"We'll send you here first. My wedding is on Sunday, the day after tomorrow. If you have nothing planned that day, come to my place to help..." Huang Yunfei said as he sent Jiang Hai and Ai Xiaoxi to Jiang Hai's house, giving him specific instructions.
Jiang Hai nodded in response, signaling that he understood.
Though Huang Yunfei had plenty of money, some things couldn't be solved with cash. As a friend, now that he was back, Jiang Hai had no choice but to pitch in—whether it was inflating balloons, tying them up, or, the next morning, bringing bricks and red paper to weigh down the manhole covers in his neighborhood. This was a local tradition in Bingcheng. Jiang Hai had never attended weddings elsewhere, so he wasn't sure if other places did the same. On the morning of the wedding, he'd have to help hand out flowers and wedding candy boxes downstairs.
Each candy box contained eight candies and a pack of cigarettes, and the candy had to include chocolate.
They also had to organize a motorcade and handle video recording, but those tasks were assigned to someone found by Huang Yunfei's father.
Jiang Hai and his friends only needed to make the balloons and flowers. They wouldn't be involved with the bride's family, except for the customary door knocking when picking up the bride in the morning.
After chatting with Jiang Hai, Huang Yunfei noticed they had been sitting in the car for a long time and were looking tired.
So he left first, while Jiang Hai and Ai Xiaoxi returned to Jiang Hai's home in Bingcheng.
Before sending them off, the group went out for a meal—considered a treat for Jiang Hai.
The meal was authentic Harbin cuisine, featuring sweet and sour pork, Jiang Hai's favorite dish.
Besides sweet and sour pork, he also loved scorched pork strips. He had a real fondness for dishes prepared that way.
Back home, although Jiang Hai had bought the house, it had been empty for so long it was covered in dust.
They couldn't move in right away—they had to clean first. But knowing Jiang Hai's laziness, he and Ai Xiaoxi definitely wouldn't manage it alone. After turning on the water heater, Jiang Hai called Feng Yunchen, who had already returned, asking her to come help clean the place.
"You only think of me when you need me," Feng Yunchen joked. She and Jiang Hai had been classmates in junior high. Back then, most students attended schools based on their district, especially those like Jiang Hai who weren't academically strong. Feng Yunchen lived only three stops away. She arrived about twenty minutes later, just as the water heater finished heating.
"Sister Chen, you're the main force!" Ai Xiaoxi smiled at Feng Yunchen's arrival.
"You're lucky this time. Jiang Hai is with you, but this kid can't go with me," Feng Yunchen teased Jiang Hai, rolling her eyes.
"Why not?" Ai Xiaoxi asked curiously.
"What do you think?" Feng Yunchen replied, earning another eye roll. Ai Xiaoxi stuck out her tongue, amused. Feng Yunchen's home was indeed a bit different.
Ignoring Ai Xiaoxi's teasing and Jiang Hai's feigned ignorance, Feng Yunchen spotted a pair of rubber gloves that Jiang Hai had left somewhere ages ago. She put them on, filled them with hot water, grabbed a rag, and began cleaning.
I have to admit, Feng Yunchen had the makings of a perfect wife and mother—whether cooking or cleaning, she did it well. By noon, less than two hours later, the room was spotless.
After throwing the dusty sheets into the washing machine and starting the cycle, everything else was done.
"Oh, I'm so tired. At home, I'm like a little princess—my mom does everything for me. But here, I'm a nanny. It's not easy," Feng Yunchen complained as she flopped on the sofa, while Ai Xiaoxi smiled and massaged her legs.
Jiang Hai felt a bit embarrassed and gently stroked her head and massaged her shoulders.
Though she grumbled, Feng Yunchen enjoyed helping Jiang Hai around the house—especially when both Jiang Hai and Ai Xiaoxi massaged her. The physical comfort was nothing compared to the warmth she felt inside.
"What do you want to eat tonight? You've worn our Yunchen out—I'll treat you to a big meal!" Jiang Hai glanced at the clock; it was nearly four in the afternoon.
Though it wasn't mealtime yet, they could order food now to have it ready later.
Hearing this, Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi suddenly realized they were a bit hungry.
To be honest, Bingcheng's cuisine wasn't particularly special. It had a little bit of everything, but nothing truly stood out. Seafood was popular, mostly brought in from the provincial city of Dan. It tasted good and was cheaper than inland areas, though pricier than coastal regions. Besides seafood, the only notable delicacy was fish native to Heilongjiang Province. Because the rivers froze over in winter, fish here could only grow for half the year, making their meat firm and elastic.
That's why tourists often tried the fish when visiting Bingcheng.
But Jiang Hai and Ai Xiaoxi weren't lacking in fish or seafood—they had just come from the coast, where Jiang Hai had eaten seafood almost daily.
They'd had sweet and sour pork for lunch, and Jiang Hai didn't want it again for dinner, so they debated what to eat.
After a moment, Jiang Hai clapped his hands and said, "Why don't we have Huicai?"
Both women blinked in surprise. Huicai? They didn't eat it often, but there were plenty of Huicai restaurants in Bingcheng.
Huicai is halal cuisine—no pork, mainly beef and mutton dishes. Mutton, in particular, was a specialty, with famous dishes like braised lamb strips, braised tripe, braised lamb face, stir-fried lamb eyes, and lamb offal soup.
Chinese Muslim cuisine traces its roots near Shaanxi, where many people follow Islam. This minority cuisine developed from religious customs.
In previous dynasties, nationalism wasn't emphasized; everyone was considered Chinese regardless of ethnicity, but religion was permitted. After the current government was established, policies were introduced to stabilize these groups.
Of course, these political details aren't important now—talking about them might get a book banned—so this is just a brief intro.
Jiang Hai didn't concern himself with ethnic or religious differences. He was just an ordinary guy and enjoyed the food. After all, beef tastes better than pork!
"Okay!" Feng Yunchen agreed, admitting she hadn't eaten Huicai in a while.
Seeing Feng Yunchen and Jiang Hai on board, Ai Xiaoxi, who had never tried it, reluctantly agreed too.
"Alright, let's take a break and eat around five," Jiang Hai said with a smile, confirming the plan.
He then picked up Feng Yunchen and pulled her onto the sofa.
Feeling Jiang Hai's warmth and strength, Feng Yunchen's cheeks flushed.
Ai Xiaoxi looked at them and playfully nudged them. Now wasn't the time to get distracted—they had to head out for dinner soon. If a fight broke out, who knew when they'd get to eat?
Unlike other big cities, Bingcheng's restaurants mostly closed by 8:30 p.m., except for a few all-night spots or big hotels.
Most snack bars closed early, not staying open late like in Imperial City, Magic City, Rongcheng, or Fog City.
If Jiang Hai and company started a fight now, dinner might be delayed indefinitely.
Understanding Ai Xiaoxi's hint, Jiang Hai and Feng Yunchen smiled but didn't move. They just cuddled on the sofa, with Ai Xiaoxi leaning on Jiang Hai. The three sat quietly, listening to each other's heartbeats and the washing machine's hum.
"Old driver, wait for me, I'm going to Kun City! Old driver, wait for me, I'm going to the provincial capital..." Suddenly, a strange singing ringtone came from Jiang Hai's phone—it was a new ringtone he'd just set, a song he heard in Ai Xiaoxi's new car. Honestly, it was a great tune.
Jiang Hai picked up and saw the caller was Qi Li.
"Hello, Qi Li, what's up?" Jiang Hai answered, his mood less resistant than before.