Chapter 83: A Cold Heart

Speaking of Chief Wang, Chen Xiulan couldn’t help but scoff.

“My old Xu used to help me wash my bedding too. But after being ridiculed by old Wang, he only dared to wash secretly at night. He’s so stubborn about face. Your Gu Zhenhua is much better, he doesn’t have that kind of baggage.”

Unexpectedly, there was this story. Lin Xiangnan said disdainfully, “This Chief Wang is really a troublemaker. He’s everywhere.”

“It’s not just Chief Wang. There are a lot of people like him in our family compound. It makes me angry just looking at them…”

Chen Xiulan had lived in the family compound for over ten years, so she knew a lot of gossip.

Seeing Chen Xiulan talk about her brother and the leader’s private affairs, Gu Zhenhua touched his nose and took the broom to sweep the yard.

During the meal, Lin Xiangnan was entertained by the gossip, opening her eyes wide.

When the guests arrived, the three of them stopped talking and pretended to be serious. Lin Xiangnan also put on a sweet and gentle smile.

As soon as the guests arrived, Gu Zhenhua put his arm around them.

“You guys came at the right time. My brother-in-law specially sent a package of cured meat to his sister. I wanted to let Xiaonan keep it and eat it slowly, but she insisted on taking it out for you to try. To be honest, this good stuff is wasted on you. You bunch of pigs can’t appreciate fine food.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Zhenhua was punched a few times.

“Hit him, hit him hard. I can’t stand seeing Gu Zhenhua showing off like this.”

A group of people laughed and entered the house. Seeing Lin Xiangnan and Chen Xiulan, they politely called them sister-in-law and sister-in-law.

Everyone was familiar with Chen Xiulan, but Lin Xiangnan had only been in the family compound for a few days, and her reputation had been spread by Chief Wang. Most people’s eyes were on Lin Xiangnan.

Not to mention anything else, Lin Xiangnan’s face was indeed beautiful, with a sweet smile, and her hands were white and tender, looking like a delicate little girl.

It wasn’t strange that Gu Zhenhua spoiled such a wife.

With so many people, Lin Xiangnan stood up and said in a gentle voice, “Come in and sit down. There’s one more dish in the kitchen, it’ll be ready soon.”

“Sister-in-law, don’t bother. There’s already enough food.” Everyone responded enthusiastically.

Only Chief Wang looked awkward, not knowing what to say.

This person has two different faces.

Gu Zhenhua’s salary wasn’t low, so Lin Xiangnan prepared a sumptuous meal. There was chicken stewed with mushrooms, cured meat, fried loach, stir-fried meat, and crispy peanuts…

Lin Xiangnan’s cooking skills were honed, and she didn’t skimp on ingredients. The table full of dishes, just the aroma, was enough to make people drool.

During the meal, even Chief Wang couldn’t say anything bad, he could only praise, “Your cured meat is really fragrant.”

It was fragrant, but he couldn’t tell the details.

In this situation, even with a high salary, there was no place to enjoy it.

Only Political Commissar Xu had a discerning palate. After taking a bite, he said, “You must have used other spices when you cured it, the taste is different from ordinary cured meat.”

“Yes. The salt for curing the meat should be stir-fried with star anise, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, etc., to let the fragrance permeate. After curing, the meat should be smoked with cypress branches.”

Chen Xiulan, upon hearing this, turned her chopsticks to the plate of cured meat, “It’s so troublesome. Then I have to eat a few more slices.”

After the meal, Chen Xiulan gave Lin Xiangnan a thumbs-up.

What’s wrong with not washing clothes? Just based on this meal, Lin Xiangnan’s reputation would be able to turn the tide.

She’s beautiful, has a good temper, and can cook. If she’s still not satisfied, then it’s Gu Zhenhua’s problem.

Several men wanted to drink, so Lin Xiangnan and Chen Xiulan left the table after eating, leaving the space for them.

Lin Xiangnan went back to the second floor to rest early. Gu Zhenhua saw off the guests, cleaned up the kitchen, took a shower, and then went back to the room, pulling her into his arms.

Seeing that Lin Xiangnan wasn’t asleep yet, Gu Zhenhua whispered in her ear, “You’re tired today too. I’ll wash my dirty clothes tomorrow, don’t move. If you wash the clothes, old Wang will be so proud.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll come back early tomorrow afternoon. I’ll leave the door open, so old Wang can see me washing clothes when he comes back.” Gu Zhenhua said arrogantly, “I’ll make him mad.”

If he was a person who cared about face, his reputation back home wouldn’t be so bad.

The previous gossip was much more hurtful than Chief Wang’s ridicule.

Lin Xiangnan, hearing him say this, instantly became spirited, “Then I’ll accompany you tomorrow.”

The next evening, Gu Zhenhua indeed came back jogging.

Seeing Lin Xiangnan helping him prepare hot water and a small stool, he tidied up and immediately rolled up his sleeves, sitting on his throne.

Lin Xiangnan sat beside him, not working, leisurely peeling oranges, occasionally feeding a segment to Gu Zhenhua’s mouth.

“Is it sweet?”

“Sweet.”

Chief Wang hadn’t reached the front door yet when he saw their situation. Although he was disgusted, he couldn’t help but look a few more times.

Although Lin Xiangnan wasn’t working, she was happily laughing and joking beside Gu Zhenhua, their relationship was obviously very good.

A beautiful woman who knows how to live life is indeed wonderful, but Chief Wang knew he couldn’t afford it.

With complicated emotions, he pushed open his door and saw the clothes that hadn’t been washed yet in the basin next to the faucet. His brows immediately furrowed.

“Caixia,what’s going on? The clothes have been piled up for two days and haven’t been washed yet?”

Luo  Caixia was a little scared, but she still timidly replied, “I have a bit of a stomach ache.”

“What kind of illness.” Chief Wang said disdainfully, “Washing clothes can affect the child in your stomach? I didn’t marry you to be a pampered ancestor. You’ve only been in the city for a few days and you’ve learned these bad habits.”

Chief Wang was quite self-aware. He knew he couldn’t control a professional woman like Chen Xiulan, and he couldn’t coax a beautiful girl raised in the city. He chose wives who were capable and not valued in the countryside.

Only this way could they serve him comfortably.

His previous wife served him very well. She never let him worry about housework. He truly achieved the level of “food comes to my mouth, clothes come to my hand.”

It’s just that she was unlucky and died too early.

This newly married one was obviously not as virtuous as the previous one. She was young and spoiled.

“If you can do it, then do it. If you can’t, I’ll send you back to your hometown.” Chief Wang said rudely, “You want to learn from Lin Xiangnan next door and make people serve you, right? I’m not a fool like Gu Zhenhua, who can be controlled by a woman.”

Hearing these words, Luo  Caixia’s face turned pale.

She had lied about having a stomach ache earlier, but now she really felt a pain in her stomach. Not only her stomach, but her heart was also felt cold.