Chapter 371

We are all friends; since I can help, it's just a matter of convenience.

However, Lin Sicheng did not say that he would help personally.

"I might not have time tomorrow; the day after tomorrow, I have to go to the Forbidden City with my teacher. Let's make it the day after that. Brother Jing, bring the draft and your design concept over, and I'll find someone to help you take a look."

Jing Zeyang sighed: "Cousin Lin, it's no use. Half of the people in Beijing who do this are the old lady's students or grand-students, and most of the rest are from the three major troupes. Who doesn't know her? Once they hear the old lady's name, let alone help, they walk the other way when they see me—"

The so-called three major troupes refer to the former Central Song and Dance Troupe, the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe, and the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe.

Given the old lady's seniority and status in the industry, indeed no one dares to act as a ghostwriter for Jing Zeyang—

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: "Rest assured, it's not from a song and dance troupe!"

Jing Zeyang muttered to himself: If it's not from a song and dance troupe, what could he possibly understand? It would be better to just have Dean Zhang make a phone call—

Of course, Jing Zeyang only thought this to himself; at the very least, he knew: as long as Lin Sicheng wanted to help, he would certainly be able to.

Because Wang Sanshen's surname is Ji, and Director Ji is not only a director but also a member of the ministry's party group. A word from her is more effective than one from Dean Zhang.

But they are only teacher and student, not direct relatives, so Jing Zeyang didn't feel he could bring it up directly and prepared to take a roundabout approach—

"Alright, I'll send it over early the day after tomorrow." He smiled, "In case it doesn't work out, we'll pull some other strings!"

Lin Sicheng readily agreed: "Fine!"

As the two were talking, the car arrived at Guangji Bridge. Lin Sicheng did not let Tang Nanjin drive inside and just stopped at the entrance of the residential compound.

Watching Lin Sicheng get out of the car and enter the compound, Tang Nanjin glared at Jing Zeyang: "San'er, you're trying to get Auntie Ji to help, aren't you?"

Jing Zeyang gave a sheepish smile: "Brother Jin, I was pushed to the edge; I really had no other choice."

"Always taking the crooked path?"

"Brother Jin, if I had your and Cousin Lin's abilities, I would definitely take the straight path!"

Tang Nanjin choked, speechless.

He himself was fine; he didn't consider himself some Second Generation, or even consider himself a person—as long as one dared to fight and strive, one could basically make it.

But Lin Sicheng?

To tell the truth, he had many friends and had seen even more talented people, but how many could compare to Lin Sicheng?

Sighing, Tang Nanjin turned the car around—

The house was very quiet; the teacher and his wife had not returned yet. Lin Sicheng boiled some water and brewed a cup of tea.

Just as he took out the *Painting of Hu Dancers Burning Images*, the phone buzzed.

He answered it casually, and Ye Anning's voice came through: "Back quite early, aren't you?"

Lin Sicheng looked at the camera in the living room: "You're back in Beijing?"

"I heard Second Uncle Tang wants to recruit you as a son-in-law, so I came back to join in the fun. You hadn't even reached the hotel, and I was already home!"

Ye Anning was full of teasing, "How about it, when is the wedding?"

"Soon!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "I'll send you an invitation when the time comes!"

"Great, great—"

Before she could finish saying "great," an "ouch" came from the phone, as if she had been tapped.

"Talking nonsense all day long!" After scolding her, Wang Qiguang smiled, "Xiao Lin, Anning's father is off this weekend. If you are free, I invite you to come over for a meal tomorrow!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: he knew there would be a meal and guessed it was arranged by Ye Anning, but he didn't know it would be at their home.

He quickly responded: "Alright, Auntie!"

"Then let's make it tomorrow noon. Come with Qi Zhi and Wangshu."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Xiao Lin, don't be polite, and don't be a stranger; it's just a simple family meal—what do you like to eat? Auntie will make it for you!"

