readsfreenovel Chapter 77 Salted Duck and Yuhua Tea of Jinling
Chapter 77 Salted Duck and Yuhua Tea of Jinling
The next morning.
At Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, crowds thronged the area, and announcements echoed throughout the terminal.
Ye Fan pushed Liu Ruyan's suitcase, and Liu Ruyan linked her arm with his, looking a little sleepy and yawning, like a cat that hadn't fully woken up yet.
"Let's go."
She looked up at Ye Fan, her eyes curving gently, a relaxed smile on her face:
"Let's go home, honey."
Ye Fan lowered his head to meet her gaze, a signature smile playing on his lips—a smile that was both roguish and incredibly charming.
He steadily pushed the luggage cart with one hand and held his "bad aunt" tightly with the other, walking briskly towards the boarding gate.
.......
The early morning flight landed at Xiamen Gaoqi Airport.
The humid sea breeze from Xiamen Island instantly enveloped Ye Fan and Liu Ruyan.
Ye Fan pushed the luggage cart, while Liu Ruyan walked a step ahead, carrying an exquisite handbag.
I hailed a private car.
Ye Fan opened the back door, neatly arranged the luggage, and then sat down next to Liu Ruyan.
The air conditioning inside the car was on full blast, instantly dispelling the sticky, sweltering heat outside.
"Driver, please go to the entrance of the Xin Nanfeng Convenience Store on XX Road in Nanzhou first."
Ye Fan gave the address, his voice calm and composed, without the slightest hint of emotion.
The car drove away from the airport, traveling along the highway from Xiamen to Nanzhou.
About an hour later.
The car arrived in Nanzhou and slowly stopped at the intersection near Ye Fan's house.
"Aunt Liu, I'll get off now. Please take care on your way."
He bent down and spoke to Liu Ruyan through the open car window, his tone casual, even carrying a hint of junior's politeness and restraint.
"Okay, go back now."
Liu Ruyan responded gently, looking at him calmly, her expression perfectly controlled.
Only Ye Fan could accurately capture that fleeting tenderness, unique to him, deep within her seemingly calm and beautiful eyes.
"Driver, please continue driving to Yulongwan Residential Area."
She turned to the driver, gave him her home address, and her voice had returned to its usual cold and aloof tone when speaking to strangers.
Ye Fan stood by the roadside, watching the taxi carrying Liu Ruyan merge into the traffic and head in another direction.
He took a deep breath of his hometown air, turned around, and walked into the alleyway toward his home.
.........
I pushed open the door to my home.
The rich aroma of food and the mother's hearty laughter and scolding immediately filled the air.
"Oh my! You little rascal, you finally decided to come back? You timed it perfectly! Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner!"
Mother Gu Ruoning, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen, her face beaming with undisguised joy:
"Is Nanjing fun? How was your university exploration? Did you get lost?"
She was completely convinced that her son had gone to Nanjing alone to "inspect" the future university environment.
Ye Fan put his luggage in the entryway, changed into slippers, and exaggeratedly rubbed his shoulders:
"Mom, is your son terrible with directions? He won't get lost! But Nanjing is really hot! It's even more humid than here!"
He sneaked into the kitchen, intending to steal a freshly fried spiced roll.
Go wash your hands!
Gu Ruoning slapped him away quickly, laughing and scolding:
"Tell me quickly, where did you go? Did you get a good look around Nanjing University?"
She was clearly engrossed in her son's imagination of "familiarizing himself with the school in advance."
As Ye Fan rinsed himself with water, he began his "report" at the top of his lungs:
"I definitely had to go to the Gulou campus! The old library had such a great atmosphere! I also strolled around Xuanwu Lake for some fresh air and almost got sunburnt. I also checked out the Xinjiekou shopping district; it was packed with people, my eyes were spinning."
He rambled on, piecing together fragmented information he glimpsed online into his own account of what he had seen and heard.
I did go to Jinling and the Qinhuai River, but as for the Nanjing University campus?
They never even stepped inside.
On the table were Ye Fan's favorite dishes: oyster omelet, braised noodles, steamed fish, and stir-fried vegetables.
This time!
