Chapter Fifty-One: Hurry Up and Go

"Sister-in-law!" Xu Qing saw Du Man walk into the house and smiled, putting the pot she was holding onto the stove. She ran outside, grabbed Du Man by the hand, and said, "You really scared me! I thought you weren't coming back."

Du Man laughed and tapped Xu Qing's nose. "Even if I didn't want your brother, I would never give you up."

Xu Qing glared at Xu Fei and said, "Did you hear that? You should treat my sister-in-law better from now on."

"Yes, yes..." Xu Fei nodded with a smile, then suddenly seemed to smell something strange and looked at Xu Qing. "What were you doing in the kitchen?"

"I... Oh no, my porridge!" Xu Qing cried and ran back to the kitchen.

Du Man followed her in.

A pot of rice porridge was already smoking with black fumes.

Xu Fei walked in, pointed at Xu Qing, and said, "Looks like our lunch is ruined, isn't it?"

Xu Qing wiped the soot off her face, revealing her fair skin beneath. She nodded pitifully. "Sister-in-law, see? Without you, this house doesn't feel like home at all."

"Alright, go wash up. I'll take care of it," Du Man said with a smile, gently pushing her out.

Just as she was about to clean up the burnt pot, Xu Fei stopped her with a smile. "It's Sunday—let's eat out today."

"Eat out? Why waste the money?"

"It's been ages since we went out. Come on!"

Xu Qing poked her head in through the doorway. "We're eating out? Where to?"

Xu Yun ran out of the room as well.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let's eat out!" Xu Yun said, delighted.

Du Man saw how happy Xu Yun was and smiled, nodding. "Alright, alright. What would you like to eat, little brother?"

Xu Yun tilted his head, thinking hard. "I want braised pork."

"Braised pork, alright! Let's go to Old Li's place. His braised pork is the best," Xu Fei said, pulling Du Man out of the kitchen.

"Go change your clothes," Du Man smiled and nodded, heading into the room.

Xu Qing sidled up to Xu Fei, lowering her voice. "Hey, Xu Fei, is my sister-in-law still not... with you?"

Xu Fei glared at his sister. "You little rascal. Your sister-in-law isn't angry anymore."

"Who's not angry?" Du Man came out wearing a white dress. She adjusted her floral hair clip, her stunning beauty shining through even with the simplest attire.

"You?" Xu Fei was surprised by her words and quickly replied, "My dear wife, tell me, what must I do to appease you?"

"I want to invite Chen Rong for a meal, just to make amends. What do you think?"

Chen Rong?

Xu Fei did not like this woman. It was because of her that things had escalated to this point.

To apologize to this woman? It felt like a slap in the face.

Du Man saw the change in Xu Fei's expression.

"What, you don't want to?" Du Man asked.

Xu Fei thought for a moment. "Let's talk about it later. Today, let's just enjoy a meal together as a family, alright?"

Du Man said no more, but she knew Xu Fei still had strong opinions about Chen Rong. She only wanted to ease things; after all, Chen Rong was her best friend, and she didn't want her friend and her man to be at odds.

"Let's go," Xu Fei said, glancing at Xu Qing and Xu Yun, who were waiting.

"Come on, little brother," Xu Qing said, pulling Xu Yun outside and then looking at Xu Fei. "Did you bring money?"

"Relax. At Old Li's place, even if I don't pay, he wouldn't dare refuse to cook," Xu Fei said as he walked out.

"Ha! Are we freeloading again?" Xu Qing glared at him and then went to Du Man, asking, "Sister-in-law, who's that Chen Rong you mentioned?"

"Just a classmate of mine," Du Man replied quietly.

"Oh, that. Take your time with it. You know Xu Fei—he's stubborn as a stone. Don't rush, I'll talk to him for you later."

Du Man smiled and nodded.

The two sisters-in-law stepped outside together.

... Old Li's Restaurant.

Xu Fei led Du Man and the others into the restaurant.

"Is Fourth Brother here?" Xu Fei found a spot by the window for them, then walked to the counter, seeing a new face inside.

"The boss is in the kitchen. Are you looking for him?" asked a young woman in her early twenties, with pretty features and shoulder-length hair, her lips painted red.

"Are you new?"

"Yes, I'm the boss's cousin."

"What's your name?" Xu Fei asked.

"I'm Li Xiaohua, just call me Xiaohua."

"Nice name," Xu Fei nodded. "Let's order."

Li Xiaohua took out her order pad.

"Braised pork, oil-fried peanuts, stir-fried dried tofu, a plate of spicy pork, three taels of wine, three bowls of rice, that'll be all."

Li Xiaohua wrote down the order and went to the kitchen.

Xu Fei picked up an empty wine cup, about to pour himself some wine.

"Isn't that Xu Fei?" came a mocking voice from the entrance.

Xu Fei frowned, turned with his cup, and saw Zhang Dajun standing in the doorway, sneering. "You still have money for drinks?"

"Master Zhang, why shouldn't I drink?" Xu Fei went up to Zhang Dajun, who was accompanied by two men—one of whom Xu Fei recognized from their days gambling at karaoke halls.

"You didn't know he made money?" Zhang Dajun laughed, glancing at his companion. "Do you recognize him?"

The one who knew Xu Fei nodded. "Dajun, isn't this Xu Fei? I heard he went to your sugar factory?"

"That's right. He's in my workshop now, under my supervision."

"What? He's working under you now?" Zhang Dajun nodded smugly.

"Xu Fei, am I right?" Zhang Dajun looked pleased.

The two men with him stared at Xu Fei, knowing about the tension between him and Zhang Dajun.

"That's right," Xu Fei smiled and nodded. "Master Zhang, enjoy your meal. I'll be going now."

"Go ahead," Zhang Dajun said.

As Xu Fei passed them, he hadn't gone far before the three burst into laughter—a clear mockery of Xu Fei.

The restaurant was filled with old neighbors from Xu Fei's street, and everyone started whispering.

Xu Fei returned to Du Man and the others with his wine.

"Xu Fei, what happened?" Xu Qing asked, embarrassed and a little angry.

"Someone from my factory. I'm working under him now," Xu Fei said helplessly, sitting down.

"So what? Aren't you supposed to be tough?" Xu Qing shot him a look.

Du Man reached over to comfort Xu Qing.

"Alright, second sister, we're here to eat, not to get upset."