Chapter 3, The House of Longing, Qi Yi in the Present Continuous Tense

"Banana person, you mean to say you won't give up until you reach the Yellow River, right?" He Tianwei laughed heartily, rubbing his messy brown hair, "You little ABC, do you still want to argue with me using your broken Chinese?"

Over there, He Tianwei and Taotao have already begun a new dispute, merely over the ownership of a plate of crispy rice.

"Hey, have you had enough?" He Tianwei jumped over to swat Qi Yi's hand away, "Uncle, tone it down a bit. Haven't you seen a beautiful woman before?" He then turned to Cai Manxin and said, "It's better not to use this person, they don't inspire confidence!"

"If you have no objections, then I have none either. I estimate that the uncle's cooking skills are quite good," He Tianwei replied with a smile. "However, it still requires careful consideration. Now that she has returned from her trip, it is likely that there is no need to hire anyone."

"When I become the boss, it will be hard to say." He Tianwei is just a young man in his early twenties, his oversized T-shirt covering most of his canvas three-quarter pants.

As Qi Yi just stepped out of the Xianggang South Station, he was immediately surrounded by dark-skinned locals who enthusiastically recommended their inns. He waved his hand dismissively, remaining silent, and sidestepped through the crowd. The boisterous and warm greetings then shifted to other tourists, leaving only a short, thin man with a purple-red face who could not push his way to the front. He smiled ingratiatingly and continued to follow Qi Yi. "Have you made a reservation? If not, I can take you there," he said, trailing him for two blocks.

He Tianwei spread his hands and shrugged helplessly: "It seems that my lunch has gone to waste. To be fair, buddy, you have to take some responsibility for this."

Do you know this place? Qi Yi stopped in his tracks and took out a printed A4 sheet of paper

Can you finish all of this by yourself? It's for two people! We still need to leave some for Sister Manxin

The two individuals shook hands

The middle-aged man? Qi Yi touched his face, and indeed, he had a scruffy beard, which was not very suitable for a job interview

You, leave me some! Thinking that instant noodles were the only quick meal option, he lamented loudly

"Isn't it just someone slacking off?" Before Qi Yi could speak, the sound of wooden clogs clattering down the stairs was heard. "Tao Tao, aren't you supposed to be at the front desk? How could a living person slip in right under your nose? Also, your attitude towards guests is too poor. When I become the boss here, I will definitely fire you!"

Despite the lack of train access and an airport, Gangkou has instead become a sought-after paradise for backpackers. In the past two to three years, local fishermen have gradually abandoned their generational fishing nets to open inns and restaurants, leading to a proliferation of various family-run guesthouses that have sprung up like bamboo shoots after the rain, dotting the hillsides around Gangkou.

Then you should add more water; even if it turns into porridge, it won't burn. What a young lady you are!" He Tianwei shook his head in amazement

Qi Yi

The pig's head, still swearing to help, ended up sleeping like a dead pig in the morning. Want to eat? No way! In the end, the last two bowls of rice were still in the pot

However, occupying a prime scenic spot in the villa area is a budget-friendly youth hostel: The House of Longing.

Wow, I can't tell that this shabby old man is a master!" Tao Tao nudged He Tianwei with her elbow

Qi Yi negotiated a price with the driver, and the motorcycle kicked up a cloud of dust. Large pink hibiscus flowers bloomed along the roadside, occasionally mixed with a few yellow and red hibiscus, bright and flamboyant. The driver couldn't help but introduce, "Some flowers can be coated in batter and fried, and they are quite delicious. You must try them if you get the chance. I used to snack on them as a child, but now my kids prefer ice cream." As he spoke, the motorcycle climbed a gentle slope, and at the top, the sapphire blue sea appeared diagonally to the left. The hillside was dotted with white wooden houses, reflecting the green mountains behind, resembling seagulls soaring in the sky. As they descended, a warm sea breeze rushed towards them, carrying a hint of salty freshness, billowing Qi Yi's checkered shirt, the corners of which flapped loudly in the wind. He greedily inhaled, and the frown that had been tightly knit throughout the journey gradually relaxed.

