Chapter 567: The Home in My Heart

Jiang Qin entered the kitchen and tied on Miss Yuan Youqin’s floral apron, looking quite professional.

His best dish was actually just boiling water for instant noodles flavored with braised pork, and frying an egg was indeed a challenge for him.

When he drifted to the big city in his past life, he mostly ordered takeout, milking various discount platforms.

Sometimes using three apps at once, he could easily rustle up a variety of dishes for a week without any repeats, all without needing a pot.

As for health, that’s not something a working person can afford to consider.

Later, when he switched to a sales job for the money, he spent all his time entertaining clients, hardly ever going home to sleep.

Hence, President Jiang’s cooking skills were admittedly poor.

Just then, a noise of a tearing plastic bag came from the living room, sounding rustling and piqued his alertness.

“Feng Nanshu, what are you doing?”

As soon as he spoke, the noise in the living room ceased.

“Nothing, I wasn’t doing anything.”

As Jiang Qin peeled onions, he said, “We’re about to eat, no sweets now.”

“Got it.”

Feng Nanshu agreed and three minutes later, she trotted into the kitchen in the flowery cotton-padded coat Yuan Youqin bought her last New Year.

On anyone else, this outfit would instantly turn them into a village lass.

Yet, on Feng Nanshu, it couldn’t hide her aloof and wealthy aura.

At that moment, Jiang Qin was beating eggs, then he heated the frying pan and slid the egg mixture in.

With just a few simple actions, President Jiang frequently asked how impressive he was.

Little rich girl is really a straightforward friend, calling everything impressive.

Boys seem to like asking their female friends if they’re impressive. Odd really.

“Wow, not bad, huh? Like the egg pancake?”

“I like it.”

Jiang Qin gave a thumbs up, then stirred a bit: “Like the scrambled pieces?”

Feng Nanshu nodded too, liking everything.

After a while, Jiang Qin shouted, “Scrambled eggs are ready!” excited like a big kid.

“Let’s taste for saltiness. I’m not quite sure about this step.”

He picked up chopsticks, fetched a bit, and fed it to Feng Nanshu’s mouth.

Little rich girl seriously looked at him: “Smells delicious, let’s eat together in a bit.”

“You’re really good at flattering people.”

Jiang Qin put down the plate, couldn’t help himself, and kissed her sweet lips, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.

To his surprise, the usual sweet kisses now had a tingling sensation.

“?”

Taking advantage of the little rich girl snuggled in his arms, he ended up encountering a round, sugary tablet.

Sweet and tingling, must be the top-tier candy, explosive fizzy fruit.

This girl, out of sight for a second and she’s sugaring up.

Plus, she still looked cool and privileged as if nothing was in her mouth. Such a drama queen.

Jiang Qin unwrapped the candy from her mouth, leaving little rich girl open-mouthed and dumbfounded.

“We’re about to eat, why snack on candy? It’s confiscated.”

“Oh.”

Feng Nanshu wiped the corner of her mouth, squinting her eyes aloofly, surprised her sneaky snack was discovered and confiscated, then obediently sat at the dining table, waiting for dinner.

Besides frying eggs, Jiang Qin also boiled two bowls of noodles.

On the kitchen window sill was mom’s fried meat sauce, tender and juicy, perfect with noodles, releasing a delicious aroma.

Not bad, his first serious attempt at cooking yielded two meat dishes. Little rich girl would surely not go hungry in the future.

But one fried egg with two bowls of noodles looked plain on the table despite the sauce.

Jiang Qin looked at little rich girl and thought of four words, “wife of humble means.”

“…”

“Wrong, it’s faithful friend instead.”

Jiang Qin mentally corrected with eyes closed, but the word ‘wife’ stubbornly remained, rebelliously refusing to change as if his brain wasn’t his.

Little rich girl didn’t know Jiang Qin’s thoughts, quietly enjoying lunch filled with contentment.

For her, after her mom passed away up until her 18th birthday, she felt rootless without a home, unsure where she belonged.

She just moved from one place to another…

Until that year Jiang Qin brought her home for New Year’s Eve dinner. Little rich girl first felt like she belonged somewhere.

Now, just being here made her bold enough to fib about not snacking on sweets to her brother.

Jiang Qin hadn’t read her diary; he didn’t know her deep fixation on colored candy.

But fearing dental cavities, he always kept a tight check on her.

Friendship 1.0 version was limited to holding hands and hugs, no kissing. If she sneaked a candy, there was nothing he could do.

But after upgrading to version 2.0, kissing wasn’t off-limits, so even if it entered her mouth, it must still be confiscated.

