Chapter 73 : How old is your sister?

“Have you eaten?” He Tingyue glanced at the time, it was just lunchtime.

Jiang Yu shook her head. “Not yet. I almost forgot because of you.”

He Tingyue couldn’t help but frown, thinking she was being silly.

“I’ll take you to eat.”

Jiang Yu looked at the sky and thought Aunt must have taken Jiang Xin out to eat.

“Aren’t you going home? I sent some groceries to your house.”

He Tingyue said, “Then why don’t you come home with me? I’ll cook for you.”

As he expected, Jiang Yu refused.

“That’s not appropriate. If I go over today, Aunt Lin will scold me, her words can be quite harsh.”

He Tingyue had heard a few things from He Feiyan and mentally noted it down against the Lin family.

“If you don’t like them, I can find a way to change your living situation. Maybe applying for an apartment isn’t a problem.”

He held a high position, had past achievements, and connections, plus he was taking care of the widows of two martyrs, so changing housing wouldn’t be difficult.

But Jiang Yu didn’t want that, while the mixed courtyard had its chaos, it also had its perks.

“I think it’s nice here now, it’s lively.”

Sure, there were many people and a lot going on, but it was fun to watch.

If she didn’t want to interact with them, she could close her door and live her own life.

He Tingyue chuckled and gently pinched her nose.

“You’re quite brave. Those aunties are seasoned.”

He was just worried Jiang Yu might get bullied.

Jiang Yu huffed, raising her head confidently.

“I’m not afraid, they can’t outtalk me.”

Worried she would go hungry, He Tingyue didn’t press further and led her out to eat.

This time, they didn’t go to a state-run restaurant but to a small noodle stand.

All the places were state-run, some bigger and some smaller.

“This place’s fried sauce noodles are good.”

“Hey, Little He’s here, the usual?”

He Tingyue smiled and nodded. “Mr. Jin, the usual, two servings.”

“Alright!”

Jiang Yu turned to watch, Mr. Jin worked skillfully, and the aroma of the fried sauce was mouthwatering.

Fresh hand-pulled noodles piled with vegetables, topped with a ladle of sauce, mixed together.

Jiang Yu swallowed, finding it so tempting.

Mr. Jin brought out two bowls of noodles and two bowls of lamb offal soup.

“Little He, is this your girlfriend?”

He Tingyue laughed heartily. “Yes, this is my girlfriend Jiang Yu.”

Mr. Jin gave a thumbs up. “Good taste. Young lady, eat while it’s hot. My fried sauce noodles are the best in Beicheng, the sauce recipe has been passed down from my grandmother’s generation.”

Later on, when public-private partnerships occurred, these shops became state-owned.

If it weren’t for his skill, he might have had to sweep the streets.

He Tingyue mixed the noodles for her and watched as she took a bite.

“Is it good?”

Jiang Yu nodded enthusiastically. “Delicious!”

“Then eat more, the lamb soup is also good, it’s Mr. Jin’s signature dish.”

In summer, the lamb soup didn’t sell well as people preferred cooler dishes.

But come winter, it was in high demand.

Jiang Yu slurped noodles and soup, but by the end, she was too full to eat any more, her belly was nearly bursting.

She had a small appetite, and Mr. Jin’s portions were generous. With a third left, she couldn’t eat another bite.

“Can’t eat anymore?” He Tingyue noticed her dilemma.

Jiang Yu smiled shyly. “It’s too much.”

After another sip of soup, she was full.

He Tingyue picked up her bowl and transferred the remaining noodles to his.

“Can you finish the soup?”

Jiang Yu came to her senses and shook her head.

“I can’t finish that either.”

He didn’t mind, he took her soup bowl and quickly finished the rest.

This was a habit he developed in the army eating fast, like a whirlwind.

Jiang Yu blinked, not daring to look at him, her thoughts drifting.

His mouth had touched the place she had just touched.

Didn’t that mean they were…?

Jiang Yu tightly grasped her fingers, her face turning bright red, she couldn’t think about that!

While she was lost in thought, He Tingyue had already finished eating.

“What are you thinking? Do you want to go back to Aunt’s house? I’ll take you.”

Jiang Yu quickly stood up, trying to hide her embarrassment by patting her cheeks.

“It’s a bit hot.”

He Tingyue paid the bill, greeted Mr. Jin, and left with Jiang Yu.

Seeing their good-looking pair, Mr. Jin shook his head.

His wife had wanted to introduce her niece to He Tingyue recently, but that seemed unlikely now.

He Tingyue took Jiang Yu back to Yao Xiangling’s house, where Jiang Xin had already returned.

From upstairs, she spotted them and rushed down.

“Brother-in-law!”

He Tingyue smiled back. “Did you go to the department store? Want me to take you to buy clothes?”

Jiang Xin quickly shook her head. “No, thank you, Brother-in-law. Aunt already bought me a beautiful one!”

But she was quite happy, He Tingyue saying that showed he valued Jiang Yu, which made her feel pleased.

“Aunt bought you clothes?” Jiang Yu asked.

Jiang Xin nodded. “I originally said I didn’t need it, but Aunt said that if you made me a dress, Mom would just take it for her niece. But if it’s a gift from Aunt, Mom wouldn’t dare to touch it.”

When Jiang Yu was little, Yao Xiangling bought her a new dress, and Mom Wang Meili took it for her own niece.

Later, when Jiang Yu moved to the city and complained to Yao Xiangling, who was hot-tempered at the time, she immediately took Jiang Yu to Wang Meili’s home to retrieve the dress, causing quite a scene.

She also warned Wang Meili never to give away Jiang Yu’s things again.

Yao Xiangling had taught Jiang Yu since she was young, she could tolerate minor matters, but when it came to her own interests, she absolutely wouldn’t stand for it.

If you give an inch, others will take a mile.

If something needs to be argued about, then argue after all, it’s not you who will lose face.

That’s why when Lin Hongxia provoked her today, Jiang Yu immediately fought back without hesitation.

If she tolerated it today, in the future, once she entered the He family, there would be even more grievances for her to bear.

“I’ve bought everything I need, I shouldn’t trouble Aunt anymore, let’s head home.”

Jiang Xin nodded. “Then let’s go upstairs and tell Aunt.”

“Okay.”

Hearing they were leaving, Yao Xiangling didn’t keep them.

She just asked, “When will you propose? Has the date been set?”

Jiang Yu replied, “He said during the National Day, Aunt won’t come then, but will be waiting in the city for my wedding banquet.”

Yao Xiangling nodded, feeling a sense of bittersweetness, as if she had a daughter coming of age.

This wasn’t even her biological daughter, yet she felt reluctant to part.

“Alright, when you get married, I’ll send you off.”

She would definitely be there when Jiang Yu entered the He family.

As Jiang Yu took Jiang Xin out, Old Lady Zhao next door came out again.

This time, her gaze was fixed on Jiang Xin.

“Jiang Yu, how old is your sister? Isn’t she about ready to marry?”

Jiang Yu’s expression shifted slightly, and she angrily reprimanded, “Grandma Zhao, my sister is only ten years old! You’re old, but your mind seems muddled!”

Old Lady Zhao was slightly taken aback at first, but then her anger was stirred by Jiang Yu’s words.

“In the countryside, girls can marry in their teens, daughters aren’t that valuable. It’s not uncommon to sell them as child brides. Why are you so anxious?”