Chapter 119 What are you so angry about?
“Sister Yuan, I know you’re taking care of me, don’t be impulsive.” Yuan Juan spoke gently and gracefully, quite different from Yuan Jiangxue: “You provide me with food and lodging and even pay me a salary, I can’t take advantage of you.”
"You're overthinking it. I'm really not the kind of person who's good at taking care of people." Yuan Jiangxue pulled her towards the door: "You can even do my hair in your spare time, so do you want money for that?"
As Yuan Juan was being led outside by her arm, she immediately said, "I've already accepted your favor, so asking you for money would be too stingy of me."
“So I’m a calculating person, don’t worry about me getting the short end of the stick.” Yuan Jiangxue swept her hair back, glanced at Yuan Juan, and said, “Don’t tell me you’re going to refuse.”
Yuan Juan had a hard time finding such a suitable job. She took two steps forward, stopped, and said, "How about I sell clothes and you give me a commission? If I don't sell any, I won't get any."
Sigh, we've come full circle.
Yuan Jiangxue pretended to be angry and said, "How could the clothes in my shop not sell? You underestimate me. But if you insist, fine, commission it is. Come on, let's go buy some crabs first, or they'll be gone. Remember to charge them when you do their hair later, my people don't stand to be taken advantage of."
“...Hey.” Yuan Juan looked at the charming yet feisty Yuan Jiangxue and immediately felt at ease.
She turned around and glanced at Chen Zhenzhu, who was standing at the door, tiptoeing and looking around, and gave her an "OK" sign.
Shen Zhenzhu was overjoyed: "That's great! I'll feel more at ease if it's at Aunt Yuan's shop, and I'll be able to explain things to Niu Niu next time I visit her."
As she spoke, Shen Liuhe patted her buttocks. Shen Zhenzhu turned her head and saw that Gu Yanzheng and the others were still standing there. She greeted them and said, "Oh, why are you still standing here? Let's go to the back to set up a table and have some tea. We'll wait for our seafood feast."
Gu Yanzheng watched as she resolved two matters at once, her face beaming with a sweet smile, her dimples almost overwhelming him.
“Hey, this is much more stress-relieving than drinking tea.” Lu Ye stepped past Gu Yanzheng and went into the backyard first. He saw two large rubber basins of potatoes placed there, and picked up a scraper with practiced ease, saying, “To be honest, I’m starting to miss this kind of repetitive work after getting used to it.”
"You miss it so much you can't even think about it, huh?" Zhao Qiqi brought over a folding stool, opened it up, and sat down opposite Lu Ye, saying, "Sixth Sister's tomato, potato, and beef brisket stew is really popular lately. I wonder if we'll get to eat it today."
Shen Zhenzhu first went to get a few cups of milk tea, put one cup for each of them at their feet, and then "settled" Gu Yanzheng to sit down in the rubber basin next to her. She handed him a scraper and emphasized, "I'll arrange the braised beef brisket for you. Remember to scrape the potatoes outwards, not inwards. Remember that."
Shen Liuhe came over to ask them what they wanted to eat for dinner. Hearing Shen Zhenzhu's words, she couldn't help but laugh. She really had learned her lesson.
"Braised pork belly, braised beef brisket, and I'd also like crab roe tofu." The braised pork belly was naturally ordered for Lu Ye. Chen Zhenzhu had eaten it once before at Zheng Ge's Grand Hotel in the provincial capital. The crab roe paired with tender tofu was smooth, fresh, and fragrant, and she couldn't forget it.
As for what Brother Zheng said, he's not picky about food; he'll eat whatever Chen Zhenzhu wants.
“Okay, go and get six salted duck eggs,” Shen Liuhe said, pointing to the jar by the wall.
Chen Zhenzhu was puzzled, picking at her hands as she walked: "Sixth Sister is reluctant to use crab roe to make it for us?"
Shen Liuhe was about to spank her again: "The authentic way to make it requires adding a suitable amount of salted duck eggs, which will enhance the aroma and flavor."
"Oh." Chen Zhenzhu, feeling guilty, half-submerged in the jar and pulled out a salted duck egg. Holding onto the rim of the jar, she reached back and handed it out, only to be caught steadily by a warm, large hand.
