Chapter 19

As soon as Xu Xiangqian mentioned this, the noisy office fell silent.

A group of young officers with big hats turned their heads to look. Xu Xiangqian, acting nonchalant, waved his hand. “What are you looking at? Does it matter how good the desserts are? They’re for Deputy Director Gu, so don’t think you can just stare. Look at you all, with eyes as wide as copper bells. No wonder you’re still single at your age.”

The single men in the Public Security Bureau: “……”

The county Public Security Bureau mostly had young men in their twenties who were used to joking and fooling around. They had developed thick skins over time.

Although they had heard that the deputy director was married to a young wife, only about twenty years old, they hadn’t seen her. She was a countryside girl who came to the city, usually with a rough appearance and dark skin from working on the farm.

But Deputy Director Gu’s wife was different—her face was like peach blossoms, with snow-white skin, looking as beautiful as a movie star. The gossip in the courtyard had spread, and they all approved of the marriage!

The young men, grinning, left the office.

Xu Xiangqian, however, lingered behind, hoping to snag a piece of the sugar cake.

When the lunchbox was opened, the rich aroma of sweet rice filled the air. The aluminum lunchbox held neatly arranged sugar cakes—no, they were improved sugar cakes.

Before delivery, the sugar cakes must have been freshly steamed. They were still warm, emitting steam, with added green beans, salted pork, and sweet red beans. The cakes were soft, sweet, with the oiliness of the pork, making them extremely tempting.

Xu Xiangqian sniffed, “It smells so good.”

Before Gu Shi’an could notice, Xu Xiangqian grabbed a piece of the improved sugar cake and popped it into his mouth. The moment he tasted it, Xu Xiangqian’s eyes lit up, and he praised, “Delicious! So good! Old Gu, give me another piece!”

Just as he reached for another piece, a pair of long fingers snatched the lunchbox away.

Xu Xiangqian looked up to see Gu Shi’an’s expressionless face as he calmly carried the lunchbox away, leaving Xu Xiangqian begging, “Old Gu, don’t take it away! Just one more piece, just one!”

Deputy Director Gu stated firmly, “Not even a half piece. If you want more, have Chunmei make it.”

Xu Xiangqian: “………”

With such amazing cooking skills from Comrade Chunmei, he’d rather go hungry than ask for more.

Xu Xiangqian left in disappointment, while Gu Shi’an looked at the white sugar cakes in the lunchbox with a smile in his eyes.

*

At three o’clock in the afternoon, it was time for the shift change at the pig farm, and Zhang Cuilan brought back a basket of pig offal as usual.

Gu Shidong was fetching water in the yard. It was rare for the eldest son to be so diligent, and Zhang Cuilan was just about to praise him.

But the scoundrel ran over, throwing away his water bucket. “Mom, what’s in the basket?”

“Pig offal. It’s hanging in the well. We’ll take it to the countryside tomorrow to give to your grandmother.”

“The countryside has a big canteen now. Does Grandma still want pig offal? Why not go to the supply and marketing cooperative and get some pork belly to make braised pork for her!”

“Eat, eat, eat! What a load of nonsense! Braised pork needs a meat coupon, does it? You brat, talking as if money grows on trees. Earning money is tough, and you’d better get used to it. If you don’t want to eat shit, then don’t act like you’re entitled. Your father works in the workshop all day and doesn’t get a piece of meat. Get lost!”

Zhang Cuilan scolded her eldest son and chased him back into the house.

In the small side room, Lin Yao heard the commotion and wondered if it was a mouse problem.

There were quite a few mice in the big courtyard these days, and if you weren’t careful, the food could be ruined.

Lin Yao went to check, thinking she should set some mousetraps if it was indeed a mouse problem.

When she opened the door, she was startled to see Gu Shidong inside the room, his face smeared with white sugar cake, looking like a white-browed hero.

Gu Shidong thought it was his mother checking on him and, seeing it was Lin Yao, jumped down from the bed with a thump. “Sister-in-law, you scared me to death.”

Lin Yao didn’t hold back and gave him a slap. “Brat, trying to shift the blame, huh? Didn’t I leave a plate of sugar cakes for you? Why are you sneaking more?”

And with his face covered in white goo!

Gu Shidong cried out, “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry! Don’t pull my ear, it’ll come off!”

