mesbooks Chapter 51 Let's go together
Chapter 51 Let's go together
After setting the plates down, He Fei didn't start eating immediately. Instead, she said, "You eat first. I saw there's free soup over there. I'll go get two bowls."
As she spoke, she turned around and walked quickly toward the soup pot, and soon returned with two small bowls of clear soup with a few strands of seaweed and egg drop floating on top.
After doing all this, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat her simple meal in small bites, seemingly enjoying even the bland shredded potatoes.
Watching her eat quietly, and comparing the stark difference between the two plates, Chen Zhiyuan felt a mix of emotions.
Children from poor families are so frugal and sensible that it breaks your heart.
With a sigh, he still spoke, trying to sound casual: "He Fei, you need to eat more. Look how thin you are, you barely have any meat on your bones."
He Fei put down her chopsticks, looked up at him, a barely perceptible hint of nervousness and worry flashing in her eyes, and asked tentatively in a soft voice, "Am I... really that thin?"
"Yeah, it would look better if you were a little chubby, and your body would be stronger, so don't be too frugal, eat when you want to."
Chen Zhiyuan said seriously, and then without saying another word, he took more than half of the braised pork and pan-fried fish pieces that were still untouched from his plate and put them into He Fei's plate.
"Look, the auntie serving the food doesn't shake at all, and the portions are so generous. I can't possibly finish it all by myself, and it would be such a waste. Could you help me with some?"
He Fei looked at the suddenly appearing, oily and tempting meat and fish on her plate. Her lips moved, and she swallowed back the words she was about to say when she heard the words "it would be a waste."
She felt a warm, comforting touch on a corner of her heart, as if soothed by this simple, genuine care.
Whether it was because she was getting to know Chen Zhiyuan better or because her personality was quietly unfolding in a relaxed environment, He Fei became noticeably more talkative than the quiet and reserved girl she used to be.
The two chatted casually while eating.
"Chen Zhiyuan, have you noticed? The food at our school is really affordable, much cheaper than outside," He Fei said, swallowing a mouthful of rice, her eyes sparkling.
Chen Zhiyuan nodded and picked up a piece of braised pork that He Fei had given him: "Yeah, and I heard from my senior that the school puts a subsidy of ninety yuan into each student's meal card every month."
"Really? Such a good thing!"
He Fei's eyes widened even more, her voice filled with surprise.
She immediately started calculating in her mind: ninety yuan, if she ate sparingly, would last at least twenty days. If she added a little more to her card, it would be enough for a month's food expenses.
This is undoubtedly great news, and it will greatly reduce the burden on the family.
Chen Zhiyuan heard it from his senior, Xiang Wanyu, so the information should be reliable.
In 1999, many universities did provide students with some living allowances in order to alleviate the financial burden on some students.
He seemed to see through He Fei's little scheme of saving money, smiled, and said in a gentle but serious tone, "When it comes to food, don't always think about saving. You're already a bit thin, and if you save any more, you won't get enough nutrition."
He Fei softly hummed in agreement, taking those words to heart, feeling a warm glow inside.
She then changed the subject, asking with a hint of anticipation for the future, "Chen Zhiyuan, what are your plans for your upcoming university life?"
Chen Zhiyuan laughed heartily, his eyes revealing a clarity and certainty beyond his years: "As for the planning, there's nothing too specific."
"Right now, I'm focused on writing books and making money. Once I've saved up my first pot of gold, I'll think about doing something I want to do."
He Fei nodded thoughtfully: "I hadn't thought that far ahead."
"I just want to study hard, master my major, and find a better job after graduation. That way, my mom won't have to work so hard setting up her stall every day, and she can have an easier life."
Her wish was simple and specific, filled with heartache and a sense of responsibility for her mother.
The two enjoyed a delicious meal while chatting about their plans and visions for the future.
The noisy background noise of the cafeteria seemed to become mere background noise, and their conversation flowed naturally and smoothly. It seemed that the distance between them had quietly shortened a little during this ordinary dinner time.
The meal was finished; it tasted good and the portion was generous, and both of them were very satisfied.
Chen Zhiyuan stood up and said, "I'm planning to go buy some daily necessities. What about you?"
Toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, slippers... he brought almost none of these things from home, as he had planned to buy them at school anyway, but now he had some free time.
He Fei replied almost without hesitation, "I'll go with you."
She didn't really need to buy anything; she had brought all her toiletries from home.
But for some reason, she just liked being with Chen Zhiyuan, enjoying the relaxed, comfortable atmosphere where there was no need to deliberately find topics to talk about.
"Let's go then. There's a big supermarket in the cafeteria. Let's go take a look. You can help me choose some things," Chen Zhiyuan said naturally.
The two went to the supermarket together.
The place was bustling with people, mostly freshmen like them who had just arrived and were busy making purchases.
Chen Zhiyuan had a clear goal: he first picked up a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a mouthwash cup, and then chose shampoo and soap.
He pushed the shopping cart to the towel section.
The shelves were filled with all kinds of towels, varying in color, material, and price. Chen Zhiyuan picked up one that looked pleasing to the eye at random.
"Hey." He Fei gently nudged his arm, reminding him, "The one you're holding is made of synthetic fibers. Although it's cheap, it doesn't absorb sweat very well, and it might even stiffen after a while. Choose pure cotton. What do you think of this one?"
She skillfully picked up a light gray towel from the other side, felt its thickness and texture, and then looked at the price tag. "This one is pure cotton, and it's a few cents cheaper, making it more affordable and cost-effective."
Chen Zhiyuan took it, looked at it, and praised with a smile, "You're an expert! You have a good eye, so this one will do."
He Fei often helps her mother look after the stall, which sells daily necessities such as towels and slippers. She is naturally very knowledgeable about the materials and prices of these items.
Seeing Chen Zhiyuan pushing the cart to leave, He Fei softly reminded him, "Are you... only buying one towel?"
Chen Zhiyuan realized what was happening and put another one of the same style but a different color into the shopping cart: "That's enough, two, one for washing your face and one for showering."
Men and women do have different needs in this regard.
Two towels are usually enough for boys, while girls often need to be more specific: face towels, hair towels, bath towels, foot towels... It's common to have five or six on hand.
Having bought almost everything, Chen Zhiyuan pushed the cart towards the checkout, casually asking, "Are you really not buying anything?"
He Fei glanced at the shelves, hesitated for a moment, and finally took the smallest bottle of generic shampoo from the bottom shelf—for no other reason than that it was cheap.