Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 230 - 229: You Scared Me

Chapter 230: Chapter 229: You Scared Me

Both of them entered the kitchen, and Elder Zhao watched Lin Xia add the seasonings, telling her how much to put in.

Elder Zhao felt dizzy listening, "Xiaolin, if I can’t learn this in one go, I’ll have to come several more times to get it right!"

She was worried about forgetting at her age; what if she got it wrong and the dish turned out badly, wouldn’t that be a waste of meat?

"No worries! Elder! If you’re worried about not marinating it well, just give me a shout whenever you want to eat, and I’ll prepare it for you!"

It’s hard to get the seasoning right at the beginning, and making a dish that doesn’t taste good would be a waste.

She was close to Elder Zhao; this small favor seemed trivial to her.

Elder Zhao’s face immediately brightened with a smile, "Xiaolin, that’s wonderful! Now, I won’t worry! We get along so well, I won’t bother putting on airs with you!" She then glanced in the direction of the living room.

While stirring, Lin Xia laughed, "Then why put on any airs with me!"

Elder Zhao and Second Brother had helped them so much, this little thing was hardly worth mentioning.

Listening to the laughter in the kitchen, Lu Zheng’s expression turned serious, as he could tell that Lin Xia had a very close relationship with Jiang Mingyuan’s mother.

Having Jiang Mingyuan watch him with eagle eyes was already dangerous, and his mother being his ally only added fuel to the fire.

And what about him?

His mother or family, far from being helpful, it would be good enough if they weren’t an obstacle.

Moreover, even if he didn’t care what his family thought, he was currently unable to contend with them;

because Lin Xia, the stubborn girl, had yet to agree to be together with him, and they were currently just friends, making his quest to win her over extremely arduous.

Unaware of the frequent mental activity of Lu Zheng who was dining in the living room, Lin Xia finished mixing the meat and started soaking the casings.

Then, washing her hands, she smiled and said, "Elder! You’re in a hurry to catch the bus back, and the casings are also stored frozen outside, so I’ve seasoned them enough for now. Later, there’s no need to cook them; you can just take them raw and steam them in a pot whenever you want to eat!"

"That’s even better! I was just thinking, it’s already past two o’clock, and it’ll be dark soon!"

Elder Zhao followed Lin Xia out of the kitchen.

Seeing Lu Zheng putting down his bowl and staring at her intently, Lin Xia felt strange and asked, "Are you done eating?"

"Yes," Lu Zheng immediately got up and began picking up the bowls.

Seeing this, Elder Zhao also reached out to help, but Lin Xia stopped her, "Elder! It’s just a few plates and bowls, please don’t bother, just rest on the sofa for a while!"

Elder Zhao laughed, "Alright then! I won’t help!"

Lin Xia and Lu Zheng cleaned the table in two trips.

After placing the table by the side, Lu Zheng noticed Elder Zhao seated on the sofa, sizing him up incessantly with an inexplicable look.

Not knowing what to say to her, he entered the kitchen and, seeing Lin Xia bending over the counter washing dishes, asked, "Lin Xia, how is business these days?"

"A bit worse than before!" Lin Xia replied without stopping her efficient washing movements.

There were a lot of things Lin Xia wanted to ask him about, including wanting to return the two hundred yuan to him.

But with Elder Zhao around, she said and did nothing for now.

Lu Zheng felt the same way; he too had things he wanted to say, but they differed from what Lin Xia wanted to discuss.

After finishing stuffing the casings into the large cloth bag, Lin Xia wanted to take Elder Zhao to the bus stop.

Elder Zhao declined, "Xiaolin, let your Second Brother take me. I’ve been here since morning and barely spoke a few words to him. I almost forgot, I have something I need to discuss with him."

Lu Zheng, standing beside, his eyes flickered, fearing it might be about him.

Lin Xia readily agreed, "Then I’ll carry the intestines on the bicycle and we can go to the greenhouse, and have Second Brother take you back!" She also needed to return to tend to her stall.

