Chapter 15: Going out for dinner together

“You’re so thin—aren’t you going to eat more?” He was surprised. He knew she had a small appetite, but not to this extent.

Lian Nanshu smiled and explained, “Aiya! I can’t force myself to eat if I’m already full!” Her coquettish tone left Lan Xubai feeling helpless. She refused to eat the yolks and insisted on giving them to him—only eating a bit of the egg white herself.

“Hurry up and eat, I don’t want to be late!” Seeing him fall silent, Lian Nanshu quickly changed the subject.

Lan Xubai didn’t dwell on it and quickly finished breakfast. He ended up eating four buns, one egg, and two yolks. While eating, he kept glancing at Lian Nanshu’s expression, wondering if she thought he was eating too much.

After breakfast, they headed out and saw a car parked in front of the house.

“Where did this come from?” she asked, noticing it was a private sedan. In those days, owning a private car meant you were either rich or powerful.

“My aunt’s old car. She doesn’t use it anymore. I thought it wasn’t right for you to ride a bicycle, so I borrowed it while passing her house during my morning run,” Lan Xubai said casually.

Only then did Lian Nanshu remember—it was mentioned in the book. His aunt was an entrepreneur who had prospered after the economic reforms. Her business was thriving, and life for everyone was gradually getting better.

Lian Nanshu nodded and teased, “Return it after we’re done—old car or not, it’s still not appropriate for people like us.”

“Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. We’ll go buy a bicycle later today. I can pick you up from work from now on,” Lan Xubai agreed, realizing she had a point.

He had just wanted to spare her the exhaustion of walking, especially with the crowds and her not feeling well these past few days. But he appreciated that she was thinking of their image.

Lan Xubai opened the car door for her. Once seated, they drove toward the school and parked a short distance away.

“I don’t have classes this afternoon. Want to have dinner out tonight?” Lian Nanshu suggested, planning to buy a gift first—after all, meeting the parents was inevitable.

Lan Xubai nodded. “Sure, I’ll pick you up later.”

Lian Nanshu blushed slightly. “Come closer,” she said.

Lan Xubai leaned toward her, and Lian Nanshu gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She immediately grabbed her things and got out of the car.

Before Lan Xubai even processed what had happened, his wife was already walking away. Lian Nanshu glanced back, saw him still standing there, and waved to signal him to leave.

Seeing her wave, he stuck his head out and waved back.

Lian Nanshu smiled, then turned around and walked into the school without looking back.

Only after she was out of sight did Lan Xubai reluctantly return the car. He parked it in the courtyard of a small Western-style house.

“Dabai, you’re back?” His aunt, Lan Qin, was just about to leave. Seeing her nephew returning the car, she peeked out. “Where’s your wife?”

She had assumed he borrowed the car to take his wife home and was disappointed not to meet her.

“She went to work today. We plan to visit this weekend! I’m just here to return the car,” Lan Xubai replied.

Lan Qin was visibly let down. She’d been hoping to meet her niece-in-law. “I’m the only one in the family who hasn’t met her yet. Make sure you come early this weekend!”

Then, realizing something, she asked, “Returning the car? Why not keep using it?”

“You’ve only had it for a morning,” she added, curious.

“Aunt, Nanshu said it’s not appropriate, so I’m returning it. We’ll go buy a bicycle this afternoon,” he said. Though he didn’t think it was a big deal, he trusted his wife’s judgment.

Lan Qin couldn’t help but tease him: “You’re actually okay letting your wife walk and suffer? Wow.”

Lan Xubai scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. “I don’t want that either—that’s why we’ll buy a bike.”

Lan Qin sighed, glanced at her watch, and said, “There’s a bike in the yard. Take it. I’ve got to go to work now. And don’t forget—come early on the weekend!”

“Got it. Take care, Aunt.” After saying goodbye, Lan Xubai gave the car keys to the housekeeper and rode off with the bicycle.

Meanwhile, at school, Lian Nanshu had been in a meeting all morning. It ended just before noon.

“Ms. Lian, coming to lunch?” one of the teachers asked.

“I won’t go to the canteen today. You go ahead,” she said with a smile.

She had already made plans to eat with Lan Xubai and didn’t want to cancel.

“Alright then!” her colleague replied.

Lian Nanshu smiled as she watched them head to the cafeteria with their lunchboxes. She glanced at the clock—it was nearly time—so she packed up her things.

“Sis-in-law?” A familiar voice called sneakily from the door.

