I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 411 - 350: She Left

Though it’s called a date, it’s actually serious business.

"What’s this?"

"Making you a fully automatic, self-cooking rice noodle machine. Didn’t you want to eat sour and spicy noodles? You can have them anytime you want in the future."

"That’s great! Hurry up, we might be able to have a midnight snack tonight."

Yan Jinzhi affectionately patted the girl’s head and agreed.

Jiang Mingyue actually wanted to go soak in hot springs, but if she left him alone, she felt it would be a waste. In the end, she stayed with him. After all, these moments together were rare for them now.

Yan Jinzhi was even more charming when he was working, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Yan Jinzhi could also feel the intense gaze on him. He didn’t feel awkward; instead, he enjoyed it, which made him work even faster.

If Dr. Lu saw this scene, he would definitely invite Jiang Mingyue to join the base, and then their commander’s work efficiency would soar, and the inventions would surely multiply.

That night, when the noodle machine was finally ready, Jiang Mingyue immediately put it to the test. Using rice as an experiment, she added proportioned quantities of rice and water, and soon, the machine’s output filled a large bowl with fresh rice noodles. It even had an automatic rod and cutter, making the operation extremely simple and convenient.

"It worked! Yan Jinzhi, you’re amazing. This is so much more convenient than the ancient method of pressing noodles, saving both the millstone and soaking time, and yet the noodles are so good. Wait, let me try using some other grains too."

Seeing the girl so enthusiastic, Yan Jinzhi didn’t remind her how late it was. After all, what could be better than seeing her happy?

So Jiang Mingyue went on to make sweet potato noodles and regular noodles, discovering that this machine could also function as a grinder, producing both dry and wet powder. With this multi-purpose machine, life at home became much easier.

Jiang Mingyue kept her word and made a midnight snack for Yan Jinzhi. In the middle of the night, she opted out of making sour and spicy noodles and made cross-bridge rice noodles instead. The dish required a good chicken broth and condiments. She had long prepared the chicken broth, and she didn’t skimp on the ingredients. Fried pork was a must. Without quail eggs, she used bird eggs instead. Thin slices of chicken breast were essential, along with some vegetables. After adding everything to the chicken broth pot, a delicious aroma filled the air almost instantly.

"It’s so good! The rice noodles are chewy and delicious; they don’t turn mushy or break apart. Next time, I want cross-bridge rice noodles again."

Jiang Mingyue was very pleased with Yan Jinzhi’s reaction. It was rare! Rare for Yan Jinzhi to request something like Xiao Ran would over a bowl of food, something that was unimaginable in the past.

After so much trouble tonight, being tired and sleepy was worth it.

After eating their fill, going to the hot springs was out of the question. They simply washed up and went to rest together.

The next morning, when Jiang Mingyue woke up, Yan Jinzhi was already outside exercising.

"Morning!"

Yan Jinzhi pointed to the sun rising at the same time outside and joked, "Indeed, it’s early!"

The two exchanged smiles, and Yan Jinzhi informed her first, "After lunch, I have to go back. I’ll probably see you again in three days. Whenever I have free time, I’ll come to see you."

The first half of the sentence made Jiang Mingyue instantly feel down, but the second half of the sentence uplifted her mood again.

"Alright! I’ll prepare some food for you to take back, and you can share some with Qiao Mingtang."

"Okay!"

With the fruits of last night’s labor, Jiang Mingyue didn’t put much thought elsewhere. She prepared some instant noodles, instant rice noodles, and snail noodles, sealed the seasoning packets, and packaged them, creating over a thousand portions.

"Everyone at your test base can try them."

"Sure."

Of course, Jiang Mingyue also specifically prepared for Yan Jinzhi and Qiao Mingtang, including fruit wine, apple jam, strawberry jam, black truffle sauce, and chicken oil, enough to last a while.

After lunch, Jiang Mingyue didn’t see him off and let him carry his stuff himself.

