Chapter 7 Roast Meats Combo Is So Delicious!…

Zhou Xiangmei reluctantly bought each of her two daughters a serving of Roast Goose rice.

Under Zhou Zhaodi’s strong insistence, she had no choice but to pay extra for a braised egg and extra rice.

Aunt Jiang asked Zhou Xiangmei, “You only bought meals for the two of them? Aren’t you going to eat? Are you just going to sit and watch?”

Zhou Xiangmei sniffed the fragrant aroma of the Roast Goose, drooling and licking her lips, “I already ate at home.”

Aunt Jiang said, “Then let’s add three bottles of cola to make it fifty.”

Zhou Xiangmei quickly waved her hand, “No need…”

Too late.

“Pop, pop, pop—”

Aunt Jiang had already deftly used a bottle opener to pop open the caps of three glass bottles of Coca-Cola.

Soon, Aunt Jiang brought over two stainless steel bowls, only slightly smaller than washbasins, filled with white rice. On top were a few meager pieces of Roast Goose, a braised egg cut in half, and a drizzle of Roast Goose sauce over the rice.

Zhou Xiangmei felt heartache that a single meal of roast meats had cost her fifty.

She had originally thought about sneaking a few pieces of Roast Goose from her daughters’ bowls to satisfy her craving.

Seeing there were only a few pieces and they didn’t look very appealing, she complained to Aunt Jiang, “Oh my, twenty dollars only gets you this little bit of Roast Goose?”

Aunt Jiang shouted, “Look at what time it is now! There’s no more left, the Roast Goose is sold out, only these few pieces remain!”

Zhou Xiangmei shut her mouth.

Zhou Zhaodi looked at the shabby Roast Goose rice and immediately became unhappy.

She thought to herself, Roast Goose is so expensive, it must be hard to sell.

Aunt Jiang’s shop clearly still had plenty of Roast Goose!

She was unhappy and wanted to ask Aunt Jiang for a few more pieces of Roast Goose.

But she didn’t say anything, instead turning to look at Bai Yuanzhi—this kind of troublesome matter should be left for Third Sister to handle!

However, Bai Yuanzhi was already eagerly digging into her rice.

Zhou Zhaodi hesitated for a moment, then had no choice but to start eating her rice as well.

Bai Yuanzhi certainly didn’t doubt Aunt Jiang’s character—Aunt Jiang could raise a kind and upright child like Jiang Yiming, so she herself couldn’t possibly be a bad person.

Sure enough, after only scraping away a shallow layer of rice from the surface, Bai Yuanzhi saw buried beneath the rice: a piece of soy sauce chicken, a piece of salt-baked chicken, a piece of roast duck, a piece of roast pork ribs, a piece of char siu, and a piece of crispy roast pork!

This was truly a roast meats platter!

Even though Aunt Jiang had only given one piece of each, the portions were generous.

Even the rice was soaked in flavorful oil, making it especially, especially delicious!

Clearly, after taking a few bites of plain rice, Zhou Zhaodi also noticed something unusual.

She stopped making a fuss and began eating the rice and meat in big mouthfuls.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xiangmei was already chatting animatedly with Aunt Jiang.

To be precise, Aunt Jiang was deliberately talking to prevent Zhou Xiangmei from noticing the sisters’ meals.

They were discussing news about a store sale.

Zhou Xiangmei was completely absorbed in the conversation.

By the time she finished chatting with Aunt Jiang, she discovered that Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Zhaodi had already completely devoured the entire large bowl of white rice along with all the dishes, leaving only a pile of bones.

Zhou Xiangmei: …

Didn’t you two save any for me?

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Zhaodi’s last meal was two days ago on the opposite shore of Hong Kong City—in Shenzhen City.

Each of them had only eaten a plain steamed bun.

Especially Zhou Zhaodi, who had swum all night yesterday!

No wonder they were so hungry.

