Zhao Hongmei devoured her steamed buns, not forgetting to clarify that she was eating the meat-filled ones.
Her roommates burst into laughter, amused by her antics.
Chu Yue entered the dorm to the sound of her roommates' hearty laughter. She wondered what had made the atmosphere so lively today.
"What are you all so happy about?"
As soon as she spoke, her eyes fell on the feast laid out on the table, and she lost her composure.
"You've started eating without me?"
"We didn't know when you'd be back, and we were hungry, so we ate first!" Zhao Hongmei replied, still her usual boisterous self.
"I brought some chili sauce, pickles, and fruit from home. We'll have the fruit after dinner."
Chu Yue casually placed her bag on the table and quickly took out her chopsticks and lunchbox, preparing to eat.
Her movements were fluid and efficient, without any hesitation.
Chu Yue, with her naturally lively personality, grabbed her chopsticks and began to eat,
as if afraid someone would snatch the food away if she was any slower.
"Mmm, Xiao Tian, this meat is delicious."
"Yueyue, not only the meat is good, but the buns are also delicious, even better than the meat!" Zhao Hongmei immediately retorted.
Su Xiaotian was curious, wondering if this girl had developed a particular fondness for the buns.
However, she had to admit that her grandmother's steamed buns were indeed exceptionally tasty.
Chu Yue looked at Zhao Hongmei, who was still gnawing on a bun, finding her rather silly.
"I'm eating meat, I'm eating meat." Chu Yue picked up another piece of meat, a perfect balance of lean and fat.
"I always thought my mom's cooking was the best, but I didn't expect yours to be even better!"
Chu Yue praised generously after taking a bite.
Su Xiaotian was confident in her family's braised dishes.
Her two dads and two moms had already earned their first pot of gold in the provincial capital with this very dish, a taste verified by countless people.
Her factory would also be processing various braised delicacies in the future.
"These sweet and sour pork ribs are so good they'll make you bite off your tongue!" Qian Xiaobei said softly.
The others had initially gone for the braised meat because they found the thick slices of meat satisfying.
Qian Xiaobei, however, had a preference for the sweet and sour flavor, so she chose to try the sweet and sour pork ribs first.
Hearing the usually reserved Su Xiaobei's enthusiastic recommendation, the other girls who hadn't yet reached for the sweet and sour pork ribs immediately did so.
After tasting them, they found the flavor even more exquisite, like enjoying a gourmet feast.
"This is incredible! How did you make it taste like this?" Chu Yue's eyes sparkled.
"Xiao Tian, I now understand what they mean by 'hidden talents among the common folk'!" Zhao Hongmei finally put down her bun and started eating the pork ribs.
"Xiao Tian, your family could totally open a restaurant. You'd become a millionaire!" Dong Yan'an exclaimed.
...
The girls chatted animatedly, creating a wonderfully cheerful atmosphere.
Su Xiaotian simply smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes.
"My grandmother's cooking is excellent!"
"Grandma is the best!" Zhao Hongmei chimed in obsequiously.
Her behavior reminded Su Xiaotian of how Christina had insisted on having Grandma Su as her own grandmother.
"A German friend said the same thing, and even said she wanted to be Grandma's granddaughter!"
The other girls looked at Su Xiaotian in surprise upon hearing about her German friend.
A German friend?
For the first time, they began to wonder about Su Xiaotian's background. Could she be from a diplomatic family?
After all, in this era, how many people had foreign friends?
And such close ones at that?
Su Xiaotian, however, didn't think much of it, just speaking casually.
She had already moved on to the next topic.
"My grandmother said she wants me to bring you all over to our house for a meal sometime."
Having received the meat from Su Xiaotian and now being invited to their home, the girls felt a bit embarrassed.
"Xiao Tian, we've already benefited so much from just this. How can we impose on you by coming to your house for a meal?" Li Jianhong said first.
When she was back in her hometown, she knew that visiting other people's homes for meals was not common unless they were very close relatives.
"We'll find time after our military training. We can't go now anyway."
Su Xiaotian paid no mind to Li Jianhong's reservations and directly settled the matter.
Su Xiaotian was indeed a person of clear likes and dislikes; if she liked something, she truly liked it, and if she didn't, she really didn't.
When Yin Ruyun returned, Ai Yu was with her.
The others paid them no attention, and they didn't approach to cause trouble.
The two sat separately, eating braised pork trotters.
Listening to the laughter and chatter from the other side, Yin Ruyun gnashed her teeth, feeling that even her favorite pork trotters tasted bland.
Especially when she heard the compliments from the others, as if the meat they were eating was truly better than the meat in her own lunchbox.
Ai Yu, on the other hand, was quite carefree and didn't overthink anything; she ate what was available.
She ate heartily.
"Ruyun, these are braised pork trotters from the state-run restaurant, aren't they? The taste is so authentic! I had a bite last year, and the flavor was unforgettable. I'm thinking about it now."
As Ai Yu spoke, she picked up another large piece of braised pork trotter and put it in her mouth.
Yin Ruyun watched Ai Yu eat with gusto, her grip on her chopsticks tightening, almost to the point of breaking them.
But she still replied politely, "Eat more if you like it. I brought these specifically for you."
Hearing this, Ai Yu was almost moved to tears.
Indeed, in this world, only Ruyun cared about her the most.
These people in Dorm 314 were truly awful.
They were all fawning over Su Xiaotian, causing someone as good as Ruyun to suffer.
They would wait; there would come a day when they would regret it.
At that time, she would make sure these people apologized to Ruyun.
Especially that glutton Qi Xiaofang, who had clearly tried to please Ruyun at first but was now also flattering Su Xiaotian.
A traitor!
Su Xiaotian and the others were unaware of this conversation.
Even if they had heard it, no one would have paid it any mind.
Meanwhile, the meat that Su Wu Rang had brought back was devoured by his comrades like a whirlwind.
Even the last bit of sauce was wiped clean with steamed buns by someone.
Su Wu Rang had the illusion that the lunchboxes had already been washed.
"Wu Rang, your grandmother's cooking is truly exceptional!"
Lu Yang said, all the while eyeing the portion Su Wu Rang had specifically saved for Qiao Guangyuan, wishing he could eat that as well.
Su Wu Rang, looking at the meat he had managed to preserve, felt fortunate for his foresight, which allowed him to leave some for his dear company commander!