Chapter 1163: This Truly Was Finding a Pillow When One Felt Sleepy

Just as she reached the entrance of the guesthouse, she saw Xu the Clerk and Wan Qing standing together talking.

Xu the Clerk turned his head, and his gaze met Chuxue's; instantly an unnatural look flashed across his face, and he raised a hand to make Wan Qing stop speaking.

One didn't need to think to guess what Wan Qing was doing by blocking Xu the Clerk.

Chuxue nodded to Xu the Clerk and walked straight into the guesthouse.

Once inside, the big sister at the front desk smiled and called out: "Sister, you're back. Need any help?"

She knew this girl was generous with her money; this person was leaving soon, and there would be no chance like this again.

Chuxue smiled charmingly at the big sister: "Big sister, no need. It looks like a lot, but it's not actually heavy."

Still, she lowered her voice and said: "Our team leader asked the kitchen to process some seafood. In a moment, I'll scoop a spoonful of the stewed fish for you; it goes great with rice."

The front-desk big sister didn't expect such a good thing and said with a face full of smiles: "That truly is thanks, sister."

Saying this, without even asking if Chuxue needed it, she quickly walked out, took several items from Chuxue's hands, and the two chatted as they went upstairs.

After putting the things away, Chuxue whispered: "I'll come downstairs to call you in a moment."

The front-desk big sister understood instantly: "Got it."

Thinking about returning tomorrow, Chuxue directly took a new handbag out of her space; after all, she had shopped all morning, and no one knew exactly what she had bought.

She packed the items one by one, zipped it up, placed it with her original luggage, made a mark on top, and only then took her lunchbox out.

Just as she stepped out, she ran into Mi Aijun and Zhang Chunsheng, who had also come out with lunchboxes: "Brother Mi, Brother Zhang, you're back too?"

Zhang Chunsheng had a more lively personality; a smile played on his lips: "If you aren't active about eating, there's a problem with your thinking. Not to mention the person in the guesthouse's back kitchen has a family recipe handed down through generations; naturally, we must return early."

Mi Aijun and Chuxue both laughed upon hearing him say this.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they reached the first floor; Xu the Clerk was just heading upstairs: "Wait for me, I'll be right there."

The three of them shared a room, so they had been moving together today, but as soon as they returned, Xu the Clerk was called over by Wan Qing.

Zhang Chunsheng saw him running upstairs: "We'll walk slowly; you hurry up."

The bond between Zhang Chunsheng and the others with Chuxue was incomparable to anyone else's; after all, they had undergone trials of life and death, so they were genuinely displeased that Xu the Clerk and Wan Qing could chat for so long; they had long since consciously taken Chuxue's side.

Xu the Clerk didn't wait; instead, Old Zhou, Zhang Aiguo, and Qian Silin arrived, and the six of them entered the guesthouse canteen together.

As soon as they appeared, someone came up and greeted them: "You've finally arrived. Quick, quick, quick; if you don't come soon, everyone will have overrun the back kitchen."

While saying this, he also glanced at the crowd eating at the few tables outside.

Thinking that Xu the Clerk should be arriving soon, Team Leader Zhou spoke directly: "Then serve the dishes; we've been craving this bite all morning anyway."

The team leader looked directly at Chuxue: "You go find a seat; we'll go carry the dishes."

Most of what Chuxue brought back was fish, so most of the dishes served were fish-based: steamed grey mullet, pomfret soaked in lard, braised hairtail, crab with vermicelli casserole, steamed green crab, pan-fried oysters, steamed scallops with minced garlic and vermicelli, plus a large basin of stewed mixed fish, and finally a pot of green crab porridge was served.

Today everyone collectively asked for rice, each looking as if they were about to launch into a major battle.

Just as their side was fully served, the front-desk big sister walked in.

Chuxue, sharp-eyed, saw the person and waved to her.

When the person drew near, she took the big sister's lunchbox, used the spoon placed in the basin of stewed mixed fish to scoop a large spoonful of stewed fish for her, then picked out a green crab for her with chopsticks, and only then handed the lunchbox back.