She then looked towards Lu Zheng, "Lu Zheng! Why don’t you stay at home? The kang in the Western House isn’t heated, you can rest in the Eastern House!"

Lin Dong would only come back on weekends, and the Western House only heated the kang occasionally, so it wasn’t warm.

But Lu Zheng disagreed, "I’ll come along!" He didn’t want to wait alone at home; his time was pressing, and he really wanted to spend more time with Lin Xia, even if they didn’t speak a word.

"Alright then!" Lin Xia felt quite uncomfortable at the thought of leaving Lu Zheng alone.

So, Lu Zheng pushed the bicycle, following beside Lin Xia and Mrs. Zhao to the greenhouse.

When Jiang Mingyuan saw the three return, he said, "That was quick, wasn’t it?"

His mind was a mess being here, never settling down, and he had been thinking that perhaps his mother would end up staying the night.

Mrs. Zhao explained, "Isn’t it because I’m in a hurry to catch the bus back? Xiaolin helped me prepare everything raw so once I get home I just steam it and it’s ready to eat! Second Brother, can you take me to the bus stop?"

She had some words she really wanted to say to her son.

"Sure!" Jiang Mingyuan knew his mother had something to say, and he briskly left the stall.

He took out a handful of change and handed it to Lin Xia, "Lin Xia! Here’s the money from the sales just now!"

Lin Xia took it, "Second Brother! Then you go take Mrs. Zhao! I’ll watch the stall for you!"

"Okay!" Jiang Mingyuan smiled and nodded, and as he looked at Lu Zheng, he found him disagreeable no matter how he looked.

Lin Xia smilingly advised Mrs. Zhao, "Mrs. Zhao! Be careful when you get off the bus—it’s slippery! And when you finish these and feel like making more, just come find me! I’ll help you out!"

Mrs. Zhao affectionately patted Lin Xia on the shoulder, "Mrs. Zhao doesn’t stand on ceremony with you! Xiaolin, ah! Whenever you and your Second Brother come to our house, I’ll cook something delicious for you!"

Lin Xia smiled and replied, "Alright! Whenever I have time!"

"Then Mrs. Zhao is leaving now!" Mrs. Zhao waved to Lin Xia and nodded towards Lu Zheng, then followed behind Jiang Mingyuan, who was carrying the intestines, and left.

Lin Xia looked at Lu Zheng, his handsome appearance coupled with his upright posture made him particularly stand out by the stall.

The stallholders from front, back, left, and right were all sizing him up, turning him into quite the spectacle.

"Lu Zheng! Come inside the stall with me!"

"Okay!" Lu Zheng followed Lin Xia into the stall and sat down.

Lin Xia glanced at the stallholders opposite and beside them, who occasionally swept their gaze over, and she understood they were all speculating about what relationship Lu Zheng had with her.

She whispered, "Lu Zheng! How come you came here all of a sudden?"

Considering it was already the second unexpected appearance, she really didn’t know what else to say about him.

Lu Zheng didn’t mind the speculative looks from others, but he couldn’t let Lin Xia be subject to gossip, so he quietly explained, "I had some business nearby and thought I’d check in on you guys before I leave tomorrow!"

"Oh!" Lin Xia exclaimed, "You really startled me! You didn’t mention it in your letter either!"

Previously she had been thinking, since he was here, she could give back the two hundred yuan that had been under the kang bedding from their last visit.

But with Mrs. Zhao around she hadn’t been able to give it to him, and now that they were here with countless eyes and ears around, some hidden and some not, it was even less possible.

Lu Zheng’s lips curled up, "It was a last-minute thing at work..."

Just then, someone stopped at Jiang Mingyuan’s stall, and Lin Xia hurried over to attend to the customers.

Lu Zheng watched Lin Xia selling, a look of affection flashing through his eyes; the environment here was open, simple, and quite cold, and the young girl was really enduring hardship.