Chapter 11: Cousin didn't come?

Huo Jingyuan kept his attention on Wen Ci. As the sunset glow accompanied the fading light, their footsteps fell in unison. His gaze swept across Wen Ci’s face: "What were you like when you were little?"

"Me?"

Wen Ci had been observing the environment of the capital. Hearing Huo Jingyuan’s voice, she turned her head to look at him, pondering her childhood memories: "I was born in the countryside. My foster parents swapped me on purpose. In my memory, I had to do every kind of chore, and I never got anything good to eat."

Wen Ci’s childhood was extremely miserable.

If she didn't please her foster parents in the slightest, she would be beaten.

As she grew older, they stopped using their hands and feet, turning instead to deliberate cold violence. She had thought the Jiang family would be her salvation, but it turned out to be a different kind of hell.

Listening to Wen Ci’s voice, Huo Jingyuan reached out and took her hand. The young woman’s palms were covered in calluses just like his own—traces of a life spent doing manual labor.

Huo Jingyuan felt a pang of heartache: "And the Jiang family?"

"There is no affection whatsoever."

"I understand."

After walking for a few minutes, they arrived at the entrance of the state-run restaurant. Jiang Chen had been waiting for a long time. Seeing the figures of Wen Ci and Huo Jingyuan, he said flatly, "Why are you only just arriving?"

Wen Ci retorted, "And just how fast did you want us to be?"

Jiang Chen was rendered speechless by the jab. He looked up at Huo Jingyuan, unsure of how to address him.

Huo Jingyuan was older than him.

But his biological sister had married Huo Jingyuan.

Strictly speaking, Huo Jingyuan was his brother-in-law.

However, Wen Ci’s situation was a bit different. After hesitating for a long time, he spoke up: "Comrade Huo, my parents are already waiting for you inside."

Hearing this, Wen Ci blinked: "The cousin didn't come?"

Jiang Chen: "..."

He shot a sidelong glance at Wen Ci.

Wen Ci hid behind Huo Jingyuan, her lips pursed, looking a bit aggrieved: "Didn't brother say publicly today that Jiang Ye is our cousin?"

"Jiang! Ci!"

Wen Ci found it amusing to see him so flustered.

At the entrance of the state-run restaurant stood a small blackboard listing the home-style dishes available for the day. The first floor was the main dining hall.

Wen Ci took the initiative to link her arm with Huo Jingyuan’s as they walked into the restaurant. Seeing the daily specials written on the blackboard, she couldn't help but blink.

Today's specials: Braised pork, noodles with thick gravy, Beijing roast duck, deep-fried pork, and beef stewed with potatoes.

Su Guilan had booked a private room on the second floor. Unlike the main hall, guests in the private rooms could order their own dishes, which would be cooked to order by the chef.

Walking into the room, Su Guilan and Jiang Zhenjun were both sitting in the seats of honor.

Huo Jingyuan greeted them one by one: "Hello, Uncle and Auntie."

Wen Ci sat beside Huo Jingyuan. Once everyone had arrived, a waiter brought the menu and handed it to Jiang Zhenjun, who was sitting in the seat of honor.

Jiang Zhenjun took the menu and passed it to Huo Jingyuan: "Conditions in the Northwest are tough. Xiao Huo, see if there’s anything you’d like to eat?"

Huo Jingyuan looked at Wen Ci and asked, "Is there anything you want to eat?"

Wen Ci subconsciously glanced at her biological parents; the original owner had a subconscious habit of being cautious and timid in front of them. She curled her lips: "Then bring out all the signature dishes!"

As the old saying goes, it would be a waste not to eat it if it's free.

Besides, Wen Ci was planning to sever ties with them. After this meal, perhaps they wouldn't see each other again anyway, and she didn't have to spend her own money.

"Wouldn't that be too much?" Su Guilan asked worriedly.

The state-run restaurant had a total of ten signature dishes and one soup. With only five of them, they certainly wouldn't be able to finish it all, and it would just result in a huge amount of leftovers.

Wen Ci replied, "Is this a lot? Once I go to the Northwest to join the army, I won't be able to eat these anymore. Besides, it’s not like we can’t pack up the leftovers if we can't finish."