Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 68 Midnight Snack

Xiao Hong had Xiao Wei try on the new sweater she bought. He looked at it from left to right, up to down, and went through several rounds of adjustments before he was satisfied. Then she happily started to dress herself up, trying on each of the new clothes and sweaters one by one.

After finishing with the clothes, I found Xiaowei sitting to one side with a twitching face, not saying a word. I went over and asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy? Are you upset about spending money?"

Xiao Wei rolled his eyes and said, "I suddenly realized that I haven't eaten yet today."

Xiao Hong paused for a moment, then laughed, took off her new clothes and ran to the kitchen to prepare food for Xiao Wei, saying, "When I got there it was already past 6:30, I thought you had already eaten over there, but you didn't say anything. There were meat skewers and chicken frames for sale at the night market, why didn't you say you wanted some?"

Xiao Wei looked up at the ceiling for a long time before saying, "There are too many people, I can't bear to leave."

Little Red giggled. This little sly one is so funny.

After a while, Xiao Wei said leisurely, "Xia Maosheng didn't eat tonight either. I've been chopping potatoes and meat while he slept, right until you guys came over. I guess he won't be able to sleep tonight, and without food, it's going to be tough, haha, hahahaha." He sat there laughing happily. Before his laughter had even faded, there was a loud knock on the door. The door opened, and Xia Maosheng's big, smiling face appeared before Xiao Wei: "Hey, I'm starving! Got anything to eat?"

Xiao Wei was dumbfounded, while Xiao Hong burst into laughter in the kitchen.

Xia Maosheng squeezed into the house next to Xiao Wei, changed his shoes, walked to the kitchen doorway, and leaned against the doorframe, asking, "What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Hong said, "He just said he was hungry, and I was just getting him ready when he said, 'You haven't eaten today, and you slept all afternoon, so you must be hungry and unable to sleep.' Then he laughed, and just as he was laughing, you came. Hehehe, it was so funny."

Xia Maosheng turned to Xiaowei and said, "You gloating bastard, would you forget to eat if I didn't keep you company?" The three of them laughed together. Xiaowei closed the door and said, "No, I'm not gloating, I just find it funny. The kitchen is so noisy and smelly, yet you can sleep so soundly that you even forgot to eat."

Xia Maosheng said, "You'll be the same in the future. I'm used to it; I've been working in the kitchen for over three years." He took out a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, handed one to Xiaowei, who opened the window, came over, sat down, and lit the cigarette. After lighting the cigarette, Xia Maosheng placed the lighter in front of Xiaowei and said, "You can use this. I have one at home. It's okay, it works, although it's not genuine, the quality is acceptable. This would usually cost a hundred or two outside."

Xiao Wei glanced at the lighter on the table, stood up, went into the inner room, rummaged through the cabinet, took out two boxes, placed them in front of Xia Maosheng, and said, "These are real. Which one do you want? I have several."

Xia Maosheng put a cigarette in his mouth, reached for the box and opened it. Inside were a Cartier and a Dupont, one fuel-powered and the other gas-powered.

Men all like a few things: lighters, knives, guns, and girls, without exception.

Xia Maosheng took out two lighters and looked at them, saying, "I have a treasure, given to me by my uncle. I don't usually dare to carry it with me, afraid of losing it. I only take it out occasionally to show off. You're really rich. You've never even used these. What do you usually use?"

Xiao Wei stood up, rummaged in his back pocket, pulled out a small item, and handed it to Xia Maosheng, saying, "I usually use this, but I'm too embarrassed to take it out in class. I've been using it for several years."

Xia Maosheng took it, shook it a few times, and sparkled it, saying, "This one's more expensive than mine. The clanging is so bright and beautiful. You have so many nice things." Xiao Wei said, "I don't have any. I wouldn't spend that much money. Besides, this is a treasure, and this is Cartier. You can't buy these in China. These are all gifts from my uncles and elders. It wouldn't be right to refuse them. Xiao Hong's dad knows a lot of people in our area. When they go out, they usually bring back some rare items, which is a good thing for us."

Xiao Hong called from the kitchen, "Stop chatting! Put it on the table!"

Xiao Wei got up and put the table down, then went to the kitchen to help carry things. Xia Maosheng stood up to help, but then there was another loud banging on the door.

Xiao Hong brought out the dishes and placed them on the table, saying, "Chen Hui, I recognized his voice immediately. Others knock, but he smashes." Xia Maosheng went to open the door, and sure enough, it was Chen Hui. As soon as he entered the room, he shouted, "I could hear him talking about me through the door. What did he say? It certainly wasn't anything nice."

Xiao Hong pointed to the door and said, "Change your shoes. I've mopped the whole floor clean. Those blue ones are yours."

Chen Hui turned his head and looked around, then went back to change his shoes, saying, "I'll be more careful next time. Oh, you even prepared slippers for me. Old Xia has some too, right? That's so kind of you. Xiao Hong, from now on you're my little sister. Just let me know if you need anything, and I'll take care of it for you." He changed his shoes and walked to the table.

"Better late than never, haha, I got to eat something hot as soon as I got in. What's this?" Chen Hui was showing off when he turned his head and saw the lighter on the coffee table. He asked, "What's this?" He picked up Xiao Wei's lighter, fiddled with it for a bit, then picked up the box, opened it, and exclaimed with wide eyes, "Holy crap, holy crap, where did all this come from?"

Xia Maosheng pointed to Xiaowei and said, "Chef Zhang's stock still has some. The one without a box is for Xiaowei himself, and those two are new."

Chen Hui laid out three lighters in a row on the coffee table and said, "I recognize this one. My old man has one, a Zhi, Zhi Bao, right? It cost around three thousand yuan. I think a friend of mine used this one, what's his name? What's his name? I don't recognize this one. Xiao Wei, you're awesome! Where did you get this? Did you buy it? I've never seen this for sale." He held up the Cartier lighter and asked Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei brought out the rice bowl and placed it on the table, saying, "Come and eat quickly. That thing is being played with for a bit; it's not going to run away, is it?"

Chen Hui picked up the Cartier watch and walked to the dining table, saying, "Let me tell you, let me tell you, this is really bothering me."

Xiao Wei glanced at his hand and said, "This is Cartier, from France. It probably isn't available in China. That's Dupont. Most large department stores should sell it. What's up?"

Chen Hui looked down and fiddled with the lighter, saying, "Hmm, I've seen those two before, this is my first time seeing this one. Is it expensive?"

Xiao Wei thought for a moment and said, "Zhibao and Dupont are both around three or four thousand, right? I've never been to a big department store, I just heard it from others. Cartier probably doesn't have this in China. If we're talking about pricing, Xiao Hong, how much did Uncle Xia say it cost the other day?"

Xiao Hong brought out the soup and put it down, blowing on her hands as she said, "Can't you eat first? Which one?"

Xiao Wei pointed at Chen Hui and said, "That one, Cartier."

Xiao Hong thought for a moment and said, "It seems that Uncle Xia said it would cost 18,000 yuan. Yes, if you convert it to RMB and add taxes, it would cost more than 10,000 or 20,000 yuan in China. It's available in China, in Shanghai, on Nanjing Road, according to my dad."

Chen Hui looked at the lighter in his hand, then suddenly said with a mournful face, "I was thinking of using it to show off, but how the hell am I going to carry this 20,000 yuan?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's not that expensive. That refers to the domestic price. This was brought back from abroad by my uncle. It's probably only worth about 1,800 yuan."