◎ I Like Counting Money When I Get Home Every Day. ◎
The next day, Tian Miaomiao went to Starlight Farm early in the morning to pick up meat and vegetables, just as she usually did.
A couple of days earlier, the owner had specially set aside several fresh pig brains for her. She’d brought them home and grilled them with Tian Doudou to try them out first, but she found the taste somewhat unsatisfactory, so she hadn’t put them on the menu for the time being.
There was no rush to sell them. She could adjust the sauce recipe until she achieved a flavor she was satisfied with.
That afternoon, while Tian Miaomiao was sitting in the living room threading vegetables onto skewers, her phone on the table suddenly rang.
She finished skewering the vegetables in her hands before washing them and picking up her phone to take a look.
The moment she saw what was on the screen, she jumped straight up from where she was sitting.
“Doudou, I’ve received my wages!”
Tian Doudou had finished cutting the vegetables and was helping her thread them onto skewers. Seeing her jumping around with excitement, he hurried over to take a look.
“How much? How much?”
“Two months’ wages! Every single cent has been transferred!”
When the police helped them register their information last night, Tian Miaomiao hadn’t held out much hope. Unexpectedly, the boss had actually paid them the wages he owed today.
“The sun must have risen in the west! Our boss has actually found his conscience!”
Tian Doudou immediately chimed in from the side.
“Exactly, exactly! This is such wonderful news. Shouldn’t we take a day off to celebrate?”
“…”
Tian Miaomiao looked at him silently.
Thinking about how they’d been running the stall for so many consecutive days and how she was indeed feeling a little tired, she finally nodded.
“Alright. We’ve already finished most of today’s preparations, so let’s take tomorrow off instead.”
Tian Doudou had only said it casually. He hadn’t expected Tian Miaomiao to actually agree, and for a moment, he couldn’t quite react.
“You really agreed?”
“Yeah. We’ll take tomorrow off. I can finally sleep in too.”
“That’s great!”
This time, it was Tian Doudou’s turn to jump up from where he stood.
“I’ll go ask Zhou Ting out later!”
Tian Miaomiao: “…”
How promising.
That evening, after the two returned from running their stall, Tian Doudou dragged Tian Miaomiao over to help him choose what to wear the next day.
He also humbly asked her for advice on what he should pay attention to when going on a date with someone for the first time.
Tian Miaomiao fell silent for two seconds before looking at him with a smile.
“Do I look like someone who’s ever gone on a date?”
Tian Doudou: “…”
Alright, never mind.
Although Tian Miaomiao couldn’t offer much advice, Tian Doudou looked things up online himself. He was so excited that he didn’t fall asleep until the middle of the night.
Early the next morning, Tian Miaomiao was still half asleep when she heard some noises coming from the kitchen, so she went over to take a look.
Tian Doudou was already awake and busy making something in the kitchen.
Tian Miaomiao rubbed her messy hair and stood at the kitchen doorway, looking at him through sleepy eyes.
“What are you doing so early in the morning? You’re making so much noise.”
Tian Doudou turned to glance at her before continuing with what he was doing.
“I’m making some pastries. Didn’t Zhou Ting stay at our inn before? She really liked ordering these particular pastries, so I’m making some to bring to her.”
“…You really are the perfect, devoted boyfriend.”
The moment she called him a “boyfriend,” Tian Doudou’s face immediately turned red.
“Boyfriend… I’m not her boyfriend yet.”
“…”
Seeing his expression, Tian Miaomiao laughed and turned to head back to her room.
“Then I’ll go back to sleep. Good luck.”
“Alright!”
Tian Miaomiao slept until eleven.
Tian Doudou had long since left the house.
After washing up, she went to the kitchen to take a look. Tian Doudou had left some of the pastries he’d made that morning in the pot, probably especially for her.
“At least you have a bit of a conscience.”
Tian Miaomiao couldn’t be bothered to make lunch, so she simply reheated the pastries and ate them as her lunch.
That afternoon, she sent a message to her barbecue group to let everyone know that she wouldn’t be opening her stall that evening.
Then she curled up comfortably on the sofa at home, eating potato chips while watching a TV drama.
Sure enough, nothing was more comfortable than lying around like a salted fish!
She didn’t know whether Tian Doudou would be coming home for dinner that evening, and she didn’t want to disturb him by sending a message, so she figured she’d just order some takeaway for dinner.
She’d only watched two episodes of the drama when she heard the sound of the door opening and instinctively glanced toward the entrance.
Tian Doudou walked in wearing the outfit the two of them had carefully picked out the night before. He changed his shoes and entered the house.
Tian Miaomiao sat up. Seeing how dejected he looked, she asked curiously, “You’re back so soon? Did something happen?”
It might have been better if she hadn’t asked.
The moment she did, Tian Doudou looked as though he was about to burst into tears.
“Zhou Ting… she already has a boyfriend! Waaaah!”
Tian Miaomiao: “…”
Nothing was more devastating than seeing a tough man cry.
Before she could figure out how to comfort Tian Doudou, he’d already rushed into his room and locked the door behind him.
Tian Miaomiao figured he probably needed some space and quiet time, so she didn’t disturb him.
Instead, she took out her phone and silently sent a message to her mother.
Miaomiao: It looks like Doudou’s journey in pursuit of love has reached its end ahead of schedule.
Mom: Hmph. I warned him about this long ago. He’s the one who insisted on going through this suffering.
Mom: How is he now? Is he planning to come back?
Miaomiao: I haven’t asked him yet. He’s shut himself in his room to nurse his broken heart alone.
