As soon as their daughter told them that the girl was even younger than their own, Father and Mother Gu couldn’t help but feel doubtful. Could someone so young really be a reliable cook?
But no matter what, the girl had saved their daughter. It wasn’t right not to properly thank her. Anything less would feel inappropriate.
Father Gu spoke up: “Fuying, see if you can find time these next few days to bring that girl home. Your mother and I want to thank her properly.”
Gu Fuying nodded eagerly. She’d already been planning to visit Xu Ying the next day—and now she had an even better idea. She’d bring Yingying home, let her cook a meal, and watch her parents eat their words. Maybe they’d even beg Yingying to cook for her older brother’s wedding banquet.
Originally, Gu Fuying had planned to take a short break at noon and then head to Xujiacun, hoping to arrive in two hours. It was a bit tight on time, but she couldn’t wait to bring Yingying home.
But as luck would have it, Xu Ying had come into town that very morning—she was headed to the state-owned hotel to inquire about job openings.
“Yingying! What are you doing here in town? Buying something?” Gu Fuying asked, pedaling her bicycle as she spotted Xu Ying.
Xu Ying’s face brightened when she saw her. “I wanted to check if the state-owned hotel is hiring.”
Hearing this, Gu Fuying couldn’t help but laugh: “Yingying, you won’t stand a chance going like this. All the jobs here are locked down—when one person retires, their relative takes over. If you don’t have connections, it doesn’t matter how good your cooking is—they won’t hire you.”
Xu Ying had worried about this very problem, which was why she’d hesitated to ask.
“But…” Gu Fuying lowered her voice mysteriously, “I’ve got a way to help you.”
Xu Ying’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Gu Fuying whispered something into her ear. Hearing it, Xu Ying’s face filled with excitement. “Thank you so much, Fuying! I’ll come to your house at noon and show off to your parents.”
Since she was now cooking with a clear goal in mind, Xu Ying decided to swing by the market first to buy some vegetables and meat—she’d prepare a delicious meal at noon.
Looking at the house key in her hand, Xu Ying chuckled softly. This girl really didn’t have her guard up at all—she’d handed her the key without a second thought.
Tucking the key away carefully, Xu Ying headed to the market, picking up a few fresh ingredients that weren’t available in her storage space. After spending just over one yuan, she made her way to the Gu family home.
Thanks to the address Fuying had given her, she found the place easily. Knocking on the door first, she let herself in and went straight to the kitchen.
The Gu family’s kitchen was neat, spacious, and well-equipped. Just from the setup, Xu Ying could tell the family lived comfortably. These days, housing was scarce, yet their home boasted three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Most families had to share kitchens, but the Gu family had one all to themselves—something only cadres or high-ranking officials could manage.
Xu Ying had now unlocked eight recipes. In addition to the previous five, she’d gained beer-braised duck, turtle soup, and eight-treasure rice. They were all still at level one. She was curious what level-two recipes would be like, but she hadn’t had the chance to unlock them yet.
Rolling up her sleeves, Xu Ying got to work. After more than two hours, she’d prepared beer-braised duck, braised chicken, spicy tofu, and vinegar cabbage. She’d also fried some peanuts—simple enough that no special skill was required.
When Mother Gu returned from work, she was greeted by an irresistible aroma wafting through the building. Standing outside her door, she froze—was there a thief inside?
She hurried inside, only to find a table laden with steaming dishes and a pretty young girl tidying up.
Xu Ying looked up, recognizing the resemblance to Gu Fuying. “Auntie Gu, you’re home! I’m Xu Ying. Fuying gave me the key, so I went ahead and cooked.”
She stated her intentions plainly—no need for roundabout explanations. Mother Gu eyed the securely locked doors, then looked back at Xu Ying. She couldn’t help liking the girl’s straightforward honesty.
She hated those types who clearly wanted something but danced around the topic, pretending otherwise. Her daughter was too naive—better for her to befriend someone sincere.
“Ah, Yingying, right? Fuying’s mentioned you often! Come sit, come sit—how could I let you cook when you finally come visit?”
She glanced at the dishes, her eyes widening. “No wonder I smelled something delicious all the way down the hall. I didn’t expect it was you! Yesterday Fuying was singing your praises—and now I see she wasn’t exaggerating.”
It wasn’t flattery. From the aroma alone, and the beautiful dishes on the table, Mother Gu was convinced.
“It’s nothing, Auntie. I didn’t work that long. You’ve been busy all morning—you must be tired. I’ll clean up the kitchen; let’s wait for Fuying to get home so we can eat together,” Xu Ying said with a warm smile.
Mother Gu liked her more and more.
Gu Fuying rushed home as soon as she clocked out. Smelling the mouthwatering fragrance, she sprinted upstairs. “Mom! Yingying! I’m home!”
“Slow down—no one’s chasing you!” Mother Gu scolded her with a playful eye-roll.
Gu Fuying sniffed eagerly. “It smells amazing! I’m starving—can we eat?”
She washed her hands and approached the table. Seeing the spread, she gasped, eyes wide with delight. Everything looked so tempting and beautifully plated, her mind went momentarily blank.
Mother Gu and Xu Ying sat down after adding another set of chopsticks. The three began to eat.
Mother Gu loved duck, so she immediately reached for the beer-braised duck—her first time tasting such a dish. One bite, and her eyes nearly closed from bliss. The flavor was rich and aromatic, the duck tender and juicy, the skin delightfully crisp.
“Yingying, no wonder Fuying said your cooking’s amazing—it really is! Honestly, I think you’re on par with Chef Ge… maybe even better,” Mother Gu sighed in contentment. “What a pity Fuying’s father isn’t home tonight—he’s missing out.”
Gu Fuying stuffed her mouth gleefully. “Mom, stop talking and eat more! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance—you won’t get this every day.”
Mother Gu paused for a moment, realizing she didn’t want to miss out either. She nodded and focused on her food.
Seeing how much her mother enjoyed the meal, Gu Fuying knew the plan had worked. “Mom, why not let Yingying cook for big brother’s wedding? Imagine how surprised everyone will be by the food!”
Mother Gu didn’t even need to think. “Absolutely. Yingying will be in charge of the wedding banquet.”
She even paid Xu Ying twenty yuan upfront, worried they’d be hosting too many guests. Xu Ying wouldn’t need to handle the cold dishes—just the signature hot dishes at each table.
Gu Fuying gave Xu Ying a playful wink.
Xu Ying winked back. If she could really land a job at the state-owned hotel, she’d owe Fuying a huge favor.
After Mother Gu left for work again, Xu Ying also headed out. The wedding was still a month away—plenty of time.
She stopped by the supply and marketing cooperative to visit Sister Qiuye. After all, she had to get close with her future second sister-in-law—otherwise, she’d risk being scolded by Accountant Xu!
The last time she’d tried to visit, Sister Qiuye had been on break. This time, the two chatted for most of the afternoon.