Gu Changsheng blinked his eyes: "This thing melts in your mouth."
Xia Qianqian: “…”
Of course I know. My family has plenty of this kind of chocolate. They were given to me by your great-grandchildren... I don't know how many generations of descendants are descendants of your great-grandchildren.
Her stomach growled twice, but luckily the priest was singing a blessing song, which covered up her embarrassment. Only Gu Changsheng, who was standing next to her, could hear it.
"Eat it, I promise it's not poison."
Xia Qianqian put her hands in her sleeves, peeled the chocolate with ease, and stuffed it into her mouth when no one was paying attention.
The chocolate melts in your mouth, fragrant and smooth, sweet but not greasy, and the hazelnuts are crispy... What a delicacy! Xia Qianqian savored the wonderful taste slowly and swallowed it in small bites, not wanting to eat it too fast.
Gu Changsheng looked at her, with a slight curve at the corner of his lips.
Xia Qianqian was reluctant to let the chocolate go, but it still melted in her mouth. She looked at Gu Changsheng with a lingering look, her eyes sparkling with stars.
It feels like I haven't eaten chocolate for a century! After eating one, I want another one!
"No more." said Gu Changsheng.
Xia Qianqian was extremely disappointed, and the stars in her eyes gradually dimmed. She missed the Gu family's big refrigerator, which contained chocolates of various flavors! Things that she once did not cherish have now become untouchable luxuries.
Including Gu Yanjing.
Gu Yanjing, I miss your... chocolate!
Heat welled up in her eyes and Xia Qianqian blinked hard to push the tears back into her stomach.
"Is it so delicious that it makes you cry?" Gu Changsheng asked.
"It reminds me... of someone." Xia Qianqian spoke softly, but her voice was already hoarse.
Gu Changsheng's heart trembled. Did she remember him? Did she finally remember him
Trying hard to suppress his excitement, Gu Changsheng asked in a low voice: "Who is it?"
"Old friend." Xia Qianqian sniffed and glared at Gu Changsheng, "I just ate a piece of your chocolate, why are you asking so many questions?"
"Chocolate? So the name of that candy is chocolate." Gu Changsheng suddenly realized.
"Um."
Xia Qianqian turned her head to watch the priest performing the blessing dance. She was afraid that if she continued this topic with Gu Changsheng, she would not be able to hold back her tears.
Ancient songs linger in the ancestral hall, incense wafts from the table, and statues of gods look down on the world with compassion, sacred and solemn.
With chocolate to replenish her energy, Xia Qianqian no longer complained about the long ritual time.
…
Finally, the sacrifice was over. According to custom, participants could share some fruits and cakes. Xia Qianqian got an orange, an apple, and two cakes. She was reluctant to eat them and planned to take them back to share with her family.
"Xia Qianqian, this is your reward." The priest gave her five taels of silver and looked at her kindly. "I live in the east of the town. Come find me anytime you want."
"Thank you." Xia Qianqian took the silver. Alas, she was still five taels short.
"I'll wait for you." the priest said again.
Xia Qianqian didn't dare to respond to her and nodded randomly: "I should go to the inn to check out now, right?"
"Well, go ahead!"
Xia Qianqian took the fruit snacks in her clothes and walked out of the ancestral hall. She looked up at the sky and saw that it was already noon. She was going back to Yangliu Village, just in time for dinner.
The clothes suddenly became heavy, and Xia Qianqian saw an orange and an apple.
"I like to eat cakes and pastries, so I won't give them to you." Gu Changsheng came to my side without me noticing when, with a smile on his pale face, making this winter feel warmer.
(End of this chapter)