The Rice Pot Next Door

Untitled Part 50

From the start, I have wondered if I'll be too embarrassed to translate Chapter 73 but here it is, more or less like it is in the book. Meaning: there is a steamy scene ahead, although it doesn't feel so hot the second time I read it To pick up where we left off, Qiao Feng finally cave in to his longing and flies to Lan Shan's hometime to look for her. Lan Shan confesses her reservation to their relationship although her attachment to him is clearly no less than her yearning to return home.

Chapter 72: Choice ('cont')

When Lan Shan gets home, Shang Pingping tries to find out more about her "friend". Her parents suspect that Lan Shan had a tiff with her boyfriend and that the man is now here to make peace. When Lan Shan only smile without giving them a direct reply, her parents did not press and leave it to her to tell them more when she is ready.

Lan Shan has no intention of letting her parents meet Qiao Feng until she has reach a conclusion. She sounds them out about City B and their views on the city is that it is a good place for vacation but a poor place to stay due to its dense population and pollution problem. Hearing their answer, Lan Shan becomes more torn. How can she make her parents leave a place they have been staying for decades for her own gain?

The next evening, she is still mulling over her options when she spots Qiao Feng from her bedroom window. He is scanning her apartment block as if looking for someone and she opens her window to call him. Immediately, she is greeted by a wind so strong that it contorts her face. "What are you doing?"

The wind blows her words away but he manages to spot her nonetheless. Just then, fat raindrops start to fall from the sky and Lan Shan shouts as she points to the sky. "It is raining! Stop standing there like an idiot and seek some shelter!"

With the combination of rain and wind, all the more Qiao Feng cannot hear her and he just stares at her.

Sighing to herself, Lan Shan grabs an umbrella and goes down to fetch him. As he follows her up the stairs to her home, he explains. "I am sorry, I am here because I just figured out something. I did not know that it will rain so suddenly and I have no intention to visit your home in this manner." At least, he would have brought presents.

Lan Shan gets him to take a hot shower and let him change into a dry set of her father's clothes. By then, her parents have been alerted to a guest in the house and Lan Tian prepares a cup of hot ginger tea for him so that he does not catch a cold. As he takes the cup from his potential father-in-law, Qiao Feng is so touched that he keeps thanking him.

Looking at the two youngsters, Lan Tian and Shang Pingping shake their heads inwardly. Who says that this generation is worse than their generation? Why, just look at the way these two are making each other suffer, seems like they are even more skilled compared to the old days. Despite so, both find Qiao Feng courteous and gentlemanly, and leave the living room for the 2 youngsters to sort out their issues.

Qiao Feng is enjoying his ginger tea as if it is a bowl of ginseng soup, and Lan Shan jogs his arm to get his attention. "Have you taken leave of your senses?"

He puts down his ginger tea and looks at her seriously. "I have just figured it out."

"What have you figured out?"

"Lan Shan, I can't bear to see you put between a rock and the deep blue sea."

Although she is not sure of his exact meaning, his words sound like a romantic declaration of sorts and sends a sweet tingle through her. "What exactly have you figured out?"

"Let me state that I will not accept a long-distance relationship. If we remain together, either you move to City B or I move to City H. There is no third option. If staying in City B puts you in a spot, then let me move to City H."