CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: GUILTY CONSCIENCE

Xu Qinghuan came out of the armed department, and Jiang Xingye was waiting beside. Seeing her relaxed expression, he also finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The basket was held by Jiang Xingye, and inside were the rice and flour Xu Qinghuan had taken from her space, ready to take back for eating.

The basket was always tightly covered. Jiang Xingye had no idea how many times she had swapped supplies from inside; he just assumed they were all things she previously bought at the supply and marketing cooperative.

When they reached the state-owned restaurant, Jiang Xingye put her down, "Wait here for me. I’ll go drive the tractor to pick up people from the hospital and then come to get you all."

"Mm, okay, go ahead. I’ll get you some meat buns!" Xu Qinghuan waved at him and then turned to leave.

Jiang Xingye pulled at her basket, "Give me the basket; it’s heavy!"

Xu Qinghuan hadn’t thought of this, so she uttered an "Oh" and handed him the basket, then hurriedly ran towards the state-owned restaurant.

Qiao Xinyu and the others had been waiting there for a long while. Upon seeing Xu Qinghuan, she waved vigorously, "Huanhuan, here, here!"

The four had already eaten. Qiao Xinyu asked, "I brought you some meat buns, just in case you couldn’t make it in time. Do you still have time to eat something else?"

It wasn’t mealtime at the moment. Qiao Xinyu bought only six buns; she, Yu Xiaomin, and Qiao Xinyu had eaten enough, but it definitely wouldn’t be enough for Jiang Xingye.

"I’ll check it out!" Xu Qinghuan went to the waiter and discreetly slipped them a towel. It was pink and soft to the touch.

It was from a draw at a hospital event. She had won a participation prize, one pink and one light blue towel. The Dean had even teased her, saying all of Little Xu’s luck went to her patients and she kept none for herself.

Her colleagues laughed heartily.

Everyone knew that Divine Doctor Xu’s hands were like gold. If it weren’t against the rules, the Dean would have insured them daily.

The waitress named Li Zhaodi, a woman under thirty, seemed neat and efficient. The moment she touched the towel, she knew it wasn’t cheap, reluctant to let go, she cheerfully said, "Serving the people, comrade, what would you like to eat?"

Xu Qinghuan pulled out another light blue towel and handed it to her, "Sister, I want two pounds of buns. I know it’s not mealtime, but I’d trouble you and the chef just this once."

Li Zhaodi initially thought of flattering the chef Ding Binggui a bit, to coax him into making buns, but seeing Xu Qinghuan so transparent, she was happy – no need for coaxing, and she could also get chummy with Ding Binggui.

"Comrade, it’s no trouble. Just wait, and I’ll make sure you get the best buns!" With that, she hurried inside.

The kitchen was already prepping for dinner, the dough was all risen; they just needed to wrap in the filling and steam.

Ding Binggui was very thin, often feeling light-headed. Hospital checks revealed nothing, doctors only advised a bland diet and more rest. But working at the restaurant left him no time to rest.

His bad health made him irritable.

Anyone asking him for extra work would get his temper.

But seeing Li Zhaodi bringing a light blue towel and explaining the guest’s order for two pounds of buns, he stashed the towel in his pocket and went to personally prepare the buns, each one thin-skinned and full of filling, all with eighteen folds, not one less.

Xu Qinghuan and the other four chatted outside. Qiao Xinyu asked, "How are we getting back later, by bus or tractor? I wonder where Comrade Jiang is now?"

"We’ll take the tractor; it’ll pick us up soon." Xu Qinghuan traced circles on the table with her fingers, feeling somewhat guilty.

Qiao Xinyu exclaimed, "Ah, you’ve arranged it with Comrade Jiang?"

"Mm." Xu Qinghuan lifted her head and smiled, appearing so open that it left nothing more to say.

There were five people in Lu Nianying’s group, notified to discharge today, they had been waiting for a ride since nine in the morning. It was already three in the afternoon and still no one from the production team had arrived.

They had checked out of their ward and were waiting in the hospital’s lobby, full of resentment.

Seeing Jiang Xingye arrive at last, Lu Nianying couldn’t contain her anger, "What’s wrong with you? Does it take a whole day to get here from the production team?"

Jiang Xingye had been in good spirits, but seeing this woman daring to chastise him made him immediately turn to leave.

Lu Nianying and the others looked at each other, stunned. Fortunately, there was Zhang Tieshan. Sensing the misstep, he rushed to grab Jiang Xingye, "Brother, calm down. Don’t bother with her, she was wrong!"

Jiang Xingye glanced at Zhang Tieshan who was tugging at his clothes, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed into a fierce look, "Let go!"

Zhang Tieshan quickly released him and called to the other four, "Hurry and follow up!"

Thus, four women and one man got on the tractor.

The tractor chugged along noisily, clearly not heading out of town but winding in another direction. Zhang Tieshan had doubts but dared not ask.

Lu Nianying simmered with anger. She’d gone to the post office early to call her mother and had been waiting without water since nine. Finally on the vehicle, they were still circling town.

The tractor stopped at the state-owned restaurant. Xu Qinghuan hadn’t gotten the buns yet, and Jiang Xingye stood waiting.

Seeing the restaurant, Lu Nianying was immediately overjoyed. Starving, she eagerly followed them off and went to slap money and coupons on the counter, "Four meat buns and a portion of braised pork!"

Li Zhaodi didn’t even lift an eyelid, "Not selling!"

Lu Nianying was shocked, thinking it targeted her, "Why not sell?"

"It’s not mealtime. Didn’t you see the time? No buns available now," Li Zhaodi replied crossly, casting a sidelong glance at Lu Nianying, noting her well-dressed yet clueless demeanor.

At this moment, calls came from the kitchen for Li Zhaodi, so she called to Xu Qinghuan, "Miss, the buns are ready, come pay. Two pounds of buns, three yuan, and bring a pound’s worth of meat coupons."

Xu Qinghuan quickly went over, handing the money and coupons. The other wrapped the buns in greaseproof paper and handed them to Xu Qinghuan, "Miss, I’m Li Zhaodi. In the future, if you need anything at the state-owned restaurant, just find me."

"Sister, I’m Xu Qinghuan; thank you!"

Lu Nianying was stunned and angrily said, "Why did you refuse to sell buns to me but sold them to her?"

Li Zhaodi gave her a cool look, "They were pre-ordered by this miss. Why not? If you want to buy, that’s fine—pay the money and coupons and come back at six o’clock to pick up."

Lu Nianying turned to ask Xu Qinghuan, "When did you place your order?"

Xu Qinghuan ignored her, acting as if she didn’t exist.

Angered and frustrated, Lu Nianying sneered, "Xu Qinghuan, I called Mom today—I told her you were here and said you bullied me. Do you think she’ll find a rustic local guy to marry you off to as a daughter-in-law?"

Xu Qinghuan laughed, "No, she’ll try to bring me back to the city, maybe even marry me off to a prestigious family like the Jiang Family, while you’ll remain in the countryside, diligently farming."

If Xu Qinghuan didn’t know Lu Nianying was an illegitimate child, Lu Nianying wouldn’t believe such nonsense, but now she had no choice. She’s the adopted daughter of Song Wanlin, whereas Xu Qinghuan is her biological daughter.

"You’re lying!" Lu Nianying cried out in anger!