After lunch, Linchuan began to snow again, the flurrying snowflakes covering the old layer.

Wrapped up in down jackets, the two went out to play, first strolling down Food Street, munching on a starch sausage, then visited the small commodity city where they first hung out.

Mr. Orange Cat was still there, though his nest had moved indoors.

The rocking car was gone, replaced by a messy pile of packages.

Alibaba’s rookie wrap service hadn’t launched yet, but the e-commerce industry’s growth made many small shop owners see a business opportunity, converting their front space into a temporary parcel collection point.

Of course, it wasn’t for free; they charged five yuan a month, merely for storing packages.

Especially in smaller places, stores did more than hold packages for online shoppers; they even ordered on behalf of others, typical in that era.

Like the earlier phone cards, also sold by such small stores or newsstands.

Over three years, it’s neither long nor short, but many things have changed, including the high school moving and the disappearance of the rocking car.

Only friendship endures.

Jiang Qin held Feng Nanshu’s hand, moving past the store without the rocking car, towards the handicraft store that sold novelty certificates.

They had already seen gimmicky certificates like ‘Hotshot’ or ‘Beauty’ during their high school summer break.

This time, the certificates seemed updated, with a wider variety.

Jiang Qin’s eyes scanned the display, lighting up when he spotted a huge opportunity on the third row—a certificate named ‘Rich Second Generation’.

“Boss, how much for this?”

“Five yuan.”

“Damn, I could flip this to young master Cao and make a couple hundred!”

Jiang Qin bought a ‘Rich Second Generation’ certificate and, spotting the ‘Good Friend’ certificate on the next row, asked little rich girl, “Wanna buy a certificate?”

Feng Nanshu glanced at it: “Brother, don’t waste money.”

“It’s just five yuan.”

“But I don’t want this one.”

“Hmm? What kind do you want then?”

“I just don’t want this one.”

Jiang Qin feigned ignorance, staring at her: “Aren’t we good friends?”

“We are, but I don’t want this.”

Feng Nanshu pretended ignorance, steadfast in her refusal, leading to Jiang Qin insisting, which caused her to run away, fast enough he couldn’t catch up.

By late afternoon, they returned to the city center by bus when suddenly, Yuan Youqin called.

“Son, have you come back from school?”

“Yes, how did you know, oh I get it, must’ve been my third uncle. I ran into him at noon.”

“Not really, I saw your car outside. Did Nanshu come back with you?”

Feng Nanshu’s eyes brightened hearing Yuan Youqin mention her.

Jiang Qin rashly said, “She didn’t come. Oh right, mom, uncle left some shepherd’s purse on the table. I want shepherd’s purse dumplings.”

“You have such fancy cravings. Dumplings are too much trouble, none!”

“You really are my mom…”

Jiang Qin handed the phone to Feng Nanshu, signaling with his eyes. Little rich girl promptly said, “Auntie, I’m back too. I sort of want shepherd’s purse dumplings.”

Yuan Youqin hesitated, then responded, “…Got no vinegar. Have Jiang Qin buy some, and I’ll make dumplings for you.”

“Thanks, Auntie.”

Jiang Qin ended the call, turned to Feng Nanshu: “See, I have my mom completely under control with just one move.”

Feng Nanshu nodded earnestly: “I know, I am that one move.”

“It’s a chain of influence. You control my mom, I control you, and that makes me the emperor of the Jiang family!”

Strutting like an emperor, he took Feng Nanshu to buy vinegar at Third Uncle’s before daring to go home.

By then, Yuan Youqin had just finished kneading the dough, and little rich girl changed her shoes to wash her hands to help with the dumplings.

“Why did you two suddenly come back? Isn’t it vacation yet?”

“Missed home a bit,” Feng Nanshu quietly said.

Hearing this, Yuan Youqin’s heart melted: “If you miss home, just come back. Since Jiang Qin has a car, I’ll make dumplings for you.”

Feng Nanshu nodded gently, helping with the dumplings while her head bobbed up and down.

Jiang Zhenghong, coming home later than Yuan Youqin, paused seeing them making dumplings: “Eh, it’s not even vacation yet. How come Nanshu’s back already?”

“Nanshu missed home.”

“Always Nanshu, look at Jiang Qin, doesn’t call home for days on end, and now, who knows where he’s wandering!”

Jiang Qin spoke up from the living room: “Dad, I’m wandering in the living room.”

Jiang Zhenghong turned to his son: “Speaking of which, I have something to discuss, try to keep your business dealings small.”

“Why?”

“I do enjoy a drink, but I hate drinking with leaders. Now, no matter who I schedule with, leaders always show up, even when agreed otherwise.”