Shen Zhenzhu laboriously pulled out a few salted duck eggs and handed them out. After Gu Yanzheng gave them to Shen Liuhe, she looked around and stuffed two into Gu Yanzheng's pocket: "My mom made them herself. They're not salty at all. You can cook them for ten minutes at home and eat them."
Unfortunately, we've run out of salted duck eggs, so we can't share them all.
Shen Zhenzhu didn't dare to openly show favoritism, but she was also afraid that Lu Ye would see it and yell at her. Gu Yanzheng quickly stuffed the money into his pocket, and the two exchanged a smile, thus concluding their secret deal.
Soon, Yuan Jiangxue and Yuan Juan returned from the market, their hands full of fresh seafood. They went to the kitchen to show it to the chef.
"Oh my, these are so fresh, and the price is right too." Shen Liuhe glanced at Yuan Jiangxue, then at Yuan Juan, and said, "It must have been Xiao Juan who picked them out. She doesn't have that ability. The last time I was craving crabs, the ones I bought were all roe-free."
"Why do you keep bringing this up? I'm getting angry." Yuan Jiangxue got "angry" and went to the milk tea counter to "grab" two cups of pearl milk tea to drink with Yuan Juan.
He took a couple of sips, then slapped his thigh: "Juan, come with me to deposit the money. I'm not at ease with the change still in my pocket."
Yuan Juan said with a smile, "I've been watching over you the whole way. I haven't finished get off work yet, so I'll go with you."
“Okay, I’ll let everyone know to come over for dinner when I get back.” Yuan Jiangxue returned, straightening her back: “Instead of letting them speculate behind my back, I’d rather confess that I was scammed because I trusted others, so that everyone can learn from my mistake.”
Yuan Juan admired his straightforward and unpretentious nature, and thought how wonderful it would be if she could have such a personality. Perhaps it was because of her courage in resisting Wu Dahai's first attack...
Forget it, move on and don't dwell on the past.
Looking at the fiery clouds on the horizon, Yuan Juan knew that one day time would heal the scars on her body. Wu Dahai would eventually be forgotten, while she and Niu Niu would be starting a new life.
The two of them had barely returned when they left in a flurry. Shen Liuhe watched through the large glass window in the kitchen and found it amusing.
As it approached customer service time, Shen Liuhe buried herself in her work in the kitchen, listening to the sounds of the cutting boards and washing water all around her, immersed in the happiness of creating delicious food.
Two large round tables were set up in the corner of the backyard. Around the same time, neighbors and others who were on good terms with Yuan Jiangxue had already taken their places.
Every summer, from September 1st, Liancheng is closed to the sea.
To ensure marine reproduction, large-scale fishing is prohibited. Fortunately, fishermen are allowed to use small boats to cast nets daily to catch a small amount of fish, shrimp, and crabs, satisfying both diners' appetites and the livelihoods of fishermen's families.
Yuan Jiangxue deliberately waited until the table was full of fragrant seafood before slowly getting up and telling her neighbors and friends in the commercial street about how she had been scammed.
Although Sixth Sister's restaurant is not by the sea, it still carries the scent of the sea.
The salt-baked prawns on the porcelain plate were exceptionally large, baked in coarse salt, and the salt grains were still piping hot when they were served.
In the steamed sea urchin egg, the pale yellow custard is as smooth as cream, topped with a thick layer of golden sea urchin meat, and you can smell the strong umami flavor.
The waiter placed the steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli on the table. The large scallop adductor skirt trembled, surrounded by golden garlic, beneath which lay glistening vermicelli soaked in broth...
Spicy stir-fried clams, steamed yellow clams, mantis shrimp, Donggou giant swimming crabs...
Zhang Xiaopang had no family to dine with tonight. He mingled at the seafood table, swallowed hard, and anxiously rubbed his chubby hands, hoping that Yuan Jiangxue would stop talking, or the seafood's warmth would escape.
There were quite a few people who shared his thoughts. The criticism meeting turned into a sob story session. After everyone joined Yuan Jiangxue in angrily cursing Cao Dekai, they rolled up their sleeves and began to enjoy a seafood feast.
