CHAPTER 91: CHAPTER 91: WHAT IF SOMEONE SEES US

The lunch was particularly lavish, Zhang Meifeng felt sorry for Xu Qinghuan, so she made a big bowl of braised pork and a pot of chicken stewed with mushrooms.

In Li Shouzhi’s words, it was more sumptuous than the New Year, "Your aunt is just lazy, doesn’t want to make me something tasty. Today, I’m lucky because of you. It’s a pity it’s not evening, otherwise, I could have a couple ounces of liquor."

Zhang Meifeng popped a mushroom into Li Shouzhi’s bowl, "Eat your food, eating can’t even stop your talking. With your health, you still want to drink?"

Li Shouzhi has many hidden injuries, he craves alcohol every day, but every time he drinks, he suffers pain all over afterward.

She then grabbed a big drumstick for Xu Qinghuan, "Huanhuan, come, eat more. Look at you, so thin, the wind in the Great Northeast could blow you away."

Xu Qinghuan held the drumstick, thanked Zhang Meifeng, then advised Li Shouzhi, "Uncle, don’t drink alcohol for a few days. Wait until the four pills are finished, then you can drink."

Li Shouzhi was overjoyed at once, "Great, great, great, you see, Huanhuan said I can drink. There are still three pills left, once I finish them, I must find someone to have a drinking contest, I’ll definitely make those people who rely on their youth and look down on me admit defeat."

Zhang Meifeng was infuriated, giving Li Shouzhi a slap, "We’re eating, why are you talking about this?"

Li Shouzhi laughed awkwardly, Xu Qinghuan found it quite amusing too. She could see that Uncle Li and Aunt Meifeng had a good relationship. It was the first time she saw such an intimate couple, where a glance could communicate their thoughts, and every gesture was filled with deep affection accumulated over years.

Her heart was deeply touched; she realized there are couples who aren’t just archenemies or those who appear harmonious but hide discord due to interests. There are also couples who support each other, growing old hand in hand.

Truly enviable!

Xu Qinghuan laughed along too. After the meal, she ate quite a lot, and her stomach was bulging.

Zhang Meifeng even packed a box of braised pork and a box of chicken stewed with mushrooms for her with two lunchboxes, "I specially packed this separately, untouched by chopsticks, take it home to eat."

Xu Qinghuan felt embarrassed, Zhang Meifeng pretended to be angry, "I treat you as a daughter, you’re being distant with your aunt. If I’m unhappy, it won’t be good."

Li Shouzhi also chimed in, "You gave me such good pills, shouldn’t I reject them too?"

Xu Qinghuan felt that refusing would be too hurtful, and she was deeply grateful.

She thought of her unseen father, who seemed to be a person with high charisma. He has been gone for so many years, yet his comrades have never forgotten to care for his orphan.

"We should come more often, if you don’t, Aunt will go to the countryside to see you," Zhang Meifeng reminded.

"I will," Xu Qinghuan quickly assured.

Li Shouzhi wanted to arrange a car to send her off, but Xu Qinghuan refused hurriedly, "I’m with some friends from the educated youth group, there are many of us, we took the production team’s tractor here. Next time when I come alone, Uncle can arrange a car to send me."

Once Xu Qinghuan had been seen off past the residential complex gates, Zhang Meifeng returned and asked Li Shouzhi, "What pills did Huanhuan give you?"

Li Shouzhi didn’t say much, just beckoned Zhang Meifeng over, brewed her a pot of tea, "Try a sip."

"What can’t you say, all mysterious." She cooperatively took a sip, just feeling it clean and sweet, the taste was great.

But that wasn’t the main point, she felt refreshed as if her mind was clearer than before.

Usually, getting older meant this time of day would be languid, but after the tea, there was a feeling of purity akin to a eureka moment.

The fatigue she usually felt disappeared, now she felt she could lift a big fat pig.

Li Shouzhi, seeing the comfortable expression of his wife, deliberately asked, "How is it?"

"It’s good tea, where did it come from?" Zhang Meifeng asked sincerely.

Li Shouzhi smiled, "Huanhuan gave it to me, take a look at this too."

He took out the three remaining pills, showed them to Zhang Meifeng, then quickly put them away again, "To live a hundred years, I’ll rely on this."

Shocked to her core, Zhang Meifeng knew her husband’s condition, the doctors told her he had many hidden injuries, exacerbated with age, making it harder to endure and affecting his longevity.

She often felt anxious seeing her husband in pain, yet she suffered too during those moments.

Her husband loved gulping down wine and gobbling meat; she didn’t dare let him eat, knowing after indulging, he would suffer even more.

"Is it really effective?" Zhang Meifeng asked eagerly.

"Very effective," Li Shouzhi said. "You went grocery shopping, I took one pill, felt relaxed, even the spots causing severe pain are no longer aching now."

Once the final three pills are consumed, he felt he might return to his peak physical condition.

Tears streamed down Zhang Meifeng’s face, "That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. This child is something, such good things, how could she just give them to you!"

Li Shouzhi was not a true rough man. In the army, he worked on ideological tasks, understanding some nuances, "In a couple of days, I’ll personally go to the countryside to see Huanhuan. No need for words, sometimes just a little show of strength is necessary."

"Mm, go have a look, I’ll be at ease. Heard lots of locals bully the educated youth, our child mustn’t be bullied," Zhang Meifeng said.

After Xu Qinghuan left the Armed Forces’ residential compound, she didn’t walk far when she saw Jiang Xingye sitting atop a bicycle, his long legs supporting it on the ground, idly fiddling with a box of matches.

He was handsome, his dark eyes carrying an aura of ferocity, his unruly and wild demeanor provoking mixed feelings of hate and love, attracting frequent glances from passersby.

Uncertain how he sensed it, when Xu Qinghuan appeared on the street, he suddenly lifted his head, the fierceness in his eyes vanishing completely, showing an intertwining of hope, nervousness, and joy. He stood up straight, akin to a ceremonial guard saluting the national flag in a square—proper and full of integrity.

Xu Qinghuan couldn’t help but smile, quickening her pace, "What’re you doing here?"

Jiang Xingye just waited here for her, but dared not say so, scratched his head, "Nothing much, just... just staying here for a while."

Xu Qinghuan didn’t expose him, merely "Mm"ed, noticed the semi-new Golden Deer bicycle beneath him, and thought the wheels seemed familiar, "Where is the bike from?"

"I found some parts and assembled it myself," Jiang Xingye promptly got off the bike, "Do you need it? I’m not using it anyway, take it to ride back. At four in the afternoon, there will be a tractor waiting at the National Hotel entrance."

These days, having a bicycle was akin to owning a Lamborghini in later times.

Xu Qinghuan looked at the seat, far above her leg’s reach and shook her head, "I can’t ride a bike. I need to go to the scrap shop, could you take me there?"

Jiang Xingye couldn’t believe it, joy accompanied by concern. He pressed his lips, "If people see, it won’t be good for your reputation!"