Approaching midnight.
The customer flow at Huang Tao's shop also reached its peak.
Many regular customers, as if by agreement, all came during this time to buy.
In no time.
The 700 or so pan-fried buns he prepared were sold out.
Even the two pots of preserved egg and lean meat congee were empty, all sold out.
But there were still customers in line.
"Boss, get me a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee and 6 beef-filled pan-fried buns."
Hearing this, Huang Tao said apologetically, "I'm sorry, all the pan-fried buns and preserved egg and lean meat congee are sold out today. Please come back tonight, there will be more then."
The old regular customer, surprised, said: "What? None left? All sold out? How come when it's my turn, it's all sold out? I'm so unlucky!"
After lamenting, he said helplessly and regretfully, "That's what you get for not checking the almanac before going out!"
There were at least a dozen more regular customers in line behind him.
Upon hearing the two talking, they were also left unsettled.
"Wow! I just want to taste the flavor of these pan-fried buns again, and I want to know what this preserved egg and lean meat congee tastes like. Why is it so hard?"
"You're doing such good business, boss. Can't you cook more preserved egg and lean meat congee and make more pan-fried buns?"
"Yeah! We can wait; we just hope you'll make some more, boss..."
Huang Tao smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, we have no more ingredients left in the shop."
If this was heard by Chen Weihao and the vendors from the market, they would certainly step forward immediately, proclaiming, "No ingredients? I have some at my stall, I'll go get them for you right away."
Sadly!
Chen Weihao and the others returned to the market after buying.
The old customers who couldn't buy anything: ...Ah, no!
"What time is it? Already sold out? Boss, tell me, how many pan-fried buns did you make for this batch? It's just a little past 12 o'clock, and they're all gone?"
"We made over 700 pan-fried buns for lunch."
Huang Tao also didn't expect the pan-fried buns, though more were made than in the morning, to sell even faster.
"What? 700 pan-fried buns? All sold out?"
"Wow! Is business that good?"
The customers present were all surprised.
"Actually, the boss has made enough, but almost everyone is buying ten or twenty at a time, some even buying multiple times. Because of this, if we come late, we can't buy any. Looks like we have to come earlier tonight."
"Oh! What's done is done. What else can we do? We can only understand."
"Oh! It can only be like this. Everyone, disperse and come back tonight..."
The old customers who didn't manage to buy anything shook their heads helplessly, leaving the store with regret and disappointment.
...
Lin Jiahui returned to the bank with her newly bought preserved egg and lean meat congee and pan-fried buns.
She went to the break room.
After work and making this trip, though she should have been hungry long ago, she stared blankly at the preserved egg and lean meat congee before her, not moving.
Past memories, long sealed, flashed through her mind like a slideshow...
She remembered the winter of that year—it was very cold.
That night, she was snuggled in her blanket, happily watching romance soap operas on her tablet.
As she watched, she started to feel hungry.
So she picked up the phone beside her and sent a WeChat message to her boyfriend Lin Rui, who was still working overtime at the company: "Honey, I'm hungry."
Lin Rui replied in seconds.
Handsome Me: Then I'll take you out for a late-night snack. What do you want to eat?
Cute Me: It's too cold outside, I don't want to go out.
Handsome Me: ...You! You're such a little lazypants.
"Hmph, I am a little lazypants. So what? If you disagree, come bite me..."
She arrogantly mumbled to herself, put the phone aside, and continued watching drama on her tablet.
Not long after.
There was a sound of the key unlocking the door from outside.
"Back this fast?"
Thinking he would bring back snacks, she reluctantly crawled out of the blanket, seeing him carrying preserved eggs and lean meat, she slightly frowned and curiously asked, "Hubby, what time is it—why did you buy these ingredients?"
"Didn't you say you were hungry and afraid of the cold to go out? I thought I'd make you a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee."
As he carried the ingredients into the kitchen, he said, "Drinking a bowl in the winter, it warms and dispels the cold..."
Her lips involuntarily curved into a smile.
"Making it yourself is too much trouble, just order takeout."
"How can takeout be as nutritious as what I make..."
She smiled sweetly.
Not good at cooking herself, she just quietly stood at the kitchen door watching him wash and prepare the ingredients, watching him place the rice into the pot.
During the cooking process, he frequently used a spoon to stir in the pot.
The steam from the boiling congee surrounded him immediately, yet he still looked as though he enjoyed it immensely.
As if he was quietly pouring his love into this small bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee.
In no time, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
He scooped a bowl, took a spoonful, blew on it repeatedly, and brought it to her mouth, gently saying, "Open your mouth..."
Being fed, she took a sip.
Unexpectedly, the savory preserved egg and lean meat congee tasted distinctly sweet.
At that moment, a warmth gently flowed through her heart along with the preserved egg and lean meat congee.
"Mm...not bad cooking skills...delicious, the kind you could eat every day without getting tired."
He, gazing at her excited expression with loving eyes, chuckled: "You're easy to please! You can be sustained by just a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee."
She pouted defiantly.
"Come, eat more, it's good for the stomach and beauty..."
"You eat too..."
The two ate the bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee by taking turns.
Just like that.
They ate preserved egg and lean meat congee all winter long.
Predictably, by spring they both inevitably gained ten pounds.
Thinking of this, a sweet arc appeared on Lin Jiahui's pretty face, but then a dim shadow flickered in her eyes.
But later on...
The two separated, living in different places due to work.
Every time she visited him, he would make omelette rice or fried rice for her, which she enjoyed just the same.
He continued to watch her fondly.
But the days of preserved egg and lean meat congee slowly faded with time.
It was only occasionally brought up when they reminisced together.
Then later on.
Due to work and life's dual pressures, they gradually became estranged.
Quarrels became frequent.
Feeling heart-tired, she ignored his pleas and left him.
From then on.
She never ate preserved egg and lean meat congee again, nor did it cross her mind.
Later, she quit her old job.
Moved to this faraway city to work, wanting to start a new life.
Because what she sought wasn't merely living a lifetime idly in a small county.
So she couldn't let herself be bound by another person.
But in this foreign city, she lived anxiously—listening to music alone, eating alone, watching dramas alone, shouldering all of life's burdens alone...
She lowered her head, tears inadvertently falling.
The aroma of preserved egg and lean meat congee had long left her...