“Mom, I still want to eat…” Zhou Zhaodi whispered softly.

Zhou Xiangmei’s expression changed, “How can a little child like you eat so much?”

Aunt Jiang said with a smile, “Oh, children are growing after all… Zhaodi, how about Aunt Jiang gives you another bowl of rice with some meat gravy?”

Zhou Zhaodi obediently nodded.

Aunt Jiang then turned to look at Bai Yuanzhi.

“Thank you, Aunt Jiang, I don’t need more rice,” Bai Yuanzhi said while taking a sip of her ice-cold cola.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhaodi quickly took a big gulp of cola as well.

It was her first time drinking a carbonated beverage, and she choked violently, coughing uncontrollably as she looked at Zhou Xiangmei and Bai Yuanzhi in disbelief.

Bai Yuanzhi, however, let out a contented sigh.

In her previous life, after her circumstances improved later on, she had rarely consumed sugary industrial drinks like cola.

Having gone so long without it, she actually missed it a little.

She took another big sip of cola, letting the cool, sweet sensation fill her mouth all at once.

She sighed comfortably, then turned to Zhou Xiangmei and said, “I want to know everything about my eldest sister. If you can’t remember or can’t explain clearly, I don’t mind going to your house to discuss this.”

Zhou Xiangmei was stunned.

Seeing that Bai Yuanzhi didn’t seem to be joking, Zhou Xiangmei had no choice but to start from the beginning:

On New Year’s Eve in 1976, Zhou Xiangmei planned to escape the small mountain village.

But at that time, she had never intended to take Zhou Sier with her.

It was Zhou Sier who saw her getting up in the early hours, thinking she was going to do farm work, and considerately got up as well. She even steamed half a pumpkin, carried a hoe, and brought two old clothes used as sweat towels, leaving the house with her.

Zhou Xiangmei didn’t say anything at the time.

But along the way, Zhou Sier treated her with such thoughtfulness.

So Zhou Xiangmei thought: In that household, the only ones who actually worked were her and Zhou Sier. If she ran away with Zhou Sier, Zhou Genfa would probably starve to death at home.

With that thought, Zhou Xiangmei didn’t hesitate to take Zhou Sier and leave.

At first, Zhou Sier didn’t understand what was happening.

It wasn’t until she followed Zhou Xiangmei through the mountains for a day and a night, finally arriving on foot at the neighboring county, that she vaguely realized.

Zhou Xiangmei threatened her, saying if she didn’t want to come along, she could go back on her own.

Zhou Sier remained silent for a long time but ultimately followed Zhou Xiangmei.

The mother and daughter actually had no destination.

They wandered along the railway tracks, drinking river water when thirsty, stealing coal from coal trains when hungry, then selling the stolen coal to buy steamed buns or something similar, barely managing to eat.

After walking for about a month, they finally reached Guangdong.

Hearing that Hong Kong City was incredibly prosperous, Zhou Xiangmei became determined to go there.

Another month or so later, the mother and daughter finally arrived in Hong Kong City.

Truthfully, Zhou Xiangmei didn’t understand anything, as she was illiterate.

It was Zhou Sier who asked around and learned that to stay and obtain a formal identity, they had to do this and that…

The mother and daughter lived in a subdivided flat for a while, with Zhou Sier taking on odd jobs everywhere, desperately earning money.

Zhou Xiangmei, being illiterate, couldn’t find work and eventually became a nanny for someone.

About a year later, around the end of 1977, Zhou Xiangmei married a middle-aged man surnamed Li and moved into his home, while Zhou Sier continued living alone in the subdivided flat.

That marriage quickly allowed Zhou Xiangmei to obtain Hong Kong City residency.

Zhou Sier also gained legal status ahead of time as a result.

By then, Zhou Sier had already saved up some money, attended night school for a year, and was renting a place with her night school classmate Luo Jiaojiao.

