As the scenery became increasingly familiar, Wang Qiqi’s gaze drifted to the pile of belongings set aside. She truly didn't know what they would do next. “With all this stuff, how on earth did the three of us manage to load it yesterday?” Getting it into the car with three people was already difficult enough, but now with only two, it was a real problem. “Maybe we should ask the train attendant if they can find someone to help us move things?” Wang Qiqi recalled that train stations usually had people available for porter services.

Han Tao grunted in agreement. “Sausages prepared by Man Man’s family, cured meat and dried fish from my mom, and even your aunt prepared pickled vegetables—all cured items. I’m really worried…” Eating too much of this stuff isn't great for your health, after all.

“The sausage and cured meat can be cooked with rice; it tastes absolutely amazing. The dried fish is perfect with breakfast, and the pickled vegetables are the perfect accompaniment to congee when paired with edamame, and they can even be used for soup…” Wang Qiqi kept listing ways to use these things. “Putting that aside, I’m truly worried about not being able to get all this down from the train.”

“After all, it’s the elders’ love. It would be too rude not to take it,” Han Tao admitted, also struggling with the thought. Getting all this out of the station was genuinely going to be an issue, but the food was delicious. His mother used to cure a lot of fish and meat in the winter; he still remembered the strong scent of his mother in those preserves. Last year, Han Tao hadn't gotten to eat much and felt quite regretful. He had been thinking about how he’d miss out again this summer since he couldn't go home, and when Qiqi went back for the Qingming Festival in April, time was too tight, and Han Tao had other commitments, so only Wang Qiqi went alone. She hadn't brought much back then, and it was gone in a flash. This time, they could finally enjoy several hearty meals.

“Especially the cured pork your mom makes, right?” Wang Qiqi wasn’t too keen on the cured fish or dried meat; what she really wanted was the sausage. This was, after all, purely handmade, rumored to be exceptionally good—the kind they tasted when visiting Shi Man’s house for New Year’s.

The two of them painstakingly managed to haul everything off the train. Then, with the help of station staff, they found a porter, and with his assistance, everything was loaded onto a taxi. “Finally, we can take a breath,” Wang Qiqi sighed deeply once inside the cab. “I need a good rest, and then we still have to move it upstairs.” Wang Qiqi carefully calculated the cost incurred for such a small amount of luggage. They could have taken the bus and then the subway, but now they had to take a taxi—they dared not look at the meter, as the fare would certainly make their hearts pound. Of course, this was minor; what weighed heavier were the things that couldn't be measured by money, like physical exertion and sentiment.

“It’s fine, I’ll call Daizi later,” Han Tao comforted her. He remembered Daizi didn't have classes this morning. Normally, he would be holed up at home, either playing on the computer or sleeping in. Such a prime source of labor absolutely could not be passed up. And even if Daizi objected, Han Tao would simply overrule him, unless Daizi didn’t want to eat any of this delicious food.

“Daizi doesn’t have class?” Wang Qiqi considered it; Daizi was already in his third year of university, so his course load was lighter. “Will Daizi be interning next semester? Where is he planning to go?” In reality, whether Daizi interned or not made little difference; the programming work he was taking on at home now was more valuable than what he could learn tucked away somewhere. However, if all his classmates went for internships and he was the only one staying home, it might look a bit odd—too conspicuous.

“To the same place Gong Junyu and the others are interning, perhaps,” Han Tao wasn’t entirely certain. “Daizi hasn’t specified. But it seems his professor also recommended a place, so Daizi is having trouble deciding.” After all, given Daizi’s capabilities, he could jump straight into work anywhere without needing the internship unit to dedicate staff to guide him. “Oh, Gong Junyu and the others are all leaving in July; their visas are almost sorted out.”

While Han Tao was happy for them, a sense of loss lingered in his heart. After all, they had lived under the same roof for over a year, and his rapid professional growth, and even the excellent opportunities that might come later, were inseparable from the guidance they had provided. If those few people hadn't been so meticulous in their instruction, he wouldn't have been able to seize the opportunity even if he’d met JOHN back then.

Leaving in July. Wang Qiqi recalled the scene when Daizi first brought Gong Junyu and the others out; it felt like just yesterday. Now everyone was scattering. “They’re leaving this year, and Daizi next year. All good things must come to an end,” Wang Qiqi mused. “But it’s okay. When we go out in the future, we can all gather again.”

