It was a bit of a pity. By the time the "Melon-Eating Squad No.1" rushed to the sixth-floor cafeteria, Xu Yanxia, who had unwittingly become the subject of gossip as the "future boss's wife of the group," had already left the Lu Corporation building with her takeaway.
—It wasn't that she didn't want to eat in the cafeteria, but she had just received a call from her brother's girlfriend, Luo Jiajia, and had to step out.
The cafeteria was crowded, not a good place for a private conversation, and a bit noisy. She found a quiet spot downstairs and quickly called back.
Luo Jiajia was two years older than her, a childhood friend from their village who grew up with her and her brother—a true childhood sweetheart.
Luo Jiajia had a good personality, her family was reasonable, and her relationship with Xu Yanxia's brother had been stable all these years.
Both sets of parents were quite supportive of their marriage. Originally, once the demolition compensation came through, the Xu family planned to buy a proper house, reopen their shop, and then formally propose to the Luo family. Who could have predicted the trouble her uncle would cause?
This time, when she and her brother came out to search for someone, Luo Jiajia couldn't stay put at home and followed them, helping out at their night market stall.
The phone was picked up after just one ring. Xu Yanxia hurriedly asked, "Jiajia, it was really noisy around me earlier, I didn't hear clearly. What did you say about the ingredients?"
"We suddenly can't get any ingredients today!"
Luo Jiajia on the other end sounded very anxious. "I don't know why, but several suppliers suddenly backed out. They didn't save any beef, lamb, seafood, pork offal, or chicken for us. Your brother ran to several markets this morning and only managed to buy a little pork belly and some shoulder meat. We probably can't open for business today."
What? Suddenly can't get ingredients?
Xu Yanxia frowned.
For the food and beverage industry, the quality of ingredients is paramount.
When they first started setting up the stall, she and her brother had visited several large markets across the city before finally securing agreements with a few suppliers to provide them with fresh ingredients daily.
At first, they would pick up the goods themselves after closing the stall each day. Later, as business improved and their orders grew larger, the suppliers began delivering proactively.
For over a month now, their cooperation had been smooth, and they had never delayed payment. How could the suppliers suddenly change their minds now?
And several of them at once?
This definitely smelled fishy.
Of course, the most pressing issue was the immediate one.
She quickly gathered her thoughts, first comforting her future sister-in-law. "Jiajia, don't panic. I actually just added a contact today who works in fresh produce and cold chain logistics. Let me ask him if he has any sources."
Luo Jiajia quickly said okay, and Xu Yanxia hung up, immediately making a voice call to Zhao Xiaoshun, the delivery guy she had just added that morning.
Perhaps because it was lunch break, he answered quickly.
"Hello, Miss Xu. What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Brother Xiaoshun,"
Xu Yanxia said with a smile. "We just talked about potential cooperation this morning, and now I need your help. Do you currently have pork, beef, lamb, chicken, and seafood in stock? I need roughly several dozen to a hundred jin of each."
"Yes, we do!"
Zhao Xiaoshun replied readily. "For a hundred or so jin, the Dongpu warehouse has stock. Do you want to come pick them out? I'll let their person in charge know right now. Mention my name for a discount."
"Yes, please!"
Xu Yanxia agreed immediately. "Could you send me the location? I'll have my brother head over right away to pick them up."
"Sure thing!"
After hanging up, Zhao Xiaoshun promptly sent her the address. Xu Yanxia forwarded it to her brother, Xu Zhanpeng, and also called to explain.
Her brother set off immediately.
Only then did Xu Yanxia feel relieved. She found a bench to sit down and planned to eat her lunch.
However, she soon closed the lid and headed towards the subway station.
By the time she emerged from the subway, she received a WeChat from her brother saying the ingredient issue was resolved.
Checking the time, it wasn't even 1 PM yet. There were still five hours until stall opening. If they hurried with preparations, they could still make it.
Her mind at ease, she carried the takeaway box towards the Lu family mansion.
Actually, being able to cook has its downsides too. For instance, when faced with unpalatable food, one simply cannot force themselves to eat it.
Today, the company cafeteria had truly been an eye-opener for her.
She'd rather go back and cook a simple bowl of noodles for herself than take another bite of that.
However, this remaining box was evidence. Considering she had just received a bonus last night, she needed to mention this to President Lu when he returned tonight.
...
The clock pointed to 6:30 PM. As the evening sea breeze drifted into the Lu family garden, the "Xu's Teppanyaki" stall at the night market successfully opened for business.
Back at the Lu mansion, Xu Yanxia had also finished preparing dinner.
It was just that neither Chairman Lu nor President Lu had returned yet. She had to go ask Housekeeper Zhang first, "Auntie Zhang, should I set the table for dinner now?"
"Go ahead,"
Housekeeper Zhang said. "Chairman Lu has a dinner engagement tonight, but Young Master Lu didn't say he wouldn't be back for dinner; he might be working overtime. Since it's ready, let Madam eat first."
"Okay."
She hurried to the kitchen, first served Madam Lu's portion and set it on the dining table.
Who would have thought, before Madam Lu could even pick up her chopsticks, Lu Jingming returned.
Madam Lu greeted her son, "I thought you were working overtime tonight. Perfect timing, have dinner with your mother."
Then she called out to Xu Yanxia in the kitchen, "Xiao Xu, please serve Jingming some rice."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia responded from the kitchen.
Lu Jingming washed his hands and sat down at the table, asking his mother, "Is Dad not back?"
Madam Lu nearly rolled her eyes. "Out drinking with people again! So infuriating! Luckily, I had Xiao Xu deliver lunch to him at noon today, otherwise he'd be drinking twice in one day."
Then she asked him, "So, did you get to have the lunch today too? Was it good?"
Lu Jingming gave an affirmative hum. "It was good."
Actually, he felt a bit wronged. He hadn't been able to eat much at all at noon; half of it had ended up in Wen Jiajun's stomach.
And even then, Wen Jiajun complained it wasn't enough, saying next time Xu Yanxia delivered food, she should be told to send more.
Fortunately, Wen Jiajun hadn't chased him all the way here.
Auntie Zhang brought him his rice and chopsticks, and immediately after, Xu Yanxia placed a steaming clay pot on the table.
Lifting the lid, a rich, fragrant aroma instantly wafted out.
Madam Lu introduced it to him, "It's braised beef offal with radish. I don't eat it, so I saved it specially for you."
"Thanks, Mom."
Lu Jingming, unusually ravenous to the point of feeling hollow, promptly picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
Mmm, so fragrant!
The beef offal was tender and flavorful, and the radish was absolutely divine.
Madam Lu, however, laughed, "Why thank me? Xiao Xu made this meal. You should thank her."
Then she casually mentioned to Xu Yanxia, "Xiao Xu, tomorrow Old Lu and I are going for morning tea, so you don't need to prepare breakfast for the two of us."
"Oh, okay."
Xu Yanxia acknowledged.
Housekeeper Zhang reminded Madam Lu on her behalf, "Madam, tomorrow is Tuesday, Xiao Xu's day off."
President Lu paused. That meant... no delicious meals tomorrow?
"I almost forgot,"
Madam Lu said to Housekeeper Zhang. "Well, that works out. We won't be home for lunch or dinner tomorrow either. You can make breakfast for Jingming tomorrow, just something simple. It's fine, he doesn't eat much anyway."
Lu Jingming, "..."
Why is it so casual when it comes to him? It's as if he's not their own flesh and blood.