"Then everyone, hurry up and eat, it's getting cold." Yuan Jiangxue, who had escaped unscathed, quietly sat down, took a sip of Niulanshan Erguotou, and exclaimed, "Ah, that's refreshing!"
Zhang Xiaopang first peeled a large shrimp, bit off the bright red and white shell and spat it out, revealing the firm, pinkish-white shrimp meat. He couldn't wait to bite into it, and the chewy texture burst forth with a pure and rich ocean flavor.
Sixth Sister's salt-baking technique was excellent; it locked in the shrimp's juices, bringing out its natural sweetness to the fullest. After finishing a shrimp, Zhang Xiaopang couldn't help but lick his fingers.
Yuan Juan watched silently, unable to understand, based on her past life experiences, why she was worried about being criticized by her neighbors after being scammed.
However, the attitude of the people was not one of kicking someone when they were down, but rather one of anger and disappointment at their lack of ambition, as if they were a family, rather than just "others" who would nod and greet each other when they met.
Yuanjiang Xuekai held a seafood feast, thinking that even if he lost face, he couldn't let his neighbors repeat the same mistake.
"Steamed seaweed with eggs is very nutritious. Here are a few, you should eat one quickly." Yuan Jiangxue put a lot of good food on Yuan Juan's plate. Yuan Juan didn't have time to think about life's philosophy and buried her head in eating.
A spoonful of steamed sea urchin egg brought her back to her senses, a delightful surprise filling her mouth with its delicious flavor. The steamed egg custard was perfectly tender; she carefully scooped another spoonful. The melt-in-your-mouth texture, the gentle aroma of the egg, and the unique, cool, smooth, and sweet taste of the sea urchin blended together, each layer of tenderness and umami unfolding in layers...
"This is so delicious." Yuan Juan's cooking skills were not great, but her taste was excellent. After eating several seafood dishes on the table, she felt extremely satisfied.
The table was already laden with cups and plates, echoing the lively laughter and chatter, creating a delightful and fulfilling atmosphere in this little backyard.
Yuan Juan has a small appetite. After finishing her meal, she quietly listened to everyone's conversation at the table, occasionally laughing along.
The question of how the warm feeling of a family before a meal comes about is quickly answered.
It turns out that the neighbors on this commercial street don't all have perfect lives. They became neighbors by chance, and became partners by empathy. They slowly filled the void in their hearts with tender feelings, and gradually the neighbors came together as family. And this family, united as one, has an unshakeable strength.
Yuan Jiangxue put her arm around Yuan Juan's shoulder, and the two sisters said amicably, "People aren't afraid of how hard or bitter the past was, they're afraid of just accepting their fate. Once you stop accepting your fate, life won't dare to look down on you!"
"Aunt Yuan is right." Shen Zhenzhu doesn't drink, but that didn't stop her from applauding, coaxing Yuan Jiangxue into taking another sip.
"Good wine can dispel sorrow." Uncle Lu got up and poured Yuan Jiangxue a glass.
Yuan Jiangxue took a sip, frowned, and said drunkenly, "Why is it so weak? Who would dare sell fake liquor? They'd be asking for trouble!"
Uncle Lu covered the hangover tea next to his elbow and coaxed her into drinking the "alcohol" after much persuasion.
Gu Yanzheng quietly pushed the bowl containing the crab meat toward Chen Zhenzhu as a way of repaying her for the "kindness" of the two salted duck eggs.
Chen Zhenzhu, possessed by a lazybones, would never lift a finger when there was something readily available. She thought she had secretly stolen and eaten Zheng Ge's crab meat without anyone noticing.
Across from her, Yuan Juan was being held in the arms of the drunkard Yuan Jiangxue, panting heavily. Seeing this, she pursed her lips and smiled with her head down.
That's wonderful, that's wonderful.
After a few rounds of drinks, the air was filled with the spirit of a drunken wanderer. The people who had "fallen out" here toasted each other, chattering about their families. It turned out that everyone was the same, each with their own worries and hopes.
She started to worry a little about what they would think if they knew about her and Wu Xue's story. Gradually, she became confident that even if her family found out, they would scold Wu Dahai and tell her, "Hey, it's not a big deal, look forward."
Two days later, at the Workers' Stadium.
