Chapter 18.1| Winter Solstice

On the day of Winter Solstice, which fell on a Friday, the "Foodie Group" headed to the noodle shop right after class and squeezed onto a four-person table nearest the entrance.

Seated at a two-person table closer to the inside were Granny Yu and her grandson, Li Yong.

Li Yong was scooping a large Tangyuan from his bowl into a smaller one.

Yin sat by the wall, keeping an eye on Granny Yu and Yong's table from behind cover.

Yong closely resembled the photo - slightly dark and thin, appearing smaller in stature than his peers, but with bright, piercing eyes - except for the worn-out red jacket that had shrunk in size, evident from the shortened sleeves.

It wasn't customary for donors and recipients to meet directly, but most of the group members were eager for a glimpse. Eventually, they coordinated with Ah Wei to have Granny Yu and her grandson come to the shop to have a bowl of Tangyuan on Winter Solstice.

Eating a bowl of Tangyuan filled with lard and black sesame on Winter Solstice was a tradition in A City.

Granny Yu didn't decline Ah Wei's invitation but insisted on buying just one bowl of Tangyuan.

At 7 p.m., Ah Wei met with Granny Yu for their preparation session. Yong and Granny Yu came to the restaurant. 

At the entrance, \ Yong spotted familiar food at the stall and greeted Ah Wei with a "Hello, brother." He then took out a crumpled ten yuan from his pocket and handed it to Ah Wei, saying, "Brother, I brought grandma here to eat Tangyuan, this is the money for the Tangyuan." 

Not knowing how Granny Yu had informed Li Yong, Ah Weri paused, set down what he was doing, rubbed his hands on his work clothes, and squatted down, saying, "Pay me after the meal, okay?" 

As he approached, he noticed a chilblain on Yong's index finger where he held the money. Li Yong shook his head and extended the hand with the money towards Ah Wei again. 

At eight years old, though young, Yong was well aware of many things. With his father no longer around due to illness and his mother going away after leaving some money, his grandmother was left to care for him alone, a challenging task. His grandmother would often bring back delicious rice dishes, sometimes even a big meatball or braised chicken leg, leftovers sold cheaply to her by the kind-hearted owner of this establishment. 

In this society, there are many kind-hearted people, and he remembered each person who had helped him sincerely. 

"Grandma said you are very busy at work, so she insisted on giving you the money first," Yong said, speaking earnestly despite the gaps in his teeth due to losing baby teeth. Ah Wei was taken aback and accepted the banknote handed to him by Yong. With electronic payments prevalent, he hadn't seen paper money in a while and, after a brief moment of confusion, fumbled to find a coin from his work clothes, placing it in Yong's palm. 

Due to the winter solstice, his rice restaurant had recently started selling Tangyuan, the most traditional and classic being the lard and black sesame-filled ones, priced at 8 yuan per bowl, containing six medium-sized Tangyuan.

The storefront was just a few steps away. Ah Wei called for Xiaoyu to lead Granny Yu and Yong to their seats. Yong politely thanked Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu engaged in a brief conversation with him, asking, "Can I call you Little Yong like Granny Yu?" Xiaoyu felt compassion for Granny Yu, who at such an old age was still making a living in the city with her grandson. In Granny Yu's bowl, Xiaoyu added four extra glutinous sesame Tangyuan, hoping for brighter and sweeter days ahead for Granny Yu and Li Yong.

Yong refused to eat the Tangyuan alone. Seeing the ten tangyuan in the bowl, Granny Yu asked Xiaoyu for a smaller bowl, scooped out three Tangyuan from the big bowl, and pushed it towards Li Yong. 

"Grandma should eat too." Yong remained silent, moved his own bowl towards the centre of the table, picked up a spoon, selected two of the best-looking Tangyuan, placed them in Granny Yu's small bowl, and stood up to bring the small bowl to himself. 

"Grandma should have the big bowl," Yong said, "I'll have the small one." With a smile showing his gums, Yong handed a Tangyuan in a ceramic spoon to Granny Yu's mouth. "Grandma, please eat," Granny Yu took the small spoon, tears brimming in her eyes that had experienced the trials of life, "Yong, you eat too."

The group casually ordered some food, with each person also requesting a bowl of Tangyuan soup. 

Xiaoyu carried two bowls of bacon fried rice, each topped with two braised chicken legs. "Little Yong," Xiaoyu slightly leaned forward, her gaze level with Yong's, "Did you finish your homework before going out today?" 

"Yes, I finished it." 

"You're so good," Xiaoyu's voice was clear and as warm as ever, involuntarily patting Yong's head, "Then I will reward you with chicken leg rice." 

Granny Yu hurriedly intervened, "Xiaoyu, you can't do this." 

Though she was old, she still had a clear mind. This young couple from the rice soup shop pitied her for taking care of this grandson every time they saw her, always helping her in a roundabout way. She already owed favours she couldn't repay, and she couldn't face accepting more. 

Xiaoyu pushed the plate in front of Granny Yu, smiling, "Granny, this is when children are growing," then she touched her own belly, "Let me learn to be a mother from you." "

Oh, this is a good thing!" Granny Yu's excited eyes welled up, rubbing her legs nervously. She didn't refuse this kindness anymore.

The lanterns at the entrance of the rice soup shop lit up, the small shop bustling with business, and the glass door fogged up. 

Granny Yu had intended to leave before the young couple started their business, but a plate of fried rice with chicken legs kept them there until the business was booming. 

Passing by the table of Meng Yin, Yong suddenly stopped in his tracks, tugging at the hem of Hai's shirt. "Brother," Yong timidly and bravely asked, "Can I ask you, what is the school of this uniform?" 

They had come directly from school, still wearing their uniforms. 

Hai was taken aback, facing away from them, he had been listening to the conversation between the grandmother and grandson with his ears pricked, but he didn't expect Yong to pull at his uniform before leaving. "First High School," Hai moistened his suddenly dry lips, "A City's First High School." 

Understanding, with a slight frown, continued to ask, "Is it a good school?" 

"It's the best high school in A City," answered Yong's question from the girl sitting across, Lin Xipei. 

On a societal and academic level, the six key high schools in A City were equally prestigious, but in her mind, FHS was the best among them.

Yong's eyebrows relaxed, in the noisy shop, the members of the group heard him firmly say, "Thank you, sister, I will also aim to enter First High School in the future." Then they heard him whisper softly, "I also want to wear such a nice school uniform."