Chapter 31

Hu Ouhua Successfully Gains Chang Anning’s Approval

The Lu family watched anxiously as Lu Yuetang came downstairs from the second floor, their eyes filled with concern.

“I’m almost fully recovered; there’s no need to make a fuss,” Lu Yuetang said.

As soon as he spoke, Lu Boting coldly remarked, “If that’s the case, then clean up your own mess. The girl has already come to our doorstep—this is how you handle things? If you’re going to fool around, at least wipe your mouth clean afterward.”

He knew that young men from the compound often engaged in frivolous activities, but he had always believed his son was different—decent and self-disciplined.

Turns out, he was no exception.

Grandmother Lu quickly tried to ease the tension. “Alright, that’s enough. Yuetang must know he made a mistake. Besides, this isn’t entirely his fault. You’ve seen what the Yang family is like—greedy and shameless.”

Gu Wanru nudged her husband with her elbow. “Let’s eat first. We can talk about this later. Our son hasn’t eaten all day—his health is suffering.”

The way he looked during his episode was something she couldn’t forget.

It pained her to even think about it.

If word got out, the well-bred girls in Beijing might not even consider their son anymore.

Shen Fubai quickly interjected, “Brother Lu, come eat! The food’s getting cold. I’ve been craving this meat for ages. If we don’t eat now, I might collapse.”

His playful remark successfully diverted everyone’s attention, and the family picked up their chopsticks and began eating.

Hu Ouhua’s cooking was undeniably impressive.

Even the simplest dishes, like dry-fried green beans and Di San Xian (a stir-fry of potatoes, eggplants, and peppers), tasted better than those from state-owned restaurants—absolutely delicious.

Even Lu Boting ate half a bowl more of rice than usual.

Grandmother Lu, who had trouble chewing, found the soft and flavorful Di San Xian so appetizing that she ate extra rice with the sauce.

“No wonder Fubai keeps raving about Ouhua’s cooking,” she said with a pleased smile.

Lu Jingjing was too busy eating to say a word.

When she finally finished, she whined, “Mom, can we have Sister cook again tomorrow? I really don’t like Aunt Liu’s cooking—it’s way too salty! Every time I eat her food, I have to drink tons of water afterward.”

Liu Mei, who had a heavy hand with salt, had been told to cut back many times but never managed to change. Gu Wanru often had to supervise her while she cooked just to make the food more palatable.

“Alright, but keep in mind that your sister Ouhua is here for university. You need to study hard too. If you don’t get into a good school, forget about it—you’re going straight into the army,” Gu Wanru warned.

At the mention of studying, Lu Jingjing immediately shut her mouth.

After dinner, Liu Mei returned, looking troubled as she spoke to Gu Wanru. “Wanru, I’m not complaining, but the Yang family is really difficult. They kept asking about what Yuetang likes to eat, his hobbies—”

They pried for every little detail, as if they were trying to find out even the color of his underwear.

Liu Mei had been stuck with the mother and daughter duo, unable to break free.

A flash of cold determination flickered in Gu Wanru’s eyes. She patted Liu Mei’s shoulder and instructed, “Tomorrow, invite a few distinguished guests over. Make sure they dress beautifully and bring their most expensive accessories. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Liu Mei memorized the names on the list.

Hu Ouhua, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but click her tongue.

The threshold to enter the Lu family was ridiculously high.

And their tactics? Ruthless.

They were clearly using Yang Jiaojiao as bait—to stir up resentment among Beijing’s elite ladies, ensuring that a girl from a small town like her would be crushed completely.

Hu Ouhua shook her head.

Thankfully, she was about to start work soon. If things went smoothly, she hoped to move out of the Lu household to avoid becoming a pawn in Gu Wanru’s schemes against Yang Jiaojiao.

After washing the dishes, she passed by the bathroom and noticed Lu Yuetang’s clothes in the laundry basket. Without much thought, she picked them up and washed them.

Just as she finished hanging the clothes to dry, Liu Mei hurried over. “You silly girl, don’t work so hard. This is my job. You should go rest.”

“Alright, Aunt Liu,” Hu Ouhua replied before heading back to her room.

At that moment, Lu Yuetang emerged from the study and happened to see her. Without much thought, she asked, “Are you feeling better now? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now. Thank you.”

Lu Yuetang had seen her washing his clothes earlier. For some reason, the sight of her scrubbing his collar on the washboard, sweating under the effort, stirred an unfamiliar feeling in him.

“It’s no trouble. I’m staying here without paying rent—I’d feel bad otherwise,” Hu Ouhua said with a dry laugh before retreating to her room.

Lu Yuetang was feeling overwhelmed.

He hadn’t expected the Yang family to be so relentless. They had already taken the money and received a job placement, yet they were still clinging onto him—it was truly eye-opening.

When his father asked him how he planned to handle the situation, he had no answer.

So, Lu Boting told him to stay out of it and let his mother handle everything. After some thought, he agreed.

That night, before bed, Lu Jingjing went to her mother and repeated what her brother had murmured in his sleep.

Hearing it made Gu Wanru’s anger surge even more.

“Those scumbags! They clearly set your brother up. He probably wasn’t even willing—Yang Jiaojiao must have thrown herself at him. If it weren’t for maintaining the Lu family’s reputation and keeping their mouths shut, I wouldn’t even want to lay eyes on people like them,” Gu Wanru spat.

After venting for a while, she sent her daughter to bed.

The night passed without further incident.

The next morning, Hu Ouhua packed up and was driven by Shen Fubai to the hospital’s residential quarters, where she met Professor Chang’s grandson, Chang Anning.

“I’ll come pick you up at noon,” Shen Fubai said.

Hu Ouhua wanted to say she could walk back, but since she didn’t know the way, she just nodded in agreement.

The Chang family was a prestigious family of doctors, and their house was filled with the scent of traditional Chinese medicine.

Chang Anning, a middle school student, was terrible at English—he couldn’t even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet, let alone understand listening exercises. He had no interest in studying at all.

However, the house had plenty of English textbooks, cassette players, and dictionaries.

As usual, Grandma Chang intended to play a listening exercise to test Hu Ouhua’s English proficiency, but Hu Ouhua declined.

“Grandma Chang, your grandson has no interest in English. Even if my English is perfect, it won’t help him. If you don’t mind taking a chance, I’d like to conduct this lesson my way,” Hu Ouhua said.

Grandma Chang was taken aback.

She had hired many tutors, all of whom had been driven away by her grandson—either left in tears or utterly helpless.

This was the first time someone had hit the nail on the head.

Curious, she agreed.

Hu Ouhua grabbed a few illustrated books and an all-English storybook before taking Chang Anning into the study, closing the door behind them.

If they weren’t in her own home, Grandma Chang might have been worried.

But the real surprise came an hour later.

When the study door opened, Chang Anning had already memorized all 26 English letters and had written a phrase in his notebook:

“Weapon research and development.”

He pointed at Hu Ouhua and excitedly shouted, “Grandma, Grandma! I want to seriously study English! I want this sister to teach me!”

Grandma Chang was utterly dumbfounded.