Ogawa scored a penalty, sealing a 0-1 away defeat for the Nine-Headed Birds.
Shen Zhenzhu didn't understand football, such as the referee's corner kick, offside, and penalty shootout. Fortunately, Gu Yanzheng, who loved football, was there to explain things carefully. This youth football match helped Shen Zhenzhu gain a better understanding and love for football.
The game ended at 3 p.m., and Wu Zhongguo couldn't hide his pride. The spectators lingered in their seats, waiting for half an hour before Xiao Chuan excitedly ran in with his sports bag.
"Did you see that? Did you all see that? Isn't he handsome? Isn't he cool?" In the first city alliance friendly match, Xiao Chuan not only did not disappoint his fans, but also scored the decisive goal.
Shen Zhenzhu clapped her hands vigorously, eagerly wanting to take a photo with him, and even asked Xiao Chuan to sign more autographs in the future, so that she could keep them to brag about when Xiao Chuan became a national representative.
The group of adults wanted to hold a celebration banquet for Xiao Chuan, and chose to eat steak at the Liancheng SanSan Department Store, which opened today.
Xiao Chuan's mother hadn't returned from her trip to Qingcheng with her grandparents, so Wu Zhongguo patted his chest and promised to treat them.
SanSan Department Store is a comprehensive high-end shopping mall in Liancheng. It has a large membership supermarket on two underground floors and a gym with a group of foreign coaches. Counting up, the first floor is for famous watches and cosmetics, the second, third and fourth floors are for international brand clothing, etc. The fifth floor is for imported kitchenware, the sixth floor is for members' rest area, and the seventh floor is for restaurants. All of these places give people a sense of money.
"Here are some coupons for you, which can be used as cash." Zhou Qiushi stuffed a stack of stamped red coupons into Chen Zhenzhu's hand and said in a good mood, "These are discount coupons valid for all shops, and they are only valid for 30 days."
"Thank you, godfather!" Shen Zhenzhu was very generous this time, tearing open the package and distributing it to everyone in the four teams, especially Gu Yanzheng who received the most.
There's nothing she can do; although she can't afford it, her brother Zheng can.
Lu Ye and Zhao Qiqi quickly handed the coupons to Gu Yanzheng, and Xiao Chuan followed suit, giving one to Gu Yanzheng as well: "Uncle Gu, I don't want it."
Chen Zhenzhu noticed that Xiao Chuan had grown taller again, and compared their heights with her own: "You've grown so fast. Isn't it true that soccer players don't grow taller?"
"Don't touch my head, I'm all grown up now." Xiao Chuan's perfectly styled hair was ruined by Chen Zhenzhu's touch, and he ran to the large glass window outside the shop to fiddle with it: "I can still grow taller, and I'll be taller than my sister soon."
elder sister?
Uncle Gu was unhappy and stuffed all the coupons into Wu Zhongguo's hands.
Wu Zhongguo, who had been smiling, suddenly felt like he was being targeted by wallet assassins when he saw so many vouchers. He quickly stuffed them into his pocket before Xiao Chuan noticed.
Despite the high opening discounts, most customers who came in browsed empty-handed, and were often taken aback by the exorbitant prices.
Today, the mall's opening has attracted many curious visitors. While foot traffic will decrease after a while, sales to target customers are sure to increase. Zhou Qiushi is very optimistic about the future.
"There's a steakhouse that's really good. I'll take you there." Zhou Qiushi came down from the stage after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Leaving the vice presidents to entertain their various social connections, he walked over to Shen Zhenzhu, nodded to Gu Yanzheng, and then said to Shen Zhenzhu, "Steak, please?"
Chen Zhenzhu looked at Xiao Chuan again, and Xiao Chuan said, "Uncle, I want to eat noodles again, spaghetti!"
Wu Zhongguo knew his colleagues were all carnivores, so he said to Zhou Qiushi, "President Zhou, meat is the main focus."
“Then let’s go to the supplier I supply.” A short, stout middle-aged man came over with a smile and introduced himself: “I’ve been a friend of Mr. Zhou for over ten years. My surname is Feng, and my name is Feng Dahuan. I’m in the cold chain transportation business.”
