MM Racing Chapter 1165 Lu Jia had many questions
Chapter 1165 Lu Jia had many questions
The lights were on inside, casting a dim yellow glow through the paper windows. Gu Nan was talking to Ran Qiuye, holding an old book in his hand. When she came in, Gu Nan merely glanced at her, his gaze indifferent and unwavering, before getting up and walking into the inner room: "You two chat, I'm going to lie down for a while. I've been busy at the factory all afternoon, I'm a little tired."
Lu Jia felt uneasy. In the past, Gu Nan's gaze always held a hint of scrutiny, as if he was wary of her. But today, his attitude seemed to genuinely treat her like an ordinary neighbor. She didn't think much of it, assuming it was just her overthinking. She walked over and sat down next to Ran Qiuye, watching her sew tiger-head shoes for a child. The stitches were fine and the embroidery was lifelike.
Ran Qiuye put down her sewing basket and asked with a smile, "Why did you come over at this time? Are you not feeling well? You look a little pale."
Lu Jia then revealed a genuine look of worry, gently placing her hand on her slightly protruding belly: "That's right, Sister Qiuye. Lately, I've been feeling unwell all over, listless and unwilling to move. Sometimes I even have acid reflux at night, and I can throw up everything I just ate. I can't eat much. Is this normal during pregnancy? I'm so worried and unsure of myself."
Upon hearing this, Ran Qiuye immediately perked up, took her hand, and inquired in detail about her symptoms, from morning sickness in early pregnancy to edema in later stages. She even gave her specific advice on what to eat to nourish her body (such as drinking millet porridge in the morning to soothe the stomach and stewing chicken soup in the evening to replenish qi and blood) and how to rest (not standing or sitting all the time, but taking walks in the yard more often). She explained everything in detail and patiently, like a loving older sister. Lu Jia listened attentively, nodding from time to time. The knot in her heart caused by He Yuzhu unconsciously dissipated. Finally, she sincerely said, "Thanks to Sister Qiuye, after hearing what you said, I feel much more at ease. Otherwise, I would have been worrying unnecessarily."
It was completely dark when Lu Jia came out of Gu Nan's house. The streetlights in the yard were on, casting long shadows on the ground with their dim yellow light. As Lu Jia walked towards her own yard, she smelled a rich aroma of meat as soon as she reached the door. He Yuzhu was busy at the stove. Seeing her come in, he quickly brought her a white porcelain bowl and said, "You're finally back. I heated up the braised pork I brought from the factory this afternoon. I picked out all the fatty parts and also poached two eggs for you. Eat it while it's hot, or it'll taste fishy when it gets cold."
Looking at the glistening, square pieces of meat steaming in the bowl, Lu Jia's displeasure resurfaced—was this meat originally intended for Qin Huairu as well? But she said nothing, taking the meat and slowly eating it with her steamed buns. She knew perfectly well that she still needed He Yuzhu's help; she would tolerate his little scheme for now. As long as he still considered this family and cared about the child in her womb, she would have plenty of opportunities to settle accounts with him after the baby was born.
As for Qin Huairu… Lu Jia scooped up a spoonful of meat broth, mixed it into her rice, and a barely perceptible cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. What could a widow who had lost her husband, whose child was a troublesome teenager, possibly do even if she was temporarily involved with He Yuzhu? Besides, she had a grudge against Gu Nan. Who was Gu Nan? He was notoriously difficult to deal with in the courtyard, quick-witted, and ruthless. For Qin Huairu to go against him was like throwing an egg against a rock. With a little encouragement, she wouldn't have to worry about dealing with her.
Thinking this way, Lu Jia felt much better, and even the meat in her bowl seemed more delicious. She glanced at He Yuzhu and saw him standing to the side, rubbing his hands together, his eyes full of flattery, like a child who had done something wrong. She sneered inwardly—men, after all, are unreliable. No matter how sweet their words, they can turn around and fawn over other women. Only if you have leverage and connections to the He family can you gain a foothold in this courtyard.
Lu Jia scooped up a spoonful of broth, the amber liquid coating finely minced meat. She gently blew on it, her eyes curving into crescents. She looked up at He Yuzhu, her tone teasing: "Zhuzi, I brought you a change of clothes at the factory today. Old Wang from the boiler room said the factory manager has been really fond of you lately. He even spends ages discussing with you what dishes to get in the canteen and what seasonings to change. So, is it likely that the head chef position in the kitchen will soon be yours?"
He Yuzhu was so flattered by these words that he felt as sweet as honey, so comfortable that he wanted to hum a little tune. His mouth was wide open, and he proudly raised his chin: "Of course! Now everyone in the factory knows that I, He Yuzhu, am the factory director's favorite. In the kitchen, from purchasing to cooking, the factory director has to ask my opinion first. Just the other day, the deputy factory director wanted to put his distant nephew in the kitchen as an apprentice, but the factory director rejected him with one sentence, saying, 'This matter has to be asked of Master He!'" As he spoke, he patted his chest vigorously, his spirited demeanor making it seem as if he had already put on the white coat symbolizing the head chef's identity and was standing in front of the stove directing everyone.
Lu Jia nodded slowly, her chopsticks poking at the golden-brown egg in the bowl, the egg white so tender it seemed you could squeeze water out of it. Her tone shifted slightly, "That's true, but we live in this courtyard, we'll see each other all the time, so we need to be careful about some things. Take Gu Nan, for example. He seems quiet and reserved, but I heard from Sister Qiuye that he's honest and kind. He remembers those who are good to him, and he won't hesitate to retaliate against those who deliberately cause trouble. We shouldn't offend him unnecessarily." She paused, her chopsticks resting on the rim of the bowl, her eyes lowered as if she remembered something unspeakable. Her voice softened, "And then there's the Jia family..." She trailed off, swallowing her words, and only sighed softly.
Actually, she was just teasing He Yuzhu on purpose. These days, she had been annoyed by his frequent visits to the Jia family under the pretext of "bringing food to Xiao Dang" and "helping Qin Huairu repair the chimney." Now that she saw him so smug, she wanted to tease him a little to see if he truly cared for his family or if he had been bewitched by someone outside.
He Yuzhu took it seriously. He slammed his chopsticks down on the table, leaned forward, and his chair leg creaked as it scraped the floor. "What happened to the Jia family? Qin Huairu... what happened to her?" He recalled seeing Qin Huairu in the yard earlier. Although her smile was a little awkward, she was carrying a vegetable basket and seemed perfectly normal. Could it be that Bang Geng had run into trouble in the countryside?
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Lu Jia chuckled inwardly, but her face remained impassive. When she looked up, she gave him a look that said, "How could you be so clueless?" She continued, "Zhu Zi, didn't you really notice? Ever since Bang Geng went to the countryside, Qin Huairu's spirits have been quite low. The other day when I went to the factory to deliver some things, I saw her loitering at the workshop entrance, her eyes glazed over. She almost bumped into the raw material warehouse next door. I had to call her 'Sister Qin' before she snapped out of it, her face as white as paper. Don't you think she's been acting a bit silly every day? What if she says something inappropriate in the yard and it gets back to the factory manager? That would be bad for you."