"Auntie, anything is fine; I'm used to all kinds of food!"

"This child—"

With a laugh, Wang Qiguang returned the phone to Ye Anning and lectured her a bit more, implying she had no filter and made jokes about everything.

Ye Anning mumbled a retort, earned two slaps, and ran back to the bedroom saying "ouch."

With a "bang," she closed the door and whispered mysteriously: "Lin Sicheng, are you very afraid of my mother?"

Lin Sicheng denied it flatly: "No!"

Fear wasn't the word; it was pure curiosity: like his teacher, who feared nothing in heaven or earth, was a famous troublemaker, and acted recklessly at every turn.

But as soon as his wife mentioned "Second Sister," Wang Qizhi's arrogance would immediately vanish by more than half.

Like Jing Zeyang, the moment he heard "Ye Anning's mother," his muscles would instantly tense up, as if he had heard a tiger coming.

Tang Nan Yan was the exact opposite: she took the Second Auntie Wang as her lifelong idol. Unfortunately, their IQs were not on the same channel—

"If you say so!" Ye Anning was noncommittal, "I see you holding a book, what are you reading?"

"The *Painting of Hu Dancers Burning Images*, the one I picked up at Panjiayuan last time."

"Oh, the *Yuan Dynasty Palace Dance Manual*, isn't that the Sixteen Heavenly Demons Dance you mentioned? Why are you researching this?"

"Brother Jing had a performance accident, and their Editor-in-Chief gave him a death order. He had no choice but to ask me for a favor:

Asking if I could invite Dean Zhang to put in a good word for him in front of their Editor-in-Chief. But the Dean is retiring soon, so it's not great to owe favors—"

"So you thought you'd help him yourself, but how? By choreographing for him?"

"I know a little, but I don't think there's enough time. However, I happen to have materials on hand, so I can provide him with some source material!"

That was true.

When he was in Shanxi, Lin Sicheng had picked up the *Wei Family Music Score*, which specifically recorded Ming Dynasty palace music and dance, as well as the *Yuedian Collection*, a Japanese book inherited from Tang Dynasty palace music and dance.

Including the one in his hand, which was also Yuan Dynasty palace music and dance, it was more than enough to find some inspiration and material for Jing Zeyang.

Ye Anning teased him again: "You haven't known each other long, but your relationship is quite good, isn't it?"

"Thanks to you!" Lin Sicheng sighed, "If he hadn't been Tai Mausoleum you and didn't have time to finish his design proposal, how would he have been forced to the point of plagiarizing someone else's award-winning work?"

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment, then cried out in protest: "Lin Sicheng, that is absolutely not the case, I swear to heaven!"

As if.

It wouldn't be surprising if Jing Zeyang were calling his sister Jing Suxin right now; in less than ten minutes, Jing Suxin would be calling Ye Anning.

Including what the elders of the Tang family said during the meal, whether Tang Nan Yan sat with Lin Sicheng, and whether any sensitive topics were brought up at the table, such as asking about Lin Sicheng's family background, and so on and so forth.

However, Lin Sicheng knew that Ye Anning had indeed never said such things, nor had she ever instructed her two childhood friends to do anything of the sort.

It was Jing Suxin and Qin Ruozhi who were worried that someone might snatch away this duck—already plucked and waiting for the pot—from Ye Anning's hands, so they spontaneously mobilized Jing Zeyang to act as a spy.

In a flash of thought, Lin Sicheng picked up a pen and paper: "You should get some sleep early!"

"Alright, then I'm hanging up, I still have to get up early tomorrow to buy groceries!"

Wait—what was that?

"You're buying groceries?" Lin Sicheng paused, "Cousin Ye, do you even know which way the entrance to the vegetable market faces?"

"

Ye Anning gritted her teeth: "Lin Sicheng, don't look down on people, I was a left-behind child too, you know!"

Heh, a left-behind child?

