Chapter 232: Chocolate
"It’s nothing, that’s my duty," Yi Roujing replied.
"But not everyone has Yi Roujing’s ability to exceed their duties," Dai Shuhao praised. "There was some family matters recently that delayed us a bit, so we thought we’d come before National Day."
"This is our heartfelt gesture," Jiang Yuhua placed a cloth bag on the table in front of Yi Roujing. "Tomorrow is the 29th, we hope Yi Roujing can come to our house for a meal, when our parents-in-law heard about this, they insisted we invite you over."
"Yes, yes, Yi Roujing, you can also bring your family along. The more, the merrier. I will come to the hospital to pick you up tomorrow." Dai Shuhao warmly invited.
Yi Roujing smiled and waved her hand, "I’ve accepted your kind gesture, that’s enough. I didn’t do much really, it was Mr. Dai’s focus on safety and slow cycling that led to this."
Hearing this, Dai Shuhao scratched his head, "Anyway, it was all thanks to Yi Roujing. I’m just about getting promoted, if anything serious happened, there’d be no chance."
"Most importantly, my grandma. She was very happy to hear about my promotion, but when she inadvertently heard about this matter, she was worried. No matter how we explained to her, she felt we were hiding things. So this time, we hope Yi Roujing can help explain things to her."
"My grandma was ill before, her health was never good, and it took a lot for her to recover a bit. So, we’re hoping Yi Roujing can help." Dai Shuhao said earnestly.
Yi Roujing didn’t expect such a situation, seeing the genuine eyes of the couple, she couldn’t find words to refuse, "Alright then, my husband is on a business trip recently, can I bring my sister-in-law along?"
"Sure, of course." Dai Shuhao responded with a smile, "I don’t know where Yi Roujing’s sister-in-law works, we could..."
"She works at a food factory. We’ll go together after work tomorrow."
"Alright then, I’ll have my wife pick you up," Dai Shuhao replied. "We live at 18 Red Star Lane."
Dai Shuhao introduced his family to ease Roujing’s mind. The couple expressed their thanks once more, then left.
After they left, Yi Roujing peeked into the small bag. Although the bag wasn’t large, it was quite heavy, filled with canned meat, canned fish, milk powder, cookies, milk candy, and even chocolate.
Yi Roujing’s eyes widened, her head almost buried in the bag. Foreign packaging, imported, wow, that couple probably have a gold mine at home.
In this era, it was the first time Yi Roujing had seen chocolate, she couldn’t resist, opened one, and popped it into her mouth. The rich chocolate aroma, the texture smooth and silky, she was enchanted.
"Roujing, what are you eating?" Guo Xiangxiang saw Yi Roujing with her eyes closed, her mouth being the center of attention. What delicacy was she eating?
Yi Roujing opened her eyes, saw Guo Xiangxiang, beckoned her over, opened one and popped it into her mouth, "It’s you so I share despite the pain, don’t tell anyone, I’ll split these cookies for everyone to eat."
Guo Xiangxiang tasted the sweet flavor, different from candy, with a touch of unreachable bitterness, how to say, better tasting than milk candy, "What is this?"
"Chocolate, foreign goods." Yi Roujing put away the bag, the rest were hers, doing good deeds does pay off, she decided to become a good person.
Once more, the operating room nurses tasted the fragrant and tasty premium cookies, everyone reciprocated in kind, boiled eggs, rice balls, boiled peanuts... Yi Roujing received many gifts in return.
After work, Yi Roujing saw Ding Anmin and gave her a piece of chocolate, Ding Anmin had gotten used to being fed by her sister-in-law, but it was her first time tasting chocolate, her expression filled with surprise, "What is this?"
"Chocolate, a gift from someone. By the way, have dinner with me tonight, we’re invited out." Yi Roujing then explained the story.
"Elderly people tend to overthink, it’s best to explain things clearly," Ding Anmin had a very good impression of elders since interacting with Mrs. Huang.
The sisters-in-law arrived home to find several guests. Ding Weihuo smiled and introduced Huang Atu and others to the family, Yi Roujing took out a bunch of milk candy from the cloth bag to share with the kids from Huang Atu’s family.
"Grandpa, sis." Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin had previously been to the recycling station, back then, Yi Roujing gave Huang Tangyuan several milk candies, grandfather and grandson both remembered.
It was Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying’s first time knowing their daughter-in-law and daughter were acquainted with Huang Atu, excitedly exclaiming it was fate. Huang Atu felt relieved since Ding Weihuo’s younger generation were such kind people and felt less nervous since entering the house.
Huang Atu was a considerate and knowledgeable person, he didn’t bring everyone from home, just his partner and two kids from his son’s family. The kids were still young, they wouldn’t eat much, but having a taste made them satisfied.
Li Hongying prepared a hearty dinner, compared to Huang Atu’s family, it seemed more lavish than a New Year’s celebration at home. Ten dishes, mostly meat and less vegetables, big fish and chunks of meat aplenty, there was even steamed egg custard for the kids, topped with minced meat and a drizzle of sesame oil, it smelled divine.
The main dish was pure white rice and oily fried scallion pancakes. The two kids buried their heads eating, but their manners were polite, which Yi Roujing and the others liked.
After the meal, the leftover scallion pancakes were packed by Li Hongying for Huang Atu to take home to the kids, taking food as well as receiving, Huang Atu’s face reddened slightly, but he accepted for the kids.
"Mom, tomorrow evening Anmin and I won’t be home for dinner," Yi Roujing informed, then Ding Anmin explained the reason.
"At Red Star Lane, that’s close to Xiaobao’s new home, same alley, it’s fate, you can become neighbors in the future," Li Hongying smiled and said, "Going to someone’s home for dinner, don’t go empty-handed. I’ll prepare some things for you to take over tomorrow."
Li Hongying saw they brought premium snacks, so she prepared some dried rabbit meat, wild boar meat, and a wild chicken, tightly wrapped in oiled paper, no smell when brought to the workplace.
The next day after work, Jiang Yuhua arrived fifteen minutes early and waited at the hospital gate, when she saw the girl walking with Yi Roujing, surprise flickered across her face, she’d seen her in their alley, the future daughter-in-law of the Huang Family.
"Hello, Yi Roujing, I’ve seen this girl before, at Red Star Lane, it’s Anmin, right?" Jiang Yuhua asked, although the question showed certainty. She wouldn’t remember wrong - she was supporting grandma for a walk in the alley, unexpectedly ran into Mrs. Huang’s group.
Mrs. Huang introduced her as her granddaughter-in-law, named Ding Anmin, the wedding is planned for the end of the year, they were invited to have some celebration drinks.