Gu Zhiyuan nodded. When he came back, he had a stubble beard and his hair hadn't been trimmed in a long time.
Those who knew him would think he was on duty handling a case, but those who didn't would think he was in jail.
So when I got home, the first thing I did was take a good shower and shave. I was just thinking about whether to trim my hair when I saw Xu Ningyan come back.
Having not seen her for many days, he truly missed Xu Ningyan. In his spare moments, he would wonder if she was unaccustomed to being home alone, if she missed him, and if she was eating carelessly without his supervision.
When she got home, she was still thinking about whether Xu Ningyan would rush up and hug her excitedly or cry if she saw her.
He even fantasized that if the little girl rushed over and hugged him, could he hug her back? Could he take this opportunity to reveal the truth about their relationship?
After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will be returning to the capital in a while.
He was definitely worried about leaving Xu Ningyan alone in Jingshan County, and he was determined to bring her back to the capital with him.
Once the official status is finalized, it will be natural to take the person away.
Thinking about this, Gu Zhiyuan began to think even more deeply. He had already mentally prepared how to introduce Xu Ningyan to his parents and family after returning to the capital, where Xu Ningyan would live, and what kind of job to arrange for her.
So when Xu Ningyan returned and greeted him with a smile, Gu Zhiyuan was unusually nervous.
With her heart pounding and every muscle in her body tense, she braced herself for Xu Ningyan to pounce on her.
As a result, Xu Ningyan simply smiled and greeted him, then went inside and put down her bag, just like any other day.
Gu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense muscles relaxed a little. He couldn't tell whether he felt more relaxed or disappointed.
Xu Ningyan had no idea about the complicated thoughts in Gu Zhiyuan's mind.
After putting down her things and washing her hands, she was about to start cooking: "I haven't seen you for the past few days, you've lost so much weight! It's rare for you to come back, can you eat at home today? I'll make something nice for you to eat and help you recover."
Gu Zhiyuan nodded: "I can stay home tonight."
She felt a surge of joy in her heart. The little girl still cared about her; she had just noticed she had lost weight and wanted to nourish herself.
Moreover, the little girl has become much more reserved now, and she no longer speaks as freely as she did in the Unity Brigade before, probably because she is afraid that outsiders might overhear and cause a bad influence.
Actually, it's better for the little girl to be like this. He has seen many couples who have been married for many years and only then have this kind of subtle understanding. All their care is contained in this meal and a greeting.
Their current relationship resembles that of a long-married couple; their days are ordinary, yet full of warmth and everyday life.
Peaceful and cozy.
When Xu Ningyan heard that Gu Zhiyuan could stay at home for one night, she thought that he would probably leave Jingshan County soon, and the two of them might not see each other again for many years.
Naturally, this dinner cannot be taken lightly. We must strive to feed the big boss well before he leaves, so as to leave a good impression.
If I can get into a university in Beijing in the future, I might have to rely on some big shot to help me buy a few courtyard houses, right?
Xu Ningyan is now very wealthy, and most of the assets belonging to Deputy Director Qin of the Revolutionary Committee are still in her hands.
Seeing that Gu Zhiyuan's hair had grown long, he simply said, "Brother, the barbershop at the alley entrance is still open. Why don't you take the time to get your hair trimmed and your beard shaved? By the time you're done, I'll have almost finished cooking, and we can eat right away."
Gu Zhiyuan actually wanted to talk to Xu Ningyan more, but Xu Ningyan felt that her hair had grown long and she needed to shave, which meant that her appearance was indeed unsightly.
He nodded obediently, took the money, and went to the alley entrance to get a haircut.
A few days ago, people from the Tuanjie Brigade came and brought more than a dozen eels and two crucian carp the length of a shoe, which Xu Ningyan kept in a small tank.
Two days ago, I went to the river with the kids from the department store and collected half a bucket of snails. We changed the water every day to let them spit out the mud, and they're ready to eat today.
The good dishes I made before were all meat, like chicken.
It's early summer now, so eating some seafood is a good idea.
Use eel to stir-fry eel segments, add a little green pepper and Sichuan peppercorns, and it will be both numbing and spicy, and incredibly delicious.
Braised crucian carp, pan-fried until golden brown on both sides, topped with homemade fermented bean paste, and sprinkled with chopped green onions before serving—it's incredibly fragrant.
Clean the snails thoroughly, use pliers to remove their tails, then heat oil in a wok, add ginger, chili peppers, various spices and fermented bean paste and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the snails and stir-fry, then pour in water and boil.
Seeing that Gu Zhiyuan hadn't returned yet, Xu Ningyan secretly added a bottle of beer to the pot and put the lid on, so that the snails would taste even better.
After Gu Zhiyuan finished trimming his hair and beard, he smelled a wonderful aroma as soon as he left the barbershop. Without much thought, he guessed that Xu Ningyan had made something delicious that he had never tasted before.
He wasn't in a hurry to go home. He first grabbed a few bottles of soda and bought two popsicles before heading home.
As soon as you enter the courtyard, a fragrant and spicy aroma wafts over you, seemingly carrying a hint of alcohol, but upon closer inspection, you can no longer smell it.
"What delicious food are you making?" Gu Zhiyuan couldn't help but walk into the kitchen.
When Xu Ningyan saw him return, she gestured for him to set the table in the yard and then serve the food.
A piece of eel, a braised crucian carp, and a stir-fried bitter melon were served.
Gu Zhiyuan was still setting out the chopsticks when Xu Ningyan came out carrying a small basin. The strange fragrance he smelled was coming from this basin.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a basin full of snails.
Xu Ningyan found a bamboo stalk in the woodshed, scalded the thin bamboo branch with boiling water, and used it as a toothpick to pick out the snail meat to eat.
Seeing that Gu Zhiyuan was still a bit unsure how to eat it, I tried two snails for him to see, and told him to be careful not to eat the innards at the back of the snail.
Gu Zhiyuan was initially a bit reserved, but after eating two, he loosened up.
Eating snails, having a few, taking a sip of a beverage, and chatting about everything under the sun is the perfect way to spend time.
Gu Zhiyuan thought that the matter in Jingshan County was about to be completed. Regarding the fate of Xu Zhenzhu and the Lu family, as long as it did not involve secrets, he still needed to tell Xu Ningyan so that she would be aware of the situation.
This does not constitute a violation of discipline.
Xu Zhenzhu finally confirmed that she had nothing to do with Lu Kai and Meng Ruyi's defection. Moreover, she took the initiative to confess her problems, and her attitude was very positive and good. She also took the initiative to propose to divorce Lu Kai and sever ties.
The organization naturally agreed.
Therefore, Xu Zhenzhu and Lu Kai divorced while they were in custody.
Of course, although Xu Zhenzhu was not involved in the Lu family's defection, she personally admitted to poisoning them.
Moreover, if it weren't for the coincidence that she successfully poisoned them, Lu Kai and Meng Ruyi might have actually escaped.
However, Lu Bo and Lu Tao lost their lives due to her poison, so Xu Zhenzhu was ultimately sentenced to ten years of reform through labor on a farm in the more remote northwestern province of Victoria.
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