Chapter 85: Mind Your Own Business

When Lin Xiangnan returned home from the hospital, Gu Zhenhua had already washed the clothes and was hanging them out to dry.

“Is the situation serious? Why did you go to the hospital?” Gu Zhenhua asked with concern.

“It’s not that serious, but Wang Yingchang is such a jerk” Lin Xiangnan stood beside Gu Zhenhua and talked about what had just happened, complaining as he spoke.

“That damn Wang Yingchang, who can tell the difference between him and a human trafficker these days?”

“I can’t understand why a good woman would end up with such a scumbag.”

“But this kind of thing can only be solved by Luo Caixia herself. No one else can help her.”

Lin Xiangnan and Chen Xiulan could only help by lending a little money or speaking up for her, but they couldn’t do much else.

However, before leaving the hospital, they both analyzed the situation with Luo Caixia. The Wang family couldn’t function without a mistress, and Luo Caixia had the leverage to negotiate.

Gu Zhenhua said as he hung up the clothes: “Luo Caixia shouldn’t stay in the hospital for more than two days. Old Wang is quite pragmatic. He used to roll in mud and eat raw meat when he was on missions or training. He’s tough. He won’t be stubborn about these little things.”

One can’t reach the rank of battalion commander without being tough and enduring hardship.

It’s just that Wang Yingchang’s attitude towards work and family is different. At home, he only knows how to bully honest people.

He could clearly do some things, but if Luo Caixia didn’t mention them, he would pretend to be oblivious.

Knowing that Luo Caixia would be in the hospital for two days and couldn’t return home, Wang Yingchang grumbled and washed the clothes in the basin and hung them up.

He also cooked dinner and fed the children.

He did all this with the door closed, feeling ashamed.

That night, their youngest daughter started crying, and Wang Yingchang couldn’t help but take it out on the children, disciplining them.

The next morning when he went out, his face was so grim that even Gu Zhenhua didn’t want to look at him.

The house was already tidy, and Lin Xiangnan had no work to do, so she was free when Gu Zhenhua went out.

She moved the rocking chair to the middle of the yard, took a book, and sat there reading while basking in the sun.

There were few books to read during this period, so she picked up a Chinese history book to pass the time. When she saw the phrase “A cunning rabbit has three burrows”, literally “a cunning rabbit has three burrows,” meaning someone has multiple ways to escape), Lin Xiangnan scratched her chin.

“I want to eat rabbit.”

“Let’s have double pepper rabbit for lunch. And braise some small things for snacks in the afternoon.”

Having made up her mind, Lin Xiangnan closed the book, got on her bicycle and rode out, took her money and tickets, went to the grocery store, and bought a rabbit.

Although she could buy things from the space mall, she couldn’t eat well every day. She hadn’t even been to the grocery store, so it was easy to arouse suspicion.

Lin Xiangnan had just returned from outside when, a moment later, Aunt Hua came over with her cat in her arms and her dog on a leash, carrying a bag of pine nuts and walnuts.

“I have nothing to do at home alone. I came over to bask in the sun with you.” Aunt Hua warmly pushed Xiaotian towards Lin Xiangnan. “Come on, Xiaotian, go play with your Aunt Lin.”

Before Lin Xiangnan could say anything, Aunt Hua continued: “You just bought groceries, didn’t you? If you need any scallions, garlic sprouts, or anything like that, you can come to my place and pick some.”

This sudden warmth made Lin Xiangnan quite surprised. She quickly said: “I’ve bought everything, I don’t need anything.”

She patted Xiaotian’s head, planning to go back to the kitchen later, and chatted with Aunt Hua in the yard.

As they chatted, Lin Xiangnan felt something was wrong.

Why does Aunt Hua’s attitude seem a little familiar?

She had acted the same way towards Zhang Dabang.

Lin Xiangnan asked tentatively: “Auntie Hua, what are you going to have for lunch?”

“My son will bring lunch back from the cafeteria.” Aunt Hua replied directly.

Hu Meili used to cook at home to save money.

Now Lin Xiangnan cooks at home to improve their diet and eat delicious food.

Even the braised pork from the cafeteria’s big pot was bland.

Political Commissar Xu earned over 100 yuan a month, Chen Xiulan earned a salary as a nurse, and Aunt Hua had a retirement pension. They were a high-income family, so they certainly didn’t lack money. Eating at the cafeteria wasn’t for convenience, it was because Aunt Hua couldn’t cook.

Lin Xiangnan asked further, and as expected, Aunt Hua used to eat at the cafeteria when she was working. Now that she was retired, she lived with her son.

Her son and daughter-in-law both worked, and they were short on time at noon. If they cooked themselves, they would only be able to make do, so they could only eat at the cafeteria.

Aunt Hua had nothing to do in the morning, so she chatted with Lin Xiangnan until lunchtime.

While cooking, Lin Xiangnan invited: “Auntie Hua, can you help me with the fire?”

“Sure.” Aunt Hua agreed readily.

She had come to bring her cat and dog to play, and even brought a bag of pine nuts and walnuts. After Lin Xiangnan finished cooking, she asked: “Auntie Hua, can you eat spicy food?”

“Yes! I can eat very spicy food!” Aunt Hua said proudly. “When we were on the Long March over the snow-capped mountains, we ate chili peppers to keep warm.”

When she heard about the Long March, Lin Xiangnan was stunned.

She hadn’t expected that Aunt Hua, who seemed to enjoy life so much, had endured such hardship.

Not to mention that Political Commissar Xu was Gu Zhenhua’s superior, Aunt Hua, as an old revolutionary, was also no ordinary person. It wouldn’t hurt to cultivate a good relationship with them.

As she served the food, Lin Xiangnan specially filled an extra bowl and said: “Since you can eat spicy food, take this bowl of double pepper rabbit back with you?”

“Okay, thank you. I’m so tired of eating cafeteria food. It’s nice to have something fresh.” Aunt Hua didn’t even politely refuse, she took the bowl and quickly thanked her.

Watching her leave, Lin Xiangnan’s expression became subtle.

“Did I act this obvious when I was mooching off Fat Uncle? No wonder Fat Uncle looked at me strangely back then.”

As soon as Aunt Hua stepped out of Lin Xiangnan’s door, without even washing her hands, she picked up a piece of rabbit meat and put it in her mouth.

“Spicy and delicious! It’s so good.”

When Political Commissar Xu came back at noon with his lunch, Aunt Hua boasted: “Your information was right, kid. This new Lin comrade is really a good cook. Come try this rabbit.”

“I told you, the moment I tasted it, I knew Lin comrade’s cooking skills were extraordinary. Ordinary people who smoke bacon wouldn’t go to the trouble of stir-frying the seasoning.” Political Commissar Xu curiously asked: “Mom, where did you get this bowl of rabbit meat?”

“I just wouldn’t leave at noon.” Aunt Hua said proudly. “Lin has a thin skin, so she served me a bowl after she finished cooking. She’s going to braise meat in the afternoon, and I’ll go play with her again in the afternoon.”

Political Commissar Xu was choked by the chili peppers. “Mom! I’m a political commissar, at least give me some face.”

“A little political commissar, look at you bragging.”

Aunt Hua disdainfully rolled her eyes. “Mind your own business.”