Another year passed, and by 1978, Zhou Xiangmei had divorced her husband surnamed Li, received a share of the property, and promptly married Wu Hao.

That same year, Zhou Sier was admitted to university.

Now, in 1981, Zhou Sier was in her third year of university.

Zhou Xiangmei said, “Although Sier and I have kept in touch over the years, we’ve been living apart for four or five years now. I really don’t know much about her recent situation.”

Bai Yuanzhi asked, “Then which university does she attend? Who are her teachers? Does she have a boyfriend? Who is her best friend? Where does she usually live? Her tuition isn’t cheap, is it? Where does the money come from? Why did she go to Bilanting that day? Was she meeting a friend? Or was she invited by a teacher or classmate? Or perhaps… was she working at Bilanting…”

“Stop!!!” Zhou Xiangmei pressed her temples. “Don’t bombard me with so many questions at once! I… I don’t know!”

She thought hard and managed to recall the name of Zhou Sier’s university, her major, and her year of study.

“As for whether she has a boyfriend, she never mentioned it to me, but I think she does! When a woman starts dating… she acts differently. But I suspect that even if she is seeing someone, it must have started recently.”

Zhou Xiangmei explained, “The reason I think so is—she’s always been incredibly busy, hardly having any time for a relationship. Besides, it’s been so long since the incident, and I haven’t heard from Officer Jiang that she had a boyfriend! The police would definitely have found out if she did!”

Bai Yuanzhi nodded, thinking Zhou Xiangmei’s analysis was quite reasonable.

Zhou Xiangmei continued, “As for Sier’s best friend, of course it’s Luo Jiaojiao! They worked part-time together, attended night school together, and even got into Hong Kong University together…”

“After starting university, Sier moved into the dormitory, but I don’t know which one.”

“Honestly, Sier and I only maintained a surface-level relationship. Before the incident, we met once a month, and she would bring gifts during holidays or on birthdays for me and your Uncle Wu.”

“Other than that, we really didn’t have much contact.”

“As for your questions about whether Sier was working at Bilanting or who invited her there… I don’t know!” Zhou Xiangmei said. “I’m not just telling you this—Officer Jiang and the others have asked me many times, and my answer is always the same: I don’t know! I really don’t!”

Bai Yuanzhi fell into deep thought.

—She wondered if the woman in the blue dress she saw at the hospital today could be Luo Jiaojiao.

But in her previous life, even after dating Song Junshu for two years, she had never heard the name “Luo Jiaojiao.”

No, that wasn’t right.

Bai Yuanzhi reconsidered. Regardless of whether the woman in the blue dress was Luo Jiaojiao, when she saw her this morning, she had felt a strange sense of familiarity.

In other words, Bai Yuanzhi had seen the woman in the blue dress in her previous life.

Perhaps it was because she had encountered her too early in this life that she couldn’t recall her immediately.

Just then, Zhou Xiangmei said, “Oh, it’s time for me to go home and cook!”

She stood up and said to Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Zhaodi, “Third, Fourth, even your eldest sister can understand my situation… You can too.”

“Mom is different from you. You’re young and literate. I’m old. If your Uncle Wu kicks me out, I’ll just become a burden to you. Isn’t that right?”

“So, don’t come looking for me anymore.”

Zhou Xiangmei turned to leave—

Zhou Zhaodi blocked her way. “Mom! Even if you want to send me and Third Sister away, a thousand dollars isn’t enough! Can you give us more…”

Zhou Xiangmei’s temper flared instantly. “Oh, so you know a thousand dollars is nothing? Yet you two ate fifty dollars’ worth of food in one afternoon!”

“I never asked you to come to Hong Kong City! You came on your own!”

“Since you came on your own, figure out how to support yourselves!”

“I don’t earn much money either. If I give you a thousand dollars and your Uncle Wu settles accounts with me later, I’ll be in trouble too…”

“In short, don’t come looking for me anymore! Even if you do, I have no money!” After saying this, Zhou Xiangmei stormed off angrily.

