Cheng You strolled along behind, closing her eyes and sniffing the air.
"Sister Yun Ru, it really is quite fragrant."
Zhou Yun Ru smiled at her, then took the chicken soup from Wang Hong Xia.
It was still hot.
Wang Hong Xia was pleased. Doing as Cheng Tao had instructed had actually been effective.
As long as she could endure for a few days and coax her son's family back, everything else was minor.
She never expected to see Zhou Yun Ru holding the bowl and offering it to Cheng You the next moment.
"Drink it."
Cheng You did not stand on ceremony, taking a large gulp from the bowl.
The chicken she raised herself was indeed different, its flavor fresh and delicious.
"It's good!"
Zhou Yun Ru smiled, "Eat the chicken leg too."
Cheng You said, "You really aren't eating any?"
"You pay me five yuan a month in wages, I can eat whatever meat I want."
Zhou Yun Ru didn't care for this chicken soup; she had plenty of good food at home.
Cheng You chuckled, picked up the chicken leg, and took a bite, "Then I won't be polite."
Wang Hong Xia's chest heaved with anger, her pupils widening. "Cheng You, put that down! This chicken soup isn't for you to eat!"
Her chicken! The old hen she had raised for so long!
Cheng You took another bite and commented, "Aunt Wang, your chicken tastes okay, just a bit old. Next time, remember to stew it longer."
She finished the chicken leg in a few bites, her red lips glistening with oil, and drank all the soup.
Cheng You handed the bowl back to Wang Hong Xia, fully satisfied. "Thank you, Aunt Wang, the chicken soup was delicious."
Wang Hong Xia: ... Who asked for your thanks!
Zhou Yun Ru smiled slightly and deliberately said for Wang Hong Xia to hear, "Cheng You, eat your fill from now on. Old Zhao's family has plenty of good things."
Cheng You tilted her head playfully, "I guarantee I'll complete the mission."
Wang Hong Xia gritted her teeth, "This is for my grandson to drink!"
"My grandson isn't out of my belly yet, he can't drink it."
"Then it's for me to drink! I stewed it for so long, why are you giving it to Cheng You?"
Prodigal woman!
Zhou Yun Ru said, "Once you give it to me, it's mine. I can give it to whoever I want."
Don't think she didn't see through Wang Hong Xia's intentions. Everything Wang Hong Xia did had a purpose.
Wang Hong Xia suddenly remembered Cheng Tao's words and changed her stern demeanor, placing a hand over her heart and saying sadly, "Eldest daughter-in-law, Mom knows you're still angry. It's okay, no matter how you treat me, I won't be angry with you."
Cheng You licked her lips and asked, "Aunt Wang, you're so good to Sister Yun Ru, why only give her one chicken leg? A chicken has so much meat, and your grandson can only have one chicken leg?"
Zhou Yun Ru feigned realization, "That's right. Remember to send over all the other meat too."
Before Wang Hong Xia could explode, Cheng You chuckled slyly and pulled Zhou Yun Ru away.
She had gotten a bowl of chicken soup for free and seen Wang Hong Xia so angry; it was worth it.
"Alright, you go back now. I need to go home and eat too."
Before leaving, Cheng You repeatedly warned, "Sister Yun Ru, you absolutely cannot go back to the Old Zhao family. That's a tiger's den. You've finally gotten out this time, and if you go back, you won't be able to leave."
Putting on a good show outwardly while grinding you down in secret was Cheng Tao and Song Yu Lian's specialty.
Zhou Yun Ru flicked her forehead and said, "Do I need you to tell me? I know."
She knew exactly what kind of person Wang Hong Xia was.
Cheng You skipped home, needing to cook.
She saw Qi Cheng Yan at the door and skipped over to him.
"Why are you here?"
Qi Cheng Yan smiled indulgently and took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
"What did you steal and eat? You didn't even wipe your mouth."
Cheng You chuckled, "Someone just gave me a bowl of chicken soup to drink."
She opened the door and walked in, Qi Cheng Yan following closely behind. He magically produced two large meat buns from his pocket.
"Later, I'll see if there are any wild chickens on the mountain and catch one to stew for you."
Cheng You could no longer think of wild chickens; her mind was filled with the large meat buns in front of her.
The meat buns from the state-run restaurant were the best, not only large but with thin skins and abundant, juicy meat.
"Did you go to the commune?"
Qi Cheng Yan nodded, "I went to pick up some things. I was passing by."
He offered them to her, "Eat, they're still warm."
Cheng You wasn't one to eat alone. Smiling, she said, "Let's each have one."
Qi Cheng Yan shook his head, "I've already eaten."
Meat buns were a rarity to others, but not to him.
He had money; getting whatever he wanted to eat was not difficult.
Cheng You took a bite, her cheeks bulging, her face full of satisfaction.
Looking at her like this made Qi Cheng Yan happy too.
A tall, sturdy man stood beside her, watching her eat, his eyes filled with smiles and affection. Anyone would say he was a gentle giant.
He found it strange himself. After his grandmother passed away, he had lived as if he had no desires.
He never thought there would be a girl who made him feel content just by watching her eat.
Cheng You sat and ate the buns, beckoning him over to sit with her.
Qi Cheng Yan sat beside her, stretching his long legs, his gaze never leaving her.
Cheng You casually asked, "It's almost New Year, are you going back to Yan City?"
Although she knew he didn't get along with his family, it was possible he had other relatives or friends in Yan City.
This year's New Year was at the end of the month. The year had passed so quickly.
Qi Cheng Yan shook his head, "No."
Cheng You quickly swallowed the bun in her mouth and said, "That's perfect, let's celebrate New Year together!"
Qi Cheng Yan went inside and poured her a cup of warm water.
"Okay, I'll celebrate New Year with you."
After his grandmother left, he spent New Year alone.
Not anymore.
Cheng You ate the buns with a smile, waiting for Zhang Fu Hai to collect this batch of medicine and settle the payment, which she could then use to buy New Year's goods.
For the past few days, she had been making cracked skin cream. The health center said it was in high demand.
Cheng You estimated she could earn another sum before the New Year.
Thinking about her little savings account growing, she felt even happier.
After she got her mother's dowry back, she would study hard, get into university, and then think about marriage.
After she finished her buns, Qi Cheng Yan wiped her mouth and said, "This afternoon, I'll go up the mountain to chop some firewood and leave it here for you. It might snow."
Cheng You nodded, "Then I'll go with you. I'll see if there's any medicine I can collect."
With the orders from the health center, Cheng You and Uncle Li realized how scarce medicinal herbs were.
They collected everything they could, but after completing just one order, their home's supply of herbs was empty.
If the order volume increased in the future, they wouldn't have any herbs to use.
In the afternoon, Cheng You informed Uncle Li at his home, and then followed Qi Cheng Yan up the mountain.
With Zhou Yun Ru around, she felt at ease.
As soon as she left, Cheng Tao sneered, "Not even married yet, and you're already following men up the mountain. Anyone would think they're sneaking off into the woods."
Zhou Yun Ru looked over and smiled, "If you can associate anything you see with sneaking into the woods, perhaps you and Zhao Yun Lin have done so quite a bit?"