Dad Ye Linzhang also got off work and returned home.
Ye Linzhang sat down, placed a piece of fish on Ye Fan's plate, and asked with concern:
"How are you feeling about Jinling? Are you satisfied with the school environment?"
"Dad, the school environment is fantastic, so quaint and charming, but this weather is really awful!"
Ye Fan shoveled food into his mouth and continued his "travelogue":
"There are so many plane trees over at Gulou, the shade is so thick, it's much cooler. Xinjiekou, well, it's bustling, but also incredibly crowded. By the way..."
He got up and took out vacuum-packed Nanjing salted duck and Yuhua tea from his luggage:
"Here, this is for you two, a genuine Nanjing specialty! I tried it, it's alright, but for the best flavor, it has to be my mom's ginger duck!"
He even flattered her at the opportune moment.
He then added:
"Dad! This Yuhua tea is said to be a specialty of Nanjing, but we don't know much about it. Could you please taste it and tell us what you think?"
He bought the salted duck at the Qinhuai River, and the Yuhua tea was a gift from Xu Wen!
Gu Ruoning took the duck, looked at the packaging, and patted him on the shoulder with a smile:
"At least you have some conscience! But can't your Nanjing duck be as good as mine? You little sycophant! You smooth talker!"
That's what he said, but his smile grew even wider.
Ye Linzhang also smiled and nodded:
"Nanjing, the ancient capital, is a good place to visit beforehand. Now you have a better idea of what to expect, right?"
Ye Fan responded:
"Yeah, that's great, I'm really looking forward to it."
The phone in my pocket vibrated slightly again—it must be a message that Liu Ruyan had arrived home safely.
He remained calm, as if he had merely adjusted his posture, continuing to play the role of a high school graduate who had just returned from "Nanjing," feeling both excited and tired, sharing those "safe" moments: the campus was quaint, the lake view was nice, and the vacuum-packed duck was quite heavy.
"I've had enough fun, it's time to settle down."
Gu Ruoning piled a small mountain of green vegetables into his bowl:
"Make a list of what you need to bring to school. Don't be forgetful like before, and I'll have to pack it all for you!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! Your son is very reliable now!"
Ye Fan made the promise with a grin.
The dining table was filled with the warmth and everyday life of a typical home.
Ye Fan enjoyed this ordinary happiness, but a subtle tremor stirred within him, a ripple known only to himself—about the events in the capital, the quiet acquisition, and the woman who had now returned to another home.
Lunch ended in a relaxed, homey atmosphere.
Ye Fan helped clear the dishes.
Ye Linzhang then picked up the Yuhua tea gift box from the dining table and smiled at Ye Fan:
"Come on, let's try the Nanjing flavors you brought back."
Ye Fan responded and followed his father to the tea table in the living room.
Ye Linzhang skillfully boiled water and warmed the cup, then carefully took out the emerald green and upright Yuhua tea and put it into the white porcelain gaiwan, his movements carrying a hint of solemnity.
"Ruoning, please try the good tea your son brought."
Ye Linzhang called out to his wife in the kitchen.
Gu Ruoning wiped her hands as she walked over and sat down with a smile:
"Oh, Comrade Ye, so formal? Let me see what kind of good tea it is."
When boiling water is poured in, the tea leaves stand upright like pine needles, floating and unfurling in the cup, releasing a delicate chestnut aroma.
"Hmm, this fragrance is so refreshing!"
Gu Ruoning leaned closer and took a sniff.
Ye Linzhang first observed the clear, bright green color of the soup, then took a small sip, closed his eyes for a moment, and praised it:
"Fresh, crisp, and sweet with a lingering aftertaste—delicious Yuhua!"
He poured a glass for his wife and son.
Gu Ruoning couldn't wait, so she picked up her cup, blew on it, and took a big gulp:
"Mmm! It smells really good! It cuts through the richness!"
She gave the most straightforward evaluation.
Ye Fan followed his father's example and sipped the tea, the delicate aroma filling his mouth.
His phone vibrated slightly in his pocket, but he remained calm as he listened to his parents' comments on the Jinling tea.
In the afternoon sunlight, the aroma of tea mingles with the warmth of everyday life.