Han Tao murmured an assent. “The chances of them returning after going abroad are slim. Besides, after interning domestically for so long, they were quite envious when they heard about my experience interning in the US.” Although Han Tao felt he might have oversold his experience, or perhaps his team there was exceptionally good—it also helped that he’d been in constant online communication with them, with JOHN acting as a vital link—so their relationship had been solid from the start. Would Gong Junyu and the others have had such good luck otherwise? Moreover, xenophobia wasn't nonexistent in the US; sometimes it was quite severe. It depended on whether they could persevere. Han Tao had confidence in Gong Junyu and the others; Chinese people rarely lacked patience. For an employer, a capable subordinate is a good subordinate. “Qiqi, have you thought about whether we will return to China in the future?”

“I don’t mind. Living in the US for a while, or staying in China—either is fine.” Wang Qiqi was indifferent. In truth, living in the US wasn't necessarily better. Her parents were in China; she couldn't possibly take them away. Even if Wang Damei agreed, Wang Qiqi worried her parents would scold her in her sleep. “I think children should still receive a proper, orthodox education in China.” Children raised abroad are capable and possess independence, but the problem is they are too independent. Perhaps when we are old, we will truly depend only on each other, Han Tao, but Wang Qiqi disliked the rote, cramming style of education in China; the exam questions often gave her a headache.

“Good. We’ll live in both places then,” Han Tao said, wrapping his arm around Wang Qiqi’s shoulder, letting her lean against him.

The two were lost in their little world, failing to notice the driver’s strange look. The driver wondered about the background of the two young people in the back; based on their conversation, it sounded like going abroad was incredibly easy, and everyone around them seemed destined to leave the country. Yet, looking at their clothes, they didn’t appear to be from wealthy or official families. Throughout the ride, the driver kept glancing at Wang Qiqi and Han Tao via the rearview mirror.

Wang Qiqi had noticed the driver’s odd behavior, but since it was daytime and he was following the correct route, she didn’t dwell on it. Still, a thought crossed her mind: perhaps the driver had been talking too much and was slightly unwell?

When Dai Lijun followed Han Tao to the downstairs of Wang Qiqi’s building, he spotted the large pile of luggage from a distance and his first instinct was to turn around and go home. “Uh…”

Han Tao saw the kid turning away and knew instantly he was trying to bolt. Hmph, not so easily. “You can run, but you won’t get any of the good food,” he threatened. Food was the only thing he could currently use to hold leverage over the boy.

Good food? Dai Lijun felt a flicker of temptation upon hearing Han Tao’s words, but the problem was, he knew he’d have to expend a significant amount of physical labor. He weighed the options in his mind. He had considered not helping move the boxes and just sneaking over when it was time to eat. Even if Han Tao and Shi Man might chase him away, Qiqi definitely wouldn't; she was a kind-hearted girl and would never turn away a guest.

“Don’t believe me? You can try. If Qiqi sees this much stuff and refuses to move it, and you run away before even reaching the doorway, what do you think…” Han Tao shadowed Dai Lijun, his voice subtly menacing. “I can move it up myself if you don’t. After all, with so much delicious food, fewer people grabbing at it means I’m happier.” Han Tao ignored the conflicted individual and strode forward, acting as if he could handle the situation alone.

Wang Qiqi waited for a long time and only saw Han Tao appear. “Huh? Daizi isn’t at the dorm?” She should have just stopped trying to call him; she had wasted a trip only to find that she and Han Tao had probably already moved most of the things.

Han Tao picked up two bags crossly. “Someone…”

“Han Tao, you little punk, you’re too fast! I asked you to wait just a little bit…” Dai Lijun struggled internally for a moment, but ultimately, gastronomy won out. Han Tao was the type who kept his promises. Fine, he’d consider himself in a good mood today and play the Good Samaritan, while also getting a sneak peek at how much delicious food Qiqi and the others brought back this time. If it wasn’t the good stuff, he wouldn't have chickened out earlier. However, he could offer minimal effort for maximum gain. Dai Lijun felt this idea was brilliant, so he quickened his pace. Before he was even close, he heard Wang Qiqi asking why he wasn't there, and he could already guess Han Tao’s response. “So much stuff, Qiqi, did you go rob someone on this trip?”

Although he didn’t know exactly what was in those sacks, from the faint outlines of the contents, Dai Lijun could see it was meat—cured meat. “This isn’t the cured pork from Han Tao’s mom that Qiqi brought back last time, is it?” That tasted wonderful, especially the rice dish Qiqi made; Dai Lijun was still savoring the memory of that flavor.

“Yeah, and the specially handmade sausages from Man Man’s mom—the taste is absolutely incredible. We’re making rice and meat tonight. I’ll invite your Lu Qiaowei to join us.” From Daizi’s greedy expression, Wang Qiqi knew he was craving the rice dish. It usually ended with him begging for it, or Man Man wanting it.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Dai Lijun quickly agreed. His earlier thought of providing minimal effort was long forgotten. With delicious food enticing him, and also not wanting Han Tao constantly talking about having energy to work but none to eat, he started working seriously.

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