Zhou Qiushi was a little surprised to see him come over, but when he saw Gu Yanzheng present, he understood why his old friend had come.
The only son of the Gu family in the provincial capital; getting on his side is like riding a roller coaster.
Zhou Qiushi focused on his business and had no desire to curry favor, but that didn't stop others from thinking the same way.
Feng Dahuan handed out his business card to everyone. He wasn't very tall, but he had a large bald patch on his head.
While Shen Zhenzhu was still grumbling to herself, Feng Dahuan extended his hand and shook hands with her: "Finally, I've met my idol! I've often heard Lao Zhou talk about your deeds. Although I'm much older than you, I'm always amazed. Come on, let's take a picture together?"
Gu Yanzheng stopped him, saying, "It's not convenient today, let's do it another day."
Feng Dahuan didn't mind and shook hands with Gu Yanzheng again, explaining, "My daughter also idolizes Section Chief Shen. She was surprised to meet him and thought he was even more charming than she had seen in the newspapers. She couldn't help but want to take a picture without considering whether Section Chief Shen's job was secure. I'm really sorry."
Seeing that Shen Zhenzhu was in a normal mood, Gu Yanzheng said calmly, "It's nothing."
The charming Shen Zhenzhu was not listening to their conversation at the moment. She and Xiao Chuan were looking up from the suspended atrium, hoping to see the fancy and expensive steakhouse.
Feng Dahuan volunteered to lead the way, while Zhou Qiushi had no choice but to stay by Shen Zhenzhu's side and talk to her.
"Where is my godmother?" Chen Zhenzhu asked.
Zhou Qiushi said, "I was supposed to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but two little girls at the welfare home were vomiting and had diarrhea in the early morning. It should be acute gastroenteritis. They just received painkillers, so I have to stay there with them for two days."
"That must have been awful. I hope the little girls recover soon." Chen Zhenzhu had also suffered terribly from mushroom poisoning last time, so she vowed never to eat mushrooms outside again.
They arrived at the steakhouse together. The waiters looked much more sophisticated than those at ordinary restaurants, wearing gray suits and serving menus to each person.
Chen Zhenzhu ordered steak and soon the waiter brought the food.
The steak placed before me instantly released a rich and exuberant aroma of meat. The Maillard reaction from the high-temperature grilling, the caramelized exterior, and the subtle sizzling of oil all proclaimed the perfect flavor of the steak before me.
"Wow, delicious." The wild flavor of the caramelized fat and the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the meat brought an explosion of happiness.
Gu Yanzheng twirled the golden pasta with his fork, savoring its subtle malty aroma. The creamy white sauce, rich and milky, perfectly coated every strand of pasta. The pasta was smooth on the outside, yet retained a chewy texture in its center.
“Not bad.” Gu Yanzheng swallowed the pasta and said to Shen Zhenzhu.
The pearl still savors the bold flavor of black pepper, the pure aroma of butter and a hint of sweetness, giving each bite a raw and primal sense of satisfaction.
Seeing Gu Yanzheng looking at her, Chen Zhenzhu generously picked up a piece of beef and placed it on Gu Yanzheng's plate. Brother Zheng's steak hasn't arrived yet; we can't just eat pasta.
Shen Zhenzhu's lips were a deep red and pink from the oil, and her eyes held anticipation.
Gu Yanzheng didn't disappoint, forking up a piece of beef and nodding in approval even before chewing it.
The celebratory steak dinner left everyone with a delicious, oily belly. Xiao Chuan ate two pieces before starting to roll up the spaghetti like Gu Yanzheng.
Zhou Qiushi then ordered several more Western-style side dishes for everyone to enjoy at their leisure.
In the end, Feng Dahuan insisted on paying the bill, but Xiao Chuan grabbed his arm, and he couldn't beat Wu Zhongguo to it.
The next day, back in the office, everyone in the four teams was still reminiscing about the wonderful taste.
Lu Ye smacked his lips and said, "If Sixth Sister were to make steak, she could definitely make it taste better than them."
"My goodness!" Zhao Qiqi was peeling and eating oranges early in the morning, enjoying the legendary delicious steak created by her sixth sister's profound culinary skills.
