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There are so many ways to cook bamboo croaker.
Otaru is a coastal city, and fishing is one of the economic sources of Otaru. The development of the fishing industry naturally leads to a large number of fish ingredients here.
The number of catches of warm-water schooling fish such as bamboo shoots is particularly large.
More food means it’s cheap, and cheaper food means more people eat it.
If you grow up in Otaru, 99%, if not 100%, of the people have eaten horse mackerel.
Xinchun still uses the simplest method of frying.
Many mothers like to use this method to cook bamboo fish because it is easy and delicious.
Fujii Itsuki really dared to say that the reason he didn't starve to death in the welfare home was because of this kind of cheap and large-volume fish.
I have been earning money for a long time now, and I haven’t eaten it for a long time. When I eat it again, I feel a special kind of nostalgia in my heart.
“The dean used to make this dish when the children were making noise.”
"Teacher, this is what Xinchun made."
"Don't worry, it suits my taste. It's better to say, Xinchun, what you made is just like what the dean made for me in the past to take care of me."
"That's good."
Matsumae Shinchun just smiled and didn't say much.
After the meal, Fujii Itsuki saw her feed the little snow fox beef, and then she took the initiative to clear the dishes and wash them.
Although he didn't say anything, he just leaned his hands on the dining table and looked at her, Fujii Itsuki felt a warmth in his heart.
He stood up and walked behind the girl.
Noticing the girl's chubby legs under her skirt, he had no other thoughts at this moment but to hug her from behind.
Of course, there is still hesitation in my heart.
After all, there is an age gap between me and the girl. Every time I try to actively approach her, I feel tortured inside and a little ashamed.
"Teacher, are you trying to act like a spoiled brat?"
".behave in a spoiled manner?"
"Not yet. Xinchun is still washing the dishes. Teacher, please be good and wait for a moment, okay?"
"."
Even though this game of playing house is a bit awkward, I really want to continue.
Fujii Itsuki sat on the sofa, picked up the snow fox with its tail coiled up and stroked it. Later, Matsumae Shinchun brought over a plate of dried fruits.
The girl sat next to him gracefully, and then said with a smile: "Teacher, you can act like a spoiled child now", which made Fujii Itsuki extremely embarrassed.
Act like a spoiled child to Xinchun?
Can you really do it yourself?
"The teacher must be very tired."
"."
"Teacher, don't worry about anything. Xinchun is willing to reveal her innermost feelings to you. Teacher, you... Speaking of which, you rarely talk about the past with Xinchun."
Fujii Itsuki just shook his head. He would never talk about the bad things in the past to a junior.
Matsumae Shinchun was not in a hurry. She just chatted with him slowly and shared recent events.
As they chatted, Fujii Itsuki became a little drunk.
Perhaps because he wanted to talk, or maybe because Kokoharu was really a good listener, Fujii Itsuki gradually spoke more and more, and before he knew it, he revealed his recent concerns and entanglements regarding Kokoharu's student status.
After hearing this, Matsumae Shinchun became quiet and lowered her head.
Fujii Itsuki knew that he had ruined things at this moment, as he had inexplicably talked about unpleasant things.
"That's right. To you, teacher, my identity is a burden."
".Xinchun, don't think too much, I'm just a little confused. To me, dreams are important, but the people around me who are related to me are equally important. On one side is the dream, and on the other side is the reality that needs me. I have thought a lot and feel that 'people' are more important."
"Teacher, would you like some wine?"
"Wine? What are you drinking this for? Your family—"
Before Fujii Itsuki could finish his words, he saw Matsumae Shinchun stand up and, as if from her bedroom, bring over a bottle of sake.
Still a bottle of top quality stuff.
He shook his head repeatedly.
"No drink, no drink."
"Teacher, how about just drinking a little? Actually, my father once told me that when a person is troubled, he should drink a little, and he will feel better."
Drown your sorrows in alcohol.
I don't know how much Matsumae Kitahiro drank to commemorate the professor after her death.
Fujii Itsuki still shook his head.
"No drink, no drink."
"Teacher, it seems like you haven't had a drink in a long time. I see you haven't gone out with Teacher Muzi for a long time."
"There are still some, but they are very restrained."
"Why should I restrain myself?"
"because."
Because I was afraid that drinking would cause bad things, and last time something bad happened.
"Drinking too much is still not good."
"Then the teacher should drink a little less. How about a little?"
".A little bit?"
"Yeah! Just a little bit."
"Then drink a little?"
Without knowing what was going on, Fujii Itsuki was poured a glass of wine by Matsumae Shinharu.
This is really a good wine.
The fragrance is slightly sweet, mellow and refreshing, very pleasant.
You'll know it's expensive once you drink it.
"By the way, Xinchun, where did you get the sake?"
"Father's."
".You secretly took your father's?"
"I asked my father for it, saying I wanted to give it to you, my teacher. He agreed."
Fujii Itsuki nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
At this time, Matsumae Shinchun started chatting with him again, mostly about some trivial things she had encountered in the past at Matsumae's house. Fujii Itsuki listened very attentively. Although he drank the wine slowly, when the bottle was almost finished, Matsumae Shinchun immediately poured him a fresh glass.
The atmosphere was lively and before I knew it I had eaten most of the dried fruits and drank almost a bottle of wine.
Matsumae Shinchun became sad, "I have talked to you so much about the past, but you rarely talked to Shinchun about it."
"Xinchun? Don't, don't be sad." Fujii Itsuki's face turned red.
"But."
"I, I hate to see girls sad. I feel like I am sad too when I see you sad."
"Then how about you tell Xinchun about your past, teacher?"
".Want to listen?"
"Well, I want to know more about the teacher."
Although Fujii Itsuki had drunk a little wine, he was still clear-headed.
I thought it wouldn't be a big deal to talk to a kid who had such a good relationship with Xinchun, so I started talking about the past.
"Where do you want to start?"
"At the very beginning, when the teacher had some impression of this world." Matsumae Shinchun answered immediately.
"That's it"
Fujii Itsuki closed his eyes and began to tell the story as he recalled the past.
"My only memory of my childhood is the endless snow. Otaru was always covered in snow. The sky was dark and gloomy. There were few pedestrians on the road. Even when I huddled in a corner and looked out the window, I was shivering with cold."
It's a pretty good feeling to have an audience willing to listen to your feelings.
Fujii Itsuki occasionally indulges in the past.
I remember the heavy snow in Otaru, the days of hunger in winter, and the adults who went into the welfare home and took away their friends as if they were picking out small animals.
As an orphan, I inevitably see things in society that ordinary people cannot see, and experience hardships that ordinary people can hardly understand.
Going to school is a difficult thing, and having a home of your own is even more difficult.
Fujii Itsuki recalled his past self.
In the past, I would often look at the snow and imagine myself having a home.
Imagine what it's like to have a normal family.
What does it feel like to be cared for by your parents and to have them give you more clothes and things.
For me as a kid, emptiness was a constant.
As Fujii Itsuki was talking, Matsumae Shinchun took out another bottle of sake after he finished drinking one.
The bitterness in your heart must be swallowed down with the wine.
The more Fujii Itsuki talked, the more he drank.
"After listening to the teacher's past, I now feel that the teacher has been hiding his inner difficulties."