Xu Ying still found immense joy in cooking at the restaurant. Each time the system chimed with a favorability prompt, a thrill of delight, akin to discovering lost treasure, surged through her.
“I heard that Master Xiao Xu is back! We all want to eat the dishes cooked by Master Xiao Xu!” The moment the news of Xu Ying’s return spread, a crowd rushed to the restaurant, eager not only for her food but also to hear firsthand how she had brought the villains to justice.
Xu Ying felt a blush creep up her cheeks, a touch of embarrassment as she found herself surrounded. She patiently answered every question.
“Master Xiao Xu, is the Wu family truly that evil?”
“Well,” Xu Ying began, her voice steady, “the Wu family was considered a bully in Xiang County. The head of their family was the deputy director of the meat factory, and his wife’s brother was also a director. With two relatives in charge of one factory, how could chaos be prevented?”
“They really just bullied other girls, and didn’t have to take responsibility?” a woman asked, her voice tinged with outrage.
At this, Xu Ying’s expression grew serious. “The Wu family did indeed commit such acts, but such things are utterly unscrupulous. That is why the Wu family was sentenced to death.” Then, to deter any men present from contemplating similar misdeeds, Xu Ying’s voice hardened with a didactic tone. “Don’t you have daughters in your families? If your daughters were bullied like this, wouldn’t you feel unbearable pain? Even if you don’t have daughters, you have older sisters, younger sisters, nieces. If they were your own relatives, just imagine the heartbreak those people endured.”
In this era, many men harbored deep-seated preferences for sons, looking down upon women. Hearing Xu Ying’s words, some dismissed them entirely, even muttering vile remarks. “There are so many women in the world, why only those few were bullied? Isn’t it because those women were indiscreet and seductive?”
“That’s right,” another chimed in. “A single slap can’t make a sound. A fly can’t bite a seamless egg. If you ask me, that woman deserved it.” A small group of men continued to create a disturbing din.
“That’s right, look at some women now,” another sneered. “They don’t stay at home and keep to themselves. They dress up all day long, standing in gorgeous clothes. Isn’t that seducing people?”
Xu Ying, having endured endless hours of boredom in her past life at the end of the world, had watched countless videos to pass the time. She had witnessed men bullying women, blaming the victims for their own misfortunes. But to experience it firsthand, in this present moment, was a different state of mind entirely. She fixed her gaze on the man, sparks flickering in her eyes. “Brother, do you do this often, otherwise why are you so experienced? Lifang,” she turned to Sun Lifang, “do you think this kind of person has bullied many girls in private? Let’s go to the Public Security Bureau right now to arrest this person and torture him. He might even be sentenced to death.”
Her gaze swept over the other men. “And you group of accomplices! Is wearing a skirt in your way and costing you money? This is no longer the old society; men and women are already equal. Why should women work at home while men can go out and have fun? Women are exhausted after working all day, so what’s wrong with them going out? It’s against the law for someone to walk on the street wearing a skirt. If you have the ability, don’t look at me! You don’t even look at how much you weigh, yet you still think you’re seducing me? Is it even worth it? So, according to what you said, if you wear a shirt and jeans, dressed so brightly, are you going out to seduce women? You are truly immodest!”
The men who had just been speaking so confidently suddenly choked on their words, their faces turning as red as pig livers. The man who had started the taunts had only sought to satisfy his vanity, but he never expected Xu Ying to directly threaten him with a police report and a death sentence. Panic seized him.
The elder sister who had been watching Xu Ying’s swift turn saw his fear. “Master Xu, I was just joking,” the man stammered, his face pale.
“Joking?” Xu Ying retorted, her voice stern. “As you just said, if someone is beautiful and bullied, they still have to endure it? Perhaps you’ve done this too many times and feel guilty, which is why you’re speaking for the Wu family. I’ll call the police now and have you properly interrogated.”
“I’ll call for you now,” a cold voice cut through the air. Huo Chen had appeared in the crowd at some point, his presence a sudden, chilling stillness.
Xu Ying turned from the agitated crowd, her gaze finding Huo Chen.
The man, now truly terrified, pleaded, his face chalk-white. “I was just talking nonsense. I’m sorry. I apologize. I will never dare to talk nonsense again.”
“You will be punished for your bad words,” Xu Ying stated sternly, her small face set with a serious expression. “A few words from you could ruin a girl’s life. Report him to the police.”
Huo Chen, utterly obedient, turned to find the police. Ultimately, several men were taken away by the authorities. The crowd of onlookers, witnessing their humiliation, vowed to keep their mouths shut in the future. The women, however, were ecstatic, finally exhaling a collective sigh of relief. They looked at Xu Ying with a mixture of admiration and joy.
Xu Ying glanced at Huo Chen, and the fierce, defiant aura she had just embodied vanished in an instant, replaced by a sudden bashfulness as she retreated into the kitchen.
Huo Chen, who had long craved her cooking, immediately ordered enough food for five ordinary adult men.
[Congratulations to the host, the favorability value is increased by 95, and the extra favorability value is increased by 65.]
The system’s chime sounded, and Xu Ying’s spirits soared. If she worked harder, the space would be completely unlocked. She was desperate to unlock the third-level healing medicine; with it, her cousin’s illness might be fully cured.
Xu Ying busied herself in the kitchen, occasionally stealing glances at Huo Chen, who was eating outside. Suddenly, her eyes widened. There was a girl sitting across from Huo Chen. A sharp pang pierced Xu Ying’s heart, and a profound sense of loss washed over her. The girl sat opposite Huo Chen, and they seemed to be engrossed in conversation.
Huo Chen was an orphan. Grandma Huo’s relatives had long since severed ties with her, so this person couldn’t be a relative. Could it be a blind date?
Sun Lifang, who had always believed that Huo Chen and Xu Ying were destined to be a couple, also looked horrified. The sudden appearance of another girl instantly filled her with anxiety. After taking her order, she quickly darted into the kitchen, tugged on Xu Ying’s clothes, and pointed towards Huo Chen. “Look, that girl isn’t his partner, is she?”
At this, Xu Ying’s mood plummeted. She unconsciously tightened her grip on the spatula in her hand. This man kept saying he liked her, and now he was apparently on a blind date. She snatched the last dish Huo Chen had ordered and stormed towards his table, a faint smile plastered on her face, masking a seething anger.
“Is this enough for you? Do you want to add more?” Xu Ying asked, her voice deceptively calm.
The girl quickly shook her head, her eyes wide with surprise at the amount of food on the table. “No, there’s so much, we can’t finish it all.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll definitely be able to finish it,” Xu Ying declared, a strange possessiveness creeping into her voice. “This guy has a big appetite.” As the words left her, she felt a sudden rush of embarrassment, her cheeks burning. She abruptly stopped talking and scurried away. I didn’t want to be with him, so why am I angry now? I can’t expect Huo Chen to live without falling in love for the rest of his life.
Xu Ying returned to the kitchen and watched the two figures sitting together. She didn’t know if she was imagining it, or if a strange filter had fallen over her perception, but they seemed to fit perfectly.
“Brother Chen, can you really finish all this?” Wu Qiao’er asked, her voice filled with curiosity. Her elder brother had told her that Huo Chen was as strong as an ox, but she hadn’t known he could eat so much. Such a large meal must cost a fortune. How much would his food expenses be in a month? Wu Qiao’er did a quick mental calculation and was suddenly shocked. Her elder brother was right: Huo Chen was handsome, but he was not someone who could live a comfortable, thrifty life. She had better give up on him.