At first listen, it sounded so pitiful: parents flying all over the country and the world, and Ye Anning having to live under her uncle's roof, staying there for over ten years.

If it were an ordinary family, one might actually believe it, but let's be clear: both Ye Anning's paternal grandfather's house and her maternal grandfather's house were in Beijing.

It was just that she had developed her intelligence too early and had too many schemes; she didn't want to play house with a bunch of children her own age.

Furthermore, growing up, her youngest uncle was the one who treated her the best; if she didn't sponge off her youngest uncle, whose house would she sponge off?

Of course, she might have been to a supermarket, but she definitely had never been to a wet market.

"Forget it, I'll go with you!"

Lin Sicheng replied, then suddenly remembered, "Does South Street sell the paddlefish from the Miyun Reservoir?"

"

Upon hearing "paddlefish," Ye Anning couldn't help but swallow her saliva, even though she had just stepped away from the table and her stomach was still a bit full.

This wasn't her fault; it was truly because what Lin Sicheng cooked was too delicious. And it wasn't just her saying it was delicious; Wang Youjian would go on about it whenever he saw Lin Sicheng.

However, Xijing didn't sell them, so they had to be brought over from Beijing; her uncle had brought them twice, and both times they were dead.

But even though they were dead, every time, the basin and the pot would be licked clean—

Ye Anning licked her lips: "My mom doesn't know how to cook it, and my aunt doesn't know how to cook it either!"

"No problem, I'll do it!"

Ye Anning hesitated: "Is that okay?"

Although it wasn't the first time Lin Sicheng had been there—he had been to the house on the day she was discharged from the hospital—if her mother knew she was pestering Lin Sicheng to cook, she would inevitably get a few slaps.

"I'm already going with you to buy groceries, what could be wrong with that?" Lin Sicheng said noncommittally, "It's not like I haven't cooked at the teacher's house before?"

That was true.

Both families' adults had met, so there was really no need to be too formal. Just as her mother said: it was just a casual meal.

The more casual Lin Sicheng was, the happier her father and mother would be—

"Alright, then we'll go to South Street in the morning!"

"I'll come pick you up, I'll drive the teacher's car!"

"No need, otherwise I'd have to go pick them up too; I'll drive over to pick you up in the morning!"

After agreeing on the time, the two hung up the phone. Just as he put down his phone, the sound of a lock opening came from outside the door.

Wang Qizhi and Ji Wangshu entered the door. Lin Sicheng took a look, his face full of curiosity: "The teacher isn't drunk?"

"I wanted to get drunk, but the brother-in-law wouldn't let me!" Wang Qizhi said with a sigh, "He said there's important business tomorrow, and told me to drink less too!"

Isn't tomorrow just for a meal? What other important business could there be?

As the thought turned, Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: this "important business," could it be referring to the meal itself?

Seeing him freeze, Wang Qizhi gloated: "Lin Sicheng, brother-in-law's nickname is 'Ye the Thousand-Cup,' you'd better pray for yourself."

Before he could finish, Ji Wangshu patted him and looked at Lin Sicheng: "Don't listen to your teacher trying to scare you; brother-in-law just has a high tolerance for alcohol, he isn't a glutton for the cup!"

That sounded like words of comfort: if someone isn't a glutton for the cup, how could they have a high tolerance?

But Lin Sicheng wasn't very worried: although he hadn't met him, he could guess a bit about Ye Anning's father's personality from the conversations he usually heard between the teacher, the teacher's wife, and Cousin Ye:

Bright and clear as the wind and moon, gentle as the spring breeze and rain.

Tomorrow they were going to the morning market, so after the teacher and student chatted for a few moments about going to the Forbidden City the day after tomorrow, they each returned to their bedrooms.

At six in the morning, Lin Sicheng woke up on time.

After practicing for nearly an hour, Ye Anning arrived downstairs.

A semi-new Corolla, it must have been driven for several years.

