B5SB -Chapter 167 The Small Canteen

After dinner, Lu Huailin was massaging his wife’s calves as she half-lay on the bed.

Thinking back to mealtime, when the grandmother and granddaughter hadn’t said a single word to each other, he asked curiously, “Wife, did you have a falling out with Grandma?”

Gu Yihan gave him a sidelong glance and replied irritably, “No.”

Lu Huailin studied his wife’s expression carefully. Her eyes darted around—obviously lying. He leaned closer to her, wrapping her in his arms.

“Grandma was in the kitchen wiping her tears.”

Hearing that, Gu Yihan felt a pang of injustice herself. Since becoming pregnant, her estrogen levels had surged, and she couldn’t handle even the slightest grievance.

Seeing her tears welling up, Lu Huailin’s heart ached.

Clumsily, he wiped them away and gently coaxed her, “Wife, if something’s bothering you, don’t bottle it up. Tell me. I’ll handle it for you.”

Burying her head in his chest, Gu Yihan told him everything about the back-and-forth between Grandma Gu and Gu Meng.

Lu Huailin listened carefully, and when she finished, he didn’t respond for a long time.

Gu Yihan muttered to herself, “Ever since Grandma came to live with us, she hasn’t let me touch cooking or housework at all. I guess I’ve been too petty myself, shouldn’t have fussed so much. Grandma never even intended to help Gu Meng.”

Lu Huailin lowered his head to look at the top of her hair, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

She had comforted herself so well that he couldn’t help laughing.

Gu Yihan looked up at him and scowled, pouting, “You’re laughing at me.”

Lu Huailin quickly shook his head apologetically, “Wife, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed just because you were so cute.”

Gu Yihan froze. This man’s words were getting sweeter and sweeter. She lifted her chin, snorted coldly, and turned her back to lie down, ignoring him.

Watching his wife’s proud, almost cat-like demeanor, Lu Huailin felt like laughing but forced himself to restrain it.

But his thoughts were different from Gu Yihan’s. The small sum given to Gu Meng didn’t matter to him.

He often had missions to go on, and his wife was only a few months from giving birth. They couldn’t manage the house without Grandma Gu’s care.

After his wife finished her confinement period, she would return to work, making Grandma Gu’s presence even more indispensable. Anything money could solve wasn’t worth fretting over.

The next morning, Stretching, Gu Yihan stepped out of the bedroom and saw Grandma Gu and Lu Huailin bringing breakfast to the table.

“Good morning, Grandma,” Gu Yihan greeted.

“Oh, good, good!” Grandma Gu was touched that her little granddaughter greeted her like usual.

After washing up, Gu Yihan sat at the table looking at the millet porridge, milk, and eggs in front of her, without an ounce of appetite.

What a torment!

Who would believe it—such a sumptuous breakfast, and she was craving a large meat bun from a state-run restaurant instead.

Seeing his wife distracted and not eating, Lu Huailin asked softly, “What’s wrong? Breakfast not to your taste?”

“Cough, cough.”

Grandma Gu choked on her porridge at once.

Quickly, Gu Yihan patted her back, worriedly asking, “Grandma, are you okay?”

After a while, Grandma Gu waved her hand to indicate she was fine, then glared at Lu Huailin: “What kind of family conditions are these, and she still doesn’t like the food?”

“This breakfast is something I never even dreamed of in the past. This isn’t just living, this is a godly life.”

Gu Yihan: “…”

Lu Huailin, hearing Grandma Gu, didn’t feel offended. Patiently, he explained, “The doctor said pregnant women have special tastes.”

Though not fully convinced, Grandma Gu had given birth before and knew the times were different. Back then, such breakfasts were unimaginable, so whether it suited her taste or not was hardly the point.

Still, she looked at her granddaughter and said, “Xiao Han, what do you want to eat? Tell me, and Grandma will make it for you.”

Gu Yihan shook her head. She wanted a large meat bun from a state-run restaurant. Home-cooked ones couldn’t match the taste of a master chef’s, so it was better not to mention it.

At the textile factory, Gu Yihan entered the office and found it fairly full; everyone had arrived early.

After exchanging greetings, everyone returned to their desks.

Hu Shan sat at her spot. She didn’t have any important materials to organize or print, so she was fairly idle.

All morning, the entire office was essentially slacking off.

At lunchtime, it was time to eat.

Hu Shan enthusiastically walked up to Gu Yihan and whispered, “Xiao Han, want to go to the canteen for lunch?”

Gu Yihan looked at her in confusion, but Hu Shan was completely at ease, letting her scrutinize her.

After leaving the office, Hu Shan linked arms with Gu Yihan.

Leaning close, she whispered, “I’m taking you to the small canteen.”

Gu Yihan, though puzzled by Hu Shan’s enthusiasm, knew that not everyone was allowed to eat at the small canteen.

She smiled faintly and nodded.

Inside the small kitchen, Secretary Jiang looked surprised to see the two of them, then smiled and said, “Accountant Gu, come sit.”

Hu Shan released Gu Yihan’s arm and linked her own with Secretary Jiang, teasing, “Brother, from now on, Xiao Han and I want to eat here too.”

“Brother?”

Gu Yihan exclaimed.

Secretary Jiang glared at Hu Shan, scolding playfully, “Stand properly! Don’t be so familiar.”

Then he smiled at Gu Yihan and explained, “Hu Shan is my maternal cousin’s daughter. She’s spoiled at home.”

Gu Yihan glanced at Hu Shan, who was making faces at her, and thought, “Sister Shan is pretty fun.”

While they were chatting, a man came in.

Cheng Bo’s eyes lit up when he saw Gu Yihan, and he walked to Secretary Jiang, bumping his arm, “Secretary Jiang, who’s this?”

Secretary Jiang gave Cheng Bo a look and introduced, “This is Director Yang’s driver, Cheng Bo.”

He then looked at Cheng Bo and introduced Gu Yihan, “This is Gu Yihan, our accounting department’s accountant.”

Cheng Bo was too busy staring at Gu Yihan’s face, his eyes shining, and he held out his hand, “Hello, Accountant Gu, I’m Cheng Bo.”

“Hello, I’m Gu Yihan,” she said, extending her hand.

Hu Shan pulled Gu Yihan to sit beside her.

She glared at Cheng Bo, “Are you blind? Don’t you see Xiao Han is pregnant?”

Cheng Bo’s smile froze. Looking at Gu Yihan’s rounded belly, his heart broke instantly.

Tears unshed, he looked at Secretary Jiang—his first crush on a woman, and she was already married.

Secretary Jiang didn’t even want to acknowledge him.

Knowing Director Yang wasn’t coming today, the four of them sat around a round wooden table.

Gu Yihan looked at the food on the table: fish, meat, vegetables, and mushroom soup—a four-dish-one-soup meal, far more sumptuous than the main kitchen ever served.