Zhou Zhaodi watched Zhou Xiangmei’s retreating figure, feeling so wronged she wanted to cry.

Bai Yuanzhi, however, couldn’t be bothered. She simply turned to Aunt Jiang and asked where to find the most cost-effective subdivided flats.

Aunt Jiang thought for a moment and mentioned a few locations.

Afraid Bai Yuanzhi might not remember, she wrote down the addresses along with the contact information for a real estate agent.

Bai Yuanzhi thanked Aunt Jiang and prepared to go look for a subdivided flat.

Aunt Jiang called her back. “Ah Zhi, will you and Zhao’er come for dinner tonight? I close up at eight-thirty.”

Bai Yuanzhi patted her full stomach.

The meal Aunt Jiang had given them earlier was generous, with plenty of meat.

She wouldn’t need to eat again today.

Aunt Jiang said, “If you and Zhao’er aren’t coming for dinner tonight, I’ll give each of you eight dollars, and we’ll settle today’s payment. Is that okay?”

Bai Yuanzhi nodded vigorously. “Thank you, Aunt Jiang!”

Aunt Jiang smiled and turned to get the money.

Zhou Zhaodi grew anxious beside them. “Third Sister, you… Mom just gave her fifty dollars! Even after deducting the soda money, she should at least give us twenty each, right? How could you…”

Bai Yuanzhi snapped, “Shut up!”

Zhou Zhaodi stomped her feet in frustration.

When she saw Aunt Jiang returning with sixteen dollars, Zhou Zhaodi forced a smile. “Aunt Jiang, you’re so kind!”

Aunt Jiang smiled and said to Bai Yuanzhi, “We agreed earlier that you and your sister would help me out, and in return, each of you would get a bowl of white rice with meat gravy, right?”

Bai Yuanzhi glanced at Zhou Zhaodi first, then nodded at Aunt Jiang. “Right!”

Aunt Jiang continued, “A bowl of rice with gravy in my shop costs eight dollars, so your wages should be eight dollars each, correct?”

Bai Yuanzhi nodded again. “Yes, that’s right.”

Only then did Aunt Jiang look at Zhou Zhaodi and say with a smile, “Zhao’er, tell me, was the roast meat combo rice I gave you and your cousin worth twenty dollars a portion?”

Zhou Zhaodi felt both ashamed and embarrassed, realizing Aunt Jiang had overheard her complaining to her sister.

Too awkward to speak, she lowered her head and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, stammering, “It… it was worth it!”

Of course, it was worth it!

Aunt Jiang had been very thoughtful:

The portion of Roast Goose on the rice wasn’t large, so Zhou Xiangmei hadn’t felt comfortable taking it;

Aunt Jiang had hidden quite a bit of meat under the rice;

Aunt Jiang had given Zhou Zhaodi extra rice for free!

She even deliberately kept Zhou Xiangmei from noticing that she had added extra ingredients to the sisters’ meals by engaging her in conversation…

Most importantly, there was truly a lot of meat in that bowl of rice—twenty yuan couldn’t even buy that much!

At that moment, Zhou Zhaodi was so ashamed and angry she wished she could die!

But Bai Yuanzhi acted as if nothing had happened, nodding to Aunt Jiang and saying, “Aunt Jiang, thank you for helping us today. We’ll be going now… Oh, by the way, can Zhaodi and I come back tomorrow to help you out again?”

Aunt Jiang asked, “Same as today, from eleven in the morning until two in the afternoon, eight yuan per person or a bowl of white rice with braised meat sauce.”

Bai Yuanzhi nodded, “Alright, thank you, Aunt Jiang. See you tomorrow!”

Aunt Jiang smiled, “See you tomorrow!”

Clutching the small note Aunt Jiang had given her, Bai Yuanzhi left.

Zhou Zhaodi hurriedly chased after her, “Third Sister, wait for me!”