Chapter 15: Prefers Vegetables, Avoids Meat

It was nearly six o’clock when they returned to the hotel.

A colleague from the county committee called, asking about Secretary Zhou’s dietary preferences to help plan the dinner menu.

Gu Yao’s first reaction was confusion.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to ask Secretary Xu? Aside from their work rapport, he surely knew the leader’s lifestyle habits like the back of his hand.

Before hanging up, the caller seemed to remember something and quickly added,
“Comrade Xiao Gu, are you satisfied with your rooms at Junyi Hotel?”

They clearly didn’t know about the room change.

The real issue, obviously, centered around whoever originally occupied Room 901.

Glancing around the room, Gu Yao slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

As someone born and raised in Tang County, it was her first time experiencing such a luxurious suite in her hometown. How could she possibly be dissatisfied?

After a moment of silence, she voiced the doubt that had been lingering in her mind:
“Everything suggests Tang County’s fiscal revenue is quite strong. So why is the economy getting worse year after year?”

Hmm.

Something about that didn’t sound quite right.

Was she complimenting them… or not?

Before the person on the other end could recover, Gu Yao politely wrapped up the conversation and ended the call.

She had already hinted enough. If tomorrow’s inspection still turned out to be all talk and no action, then there was truly nothing more she could do.

Half an hour later, hotel staff delivered dinner upstairs.

When Gu Yao opened the door, she glanced at the meal cart—it was all light fare: porridge with side dishes.

Clearly, the leader had declined the county committee’s invitation and opted for a simple meal.

Her own stomach rumbled with hunger, and the craving for meat grew stronger. She couldn’t help but wonder: Secretary Zhou wasn’t even overweight, so why was he so fond of vegetarian food and avoided meat?

At lunch in the private room earlier, he hadn’t eaten much either.

Could it be that appetite just naturally declines in middle age?

Seeing her delay, the hotel server reminded her at the right moment,
“There’s one dish—crab roe tofu. Best eaten while it’s hot.”

Hm?

“Sorry, I’m allergic to crab roe.”

Finally finding a good excuse, Gu Yao pointed toward the hallway.
“Please take that to another room. I’ll settle my dinner myself.”

With that, she quickly shut the door.

Meanwhile, in Room 907, Xu Mo and several department heads were in the middle of a meeting.

When the food was served, they noticed there was one extra portion.

The server explained,
“The guest in 901 is allergic to crab roe, so it might be reassigned.”

Sitting in the center of the couch, Zhou Zhengliang looked up from his documents. His gaze landed on the untouched meal cart nearby.

Still sealed.

Clearly, the girl didn’t care much for this so-called “healthy eating” approach.

A moment later, Xu Mo’s phone lit up with a message.

It was from Gu Yao.

[Secretary Xu, I’d like to head home tonight. If there’s anything work-related, just call me anytime. Please also let Secretary Zhou know for me. Thanks!]

It was technically after work hours—no need to ask for leave.

Even so, just to ease the young comrade’s mind, Xu Mo passed the request on to the leader anyway.

Zhou Zhengliang said nothing in response, which meant tacit approval.

But looking again at the untouched light porridge, the truth behind her so-called “allergy” was rather thought-provoking.

He had forgotten—

At twenty-three, it’s not exactly the age for going vegetarian.

—

After getting out of the taxi—

Just as Gu Yao entered the residential complex, the security guard at the gate greeted her with a warm smile.
“Yao Yao’s home!”

“Hi, Grandpa Zhang.”

She strolled up to the guard station window and lifted the high school entrance exam prep workbook in her hand, handing it in.

“These are the papers your granddaughter asked me to get from Qionghai. The question sets are diverse, and the price isn’t bad. You can actually buy them online too. I’ll send her the link later so she can just order it directly—it’s more convenient.”

The elderly man didn’t quite understand everything she said, but he nodded repeatedly and replied, “Okay, okay.”

Ever since she earned the top score in the city six years ago, that reputation had followed her in the neighborhood. Every time she returned to Tang County, she was expected to help the local students with test prep.

The parents believed that a science stream valedictorian’s taste in practice material must be sharp and precise.

In truth, back when she was preparing for the college entrance exam, Gu Yao had done fewer practice problems than half her class.

Though the “drowning in question banks” tactic had long been embedded in the education system, its effectiveness varied from person to person.

Gu Yao, for one, was definitely the exception.

—

Back at home—

She changed into her slippers at the entryway and called out to Old Gu, who was watching TV in the living room, before happily trotting into the kitchen.

A familiar aroma wafted through the air.

Shen Min was standing at the stove, cooking her daughter’s favorite—braised pork trotters with soybeans.

Suddenly, a sneaky figure darted in and wrapped her in a giant bear hug.