Hearing it, she looked up and saw Lan Luobai peeking her head in.

“Luobai? Something wrong?” she asked, curious why she suddenly appeared.

Lan Luobai awkwardly asked, “Sis-in-law, have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. I was planning to eat at the state-run restaurant with your brother. Want to join us?” Since she was Lan Xubai’s sister, she figured it’d be good to get to know her.

“Sure!” Lan Luobai’s eyes lit up instantly—this was exactly why she’d come.

“Let’s go, then.” The two chatted and laughed as they left the school.

Across the street, Lan Xubai was already waiting. He had been smiling the whole time—until he saw his sister. His face instantly dropped.

Lan Luobai had no idea. She ran over and greeted him, “Brother~”

Though he still smiled at her, Lan Xubai’s tone turned a little stern. “Watch where you’re going when you walk. Always rushing like that—don’t you know how crowded the roads are? What if you bump into someone?”

Lan Luobai, after being scolded, immediately turned to Lian Nanshu to complain. “Sister-in-law~” she said with a pitiful expression, shaking Lian Nanshu’s hand as if to say, “If you don’t stand up for me now, I’m going to cry!”

Lian Nanshu smiled warmly, stroked her cheek gently, and comforted her, “Here’s what we’ll do! We’ll order more delicious dishes later and let your brother foot the bill. Then make him buy you some new clothes and give you some allowance.”

“Mhm mhm!” Lan Luobai’s grievance disappeared instantly, replaced by excitement. No one could resist the words allowance and new clothes.

“She already has so many clothes, why buy more?” Lan Xubai asked, completely confused.

Lian Nanshu: “…”

Lan Luobai: “…”

From the looks of it—there would be no allowance, and no new clothes either.

That pitiful expression returned again, and she stared pitifully at Lian Nanshu.

Lian Nanshu pulled Lan Luobai forward, comforting her as they walked, “If your brother won’t give it, your sister-in-law will.” As she said this, she took an envelope full of money from her bag.

“Sister-in-law, I already have enough!” Lan Luobai was happy to see the money but quickly tried to decline.

Lian Nanshu didn’t care if she refused, she stuffed the envelope directly into her bag and gave her a meaningful look, saying, “Girls can never have too much money—just take it.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re the best! Not like someone over there!” she said sarcastically, glancing back at Lan Xubai.

Lan Xubai had nothing to say. His wife being so good to his sister actually made him happy. The only part he didn’t like was how Lan Luobai kept clinging to Lian Nanshu’s arm—he didn’t even have a chance to talk to his wife.

He quietly pushed the cart behind them while Lan Luobai bounced around, full of excitement and happiness. He really couldn’t understand the little things that made girls happy. But seeing that gentle, doting look in Lian Nanshu’s eyes as she looked at his sister made him inexplicably joyful.

Lian Nanshu noticed him looking at her, and from time to time, she glanced back. Each time their eyes met, her face turned red again! Lan Xubai was the same. They looked just like a couple who had just fallen in love.

When they arrived at the restaurant during mealtime, a server came to ask, “Hello, what would you like to eat?”

“What does little sister want to eat?” Lian Nanshu asked Lan Luobai first.

“I want braised pork and chicken drumsticks!”

“Then let’s also have tofu soup, eight-treasure duck, and a portion of cold noodles!” Lian Nanshu added her own preferences and then turned to ask Lan Xubai, “What about you? What would you like?”

“That’s enough. This is plenty, thank you.” Lan Xubai knew how much Lian Nanshu could eat—she’d never finish it. As for Lan Luobai, she barely ate a few bites before being full.

Sure enough! Lan Luobai finished the chicken drumstick and only nibbled on a few other things. Lian Nanshu had some tofu soup and half a bowl of rice. The rest? Lan Xubai ended up eating all of it by himself.

With full bellies, they left and headed toward the lively market.

It was Lian Nanshu’s first time out in such a bustling place. The market was filled with people of all ages. There were now many street vendors selling all kinds of little trinkets. Snack stalls were already open too—crispy cakes, peanut brittle, peanut candy. Everyone’s faces were full of smiles, and the air was filled with laughter and joy.

Lian Nanshu actually felt grateful she had transmigrated not long before this—just in time for the Reform and Opening period. She had chosen to take the college entrance exam and came to live in the city.

Otherwise, life working in the countryside would have been unbearable. At that time, food was scarce, clothing was thin, and the housing was poor. Her husband had gone off to join the army, and the people around her were constantly gossiping.