"Where’s Gu?" Anmin didn’t see Gu Shizhao, but Xia Xingchen was already there, so she asked. Although her voice wasn’t loud, the people nearby still heard.

"That kid is reliable. He’s already gone to the cafeteria and even bought a lot of fruits and asked them to make fruit platters." Xia Donghe praised.

"Anmin, are you very familiar with Shizhao?" Gu Yiyi grew suspicious, thinking about the recent happenings in the Gu family, and asked directly.

In Anmin’s heart, there was a jolt. She sensed that something might go wrong.

"When Gu Shizhao first went to the countryside, he ran into some trouble. At that time, I stepped in to help him out," Xu Ancheng replied, taking over the conversation. "He’s someone who always repays kindness, so we’ve been in contact more often."

"I see. Xingchen, if you’re getting along well with Shizhao, I can be at ease." Gu Yiyi said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xingchen furrowed her brows and looked at Gu Yiyi with some confusion.

"To say good, it’s not that good actually." Yi Roujing laughed. "When Ancheng knew Gu Shizhao, we didn’t know him. At that time, we were close to Xingchen, and once on the way back from the county town, we saw Gu Shizhao carrying a sack, which actually had a girl inside, and he was saying he was going to sell her as a threat."

"Unexpectedly, halfway there, we met them. Only then did we realize the sack contained Xingchen. Gu Shizhao said it was a joke; they were relatives."

"But the people behind Gu Shizhao said that his stepmother was cruel, and instead of doing it herself, she let Gu Shizhao take the blame. Whether it was a joke or someone really had ill intentions, we couldn’t tell, but afterwards Gu Shizhao didn’t do anything bad to Xingchen." Yi Roujing openly stared at Gu Yiyi and smiled.

"But after meeting Mrs. Gu this time, I think we misunderstood. Seeing how affectionate you are with Xingchen, it seems you wouldn’t do such things. It appears Gu Shizhao really was joking."

Gu Yiyi felt a wave of panic in her heart, and her face stiffened. She hastily plastered on a big smile, laughing loudly, "That kid, loved to play around with Xingchen since childhood. Who would have thought he would make such a joke? Watch me scold him later."

"Xingchen, did you really misunderstand me because of this and refuse to call me Aunt?" Gu Yiyi clasped Xia Xingchen’s arm and asked with concern.

"It’s not just this matter." Xia Xingchen’s eyes showed grievance. "Mrs. Gu, the doctor you found wouldn’t happen to be a quack, would it? The medicine you sent to me earlier, the doctor from Huaixi County said it was blindly prescribed and told me not to take it. They gave me a new prescription to nourish my body, and now I’m fully recovered."

After saying this, Xia Xingchen became more sad, her eyes reddened, "At that time, I had just started as a educated youth replacing my sister, and I was really homesick. Then something like this happened, wouldn’t I be upset and hurt? Also, my sister’s wedding, I only knew when I came to Jing City and saw my brother-in-law. You really treat me like an outsider for not telling me such a big thing."

"So I was very angry and decided not to call you Mrs. Gu." Xia Xingchen pouted with a mix of cute and discontent.

Xia Donghe was stunned looking at his wife. He knew very well what kind of disposition his wife had. That’s why Xingchen didn’t return home this time.

"How could you be so inattentive to the child’s matters? I always wondered why Xingchen was distant from the family. Now I understand." Despite knowing, Xia Donghe couldn’t say anything in front of others, so he could only support Gu Yiyi to preserve his family’s face.

"Xingchen, Dad will have a good talk with your Aunt." Xia Donghe looked at Xia Xingchen and said.

"Yes, I understand, Dad, or else why would I come back this time? After all, we’re family, aren’t we?" Xia Xingchen replied, which made Xia Donghe feel even more guilty — he had neglected this daughter.

"By the way, Xingchen, you’re an adult now, and your mom left you some things. Before going back, let’s sort them out. I’ll give you the key later; your mom’s house will have to be transferred to you." Xia Donghe realized it was crucial for him at this moment; this daughter and her friends were stepping stones for his advancement, and needed to be appeased well.

"Oh, got it." Xia Xingchen said indifferently, but inwardly sneered. As for the house, haha, fortunately, she had the list her mom left her, so she knew exactly what was there; the house in Jing City was just one part.

From a young age, Xia Xingchen didn’t have much concept of what her mom left behind, so seeing her react this way provided relief — easy to fool.

Soon, the group arrived at the cafeteria of the textile factory, which had a few private rooms specifically for entertaining guests. Gu Shizhao and Xue Changgui were already there, with several cold dishes, rice wine, and soda on the table.

"Old Xia is here, quick, sit down. I’ll go say that the hot dishes can be served." Xue Changgui was about to go out, but Xia Donghe stopped him.

"Director, there’s no need for you to go. I’ll do it; you help host the guests." Xia Donghe showed his cunning, his words and actions making Xue Changgui quite satisfied.

"Ancheng, Xiaobao, quickly have a seat. Shizhao was early, busy today is a place for you young people, I’ll leave after Old Xia returns." Xue Changgui said with a smile.

Huang Xiaobao noticed Xue Changgui guiding him to the main seat and was so frightened he retreated a few steps, "Brother, Brother, you sit here." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Although Xu Ancheng’s identity was known by quite a few after yesterday’s events, it was still limited to a certain circle. Xue Changgui knew about it only because Zheng Hongqiang had told him yesterday. In his eyes, both Xu Ancheng and Huang Xiaobao were sons from deep-rooted families, prestigious figures in the Beijing Circle.

"Better let the elders sit; we’re all junior, it’s not suitable to take this seat." Xu Ancheng said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, Director Xue, since you’re here, don’t go home to eat; join us. After all, the dishes were arranged by you. Sit here, I imagine everyone won’t mind." Huang Xiaobao said with a smile.

Xue Changgui felt unexpectedly honored, and when Xia Donghe came back, he was invited to sit in the main seat, which he modestly accepted after a brief refusal.

The meal was mostly filled with compliments, congratulatory words, and attempts to get close to them, asking about their work. Yi Roujing and the other women thoroughly enjoyed the meal, as the food indeed was exceptional.

Roast duck, sweet and sour pork, fried fish pieces, along with meticulously prepared soups — each person had a portion of sea cucumber soup. This meal undoubtedly cost a lot, and the pastries were plentiful: Sachima, sugar cakes, honey cakes — the chef at the factory was reportedly from a famous pastry shop in Jing City, who later learned cooking techniques, excelling in both, and could be considered the textile factory’s signature.

Yi Roujing tasted the pastries and indeed found them special, with a particularly rich flavor.

Xue Changgui, who could sit in the director’s position naturally had some smarts, prepared a few pastries packed for Xu Ancheng’s group to take with them after the meal.