Just then, from over the courtyard wall came a woman's cheerful shout, "Yang Ge, I want to eat glutinous rice balls too!"
Yang Ge responded loudly, smiling, "Okay, okay, okay, once they are ready I'll call you!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Fang Ke's face slowly faded.
He rolled up his sleeves and followed Yang Ge into the kitchen, "Is there anything I can help with?"
Yang Ge pointed to a corner where a clay pot was located, "Inside there is glutinous rice. Take out five bowls of rice to soak... Don't throw out the rice water; I'll use it to wash the cured meat."
Fang Ke acknowledged, skillfully took out a clean big bowl and crouched in front of the clay pot to scoop up rice, then casually asked, "How are things going with the girl next door, huh?"
Sitting behind the stove stoking the fire, Yang Ge, without lifting his head, replied, "You've known the family next door for a while, haven't you?"
Fang Ke paused in his task, clenched his teeth, and responded, "Yes!"
