Chapter 436: Chapter 436: Not a Peddler, a Self-Employed Individual
"Jiaojiao, you eat up. Dad can get his own," Mr. Gu said with a warm smile, placing a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs on his daughter’s plate.
Mrs. Gu immediately followed suit, also giving her daughter a piece of the ribs. "Jiaojiao, eat up if you like it. I made plenty."
She then placed a piece on her husband’s plate as well. Both the father and daughter loved sweet and sour dishes.
Knowing that Second Brother Gu liked hot and sour shredded pork and Grandpa Gu preferred braised pork, Mrs. Gu made sure to put some on their plates as well.
"Yue Hua, here. You like fish, and I’ve already picked out the bones for you." Mr. Gu placed the deboned fish into Mrs. Gu’s bowl.
Gu Jiaojiao chewed on a pork rib, watching her parents tenderly serve each other. Even after weathering decades of ups and downs, they were still so deeply in love.
As warmth filled her heart, she turned to look at the man beside her, only to find him already watching her.
The love in his eyes was more ferocious than a tidal wave, threatening to swallow her whole.
It felt like a physical blow to Gu Jiaojiao’s heart, which began to race. She quickly lowered her head and focused on her food.
When you truly love someone, your eyes will always follow them.
And that was exactly how it was with Su Shuochi. His gaze followed Gu Jiaojiao relentlessly, the love in his eyes completely undisguised.
Seeing her avoid his gaze, Su Shuochi smiled to himself. ’Her cheeks are all red... I could stare at her forever and never get tired of it!’
"Jiaojiao, Jingtai, did you two get the contract signed today?" Mrs. Gu finally found a moment to ask her son about his work.
"Mom, we signed it," Gu Jingtai said cheerfully, his face breaking into a wide smile.
Seeing how happy he was made her happy too. "That’s wonderful. I’m glad it’s signed."
Seeing her mother’s beaming smile, Gu Jiaojiao quickly added, "Grandpa, Dad, have you thought about what we should name the restaurant?"
Grandpa Gu immediately replied, "Jiaojiao, you just focus on eating. We’ll leave that to your father."
Mr. Gu quickly chimed in, "That’s right, Jiaojiao. You don’t have to worry about it. Dad will come up with a fitting and memorable name."
Gu Jiaojiao’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her dad. "Now’s the time for our great scholar to work his magic."
"Hahaha... Our ’great scholar’ better not let his daughter down," Grandpa Gu teased.
Seeing the two of them ganging up on him, Mrs. Gu couldn’t help but interject, "Alright, you two. Stop talking and eat your dinner."
Meanwhile, in the Li family home down the street, Aunt Li got home and immediately started stir-frying the ingredients she had prepped earlier.
She had just finished preparing three dishes and a soup when her husband and son walked in. Her daughter was already setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
As the family sat down to eat, Aunt Li casually asked her daughter, "Lanlan, you know Professor Gu’s family, right? The one further down the street?"
"I’ve heard of them. Their second son sells those savory pancakes," Li Xiulan replied, her heart skipping a beat. ’Did Mom find out something?’
She had seen Second Brother Gu making the pancakes himself once when she went to buy one, and he had looked so charming.
Ever since then, she wasn’t sure if she was addicted to the pancakes or the man who made them.
She had gone back to buy pancakes a few more times since, but she never again saw the person she couldn’t get out of her mind.
"Anyone who dares to run a small business these days has guts. They’re the ones who’ll be successful in the future," Mr. Li added, following up on his daughter’s comment.
"Dad, you don’t think it’s bad that he’s a street vendor selling pancakes instead of going to school?" Li Xiulan asked cautiously.
"Hah! He’s no one to us. Who cares if he’s a vendor or something else." Mr. Li might admire the boy’s initiative, but that was as far as it went.
A street vendor marrying his daughter, however, was out of the question. That’s why he had to instill in his daughter the importance of education.
"Old Li, what are you talking about? Gu the Elder’s family has only been back for a little while, and they’re already doing much better than Gu the Second’s family."
"Mom, why are you so interested in Uncle Gu’s family all of a sudden?" their son asked curiously.
"Hah! You probably haven’t noticed. Aunt Gu spent years feeding pigs on a farm, yet her skin is even better than mine."
Li Xiulan: ...
She patted her chest in relief. ’That scared me to death! I really thought she’d found out something!’
She wasn’t interested in this topic, so she said nothing and just kept her head down, eating.
Her brother understood even less about such matters, so he too focused on his meal.
Mr. Li had never seen her either, since Mrs. Gu was usually at home cooking whenever he came home from work.
"All you two know how to do is eat! Listen, I went to find Auntie Gu today to ask her what kind of skincare products Aunt Gu uses."
"Well, whatever she’s using, why don’t you just go buy some for yourself?" Mr. Li said dismissively.
"Auntie Gu and her sister-in-law are on such bad terms. How would she know!"
"Then why did you even bother asking her?" her son chimed in, just to avoid being told off for only caring about food.
"Oh, honestly! She might not know, but Gu the Elder’s son and daughter do! And let me tell you...
Gu the Elder’s daughter looks like a fairy, and his son is ten times more handsome than Dong Yong from ’Heavenly Fairy Match’!
The two of them even invited me over to their house today. It’s a real shame I had to come home and cook for you lot. What a pity!"
Mr. Li and his two children: ...
’So we’re a burden to her now?’
The son, feeling a little miffed, asked, "Mom, is Second Brother Gu really that handsome?"
"Hah! It’s the absolute truth. The Dong Yong on TV isn’t even a thousandth as handsome as him!"
"Mom’s telling the truth," Li Xiulan couldn’t resist chiming in, her voice full of admiration and her eyes shining brightly. "I saw him once when I was buying a pancake. No wonder their stall is the most popular."
Her brother glanced up at her and saw the infatuated look in her eyes. ’Oh no, don’t tell me she’s fallen for him!’
He was just about to say something to warn his parents when his mother said something that made his jaw drop.
"I heard he makes more in one day of selling those pancakes than your father makes in a whole month! And he’s single! I need to get on his good side and then find someone to set him up with our Lanlan."
Mr. Li and his son: ...
Just what they were afraid of.
"Are you seriously comparing me to a street vendor?" Mr. Li grumbled.
"What’s wrong with being a vendor? Besides, he’s not a vendor, he’s a private entrepreneur. Do you get it? A private entrepreneur! The government is encouraging the private economy now."
"Of course I get it! Hmph! You Women’s Federation types always love to make a mountain out of a molehill."
Mr. Li snorted. He wasn’t truly angry, he just felt his authority had been undermined.
"Old Li, have some more meat. They say Aunt Gu is such an amazing cook that her food made the neighbor’s kid cry with longing."
"And what’s that got to do with me!" Mr. Li was still fuming.
"Hah! Of course it has to do with us! If our Lanlan marries into Gu the Elder’s family, we’ll get to taste her cooking too, won’t we?"
Mr. Li and his two children: ...
