Chapter 7: Smiles

The eldest sister’s smile froze for a moment upon hearing those words, but she quickly recovered, maintaining her gentle smile towards Zhou Wenwen.

However, Zhou Wenwen didn’t relent. She glared at the eldest sister with disdain, turned, and strode away.

Watching her leave, a twitch crossed the eldest sister’s lips as she shook her head slightly. She muttered to herself, “That woman, just because she’s somewhat pretty, acts so arrogant and haughty, it’s unbearable.”

The pastry counter attendant, who had witnessed the scene, sighed, “What that woman said was so sharp and mean, it’s hard to accept.”

The eldest sister nodded in agreement, adding, “Yes, those words were indeed harsh. But the little girl who just bought that dress, she’s much more refined, as sweet as a little glutinous rice ball, so lovable.”

“Indeed, her husband is extremely good to her. He buys her lots of things, including many expensive pastries and beautiful clothes. I’ve never seen a man so doting on his wife. If I were a man, and had such a gentle, lovely, and pretty wife, I wouldn’t hesitate to spoil her.”

The young counter attendant, barely over twenty, was at the age of longing for love. She secretly hoped she could also meet such a deeply affectionate man.

“Are you envious?” The eldest sister noticed the longing in her eyes. She herself understood; even as a married woman, she couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

Fortunately, her husband loved her dearly, which brought her comfort. She often reflected that as long as they could live peacefully and take care of their family, that was the greatest happiness.

“Yes, I am envious. But everyone’s life path is unique and incomparable. I’m afraid I’ll never find a husband as perfect as him. Look at my circumstances, how can I compare to that girl? Her outstanding looks, graceful figure, and innate elegance are clearly not something ordinary families can cultivate.”

She was self-aware; that girl was clearly from a well-off, carefully nurtured family.

“You’re right about that,” the eldest sister smiled in agreement. She had served many officers’ wives—there were many military bases in this area—but she rarely saw a woman with such unique temperament as Luo Jiaojiao. At a young age, she exuded an elegant and noble aura, a rarity among those she’d met.

Luo Jiaojiao was clearly raised in a wealthy family, unfamiliar with the hardships of the world. Her eyes were bright and pure, as if untouched by the world’s vicissitudes. She was a girl who had been extremely well-protected; every move revealed an indescribable grace and innocence.

Their guess was accurate. Luo Jiaojiao’s innate elegance was the result of Luo Jiahui’s investment in professional training. His goal was to use his daughter to gain greater benefits for the Luo family, not out of genuine love for Luo Jiaojiao.

However, this carefully cultivated result ultimately benefited Leng Mohan. Luo Jiahui must be regretting it now, but he doesn’t know that the real regret is just beginning.

Luo Jiaojiao and Leng Mohan put their things in the car and then headed to the state-run restaurant. It was still early, and the restaurant hadn’t yet reached its peak hour.

Luo Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up when she saw the numerous dishes listed on the blackboard. Although this remote place was simple compared to the bustling city she was used to, the dishes offered at the state-run restaurant greatly exceeded her expectations.

Even Leng Mohan, a regular customer who always came here after missions, was surprised. He remembered that the dishes here were always good, but this was the first time he’d seen such a doubled variety.

The waiter smiled upon seeing Leng Mohan. They were familiar with this customer, seeing him once or twice a month.

Noticing him staring at the blackboard, the waiter enthusiastically introduced, “You may have noticed, we recently got a new manager. He’s very forward-thinking and plans to expand our ingredients. This means our menu will be much richer and more diverse.”

“He even hired a highly skilled chef from the county to guide our chefs to improve their cooking skills. So, you can expect that in the future, not only will the number of dishes increase, but the quality will also improve, and the taste will certainly satisfy you more.”

“It’s no longer just three or four simple dishes. You’re lucky to have come early. When mealtime arrives, it will be bustling, and you may have to wait a while.” The waiter said with a smile.

Their wages were closely tied to the restaurant’s business. More customers meant more income and higher profits for them. They enjoyed their work, not fearing the hard work, but instead looking forward to more customers.

“Is that so? Then it seems everyone is in luck today.” Leng Mohan smiled and nodded in response.

Leng Mohan’s cooking skills were actually better than the chefs here, but he rarely cooked, mainly because he didn’t want to bother. He’d rather rest or train.

But looking at the girl beside him, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the dishes on the blackboard, he knew that when he wasn’t on a mission, the kitchen would be his place to be.

“Give me one of each of the meat dishes,” Leng Mohan turned to the waiter, his tone firm. Then he added, “As for vegetables, just cabbage, tofu, and braised eggplant.”

“Okay, you finally brought a girl this time. Before, you always came with your comrades. Is she your girlfriend? She’s really pretty.” The waiter’s eyes showed a hint of teasing, recalling that Leng Mohan always came with his comrades. He noticed that Leng Mohan had ordered all the meat dishes—five in total.

Leng Mohan glanced at Luo Jiaojiao, a subtle curve at the corner of his lips. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

Luo Jiaojiao’s heart trembled, looking at Leng Mohan with some confusion. Didn’t he say that as long as she was obedient, he would treat her well? This sudden denial left her bewildered.

The waiter, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head. “Oh, I see, my mistake. Then, is she your sister?”

“Not my sister. She’s my wife. We’ve officially registered our marriage,” Leng Mohan calmly corrected the waiter, his gaze firm.