Colorful years

Knowing in advance that the master and apprentice would be visiting today, our thoughtful District Chief Wang specially instructed the canteen staff to make stewed pork offal with soybeans a featured dish for lunch!

You should know that this is one of Chef Qin's most famous and best-selling dishes. Whenever he personally cooks this dish, his superb culinary skills always bring out the unique brilliance of the ingredients: enticing color, irresistible aroma, delicious taste, and beautiful shape... it's simply a perfect combination of color, aroma, taste, and presentation!

It's no exaggeration to say that just one bite will instantly awaken your taste buds and immerse you in the delightful enjoyment of the food!

Zhang Cong also found the stewed pork offal with soybeans incredibly delicious. After eating and drinking his fill, and still in a good mood, he decided to visit the district supply and marketing cooperative.

He walked hurriedly, yet seemed somewhat hesitant, for this trip was not merely to buy items, but to seek out the woman who had been hidden deep in his heart for many years, the woman who haunted his dreams—Li Hua.

As mentioned earlier, Li Hua and Zhang Cong share a deep connection. They were classmates from the first grade of elementary school and remained together until high school.

Over those nine years, their relationship was less than romantic and more complex. It wasn't just simple affection; it also contained a deep sense of gratitude.

Throughout Zhang Cong's adolescence, Li Hua's help was like countless stars, illuminating his path of growth. Most notably, his diverse collection of extracurricular books acted as keys, unlocking the treasure trove of knowledge within Zhang Cong.

It is no exaggeration to say that almost all of Zhang Cong's extracurricular readings came from Li Hua's generous borrowing.

Especially from the third grade of elementary school, Zhang Cong immersed himself in the ocean of Chinese literary classics.

Those four popular classic novels—the fantastical Journey to the West, the heroic Water Margin, the epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the delicate Dream of the Red Chamber—were all borrowed from Li Hua.

These works not only greatly broadened Zhang Cong's horizons but also laid a solid foundation for his future literary cultivation. It can be said that without Li Hua's enthusiastic assistance, Zhang Cong might not have been able to appreciate the profoundness of traditional Chinese culture so deeply.

As time went on, Li Hua gradually realized that the family's book collection was about to be exhausted. However, Zhang Cong's thirst for books remained as fervent as ever, and in order to continue to satisfy his thirst for knowledge, Li Hua had no choice but to ask his father, who worked at the state education bureau, for help.

After much pleading and cajoling, her father finally agreed to buy her a new batch of books.

Soon after, brand-new modern classics such as "Red Crag", "Bitter Herbs", "Tracks in the Snowy Forest", "The Bright Sun", "Family", "Spring", "Autumn", "Rickshaw Boy" and "How the Steel Was Tempered" were placed on the bookshelf.

These works cover different themes and styles, from revolutionary history to social reality, from the rise and fall of families to personal struggles, all of which Zhang Cong found captivating.

Extensive reading not only broadened Zhang Cong's knowledge to an unprecedented level, but also allowed the seed of his love for literature to grow strong and eventually become unwavering.

So, can this emotional bond formed through books be considered a first love?

Upon reflection, aside from frequent book exchanges, there didn't seem to be many other forms of interaction between the two. However, if we were to be precise, there was actually one exception.

That happened not long after Zhang Cong received his university admission letter with great joy.

Somehow, Li Hua learned of this news through some means, so she made a special excuse to visit her best friend San San (who is Zhang Cong's cousin) and met with Zhang Cong along the way.

This brief meeting became one of their few but unforgettable precious memories.

At that time, they were walking on the riverbank, very close to each other, and their hearts were pounding like drums, and they could hear each other's rapid heartbeats.

A blush crept across Zhang Cong's face. His eyes sparkled with anticipation and nervousness, and his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Li Hua's expression was also somewhat shy. Her gaze was lowered, and she dared not meet Zhang Cong's eyes. Her hands unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her clothes. Her heart was like a vast, turbulent sea, with various emotions intertwined.

Finally, Zhang Cong broke the silence. He took a deep breath, tried to keep his voice calm, and asked tactfully, "Li Hua, what do you think of me?"

Li Hua hesitated for a moment, a hint of confusion and unease flashing in her eyes. Her lips moved, but she gave an irrelevant answer: "My mother said that my matter can only be discussed with her consent."

The astute Zhang Cong immediately understood the underlying meaning. His expression darkened slightly, and a hint of disappointment and helplessness flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself: So that's how it is. Li Hua approves of me, but her mother disapproves of my family because they are too poor and of low social status, making us an unsuitable match.

If they want to date, the first hurdle is getting past her mother.

A strong sense of unwillingness and determination welled up in Zhang Cong's heart. He bit his lip tightly and told himself: Give me five years, and I will prove to the world that I am worthy of marrying you.

Perhaps Zhang Cong was too stubborn; from then on, the two never contacted each other again, nor did they exchange letters to express their longing and love. But not contacting each other did not mean they didn't care about each other. Zhang Cong could never erase Li Hua from his heart; her every smile, every gesture, was deeply imprinted in his mind.