Once she left the room, she also moved the improved noodle machine by Yan Jinzhi to the kitchen.

That evening, when Jiang Ming’an and Xie Yunhai came back, Xie Yunhai curiously circled the machine.

"Ming Yue! This thing is amazing! If you take the blueprints to a machinery factory, they might even make you a first-class engineer by acclaim. Honestly, where did this machine come from?"

This was exactly the question she was waiting for.

"Yan Jinzhi had it improved and sent over."

"Nice! Nice! With this thing, eating whatever we want becomes much easier. Tonight, let me try operating it, and I’ll make chicken broth sweet potato noodles for you all. How about that?"

"Sounds good!"

When it was time to eat, besides the chicken broth sweet potato noodles, there were four side dishes, all prepared by Xie Yunhai with perfect color, aroma, and taste. Indeed, a person who excels in one area is skilled in others too, especially that roast duck, which tasted even better than those in major restaurants in later years.

"If Xiao Ran knew we had so much delicious food on the table, he’d probably cry in envy."

Jiang Ming’an, who hadn’t spoken all this while, chimed in, "Serves him right!"

After dinner, the siblings huddled together for a quiet chat.

"What did you say?"

"It’s true! Gu Jinhong, that woman, like she had an epiphany overnight, transferred the house to Brother Xie and secretly handed over a sum of money along with a letter of repentance. She regrets everything she’s done to Brother Xie all these years and says she can’t bear to stay any longer."

"And then?"

"She left with a businessman from Hong Kong. I don’t think she’ll come back any time soon."

"That’s good!" Some people are better off not being around to disgust others.

Since she is his mother, he wouldn’t really do anything to her, but it’s genuinely hard to come to terms with. After all, those who can hurt us the most are often the ones closest to us, because we care.

"Her ability to find a new partner is as consistent as ever. I heard she and Xie Qinglan were truly in love back in the day."

Jiang Ming’an couldn’t understand either. Women are indeed fickle.

Obviously, she was passionately in love with Xie Qinglan, pledging eternal vows, but as soon as Xie Qinglan died, didn’t she immediately find a new partner? If it was for the sake of their child, that would be understandable, but she found someone unreliable and coldly watched as the scumbag beat her biological son. How could she bear that for such a young child?

The siblings evidently both thought about these things and fell silent.

There are thousands of parents in the world, and some don’t act like humans.

Unexpectedly, Xie Yunhai had no intention of keeping the house. He turned around and sold it. Perhaps to him, that place, despite having fond memories of his father, held more of the unbearable past that could break him. Out of sight, out of mind, it was simply better to sell it, ideally turning the whole area into ruins in a flash. That way, he could completely say goodbye to the past.

In fact, that’s what Xie Yunhai thought too, which is why he sold the house even though he wasn’t short on money. He couldn’t wait for the day it would turn into ruins, but now it’s fine.

Unexpectedly, that night, Jiang Ming’an went to Outskirts #5 to wait for the Zhao Family to come and pick up distillers’ grains and corn wine, and ended up seeing Zhao Hualan.

Before he could put on a cold face, Comrade Zhao Hualan arm-in-arm with a young man approached openly and handed over an invitation.

"Jiang Ming’an, I’ve decided to stop liking you. I’m going to marry Mengzi. It’s next month, make sure you come and have a drink at my wedding."

Jiang Ming’an: "...Congratulations!"

Girl, it would have been great if you had realized this sooner. Then I wouldn’t have to be on guard around you like I was with a wolf.

"Thank you! Also, my family will have a batch of pigs ready for sale next month, and we’ll give you the ones from the past few months together. My brother said you should come over and choose whether you want them slaughtered or alive; you can decide for yourselves."

Big fat pigs, huh? Jiang Ming’an was internally thrilled but remained reserved on the surface.

"Alright, I’ll personally come over then, and attend your wedding."

Zhao Hualan: "..." She sighed once again, thankful that she finally came to her senses and chose Mengzi.