Lin Sicheng went upstairs to change his clothes, and the two headed straight for South Street.

Located right next to Wangfu, it was called a vegetable market, but in reality, the vegetable stalls only occupied a small area. There were more of all kinds of stalls, storefronts, and old alleys.

When they arrived, the sky was just brightening, and the sun was about to peek out. Frost coated the bluestone slabs, and stalls of all kinds stretched out of sight.

In a large washbasin, Crucian Carp splashed water, and an oxygen pump hissed out bubbles. Next to it was a fermented rice wine stall, the steam making the wooden lid of the steamer clatter, the scent of wine mixed with the sweet fragrance of glutinous rice.

Beside that, another pot was set up, three long chopsticks churning the waves of oil; the fried dough sticks puffed into shape, and as a strainer scooped them up, a few drops of oil splattered out.

There were also many storefronts, one right after another. There weren't many people browsing, mostly just nearby residents.

The prices were slightly higher, but the food was made relatively delicately. The most famous was the Bai Kui Old Brand: braised mutton noodles, bean paste cakes, and door-nail meat pies, known as the three treasures of the shop.

They ordered a little of each of the three, and another jin of braised mutton. Lin Sicheng asked while eating: "We'll buy the fish last, let's buy the other things first. What did your aunt tell you to buy?"

"My mom asked me what you like to eat, and I made a list—"

Ye Anning held her chopsticks in one hand and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket with the other.

Lin Sicheng glanced at them: Lamb and Tofu, Braised Steak, Pot Fish, Gold-Rimmed Cabbage—all Shaanxi dishes?

This was not strange: the old master of the Wang Clan was from Shaanxi and loved Shaanxi cuisine best; influenced by him, whether it was Wang Qiguang or Wang Qizhi, including Ye Anning, they all leaned toward northwestern flavors.

But not everyone eating tomorrow was from the northwest—

"Did you list these yourself?"

"Yes, they are all things you love to eat!"

"Don't you love to eat them?"

Ye Anning stared at the list, speechless: she hadn't felt it while listing them, but looking at it now, it really was just that.

"It can't just be what we love to eat; there is also your father, and your teacher's wife!"

"Let me remind you first: my mother and aunt's cooking skills are just average. I've already picked the ones they are best at; they basically can't make the rest!"

Ye Anning sighed, "Anyway, whenever they say they've learned some new dish, my dad basically doesn't eat it, and I don't either; there hasn't been a single exception."

"I didn't say to let your aunt make them!" Lin Sicheng pointed with his chopsticks, "Add two simpler ones; I'll teach you, so you can show your filial piety!"

Ye Anning was half-doubting: "Will it work?"

"At worst, it won't taste good and no one will touch their chopsticks, but aren't there other dishes to fall back on?"

Ye Anning glared at him: "Then wouldn't it be better not to make them at all?"

Lin Sicheng shook his head: "It's different!"

To tell the truth, although her cooking skills were not as good as her aunt's, nor did she love to study things randomly like Lin Sicheng, wanting to learn a little of everything, Ye Anning considered herself passable; what she made was at least edible.

Moreover, the dishes Lin Sicheng made were truly delicious. And he was especially good at teaching—

Turning the thought over, she was eager to try: "What should I add? Is it hard?"

"Simple, Steamed Pork with Preserved Mustard Greens!"

Ye Anning was stunned for a moment: "It's simple enough, but does this count as a southern dish?"

"Who says it doesn't?" Lin Sicheng let out a "ha," "Where does preserved mustard come from?"

Ye Anning tried hard to recall, then let out an "eh": it really was a southern dish?

It was even a proper hometown dish.

But she knew how to make this dish; she didn't need Lin Sicheng to teach her.

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Have you made it before?"

Ye Anning smiled very proudly: "Of course!"

"Does Youjian eat it?"

Ye Anning froze, her smile stiffening on her face—

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