Mom: …
At six in the evening, Tian Miaomiao noticed that Tian Doudou still hadn’t come out of his room. Feeling a little worried, she went over and knocked on his door.
“Doudou, are you still alive?”
“…”
Tian Doudou shuffled over in his slippers and opened the door for her.
“What do you want?!”
Tian Miaomiao smiled at him and said, “It’s almost time for dinner. Didn’t I just get my wages yesterday? Come on, your sister will treat you to a big meal.”
At the mention of a big meal, Tian Doudou’s eyes finally regained a little sparkle.
“What are we eating?”
Tian Miaomiao thought for a moment before telling him, “Let’s go to North Gate Night Market. You haven’t tried Boss Ling’s fried rice yet, have you? His fried rice is really delicious!”
Tian Doudou: “??”
Wait, this was the big meal you were talking about?
I think you’re the one who wants to see Boss Ling!
“I just had my heart broken, and you’re treating me to food at North Gate Night Market?”
He looked at Tian Miaomiao and let out a sarcastic chuckle.
Hearing him say that, Tian Miaomiao immediately became unhappy.
“What’s wrong with North Gate Night Market? Our North Gate Night Market is full of hidden talents! If you don’t want to eat there, forget it. I’ll go by myself.”
Tian Doudou hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he changed his clothes and followed her to North Gate Night Market.
Although Tian Doudou had been to North Gate Night Market many times, this was his first time coming here as a customer. It really did feel a little different from usual.
Tian Miaomiao ordered a few grilled scallops and grilled oysters. Just then, she happened to see Ling Chuang’s food truck driving over, so she said to the owner of the grilled scallop stall, “Could you bring our scallops over to the fried rice stall later?”
“Sure!”
After the stall owner agreed, Tian Miaomiao called Tian Doudou over, and the two headed toward Ling Chuang’s fried rice stall.
Ling Chuang parked his food truck, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw the two of them standing outside.
Normally, for convenience when running her stall, Tian Miaomiao tied her long hair into a bun and dressed very simply.
Today, however, she’d changed into a red polka-dot dress. She’d also let her hair down and was wearing a red vintage-style headband.
She had quite the charm of a beauty from the 1980s.
“Boss Ling, you’re here?”
When Tian Miaomiao saw him come out, she smiled at him.
“I’d like two portions of fried rice.”
She was the first customer today, so she didn’t even have to queue!
Ling Chuang paused for a moment before nodding.
“You’re not opening your stall today?”
Tian Miaomiao replied, “Tian Doudou had his heart broken today, so I brought him out to help him heal.”
The moment Tian Doudou heard her say that, he immediately became anxious.
“Sis, why do you have to tell everyone everything?!”
Tian Miaomiao turned her head and glanced at him.
Who was it that had teased her about having a “brother-in-law” before? Now he knew what it felt like to be anxious, huh?
Ling Chuang seemed to chuckle before looking at them and asking, “What kind of fried rice would you like?”
Before Tian Miaomiao could speak, Tian Doudou rushed to answer.
“I want the most expensive one! My sister’s paying today!”
Tian Miaomiao pursed her lips.
Boss Ling’s fried rice was very reasonably priced. Even the most expensive one cost only eighteen yuan.
“Fine, I’ll order you the eighteen-yuan one.”
Tian Miaomiao took out the cash she’d prepared in advance and handed it to Ling Chuang.
“I’ll just have the kimchi fried rice again.”
“Alright. You can leave the money over here.”
Ling Chuang put on his mask and prepared to make their fried rice.
Tian Doudou went to set up the tables, chairs, and sun umbrella himself before sitting down on a chair.
Tian Miaomiao didn’t go over to sit with him. Instead, she remained by the food truck and chatted with Ling Chuang.
“Boss Ling, I have a question. Why do you only accept cash?”
Ling Chuang answered while frying the rice, “Because I like counting money when I get home every day.”
Tian Miaomiao: “…”
That hobby… was pretty nice.
“Then aren’t you afraid of getting robbed?” Tian Miaomiao asked again. “There are so many people at the night market. It’s not safe to carry so much cash.”
The corners of Ling Chuang’s lips curved up slightly as he raised his eyes to look at her.
“Telecom fraud is the mainstream these days. There aren’t many people still doing it offline.”
Tian Miaomiao: “…”
Handsome Ling Chuang usually had an unapproachable air about him. Who would’ve thought he was actually quite humorous?
“Besides, my cash box is locked to the truck. It’s not that easy to steal.”
Tian Miaomiao took a closer look and discovered that the cash box was indeed secured to the truck with a chain and lock.
“Your fried rice is ready.”
Just as Ling Chuang handed the fried rice to Tian Miaomiao, Sun Xuchuan arrived, pushing his grilled squid cart.
He’d been delayed by something at home today, so he’d arrived a little later than usual.
When he first saw the beautiful woman standing in front of Ling Chuang’s food truck, he froze for a moment.
After taking a closer look, he realized that she was actually Tian Miaomiao.
“Boss Tian??”
Holding the fried rice, Tian Miaomiao turned around and smiled at him.
“Boss Sun, you’re only arriving now?”
“Yeah, something came up at home and delayed me.”
Seeing Tian Miaomiao smile at him, Sun Xuchuan suddenly became a little embarrassed.
“Y-you look really pretty dressed like that today.”
Tian Doudou shot to his feet and stepped in front of Tian Miaomiao, glaring at Sun Xuchuan across from him.
“What does my sister being pretty have to do with you?! You’re not allowed to look!”
He’d already had his heart broken, so nobody else’s path to love was going to be smooth sailing either!