After returning home, Xiao Yang and Little Chen went to boil water and prepare the rabbits.

Yun Shu followed Wang Chunlan, watching as she emptied the contents of the basket into the courtyard.

Wang Chunlan said, "Let’s pick out the wood ear mushrooms. We can make a cold wood ear salad for lunch, and these other mushrooms will be delicious in a soup. You should try it."

Yun Shu looked at Wang Chunlan and said, "Chunlan, is there anything you can’t do? You’re so capable."

Wang Chunlan sighed. "My capability was born out of necessity. My parents died young, so I grew up with my grandfather. He was a decent worker, but he wasn’t much of a cook. So, in order to eat something good, I learned to cook at a young age."

Yun Shu stared blankly at Wang Chunlan and mumbled, "So you’ve had a hard life, too."

But Wang Chunlan just smiled.

"I wouldn’t call my life hard. I had my grandfather, and I never went hungry. Now I have such a big family. I feel very happy."

Listening to Wang Chunlan’s words, Yun Shu felt a little envious of her.

After lunch, Little Chen wanted to go into town to check on his uncle’s restaurant and visit his grandfather while he was at it.

Xiao Yang was originally going to go, but Gao Cuiyun stopped him. "You can go another time. Let Yun Shu go with your brother."

"Yun Shu, you should go with Little Chen to see his uncle. They opened a restaurant in town. Go and get to know the family."

The corner of Yun Shu’s mouth twitched. "I... Why don’t you let his brother go instead?"

’Given our relationship, it’s better to meet as few people as possible.’

Gao Cuiyun nudged Yun Shu toward Little Chen. "Go on, have a look. You can also walk around town a bit."

Yun Shu turned her gaze to her boss. He Zichen said flatly, "Let’s go together."

He Zichen had bought a bicycle for the family on a trip back home a few years ago. He was already sitting on it now, his feet planted on the ground.

The boss had spoken. Yun Shu had no choice but to get on the back seat.

"We’re off."

As they left the house, Xiao Yang was still shouting from behind, "Big Brother, buy me some meat buns on your way back!"

Gao Cuiyun scolded him, "You’re a father now, how can you still be such a glutton?"

Xiao Yang said with a laugh, "What’s wrong with being a father? Even if I were fifty, I can still be a glutton, can’t I?"

Gao Cuiyun shook her head helplessly.

Xiao Ming said softly, "I want some too."

Hearing this, Gao Cuiyun shot him a glare too.

Wang Chunlan covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.

As she rode on the bicycle, Yun Shu stared at her boss’s back and pressed her lips together.

"Are you cold?" He Zichen suddenly asked.

Yun Shu shook her head, then remembered he couldn’t see her. "Not cold."

"When we get to town, you can just drop me off somewhere. You go on your own. Just pick me up on your way back."

He Zichen tilted his head, glancing back out of the corner of his eye. "You don’t want to go?"

Yun Shu sighed. "No, it’s not that. I just think it’s better for me to meet fewer of your family members. Otherwise, it’ll be harder for you to explain things later." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You don’t need to worry about that. Just do the job I’ve instructed you to do."

Yun Shu was silent for a long moment. "Boss, when are we going back?"

"You want to go back already?"

Yun Shu hummed in agreement. She missed her father and was a little worried about him.

He Zichen said, "We still have to stay a few more days. You’ll just have to bear with it. After all, I’m paying."

His words were so blunt. Yun Shu was speechless.

Yun Shu silently rolled her eyes at He Zichen’s back. ’So what if you’re paying? Is that such a big deal?’

They didn’t speak again on the way. Once they reached the town, they headed straight for the supply and marketing cooperative.

In 1990, you could really only find supply and marketing cooperatives in places like counties and towns. The big cities had mostly replaced them with supermarkets and shopping malls, and some of the cooperatives in smaller areas had also been contracted out to private owners.

When they went inside, there weren’t as many goods as there used to be.

They bought two bags of pastries, two cans of peaches, and had about three pounds of apples weighed out.

He Zichen asked Yun Shu, "Is there anything you want?"

Yun Shu, who was just looking around the store curiously, shook her head. "No."

"Don’t be polite. I’m paying."

Yun Shu shot him a look and walked outside.

After He Zichen paid and came out, he saw Yun Shu standing by the bicycle, looking unhappy.

He Zichen hung the items on the bicycle’s handlebars.

Yun Shu couldn’t help but ask, "Do I look like I’m obsessed with money?"

He Zichen looked at her and didn’t say anything, but his meaning was self-evident.

Yun Shu said angrily, "I do like money, but I earn it properly and only take what I deserve! I agreed to do some things for you, but I didn’t know at the time that it involved deceiving people!"

He Zichen said, "I didn’t say anything, did I? What are you angry about?"

Yun Shu: "..."

’I’m so mad! This is like talking to a brick wall. How has someone so blunt managed to survive this long?’

Yun Shu glared at him angrily, then squatted down and refused to move.

He Zichen’s eyelid twitched. He had no choice but to say tactfully, "I didn’t mean anything by it. If I said something wrong, I apologize."

Yun Shu glanced up at him. Seeing his sincere attitude—her own boss was apologizing to her, after all—most of her anger dissipated.

’Whatever. We’re only staying a few more days before going back anyway.’

They rode the bicycle to He Nan’s restaurant.

Just as they arrived at the entrance, they saw Mr. He inside, clearing away bowls and chopsticks.

"Grandpa."

Mr. He turned to look. "Little Chen, when did you get back?"

He Zichen parked the bicycle and walked inside, carrying their purchases.

"I just got back yesterday. I came to see how you’re doing."

Mr. He also noticed the young woman next to He Zichen and thought she looked a little familiar.

"And this is?"

"My girlfriend, Yun Shu."

Mr. He’s eyes widened slightly. He immediately looked at Yun Shu with delight and said, "So you’re his girlfriend! Have we met before? You look so familiar."

Yun Shu nodded. "Hello, Grandpa He. We have met before. I’m Mr. He’s secretary."

Everyone at the hotel had seen the big boss’s father. Management had repeatedly warned them all to keep their eyes peeled and be absolutely sure not to offend him.

Mr. He nodded. "Oh, it’s you. I seem to remember you wearing glasses."

Yun Shu nodded. "Yes, you have a great memory."

Mr. He smiled.

Just then, He Nan also came out.

"So it is Little Chen. I thought I heard your voice."

He Zichen handed over their purchases. "Uncle, I came to see you all. How’s business?"

He Nan said with a smile, "It’s pretty good. The last group of customers just left. We get really busy during mealtimes."

He Zichen nodded. "Where’s Aunt?"

He Nan pointed toward the back. "She’s cleaning up the kitchen. By the way, have you two eaten? I’ll have your aunt make you something delicious."

He Zichen waved his hand. "No need, we already ate."

He Nan’s gaze also fell upon the young woman beside Little Chen.

Mr. He said to He Nan, "This is Little Chen’s girlfriend. I’ve even met her before. She works at the hotel, too."

He Nan said in surprise, "Is that so? Well, well, Little Chen, you rascal, you’ve finally come to your senses! Does this mean we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon?"

He Zichen just smiled.

Yun Shu was terribly nervous. She peeked at her boss and saw his expression was completely unchanged. She couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration. ’No wonder he’s the boss,’ she thought. ’He’s got much thicker skin than a normal person.’