Wow, what a truly peculiar name

Tears Island covers an area of approximately over 10 square kilometers, with rolling hills at its center. At this time, it is late spring and early summer, with lush trees and abundant flowers in bloom. The mango trees emit a pleasant fragrance, and yellow dandelions are scattered across the open grasslands in the forest. On the side of the island facing the open sea, there is a section of cliff, beneath which lies a long stretch of white sandy beach. The buildings in this area are not densely packed, with a few scattered vacation villas, contrasting sharply with the more modest family inns on the side facing the inner sea.

"Last time I made porridge, who said that was breakfast? If I make it at noon, is that being lazy?"

"It was originally my lunch, give it to me!" He Tianwei snatched the plate away.

Two older children were still arguing. Qi Yi took off his travel bag, rolled up his sleeves, and washed his hands. He opened the pot lid, flipped out the layer of scorched rice at the bottom, discarded the black parts, and placed the slightly yellow ones on a plate. "If there were green onions, inserting them would help eliminate the burnt smell," he said. In the meantime, he mixed melted butter, salt, cornstarch, and Sichuan pepper powder into the rice, then laid a layer of plastic wrap on the cutting board, rolled the rice into thin sheets, cut them into small pieces, and then fried them in hot oil. His movements were swift, and in no time, the burnt smell in the kitchen was overshadowed by the fragrant aroma of the crispy rice.

The motorcycle stopped at the bend of the coastal road, and the driver pointed to a small green island in the sea ahead. "There it is. The tide is out now, and there is a sandbar that leads directly to the island. You can also take a boat; there is a dock ahead. Once you are on the island, you can walk either left or right; as long as you make your way to the other side of the island, facing the open sea, you will be able to see the house you are looking for."

"Unlike you young people, I prefer solitude," the uncle said. Qi Yi smiled and deliberately emphasized the word 'uncle'.

The azure sea forms a crescent moon beneath the steep cliffs of Lanping Mountain, with Danzhou and Chenggang situated at the two tips of the crescent. From the map, the straight-line distance between the two cities is merely 30 kilometers, yet it takes three hours to travel by long-distance bus

Qi Yi turned around, and a young girl stood in the hall with her hands on her hips

"I knew you weren't supposed to be here. How could you just wander in like that?" The girl stepped out from the shadows, her face filled with anger. "This is not a place for sightseeing. If you want to stay, you need to make a reservation in advance. We do not welcome tourists who wander around indiscriminately"

Peach scrunched up her face and angrily stuck out her tongue. Suddenly, she stopped, sniffed, and shouted, "Oh my, my rice." She kicked her legs and ran towards the kitchen, not forgetting to shoot a fierce glare at He Tianwei and Qi Yi.

Opening the refrigerator, it was empty, with only a few condiments inside. Tao Tao had a sorrowful expression, pouting as she guarded a pot of overcooked rice. Upon seeing the two boys enter, she shot them a glance and said, "Sister Manxin mentioned yesterday that a pig had come to the house, and we ran out of supplies early. This morning, we need to go to Ganggang Port for a big shopping trip. The pig's head promised yesterday, looking troubled, that it would help..."

Qi Yi smiled faintly, "From your accent, you are also an ABC?"

Qi Yi held down the arms of the two individuals, "I am here to seek employment, and I will not leave for the time being"

Qi Yi found the three-story wooden building facing the street without much effort. It was already noon, and the tropical sun shone directly, making the weather hot and the streets quiet. The reception area on the first floor was empty; upon entering, one would find a living room with dark wooden floors, connected to a lush backyard. The courtyard extended to a promontory that jutted out into the sea. On the promontory, vibrant flowers bloomed in the wind, and near the beach, there was a two-story wooden house with an attic and a balcony perched on the cliff's edge. The slanted roof was covered with green grass, resembling a green felt mat, while vines climbed freely up the walls and cascaded down, their rich greenery flowing down to the steps. The blue stone path in front of the door connected to the youth hostel, where a string of English letters was formed with white pebbles. Qi Yi turned to take a look and discovered it read "House of Missing U".

"Xiao Wei, stop joking around, help Da Ge choose a room. I'm going to take a shower, you all can start eating first, I know you must be starving, so I bought instant noodles to feed you." Cai Manxin took off his hat, waved his hand, and walked towards the wooden house behind.

