“What a coincidence,” Xu Ying said, a genuine smile gracing her lips. “I never expected to meet someone here who enjoys my cooking so much . I have no grand hobbies, simply a desire for everyone to taste the food I prepare. Seeing the joy on their faces as they eat brings me immense happiness. Next time your wife craves something, please send her to me, and I’ll cook it for her.” The police officer’s face lit up. He nodded eagerly, then, after a few more perfunctory questions, he departed.
The news of the police inquiry reached Zhang Lancao almost immediately. A chilling thought struck her: Wu Qingsong and Huo Chen were partners in business. If Huo Chen was under police investigation, wouldn’t Wu Qingsong be next? The more she pondered, the deeper her fear became. What if her two sons were implicated? A firm resolve hardened in Zhang Lancao’s heart: no matter what befell Wu Qingsong this time, she would sever all ties with him.
Xu Ying thanked Lu Aimin. Though a flicker of curiosity about his presence crossed her mind, she refrained from asking, turning instead to ride back to the restaurant.
Inside, Third Uncle Xu sat contentedly, savoring his food and wine with Sun Erming. A warm sense of accomplishment settled over him, knowing he had successfully completed his niece’s task. “Yingying, come here!” he boomed. He called for a long time, but his niece didn’t appear. A sudden surge of anxiety propelled him towards the kitchen, his voice still calling Xu Ying’s name.
“Yingying’s out. She just asked for leave. Didn’t you know?” Sun Lifang frowned, a hint of disapproval in her gaze as she noted Third Uncle Xu’s drunken state.
Third Uncle Xu had, in fact, not known when his niece had left. A cold dread seeped into his half-sober mind. Was she looking for Huo Chen? The boy was acting so strangely; something might have gone wrong with his dealings. If his niece went looking for him, what if the police mistook her for a criminal? He shook his head, instantly fully sober, and made to rush out to find her. Sun Erming quickly called out, trying to stop him.
Just then, Xu Ying walked through the door.
The sight of his niece ignited a fresh wave of anger in Third Uncle Xu. “Where did you go? Did you go looking for that boy, Huo Chen?”
Xu Ying looked at his furious expression, a little baffled. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re not allowed to go near him! The way Huo Chen was dressed means something might have happened. What if you go looking for him and get implicated?”
Listening to his genuine concern, a warmth spread through Xu Ying’s heart. She smiled. “I just went out for something else; I didn’t go looking for him. Besides, I don’t even know where he is!”
Third Uncle Xu exhaled a long sigh of relief. “That’s good.” He then pointed to Sun Erming. “This is my friend. He works as a buyer at a department store. Your Third Uncle completed what you asked of him a few days ago. Tomorrow, you can go to their manager to discuss cooperation.”
Xu Ying smiled warmly at Sun Erming. “You must be Uncle Erming. My name is Xu Ying. Thank you so much for your help with this matter. Whatever you’d like to eat, I’ll treat you.”
Sun Erming quickly shook his head. How could he possibly let his niece treat him to dinner? Even though she was Brother Jianshe’s niece, since she called him “uncle,” she was like his own niece. “No, no, I have money.”
Xu Ying, however, gave him no chance to refuse. She ordered a few more meat dishes for them both and paid the bill. After all, if they couldn’t finish it all, they could take it home. Who would complain about too much meat these days?
Sun Erming and Third Uncle Xu , replete from their meal and drinks, were about to rise and leave when Gao Guihua arrived with several more dishes. They gaped in surprise. “We’re full! Why are you still bringing food? And these aren’t the dishes we ordered! Did you get it wrong?”
“What?!” Gao Guihua exclaimed, her face confused, as she turned to Sun Lifang. Sun Lifang quickly explained, “Yingying ordered them for you, and the bill’s already settled.”
Sun Erming’s anxiety spiked. He rushed to Xu Ying, pulling out money. “Girl, why did you pay? Uncle Ming has money; take it!” He even pulled out a few more dollars from his pocket, worried the first amount wasn’t enough.
How could Xu Ying accept his money? She smiled gently. “Uncle Er Ming, you’ve helped me so much this time, and you’ve helped my third uncle a great deal. This is just a small meal from me. Please take your money back, or how can my third uncle and I have the nerve to ask for your help next time?”
Third Uncle Xu, who had approached them, caught his niece’s subtle wink and chimed in. “If my niece tells you to take it, then take it quickly!”
Seeing that he couldn’t refuse, Sun Erming reluctantly put the money away, but a faint pang of guilt settled in his heart. How could he let a young girl spend so much on him? He silently vowed that if she ever needed his help again, he would not hesitate.
Third Uncle Xu, on the other hand, had no such compunctions. He happily packed up the leftover meat and vegetables to take home.
Tomorrow was Xu Ying’s day off, making it the perfect opportunity to visit the department store. If she could seal this deal, it would be a significant stride toward earning foreign exchange for the factory. With the reassuring news of Huo Chen’s safety, Xu Ying’s worries dissolved, and she drifted off to sleep early that night.
Perhaps it was the early bedtime, but the next day, Xu Ying awoke around six in the morning, feeling refreshed. After breakfast, she prepared samples: chicken, pork, mushrooms, lotus roots, and potatoes, frying a little of each. The marinades had been prepared in advance. The chicken breast was destined for fried chicken fillets, the pork for crispy pork, and then there were the fried mushrooms, lotus roots, and potato chips. Xu Ying worked diligently from six until past eight in the morning. She carried a large basket, but the freshly fried samples were kept in her spatial dimension to preserve their freshness. As she neared the department store, she found a secluded corner and transferred the fried goods into the basket.
Manager Zhang had been pacing the entrance repeatedly, anxiously awaiting Xu Ying’s arrival. Each time he looked, she wasn’t there, and his heart grew colder. “Xiao Sun,” he fretted, “you said Xu Ying would come. What time is it? Does she sincerely want to cooperate?” If this matter wasn’t handled properly, he was utterly doomed. Manager Zhang was now as restless as an ant on a hot pan.
“Manager, here she comes!” Sun Erming exclaimed, turning to see Xu Ying. He rushed over, taking the large basket from her hand. The moment he grasped the basket, a tantalizing aroma wafted up, making his mouth water.
Manager Zhang’s face lit up with hope as he saw Xu Ying. He hurried towards her, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Master Xu, you’re finally here! The director has been waiting for you for ages. Please, don’t mention that I know you work at the food factory, or I’ll be ruined!”
Xu Ying offered a grateful smile. “Manager Zhang, what are you saying? You’ve helped me so much; I would never betray you. Just handle this matter; I’ll take care of everything else. Once it’s settled, I’ll definitely treat you to a grand dinner, Manager Zhang.”
Manager Zhang nodded awkwardly. The meal wasn’t important; what mattered to him was not being fired.