“Six months apart, and Teacher Shen’s skills have leveled up again! At this rate, I’m going to need four bowls of rice tonight.”

With both arms wrapped around her mother’s apron-clad shoulders, Gu Yao grinned from ear to ear, craning her neck to peek into the pot of bubbling pork trotters. Her stomach gave a loud growl in response.

“You, every time you come home, you’re just like a little greedy cat.”

After a few tosses in the pan, the lid was closed.

Shen Min turned and gave her daughter’s soft cheek a gentle pinch, then asked accusingly,
“All that weight you put on before the New Year—where did it go? Have you been skipping meals again?”

Gu Yao’s eyes widened.

She was 162 cm tall and weighed 50 kg—how was that “not eating properly”!?

She pleaded,
“Come on, give me a break, Teacher Shen. How chubby do I have to be to finally meet your standards?”

Old Gu passed by the kitchen door.

Hearing his daughter’s exaggerated cries, he chimed in cheerfully,
“Doesn’t matter if she’s thin or chubby—as long as she’s healthy, eats well, and sleeps soundly, that’s a blessing.”

See?

Shen Min shot him a look.

This old guy was always playing peacemaker.

Fifteen minutes later, the food was all on the table.

In good spirits, the family of three shared a few drinks.

Of course, considering Gu Yao’s tragically poor alcohol tolerance, she was forced by Teacher Shen to switch to Sprite for safety.

There was no winning that battle.

After the first toast, Gu Yao buried her head in her bowl, focusing on her pork trotters.

She was so absorbed in her meal that she didn’t notice her parents exchanging meaningful glances.

Then Old Gu gave a pointed cough.

Gu Yao looked up instinctively—just in time to hear her mom bring up the topic of her boyfriend.

“Once the National Day holiday comes, if Xiao Cheng is free, invite him over. You’ve been seeing each other for six months now. It’s time your dad and I met him, see what he’s like. Only then can we be at ease.”

Suddenly, the pork trotters didn’t taste so good anymore.

What had to come would come—there was no avoiding it.

Gu Yao set down her chopsticks and tried to keep her voice calm as she gently replied,
“He’s been pretty busy with work lately. There’s no rush—we’re still young, after all.”

What was this?

The couple exchanged a look, misunderstanding completely.

Sensing something was off, Gu Jingming cautiously asked,
“Did you two… break up?”

Before she could answer, her father’s face had already lit up with barely-contained delight.

Gu Yao: ……

If she stayed single her whole life, the happiest person would definitely be Old Gu.

Shen Min, on the other hand, stayed rational.

She didn’t press for details. Instead, she calmly offered advice.

“These days, lots of people date without marriage in mind. That’s normal.”

As she ladled soup for her daughter, Shen Min delivered her main point, her expression serious,
“But no matter what, always keep a clear head. Yao Yao, you know what I mean, don’t you?”

Gu Yao nodded.

Love yourself first. Until you’re sure someone is worth it, don’t throw yourself in headfirst.

Especially since she probably looked like someone easy to fool.

Toward the end of dinner, father and daughter naturally shifted to talking about work.

Knowing his daughter’s nature—always reporting good news, never bad—Gu Jingming decided to be direct this time.

“There’s been a lot of unrest in the Economic Planning Division lately. And your Project Department is particularly sensitive. I’ve got some connections with the Development and Reform Committee. If you’d like, I can…”

No, thanks.

Gu Yao hurriedly declined.

“I really like the Project Department. It matches my field of study, and the team gets along well. It’s practically tailor-made for me.”

Her exaggerated enthusiasm was meant to show just how firm she was in her stance.

But Gu Jingming wasn’t buying it.

Thinking back to the lunch meeting earlier—how his daughter had made herself the center of attention—he couldn’t help but worry.

He pressed,
“Then tell me—what have I always taught you?”

Eight-character motto.

Hide your sharp edges. Speak less, do more.

Gu Yao suddenly changed tack,
“But do you know why, even though the bottle of wine had already been opened at lunch, Secretary Zhou suddenly decided to switch to tea?”

Her words cut straight to the heart of the matter, with no room left for doubt.

Gu Jingming fell silent.

“Everyone loves premium liquor. It’s expensive and high-end.”

As she said it, Gu Yao couldn’t help feeling a bit disheartened.

After a pause to collect herself, she continued,
“But we have our own distillery, our own brand. Why should that be seen as inferior? If we can’t even have cultural confidence in our own product at our own banquet table, then Tang County really is finished.”

That final line shattered the sturdy wall around Director Gu’s heart.

Slowly—

His gaze toward his daughter changed.

There was pride now. And deep relief.

Was it that they had grown old?

No.

It was that this new generation was far braver than they had ever been.

Hold on to your faith. Don’t forget why you started.

There was still hope for Tang County.