"Look at his eyes, am I clearly inviting a wolf into the house!" He Tianwei said angrily, "Taotao, you need to remind Manxin!" He turned around and saw Taotao's mouth stuffed full of crispy rice, nodding while choking.

Oh, is it the one I miss! I know, I know. The girl who runs the shop is an outsider, and she is quite beautiful. This shop is on Tear Island, I will take you to the dock on my motorcycle.

I only come here during the summer vacation with my mom," Tao Tao said, "This pig head just got on vacation too, and is pestering Sister Xin. Uncle, you have no idea, the island is very boring during the off-peak travel season, and there might even be typhoons!

It does not count; when I was young, I went to California with my parents and studied there

Job seeking? The two of them looked at him, and Tao Tao swallowed hard. Although the uncle's cooking skills are excellent, it is usually Sister Manxin who cooks, and her food is very delicious. We do not need a chef

Through the kitchen window, Qi Yi could see her graceful silhouette, her black hair flying in the wind, free yet solitary against the backdrop of the sky and sea

It seems that there is indeed such a matter. It appears that someone was recruited, as they expressed a desire to go on a long trip. However, the individual felt that there was limited room for development here and returned to the provincial capital, which is why during that period, the restaurant was closed due to the absence of that person. This all happened before I came this summer. He assessed Qi Yi, stating that the salary here is quite good, and life is very leisurely, but some people also feel that staying here for too long can become simple and monotonous. You wouldn't want to settle down on this island, would you

I have no objections either. The probation period is one month, after which the salary will be discussed separately, and accommodation and meals are provided, is that acceptable? Cai Manxin had just entered the store when she was greeted by the enticing aroma of food. She directed the staff member delivering the dishes to place the various items in the kitchen, saying, "I am the owner here, Cai Manxin."

Oh, no...

Hello! Are you here to check in? Do you have a reservation?

He Tianwei, how naive you are!" Tao Tao turned around and ran over, poking his chest, "Aren't I just preparing lunch for some pigs that refuse to leave? Fire me? Hmph, Sister Manxin would never fire me!

I have prepared it well, what shall we eat? Californian Roll, Tuna Sandwich?

Ha, that sounds nice, but you must be keeping it to yourself. Let me take care of it; it's just right for you to lose some weight. Of course, I can finish it; who knows when the uncle will come next time

Qi Yi had been in the car for three hours and was eager to get out and stretch his legs. After expressing his gratitude, he walked to the seaside, where he saw a sandbar winding across the surface of the sea, resembling a milky-white ribbon floating amidst the azure waves, now revealed as the tide receded. Qi Yi took off his canvas shoes and walked barefoot along the sandbar towards Tear Island. Under the blazing sun, beads of sweat soon appeared on his forehead, and he began to feel the dampness against his back where his travel bag pressed. With his head lowered, his shadow shrank into a small round shape beneath him. He was the only one on the dazzling sandbar.

Indeed, if it weren't for the uncle, I would have eaten your fuzzy peach today!" He Tianwei tugged at the fluffy braid of Tao Tao.

Three years later, in pursuit of a promise that had never been spoken, Qi Yi embarked on the same journey

"Home?" Qi Yi glanced at the travel bag behind him, "Wherever I go, that is home."

The girl, around seventeen or eighteen years old, has large, bright black eyes and her entire body is tanned to a healthy honey color. She is wearing a white strap dress adorned with bright yellow floral patterns, and a ribbon of the same color is loosely tied in a bow at her waist.

Oh. Qi Yi took out a worn A4 sheet of paper from his travel bag, on which was printed an online advertisement, specifically the job posting for "The House of Longing" from a few months ago

"Please, do not exaggerate. Where did I say to add another pig?" He Tianwei quickly corrected, "And, miss, it is a solemn promise..."

Then I have no objections," said Tao Tao. "What about you, Pig Head?"

They are all quite mouth-watering... However... once you see it, you will understand

Pah, toad, Sister Manxin would never marry you! You have come here for two consecutive years, truly you cannot wash away your sins even if you jumped into the Yellow River!