Lin Yao let go and glared at him. “Look at this room of yours, it’s a mess. Be careful, or your brother will come back and clean it up.”

The room, which had been neat and orderly with Gu Shi’an’s strict military discipline, was now a disaster zone—part dog’s den, part standard military barracks.

Gu Shi’an’s clothes were always neatly folded, his belongings arranged with precision, his bed made into perfect squares, and the sheets without a wrinkle.

In contrast, Shidong’s side of the room was cluttered with books and sunflower seeds, a mess that was hard to look at.

Gu Shidong suddenly remembered that his brother would be coming back to sleep in the same room with him at night!

He sluggishly picked up a broom to sweep the floor, while Lin Yao, finding the dust in the room too much, retreated to her own room.

Unexpectedly, Gu Shidong cleaned up his room, opened the window, and peeked outside.

“Sister-in-law, can I ask you something?”

Lin Yao, busy with her yarn, knew that Shidong had something on his mind. She gave him a skeptical look. “What is it?”

No time for idle talk, she wasn’t in the mood.

Gu Shidong fidgeted with his hands and said, “Sister-in-law, do you not like my brother?”

Lin Yao: “What kind of question is that?”

Gu Shidong scratched his head and decisively moved a small stool over, sitting down and pouring out his thoughts, “Sister-in-law, don’t think just because I’m young that I don’t understand things. My grandmother used to say that good relationships are built, that if a couple wants to live well together, they need to be heart-to-heart and work together. My grandma also said that people who live together are destined to be together. You and my brother are really meant to be together, and my brother treats you differently from others. He didn’t even look at Lin Hongna before, but now he only has eyes for you and always smiles when he sees you.

My second sister says that’s infatuation or something. I didn’t understand it, but I know my brother cares about you. Since you both like each other, why not just be open about it? There’s a saying, ‘A hundred years of cultivation bring you together on the same boat, a thousand years of cultivation bring you together in the same bed.’ Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian were torn apart by Fahai, how pitiful. You and my brother are in such good condition, so just live happily together. Unless, of course, you don’t like my brother.”

Lin Yao, under Gu Shidong’s bright gaze, couldn’t deny that she didn’t like Gu Shi’an.

Well, to be honest, she was indeed attracted to Gu Shi’an’s looks.

Gu Shidong, being so perceptive, immediately grinned and said, “Sister-in-law, so you really do like my brother! That’s great! What, you don’t want me to tell anyone? Don’t worry, sister-in-law, we’re good friends. I’ll definitely keep your secret! Don’t worry!”

The little scoundrel patted his chest and made a solemn vow.

In the end, Lin Yao sent Gu Shidong away with a wooden expression.

Before leaving, he couldn’t resist giving her a wink. “Sister-in-law, my brother is really great—tall, handsome, good at his job, and fit. He’ll give you all his earnings in the future. You can spend however you want. When we have a little nephew, my brother will be the one changing diapers and wiping bottoms. He’s great with kids, he can handle ten or eight of them!”

Lin Yao: “………”

Like a sow giving birth to ten or eight piglets!

Just go already!

*

After sending off the little troublemaker, Lin Yao sat at the table, propping her chin, and thought for a long time.

In her previous life, she had dated before. During university, she had several handsome boys chasing her from freshman to senior year.

Lin Yao was somewhat slow to warm up and a bit picky about relationships. Her family—her grandparents and parents—were all loving couples, and she grew up in a happy, loving home.

Having received enough love, she could live a comfortable and content life on her own, so her need for romantic love wasn’t as strong.

Faced with the pursuit of the young men, she would refuse if she wasn’t interested. Not only did she lack attraction, but she also didn’t want to fall into love too soon.

During her four years in college, Lin Yao briefly experienced a relationship with a senior. The senior came from a good family, had decent character, and was a gentleman who adhered to propriety. However, their relationship was as bland as plain water and ended due to incompatible personalities.

Lin Yao wasn’t upset at all. In fact, she felt relieved.

Her feelings towards her ex were completely different from her feelings towards Gu Shi’an. She touched her flushed face and realized that she had truly developed feelings for Gu Shi’an.

Since she was moved, there was no need to hide it.

That afternoon, Lin Yao decided to take action and have a serious talk with Gu Shi’an.