As Yang Runxian arrived at the market, she wandered around, buying everything she needed, and was ready to head home.
However, at the market exit, she ran into a familiar face. They exchanged greetings and started chatting. Before long, they found a shady, open spot and stood chatting.
Lost in the lively conversation, Yang Runxian completely forgot about the soup simmering in her kitchen.
She had originally calculated that a short trip to the market would take no more than ten minutes, while the soup would need to simmer for forty or fifty minutes before it might dry out.
Yet she hadn't expected to run into a familiar face and get so carried away with talking that she forgot all about it.
Time flies when you're chatting, and it was that familiar face who suddenly said, "Oh my, it's already eleven-thirty. We should head back; just in time to cook a meal and eat. Let's call it a day and catch up another time."