Chen Zhenzhu sat in her seat, gazing at the beautiful bouquet of roses with mesmerizing eyes. She took a gentle sniff, and the fragrance was truly intoxicating.
"It seems Section Chief Shen is quite pleased with the red roses I gave you." Chen Junsheng stood at the door, and following local custom, brought in a thermos to prepare tea for Wu Zhongguo in advance.
So it wasn't a gift from Brother Zheng after all.
Chen Zhenzhu smiled insincerely and said, "I'm sorry, I can't accept your flowers."
"Why? This is my apology to you." Chen Junsheng looked at Shen Zhenzhu with a mixture of admiration and a hint of something else.
Shen Zhenzhu hadn't quite grasped this yet; she just felt uncomfortable that the flowers Chen Junsheng had given her were placed in Zheng Ge's crystal vase.
Of course, it was not appropriate to say this to Chen Junsheng; he could only mutter it to himself.
She pulled out a large bouquet of roses, smiled, picked up the large mineral water bottle at Lu Ye's feet, and handed it to Chen Junsheng, saying, "I have other plans for the vase. Why don't you put it here and display it in the corridor so everyone can enjoy it?"
"Do you reject people so directly?" Chen Junsheng couldn't deny that he had developed feelings for Shen Zhenzhu, but at this moment he just frowned and accepted the roses and the large mineral water bottle.
"The flowers are all in full bloom today." Wu Zhongguo arrived a little late in the morning and stood at the door, stepping aside to let Gu Yanzheng go in first.
When Shen Zhenzhu saw Gu Yanzheng come in carrying bright flowers as usual, she didn't care why the flowers were no longer delivered by the florist every few days. Instead, she ran over to greet him with a crystal vase in her arms.
Gu Yanzheng personally placed the colorful and beautiful flowers in the vase, glanced at Chen Junsheng, and Chen Junsheng's right eyelid twitched wildly. He felt a sense of hostility from a love rival, no, it should be called a formidable enemy.
Gu Yanzheng said, "The interns don't go down to make copies of materials or study the files in the archives. Are they bringing their flirtatious habits from the Gangcheng Police Academy with them here holding flowers?"
A womanizing habit?
Chen Zhenzhu looked at Chen Junsheng in surprise. He had a trendy side-parted hairstyle typical of Hong Kong, and his hair was slicked back with hair oil. Since the Serious Crimes Unit was allowed to wear plainclothes, he had changed into fashionable clothes every day except for the first day they met. Indeed... well, he looked a bit frivolous.
"I...I'll go right away." Chen Junsheng didn't expect Gu Yanzheng to know him so well. He stammered as he finished speaking and picked up the large bouquet of roses.
"Captain Gu, Director Liu is looking for you." An officer outside brushed past Chen Junsheng, who was rushing away with a bouquet of roses.
"Alright." Gu Yanzheng chuckled, then looked up to meet Chen Zhenzhu's probing gaze: "What's wrong?"
Chen Zhenzhu scratched her head and said, "The greenhouse didn't send any nutrient solution, so these beautiful flowers won't last more than a few days before they wither."
"Thank them and have them deliver it more frequently." Gu Yanzheng walked towards the door and said, "You attend the meeting, I'll go over there."
"oh."
Gu Yanzheng strode out of the office and climbed three steps at a time to reach Director Liu's office, where the door was already open.
Zhang Jie came out and smiled at Gu Yanzheng, saying, "I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again."
"Okay." Gu Yanzheng nodded without giving a direct answer. Director Liu got up and closed the door. Seeing Gu Yanzheng's unhappy expression, he asked him, "What's wrong?"
Gu Yanzheng leaned back and said, "Is Chen Junsheng here for an internship or to pursue a girl?"
The first thing he said was a question, and Director Liu's eyelids twitched: "Who did we offend?"
Gu Yanzheng said, "He's the last person you want him to mess with."
Director Liu slammed his hand on the table: "You dare to make a move on Xiao Shen? You've got some nerve!" Then he thought for a moment: "Why are you so angry that he's pursuing Xiao Shen?"
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Author's Note: Gu Yanzheng: — —
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There's a red envelope! See you tomorrow! [Let me see]
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The food and recipes are referenced from the internet.
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