It was now lunchtime, and the State-run Restaurant was still pretty crowded.
Seeing the noisy crowd, the restaurant servers who treated customers like nothing, acting like they owned the place, Qiao Shu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. No wonder all the state-run restaurants would close down in the near future.
With that kind of service attitude, it would be strange if they weren’t squeezed out by those private restaurants with better service.
Moreover… the food at the state-run restaurant was quite expensive.
After all, she had been in this era for some time now. Although Qiao Shu stayed home all day without going out, she had a good grasp of the prices she needed to know.
Looking at the prices listed on the State-run Restaurant’s menu, even though Qiao Shu was a foodie who wanted to try those pricey meat dishes, she couldn’t be that selfish.
After all, although the Qiao Family was the richest in Qiao Village, that was only within the village.
The Qiao Family’s bit of money definitely wouldn’t go far in the County Town.
At least, their assets didn’t allow her to order whatever she wanted at the state-run restaurant without restraint…
“Girl, how about… we order a portion of braised hairtail?”
Thinking that they didn’t live by the sea and her daughter had never eaten sea fish, she figured since the state-run restaurant had braised hairtail today, she should order some to let her daughter have a taste.
Qiao Shu blinked and glanced at the braised hairtail, which was twenty cents more expensive than the one-yuan braised pork. She decisively shook her head.
“Mom, I’m afraid of fish bones. I don’t want fish.”
With that, Qiao Shu obediently pointed to the tomato scrambled eggs and vegetable soup on the menu.
“Mom, I ate too much this morning and I’m not hungry yet. Let’s just order these two dishes.”
It wasn’t that she was blindly trying to save money, but… she looked at the meat dishes on the other tables, which were way too greasy.
For people in this era who weren’t used to oily food, the state-run restaurant’s meat dishes—loaded with oil and plenty of fat—were simply a rare delicacy.
But for Qiao Shu, who hated fatty meat and disliked overly oily dishes, they were nothing short of dark cuisine.
So, watching others eat the state-run restaurant’s big fish and meat with their mouths greasy with oil, she had zero appetite.
“Girl, didn’t you always say you wanted to eat the state-run restaurant’s braised pork? We brought enough money today—no worries. Order whatever you want. Don’t save money for your grandparents! We’re using their money today!”
He Meijun thought her daughter had grown up and was being sensible, trying to save money for her. So she wanted to call over a server to order directly.
Unfortunately, before He Meijun could call a server, one brought two meat dishes to their table.
“Comrade, did you bring the wrong dishes? I haven’t ordered yet.”
He Meijun stared at the braised hairtail and braised pork that suddenly appeared on her table, her eyes widening.
Although she couldn’t help swallowing saliva, she still honestly reminded the server that she had brought the wrong ones.
“Auntie, that big brother in the suit over there ordered these for you! He said you’re his friends. Heh, Auntie, your friend is really generous…”
The server looked enviously at He Meijun and Qiao Shu as she spoke.
Hearing the server’s explanation, He Meijun was even more puzzled.
She instinctively looked in the direction the server pointed and saw Elder Huo and his nephew.
This left her even more stunned, since she wasn’t close to them at all.
…
” Boyan, you’re being too abrupt, kid.”
Elder Huo sensed He Meijun’s puzzled gaze and sighed lightly, looking disapprovingly at his nephew.
But Ji Boyan flashed a gentle smile toward He Meijun and Qiao Shu.
“Uncle, I feel like we have a lot of fate. We’ve run into each other twice in one day already…”
Although Ji Boyan was speaking to Elder Huo, his gaze was fixed tightly on Qiao Shu, unwilling to look away.
Even though the girl still had her face half-covered with a gauze scarf, partially concealing her beautiful features and making them indistinct.
But that stunning face of the girl’s had already been deeply etched into his mind, impossible to shake off.
Ji Boyan had always thought he wasn’t interested in women. Even the so-called number one beauty actress from Hong Kong held no appeal for him.
But after catching the first glimpse of the girl not far away, he realized he wasn’t uninterested in women—it was just that none of them had sparked his interest.
So… he really wanted to take this girl who moved his heart back with him…
“Uncle, I’m serious. I… want to take her back to Hong Kong.”
Unfortunately, this idea was doomed to fall through.
…
Qiao Shu looked up at the man who stood out strikingly in the crowd, exuding an air of nobility. Her brows furrowed instinctively.
In her previous life, she had often encountered men like this, always appearing around her, giving her gifts she didn’t want, paying for her meals, doing everything to ‘treat her well’ in pursuit of her, making others envious of her generous and attentive suitors.
But to her, these actions were all burdens—very inconvenient burdens.
So she truly despised this behavior from complete strangers who inexplicably spent money on her.
They didn’t even know her name. They had only seen her once, knew nothing about her, yet suddenly fell head over heels—just superficially liking her face.
If she didn’t have this pretty face, would they still like her?
Qiao Shu pursed her lips and whispered softly into He Meijun’s ear.
