Chapter 15 The Situation at Gu Jingming’s Home

A doctor’s kindness, in Ye Qingtao’s eyes, they were all vulnerable groups, and her gaze towards them instantly became filled with love. Gu Jingming gently pushed Ye Qingtao’s back, and she finally woke up from her reverie. Ye Qingtao opened the toys she had brought and let them choose. Gu Jingming had bought all the toys they had been longing for, and the children naturally loved them very much. They didn’t fight or scramble, each quietly chose three items, and then each found a corner to play in. These children were indeed very easy to manage, but Ye Qingtao felt that the quietness was a bit scary. Normal children weren’t like this, it was their nature to fight and play.

Gu Jingming helped to arrange the other gifts, smiling and saying to Grandma, “Grandma, these things were bought by your granddaughter-in-law, they are all for you.” “Good, good, my granddaughter-in-law is so good!” Grandma smiled and took the things, then quickly took out a big red envelope from her pocket and stuffed it into Ye Qingtao’s hand.

 Ye Qingtao squeezed the thickness of the red envelope, if it was filled with 10 yuan bills, it should be a few hundred yuan. If it was filled with 100 yuan bills, it would probably be a few thousand yuan? From March 1955 to April 1987, the largest denomination of the RMB was 10 yuan. After that, 50 yuan and 100 yuan denominations were introduced. Ye Qingtao felt a little uneasy, this big red envelope became a hot potato. She couldn’t take it, and she couldn’t not take it. Ye Qingtao looked up at Gu Jingming, and Gu Jingming gave her a look.

 “Grandma likes you, that’s why she gave you a red envelope, just take it, or Grandma will be unhappy.” “Okay.” Ye Qingtao hoped that the red envelope only had one or two hundred yuan in it. Although it was valuable, it wouldn’t make her panic. Ye Qingtao put away the red envelope, and the housekeeper they hired had already prepared the meal. Ye Qingtao looked at the chicken, duck, fish, and meat on the table, wasn’t this just a normal family dinner?

Why was it better than her family’s New Year’s Eve dinner? Ye Qingtao looked at the exquisite plating, each dish was beautifully presented and delicious. Gu Jingming saw Ye Qingtao’s confusion and explained with a smile, “Auntie Liu used to be a chef in a state-owned restaurant, her cooking skills are top-notch.”

“Today is your first time visiting, so the food is a bit more elaborate. Actually, even on ordinary days, the variety may not be so much, but the taste will definitely not be bad.” Gu Jingming clarified in time, and Ye Qingtao nodded in realization. At first, she thought Auntie Liu was just an ordinary housekeeper, but she didn’t expect her to have some skills. The food was served, Ye Qingtao enthusiastically invited Auntie Liu to join them at the table.

Auntie Liu declined a few times, then Gu Jingming also joined in, she couldn’t refuse and came over to eat. Auntie Liu’s every dish was exquisite and tasted very good, she truly brought out the best of each ingredient. While eating, Ye Qingtao discreetly observed everyone. She found that everyone was very quiet while eating, each person holding their bowl, their chopsticks hardly stopping. Grandma’s teeth were bad, so she could only eat the softest pumpkin porridge and some egg custard. These were foods that didn’t need chewing, they could be swallowed directly. Although she had no teeth, Grandma slurped the porridge, it was so fragrant.

The three children lowered their heads, holding their bowls, and immediately picked up food after finishing. They were unusually silent while eating, but everyone could tell that they were definitely eating deliciously. Gu Jingming ate very politely, but his speed was incredibly fast. He was indeed from the army, no one at the table could eat faster than him. Ye Qingtao ate two bowls of rice and a lot of dishes. Although Gu Jingming ate quickly, he still kept an eye on her. As soon as he saw that her bowl was empty, he would immediately get up and pick up food for her.

The dining table was large, and some of the dishes that were far away, Ye Qingtao wanted to eat but couldn’t reach. As soon as she looked over, Gu Jingming, no matter what he was doing, would immediately stop and pick up the dish for her. Ye Qingtao ate the most politely, picked up the least food, but had the most variety. She had never been taken care of so thoughtfully in her two lifetimes, and Ye Qingtao felt warm in her heart. She had read this book and knew his personality, he was a good man who cared about the world and would unhesitatingly dedicate himself to the country.

But she didn’t expect that the tough guy who she thought was rough and didn’t understand tenderness, would also have such a considerate and delicate side. This Gu Jingming was someone she hadn’t seen in the book, he was a little unfamiliar, gentle and considerate, making her heart flutter. Such a good man should continue to serve the country in the army, not be framed by scumbags and sluts, and eventually meet a tragic end. Ye Qingtao enjoyed this meal immensely. She was a straightforward person, she rarely hid her thoughts, so she naturally praised Auntie Liu sincerely. “Auntie Liu, the food is delicious, the plating is beautiful, the color combinations of each dish are very good, and the overall meal is very nutritious.” “You’ve turned ordinary meals into art, it’s a feast for the eyes and makes you hungry, I couldn’t help but eat an extra bowl of rice today.”

 Auntie Liu already knew that the food she made was delicious, and there were many people who praised her. But this was the first time she had met someone as sincere as Ye Qingtao, who could also point out the details. Auntie Liu was a little flattered, her face flushed red. “Thank you for your praise, I’m just doing my duty, this is what I should be doing.” Auntie Liu was also polite, Ye Qingtao pulled her and asked her many cooking tips.

Ye Qingtao also liked to cook delicious food to reward her stomach in her spare time. She would always encounter various problems during the cooking process. In the past, she could rely on Baidu to solve most problems, but in this era where even mobile phones weren’t widely available, she still had to learn from professionals to gain professional knowledge. Ye Qingtao asked very seriously, many of them were small details.

Auntie Liu, having been a chef in a state-owned restaurant, could always easily solve various problems in her own way. As the problems were solved one by one, Ye Qingtao’s smile became brighter, but she had something on her mind, and she wasn’t as relaxed as she appeared. Auntie Liu was busy cleaning up the dishes, and Ye Qingtao quickly went to help. Auntie Liu went to the kitchen to clean up, and Ye Qingtao quickly followed her to help. Grandma widened her eyes and looked at Ye Qingtao, feeling that this girl was too diligent.

 Other girls who visited for the first time would sit politely on the sofa, occasionally asking about the man’s situation. Why was this girl so different? Not only was she interested in cooking, but she was also very diligent. Even though there was a housekeeper to do the work, she kept following Auntie Liu, asking all sorts of questions. If you didn’t know any better, you would think Auntie Liu was her mother-in-law, and she, the grandmother, was just an unimportant outsider!