Chapter 570 The Moat Several years later, Gu Feng used all his savings to take Gu Ximan to Caizhou for treatment, and they returned to Caizhou to settle down again.
Time flies, and Gu Luo and Gu Ximan entered the same junior high school. Tuition, living expenses and various other costs made Gu Feng feel a little overwhelmed, but he was also happy and content, as long as the family could get better and better.
After another day of running errands, Gu Feng arrived at a food stall he frequented called "Meat Plenty".
The night in Caizhou is warmed by neon lights. The "Meat Duo Duo" food stall is bustling with people, and plastic tables and chairs are packed full in the open-air area.
The pork belly sizzled on the grill, dripping oil that crackled on the charcoal fire. The aroma of cumin and chili mingled with the malty scent of beer, drifting far and wide on the evening breeze.
Gu Feng squeezed through the noisy crowd and walked familiarly to the corner table where he usually sat—it was close to the grill but also away from the passing diners.
"You're here? Same as always?" The proprietress, Sister Wang, wearing an apron stained with oil, walked past him carrying a stack of empty plates, greeting him loudly. Her smile was like a perfectly roasted sweet potato, warm and hearty.
"Yes, that's right." Gu Feng pulled out a plastic stool and sat down, the chair legs scraping against the cement floor with a screeching sound.
He loosened his shirt collar; after running around doing business all afternoon, he felt like he was about to explode.
Not long after, Sister Wang came over with a tray.
A bottle of ice-cold beer landed with a thud on the corner of the table, its surface glistening with water droplets; the grilled chives were emerald green and glistening with oil, their roots still carrying the aroma of charcoal; two oysters sat in a foil box, piled high with minced garlic, steaming hot.
Gu Feng unscrewed the beer bottle cap, made a soft "pop," tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. The icy liquid slid down his throat, instantly dispelling most of his fatigue.
He picked up a piece of chives with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and chewed it with relish, mumbling his praise: "Sister Wang, your taste is still the most authentic, much better than the others."
"Absolutely!" Sister Wang patted her chest and turned around to bring over a plate of fried peanuts and a plate of preserved egg tofu: "They're complimentary, to go with your drinks."
The peanuts were fried until golden and crispy, and the preserved egg and tofu were drizzled with sesame oil and soy sauce—both were Gu Feng's favorite side dishes.
"I can't accept this!" Gu Feng quickly thanked him.
"Why are you being so polite with me? You come to support my business every day, this little thing is nothing." Sister Wang simply pulled up a stool next to her and sat down, still holding a rag for wiping the table. She looked Gu Feng up and down for a while, and couldn't help but shake her head: "Look at you, you've lost even more weight than last month, your cheekbones are almost protruding. Don't work so hard, your health is your most important asset, what will you do if you collapse?"
Gu Feng smiled, picked up a peanut, and popped it into his mouth, chewing it with relish. "I have two kids at home, both in junior high school. Tuition and living expenses, what doesn't cost money? While I'm young, I should work hard so they can have an easier life later."
When the topic of children came up, his eyes lit up, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes revealed a smile.
"That makes sense, but you can't risk your life for money." Sister Wang sighed, then changed the subject, revealing a woman's gossipy expression, and lowered her voice to say, "You're not getting any younger, you should find someone else. Having someone to lend a hand will reduce the pressure by half, and you can spend more time with the kids. It's better than you running around outside every day."
"We'll see, haha." Gu Feng waved his hand, took a sip of beer to hide his embarrassment, "My two kids are very sensible, especially my son Gu Luo, who is first in his grade every year. After school, he cooks for his sister and helps her with her homework. I feel at ease when I go out to earn money."
He spoke with pride, his tone filled with the pride of being a father.
The two chatted casually, from rising vegetable prices to children's education, their conversation growing longer and longer like meat skewers on a grill.
Gu Feng was completely unaware that at a half-empty table not far away, a girl with neat short hair was propping her chin up and carefully scrutinizing him.
The girl's fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the table. Her gaze moved from his oil-stained sleeves to the way he tilted his neck as he drank beer, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.
Suddenly, Gu Feng's phone rang, the shrill ringtone standing out starkly in the noisy food stall.
He quickly answered the phone, his tone instantly becoming warm and respectful: "Hello, Mr. Li! Oh, I just finished up. Don't worry, I'll be right there. I'll definitely close this deal for you!"
After hanging up the phone, Gu Feng grabbed his coat from the table and was about to get up.
Sister Wang frowned and looked at the time. It was already 9:10 p.m. She opened her mouth, wanting to say, "Going out drinking so late is bad for your health," but she swallowed the words back. She knew Gu Feng's difficulties; this business deal must be very important to him.
Without saying anything more, Sister Wang turned around, took a bottle of chilled green tea from the refrigerator, and stuffed it into Gu Feng's hand: "Drink this on the way to help you sober up."
"Thanks, Sister Wang!" Gu Feng didn't stand on ceremony. He took the green tea, put it in his coat pocket, scanned the code to pay, and hurriedly squeezed out of the food stall. He quickly hailed a taxi and disappeared into the night.
Looking at the half-eaten plate of peanuts, a few sips of beer, and the unfinished roasted chives on the table, Sister Wang couldn't help but sigh. Having run a food stall for decades, she had seen too many people struggling to make a living, and she had witnessed Gu Feng's hardships firsthand.
Just then, a very pleasant female voice rang in her ear: "Auntie, I'd like to order some food."
Following the sound, Sister Wang looked over and saw the short-haired girl standing by the table. Her face was as delicate as a porcelain doll's. She was wearing a white printed short-sleeved shirt and denim shorts, and her long, straight legs looked especially youthful under the streetlights.
"Oh, yes, what a beautiful young lady!" Sister Wang quickly composed herself, smiled, and couldn't help but take a second look at her.
This girl's eyes are so bright, like they hold stars.
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