"Going out to play. Won't be back until lunchtime." Qi Jizong added, "What would you like to eat? I can cook for you?"
"Stir-fried rice cakes," Zhu Yanli spoke up first. "I really love the rice cakes Uncle Jizong makes. It’s a pity I can’t drink wine. If I could have a cup of aged daughter red, it would be the best taste ever."
"You’ve never drunk wine, so how do you know it tastes good?" Zhu Yanyi looked at her sister, amused. She realized today that her sister had a true foodie’s spirit.
"I know because I see Father eating it with such joy," Zhu Yanli smiled. "Father says it’s even better at year-end. Warm the daughter red, and it warms your stomach. Add fragrant shepherd’s purse rice cakes, and it’s a great life enjoyment." Zhu Yanli’s陶醉 expression made Zhu Yanyi giggle.
"Alright." Qi Jizong laughed heartily. "Since An’er wants shepherd’s purse rice cakes, I have some dried shepherd’s purse. I’ll soak it today and make the stir-fry for you." Although the rice cakes were from year-end, they could last a long time if soaked in water, kept in a cool place, and the water changed regularly.
Qi Jizong’s family made many rice cakes at year-end, plus gifts from relatives. They filled three fifty-jin wine jars. Even eating them every morning, they still had plenty.
At noon, Qi Jizong really cooked the stir-fried rice cakes. Although there was no aged daughter red, Zhu Yanyi and her sister ate happily. They left after being full and happy, of course, with Lu Hong still present.
After bidding farewell to Qi Jizong, Zhu Yanyi and her sister went to Xie Jingyu’s dormitory at the cinema. They chatted for a while, then left for the Cheng family.
Cheng Baokun was there. When the sisters entered, they saw several large bags of luggage in the main room. Zhu Yanyi smiled. "I thought Brother Cheng Chen would have less luggage than us."
Cheng Chen grinned, his face full of excitement. "Sister Ani, it would be great if we were in the same class."
"The school assigns classes. I don’t know if we’ll be together. But even if not, it’s fine. We’re in the same grade, so we’ll be on the same floor. It’s easy to meet," Zhu Yanyi said seriously. She never worried about being in the same class. To her, school was for studying. As long as there was a place to learn, the environment didn’t matter. Great men said true learners can stay focused even in noisy markets. It depends on one’s mindset.
"Ani, I know you were the Young Pioneer captain in primary school. Do you want to be class monitor in middle school?" Cheng Baokun asked.
"Not planning to right now. But even if I’m not monitor, I’ll still apply to join the Youth League," Zhu Yanyi said slowly.
Middle school students could join the Youth League, but spots were few. Only two or three students per class over three years. One per year was already many. First-year students had no chance. Second-year students might get a chance. So, having two members per class over three years was very rare.