzhen laughed. “How could it be? What scammer would transfer me six thousand first without saying anything? This isn’t a scam, this is a blessing!”

Xia Jiao thought she made a good point. Yu Qingzhen confirmed that the money had indeed been deposited into her bank account, as the bank’s text messages and app were the ones she used, so it couldn’t be fake.

Although Xia Jiao felt this approach didn’t quite follow protocol…

Maybe the police were just too busy.

With that thought, Xia Jiao felt a little better.

The car arranged by the shop took everyone from Baima Gorge directly to the flower shop’s doorstep. A few people said their goodbyes, walked off in different directions, chatting and laughing, all heading home. Xia Jiao felt a bit thirsty, so she bought a bottle of water at a roadside store. While drinking, she was lost in thought, when suddenly, she noticed the red-haired guy again.

Oh, this time, it wasn’t the red hair.

The red-haired man had cut his hair short, now sporting a buzz cut, with only a few remnants of red visible. He was quite tall, but his slouched posture made him seem a bit disheveled. He still wore his vocational school uniform and was standing in front of the flower shop’s window, staring at the flowers through the glass.

Xia Jiao recognized him by the scar near his lips.

Their eyes met. This time, the red-haired guy didn’t run away. Instead, he asked, “Are the flowers here expensive?”

Xia Jiao didn’t like him, but she answered out of duty, “The prices are standard for the market.”

He asked again, his voice stiff, as if practicing speech or trying to hold back cursing, “That woman you were with last time, the one who works with you—are your flowers more expensive than others?”

Xia Jiao found his voice uncomfortable to listen to and didn’t want to engage in a long conversation. She replied briefly, “No.”

She didn’t linger any longer and left, twisting the cap on her bottle. She walked quite a distance, and when she looked back, she could still see the red-haired man standing in the same spot, staring intently at the inside of the shop.

Even though the flower shop had closed, the red-haired guy remained standing, motionless.

Xia Jiao tried to imagine the shop’s interior from that angle. There didn’t seem to be anything particularly special, just flowers, with a large section of roses. Yu Qingzhen, who often worked with roses in her floral arrangements, would stand there a lot…

Xia Jiao shook her head.

She stopped walking and began to think calmly.

Should she warn Yu Qingzhen to be cautious of this suspicious person?

…

“Sure,” Wen Chongyue agreed as he brought in a dish of steamed chicken with mushrooms, seemingly acknowledging her concern. “Young men during their growth years often have some strange ideas.”

At that moment, Xia Jiao had just finished her hot shower and changed into loose pajamas, now sitting at the dining table, waiting for dinner.

Xia Jiao had asked her husband about her worries, and Wen Chongyue had given her a positive response, advising her to be cautious, as well as Yu Qingzhen and the flower shop staff.

Wen Chongyue suggested calling the police, as the man was an adult, and actions like stalking and following were things they could report to the authorities.

Xia Jiao cupped her face in her hands and said, “Really? I didn’t have any strange thoughts when I was a teenager.”

Wen Chongyue replied, “Men are different. The consequences they face for their mistakes are much lighter than for women.”

Xia Jiao was extremely curious and asked: “Teacher Wen, it seems like you think that, in comparison, adolescent males have a weaker sense of morality… So when you were a teenager, were you also in that category?”

Wen Chongyue smiled, “Not at all. Next time we go back to Beijing, I can show you my report card—my moral character class was always excellent.”

Xia Jiao was shocked. “Really?”

Wen Chongyue raised an eyebrow. “You don’t believe me? What gave you the impression otherwise?”

“Based on your hobbies and role-playing at night,” Xia Jiao said seriously, “I seriously suspect your excellent moral character grade was obtained through cheating.”