Chapter 82 Using her as a stepping stone
When Wang Xueying learned that Peng Fei and the others were about to return to the provincial capital after attending Lu Zheng's wedding, she became secretly anxious.
How can I get Peng Fei to pay attention to me?
She could tell that Peng Fei disliked opportunistic methods, and the best way was to make him genuinely like her.
But her appearance was only average, and her only redeeming quality was her personality, which was certainly not enough. Wang Xueying pondered to herself, feeling somewhat frustrated.
Just then, Peng Fei suddenly started chatting with her about the food in the provincial capital, listing which restaurant had crispy roast duck with tender meat and which had savory and flavorful braised pork, as if he knew it all by heart.
A sudden inspiration struck Wang Xueying!
She can cook too!
While I wouldn't call myself a professional chef, I can still serve a few decent home-style dishes.
As long as Peng Fei can appreciate her cooking skills, and she subtly hints at it, as the saying goes, "it's easy for a woman to pursue a man," maybe this will work out!
The more she thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. It was just that actively pursuing men made her a little uncomfortable, but she had no other choice now. What was the point of keeping those girlish modesty around?
Only by grabbing onto the person in front of her can she completely escape this muddy place and return to the city she longs for!
Thinking of this, she nodded emphatically, her eyes revealing a resolute determination to go all in.
But then I thought, cooking alone probably wouldn't be enough to make a lasting impression on Peng Fei. The best way was to create a comparison; only through comparison could her merits be highlighted!
During their conversation, she noticed that Peng Fei spoke highly of Xia Qianqian.
A thought quickly formed in her mind: "If I can prove that I am better at managing a household and more virtuous than Xia Qianqian, I don't believe Peng Fei won't be attracted to me!"
A confident smile curled at the corners of her lips.
I overheard some educated youths who had returned to the city chatting that Xia Qianqian didn't even know how to use a traditional earthen stove. If I were to show off my cooking skills, wouldn't I be clearly superior to Xia Qianqian?
She smiled and said, "Peng Fei, you're in for a treat today! I can cook all those famous dishes from the provincial capital that you mentioned earlier! But since the conditions here are limited, I'll just show you a couple of simple recipes so you can taste my cooking!"
Peng Fei's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Wang Xueying to be so skilled. He smiled and replied, "That's wonderful! We're all looking forward to trying your cooking and seeing if it's really as amazing as you say!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Xueying smiled smugly, her eyes filled with disdain: "Of course, it's definitely better than Xia Qianqian's."
After saying that, she deliberately put on a cheerful and generous appearance and said to Peng Fei, "Your sister-in-law is, after all, a rich young lady from the city, with delicate skin and tender flesh. It's normal that she can't do these rough jobs like starting a fire and cooking. Unlike me, I was taught these things at home since I was a child."
She wanted to use these words to establish her "virtuous and capable" persona, portraying Xia Qianqian as a pampered young lady, so she could climb over others to get ahead.
Peng Fei, being a straightforward person, didn't understand the subtlety in her words. He took it as a compliment to his sister-in-law, scratching his head and laughing, "You're right! Why would my sister-in-law need to do such rough work?"
He patted Wang Xueying's arm as he spoke, his tone as decisive as hitting a stone, "Alright, alright, stop standing here chatting, hurry up and go help out in the kitchen, the brothers are waiting for dinner!"
These words were utterly devoid of any tenderness, and Wang Xueying inwardly cursed this fool for being so clueless about romance, but she still had to put on a hearty smile: "Just wait! I guarantee you'll want more after you've had your fill!"
As soon as she turned the corner, Lu Zheng leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at Peng Fei: "You two seem to be having a good chat. Are you interested in this girl?"
Seeing Peng Fei chatting enthusiastically with someone, he assumed that his brother had fallen for him.
To everyone's surprise, Peng Fei scoffed, "I was just chatting with her out of boredom! Didn't you hear her talking badly about my sister-in-law behind her back? Saying that my sister-in-law can't do any work, and that she's the only one capable—I don't respect girls who gossip behind people's backs."
Peng Fei's carefree demeanor could easily fool someone unfamiliar with him. Lu Zheng, however, knew very well that his brother, despite his rough appearance, was a top-notch reconnaissance soldier in the army, with a sharp mind that surpassed anyone else's; he simply appeared simple and honest.
Upon hearing Peng Fei's words, Lu Zheng's brows furrowed, and his eyes darkened.
"Hmph," he snorted, "She just said she was close to Qianqian. I'll have to give Qianqian a heads-up and tell her to stay away from people like that."
Little did Wang Xueying know that her little scheme had been seen through, and she happily headed straight for the kitchen.
Seeing that Mrs. Lu was busy, she immediately put on a warm smile and said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Auntie! Brother Lu said you were too busy here, so he asked me to lend a hand!"
She deliberately emphasized the words "Brother Lu," as if she were really familiar with Lu Zheng. "I'm best at cooking in the city. Braised pork and sweet and sour fish are my specialties! Let me show off my skills today and give everyone a change of pace!"
Mrs. Lu was worried about not having enough help, so when she heard what she said, she didn't think much of it and just assumed that her son's friend was being helpful. She smiled and nodded, "That's great! You're quite capable, kid!"
She wiped her hands and called out, "Da Ya, Er Ya, come over here and help your Sister Wang!"
Then she said to Wang Xueying, "If you get tired, just call me and Auntie will take over for you. Don't push yourself."
Wang Xueying felt smug, but her smile became even more enthusiastic: "Not tired at all! Auntie, don't worry, I guarantee everyone will be satisfied with the meal!"
Lu's mother readily gave up her spot by the stove. Since Lu Zheng had already told his brothers that they would come to help, the family had prepared a lot of ingredients. There was a piece of pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat on the cutting board, and a bamboo basket next to it filled with bright green vegetables and so on.
Wang Xueying stared wide-eyed, her Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily—who could be so generous these days?
The pork on this case alone is enough for an ordinary family to eat for half a month if they save every penny! A sour jealousy instantly crept into her heart like vines, and she gritted her teeth inwardly: Xia Qianqian, that little bitch, is so lucky!
But soon, she pinched her arm hard and told herself: Now is not the time to be jealous! The most important thing right now is to win Peng Fei's heart!
As long as she marries him, she can live a life of comfort and ease in the provincial capital. What is Xia Qianqian, a country girl, compared to him? At that time, she can live as glamorously as she wants, and Xia Qianqian won't even be worthy of carrying her shoes!
Thinking of this, Wang Xueying took a deep breath, suppressed her turbulent thoughts, and her eyes sharpened.
Today, she must show off her best skills and cook some impressive dishes to let Peng Fei see her virtuousness and competence, and also let Xia Qianqian understand who the ultimate winner is!
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