“Mom, I suddenly don’t want to eat at the state-run restaurant anymore. Let’s go.”
Hearing her daughter, He Meijun glanced at Ji Boyan, who was still smiling warmly at them, and nodded.
As a married woman who had experienced love, she naturally realized the man who sent the dishes was interested in her daughter.
Moreover, from his clothes and bearing, it was clear he was no ordinary man—someone rural folk like them couldn’t afford to provoke.
So He Meijun told the server, had her take the two plates back to the other table, and prepared to leave the State-run Restaurant with her daughter.
Meanwhile, Ji Boyan, who had been watching Qiao Shu, saw them leaving and couldn’t sit still. He instinctively stood up and walked toward her.
” Boyan, don’t go. That girl clearly isn’t interested in you.”
Elder Huo called out to Ji Boyan, but unfortunately, his nephew wouldn’t listen.
“Uncle, I don’t want to miss her.”
With that, Ji Boyan hurried after her.
Unfortunately, he was still a step too slow.
After chasing her out the door, he only caught sight of Qiao Shu turning into an alley with her mother and another girl carrying a shoulder pole.
By the time he followed into the alley, her figure was gone…
“Judging by your expression, looks like you didn’t catch up.”
Elder Huo shook his head lightly as his dejected nephew returned.
” Boyan, give up. You and that girl have no chance. Your parents would never agree…”
Ji Boyan, already in a bad mood from losing the girl, grew even more irritated hearing his respected uncle dumping cold water on him.
But since it was his uncle, he couldn’t snap. He could only change the subject.
“Strange, why hasn’t Qinming arrived yet?”
Hearing this, Elder Huo remembered his grandson.
“Yeah, that kid is always punctual. Where is he…?”
Just as Elder Huo said, his grandson was indeed punctual and had arrived at the State-run Restaurant early.
But… he had been ‘hit’ by a certain reborn woman who had been lying in wait nearby.
“Girl, h-hold on tight. We’ll be at the hospital soon…”
At that moment, Huo Qinming pedaled his bike anxiously toward the hospital.
The girl sitting behind him was none other than Qiao Hui, who had been reborn after one lifetime.
Qiao Hui hadn’t expected that by following Qiao Shu, she would indeed wait until Huo Qinming appeared!
The moment she saw the man on his bike enter her view, she rushed out without thinking, letting him collide with her.
Although… she had unluckily twisted her ankle for real, she felt it was worth it!
Because she had truly prevented Qiao Shu from meeting Huo Qinming!!!
Thinking of how in her previous life, the two had met, fallen in love, and married because of this incident, with Qiao Shu enjoying a lifetime of fortune thanks to this man, becoming the envied wife of a wealthy family…
Qiao Hui clenched her fists tightly. Staring at the man’s sturdy back, a determined gaze filled her eyes.
In this life, Qiao Shu had taken her previous life’s path, going off to marry Feng Xiao as a stepmother, with no further ties to Huo Qinming.
And she would become the Qiao Shu of the previous life, marrying Huo Qinming! Becoming the future Huo wife whom countless people would respect and envy!
With that thought, Qiao Hui gently placed her hand on Huo Qinming’s waist, creating physical contact once more.
The moment her warm palm touched his waist, it nearly caused the biking youth to crash again with her.
“S-Sorry, sorry! Y-You were going too fast. I-I’m a bit scared…”
Qiao Hui shyly explained in a small voice, then moved her hand from his waist to grasp the corner of his shirt.
Hearing Qiao Hui’s timid apology, Huo Qinming felt a bit embarrassed too.
“It’s fine. If you’re scared, I’ll go slower.”
“Mm! You’re such a good person!”
“Uh, how am I good? If I hadn’t been careless on the bike and hit you, you wouldn’t have twisted your ankle.”
“It’s not your fault. It was me who wasn’t careful and ran into you…”
…
The two exchanged apologies back and forth, drawing closer. By the time they reached the hospital, the awkwardness from the start had dissipated.
The plan to win over Huo Qinming was proceeding steadily, just as Qiao Hui had envisioned.
Looking at the pure, sunny big boy before her, Qiao Hui’s eyes brimmed with satisfied delight.
Sorry, little cousin. In this life, let me be Huo Qinming’s wife and the richest wife instead.
…
“Achoo—!”
Qiao Shu suddenly sneezed, startling He Meijun and Qiao Xia Hua, whom they had just bumped into.
“Girl, did you catch a chill?”
“Shushu, you okay?”
Seeing the two treat her like a fragile crystal doll, so worried, Qiao Shu found it a bit amusing.
“I’m fine. Just an itchy nose.”
With that, Qiao Shu curiously glanced at the two baskets Qiao Xia Hua was carrying.
Seeing only a little melon seeds left in the baskets, Qiao Shu said in surprise.
“Sister Xia Hua, it’s only noon, and you’ve almost sold out these two big baskets of melon seeds? Business is that good?”