Chapter 34: Can Be Ruthless, Can Play the Sweet Innocent

The moment He Meijiao saw Chu Yue, her expression changed, and she instantly lost her appetite. She turned around, wanting to leave.

She absolutely refused to sit at the same table with a bumpkin from the countryside — who knows if she’d catch that backwater vibe just by being near her?

As He Meijiao turned to go, Wang Xiulan panicked.

She had come down the mountain today without bringing lunch or any rations — all so she could mooch a meal off He Meijiao. He Meijiao had money and spent it generously. With her, one could definitely enjoy a lavish meal at the state-run restaurant.

She couldn’t let the duck fly from her mouth — and definitely not let her walking ATM walk away.

“Comrade He, you can’t leave! You can’t leave!” Wang Xiulan grabbed He Meijiao’s arm anxiously, leaned close to her ear, raised her brows, and whispered,
“If you walk away now, that means you’re admitting defeat! Comrade He, how can you lose to Chu Yue?!”

He Meijiao frowned but was eventually persuaded by Wang Xiulan’s words.

This was a state-run restaurant — open to everyone. If Chu Yue could sit and eat here, and she had to leave with nowhere to go, wouldn’t that mean she lost?

He Meijiao could lose to anyone — but not to Chu Yue!

She wouldn’t just eat this meal — she was going to eat better than Chu Yue.

With that figured out, He Meijiao marched confidently toward Chu Yue’s table.

Wang Xiulan followed closely behind, grinning with delight. Her free meal was practically guaranteed now. She quickly grabbed two stools and plopped them down next to the table.

“Fengying, Comrade Chu, you’re eating here too? The state-run restaurant is just too packed — there’s nowhere to sit. Comrade He and I will share the table with you, hope you don’t mind?”

Even as she spoke, she was already sitting down, not caring in the slightest whether Chu Yue or Chen Fengying actually agreed.

Chen Fengying frowned, clearly displeased. Everyone in the compound knew that He Meijiao had been shamelessly pursuing Lu Zhanlin. And now that Lu Zhanlin suddenly had a wife and child, seating He Meijiao and Chu Yue at the same table — wasn’t that just a recipe for disaster?

If the two of them clashed, knowing He Meijiao’s temper, she could very well flip the whole table.

And that Wang Xiulan — she obviously knew everything that was going on, yet still dragged He Meijiao over. What was she scheming?

Compared to Chen Fengying’s tension, Chu Yue remained calm and even looked amused.

A spoiled rich girl like He Meijiao was nothing compared to the cold-hearted, calculating survivors in the post-apocalyptic world.

If He Meijiao were thrown into the apocalypse, she wouldn’t last a week.

Chu Yue was curious to see what kind of petty tricks He Meijiao wanted to play.

After sitting down, He Meijiao glanced at the two dishes and one soup on the table, and scoffed.

“This is all you’re eating? So shabby. Sister Xiulan, go get us one serving of the signature braised pork with preserved vegetables, one serving of red-braised lion’s head meatballs, a steamed bass, tomato and scrambled eggs, and pick two more veggie dishes. That’ll do for the two of us.”

Wang Xiulan beamed at the words, nodding repeatedly as she rushed off to place the order.
“Okay, okay, I’m on it!”

Not only would she get to eat meat today, she’d even get fish — and no old folks or kids to fight over it. It was like New Year’s come early!

Chen Fengying was stunned. She counted on her fingers and muttered under her breath,
“All that’s gotta cost at least four or five yuan…”

Unfortunately, He Meijiao overheard her.

He Meijiao flashed a smug smile.
“So what if it’s four or five yuan? If we’re eating out, we should eat well. If you can’t afford it, don’t try to act rich.”

As she said this, she shot Chu Yue a sidelong glance.

It was obvious who she was referring to with the “acting rich” comment.

Chen Fengying’s heart flared with anger. She had grown close to Chu Yue lately and already saw her as a little sister. How could she just sit by while Chu Yue was insulted like this?

She opened her mouth, ready to snap back.

Under the table, Chu Yue gently patted Chen Fengying’s knee, signaling her to hold back and stay calm.

Right after that, Chu Yue furrowed her brows and started “fretting” aloud:

“Comrade He, you’re single and unmarried — your money’s yours alone to spend. How carefree and easy your life must be…” Her tone was cool and seemingly envious, but there was a touch of helplessness in it. “It’s not like those of us who are already married. Lu Zhanlin hands over all his wages to me — he said I should manage the household. Daily expenses, raising a child, feeding three mouths… if I don’t tighten the belt, how can we get by? Don’t you agree, Comrade He?”

That rhetorical question hit He Meijiao right in her sore spot.

She latched onto the most important part and sharply asked, “You said Commander Lu gives all his wages to you?!”

For a man to hand over his full salary — everyone knows what that means.

She hadn’t even taken a single bite yet, but it felt like someone had poured a whole bottle of aged Shanxi vinegar into her stomach — sour to the core.

Chu Yue, seeing that her goal had been achieved, dropped her sarcastic tone and stood up smoothly.

“Chen-sao and I have finished eating, so we’ll be heading out first. You take your time — food isn’t easy to come by and is very precious. Be sure not to waste any of it — finish every last bite.”

He Meijiao’s face turned green, then white, then red with embarrassment — an ever-shifting palette of humiliation, and yet she couldn’t find a word to say in response.

Because everything Chu Yue said sounded like praise, but every word was a barb in disguise.

Chu Yue picked up her things, and Chen Fengying stood as well. Seeing the constipated expression on He Meijiao’s face, she couldn’t help but lower her head and stifle a laugh.

She had just discovered: not only could Chu Yue handle arrogant women like Li Jinhua, she could also play the innocent and sharp-tongued “green tea” when needed.

Just then, Wang Xiulan came over with five or six heaping plates of food. Seeing Chu Yue and Chen Fengying getting ready to leave, she quickly asked, “You’re not eating anymore? Leaving already?”

“Wang Xiulan, we’ve had our fill. Take your time. And remember — wasting food is shameful. Don’t leave a single grain behind — make sure to eat it all.”

Chen Fengying echoed Chu Yue’s earlier words, clearly directing them at He Meijiao.

Eat!

It’s just food, right?

You think I can’t finish it?!

He Meijiao clenched her fists in secret, determined to prove them wrong — until she actually saw the plates Wang Xiulan had set down. Her entire expression froze.

Why is there so much food?! The table could barely hold it all.

“Come on, Comrade He, eat up! I stood there watching them scoop the food — I made sure they didn’t hold back. Every single plate is the fullest and the best they had!”

Looking at the beaming Wang Xiulan beside her, He Meijiao felt even more suffocated. There was no way to argue now.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out in the lively state-run restaurant.

“Pat his back — quick, pat his back! Get your fingers in his throat! Try water, try giving him water, maybe it’ll help?”

The diners jumped up from their seats and formed a circle. In the middle stood a young father and son. The child was about four or five years old, dressed in a stylish little suit with suspenders. He looked very fashionable — but his face had turned completely red.

His mouth was open, but no sound came out — he was clearly choking on something.

The father was desperately pounding the boy’s back — smack, smack — while people around them offered frantic advice.

But whatever was stuck in the boy’s throat wouldn’t come out. The situation was turning dangerous.

Seeing this, Chu Yue immediately set down her belongings again and instinctively stepped forward to help.

But—

“You’re not allowed to go!”

Suddenly, He Meijiao stood up and grabbed Chu Yue’s arm in a death grip, snapping fiercely, “You’re not a medic! Do you have a qualification certificate? You’re nothing — what right do you have to step in and help? Get out of the way!”