After the big sister thanked Chuxue with a smile, she greeted the crowd and then left.

At this moment, Xu the Clerk also arrived.

Everyone looked collectively behind him; Team Leader Zhou frowned and asked a question: "Where is Wan Qing?"

Xu the Clerk coughed lightly: "She said her stomach was a bit uncomfortable, so she wouldn't come down to eat."

One didn't need to think to guess she couldn't bring herself to face them, but no one made a fuss.

Knowing Chuxue and Wan Qing didn't get along, and not mentioning anything about asking her to go up and check on her, Team Leader Zhou addressed everyone: "Having the fortune to participate in the Canton Fair together is itself a kind of fate. Today, thanks to Chuxue, let's consider this a reward for everyone's hard work over this past month. Come, don't wait; pick up your chopsticks. I'm practically starving to death."

Chuxue didn't expect Team Leader Zhou to sound so serious at first, then switch styles so directly.

The atmosphere at the dinner table instantly became lively. After swallowing the stewed fish in his mouth, Team Leader Zhou remembered that the guesthouse canteen sold Guang-style pineapple beer and Asia Sarsaparilla, so he looked at Zhang Aiguo: "With such good dishes, it would be a pity not to drink something. However, since we are on a business trip, drinking white liquor isn't appropriate; let's have some pineapple beer, and get a bottle of Sarsaparilla for Chuxue."

Zhang Aiguo had long wanted to try pineapple beer, but since he would have to pay out of his own pocket, he was a bit reluctant. Now that his master had spoken, he naturally didn't delay a moment, stood up, and ran off.

The steamed grey mullet preserved its original flavor and taste; the pomfret soaked in lard had delicate flesh, with a crispy skin and tender interior; the braised hairtail was rich, savory, and fragrant; the steamed green crab, paired with the master chef's homemade dipping sauce, was so fresh one couldn't stop eating; the crab with vermicelli casserole had the crab cut into pieces, pan-fried until fragrant first, then stir-fried with ginger and scallions until aromatic, added to soaked vermicelli, seasoned with stock and seasonings until flavorful, sprinkled with pepper powder, and served; the first bite was fresh, fragrant, rich, and smooth; the pan-fried oysters were fresh, savory, and delicious with rich layers; the steamed scallops with minced garlic and vermicelli were fresh, savory, tender, and smooth, with the freshness of the scallops and the fragrance of the minced garlic perfectly fused, the vermicelli absorbing all the essence, making it something one could never tire of; even the stewed mixed fish made everyone exclaim how satisfying it was; this chef's skill was indeed remarkable.

Paired with a pot of green crab porridge that was fresh, sweet, smooth, light but not bland, this meal left everyone with much to reminisce about in the years to come.

This fragrance almost made everyone else eating in the canteen dizzy with desire; they kept looking over here with craving. Fortunately, Chuxue had chosen a corner, otherwise she would have become a target for everyone.

After everyone ate and drank their fill, their bonds deepened considerably.

When Chuxue returned to her room, Wan Qing was not inside. After a brief rest, she went out again; she still had quite a bit of local grain coupons, which naturally couldn't be wasted. Seeing chicken cakes, wife cakes, fried rice cakes, and water chestnut cakes for sale, she exchanged coupons several times and bought a lot; besides giving them as gifts, she could keep some for herself to eat slowly.

Thinking there was a big matter to handle tonight, she returned to the guesthouse early.

As a result, after entering the room, Wan Qing didn't know what fit she had thrown; this truly was finding a pillow when one felt sleepy. Chuxue took the opportunity to argue a few words with her, then angrily went to the front desk to open another room, which perfectly solved the problem of going out tonight.

Now that the soundproofing in these rooms was poor, what happened between them in the room was quickly known by Old Zhou, the team leader, and the several people in the other room; they felt even more disgust toward Wan Qing's habit of making trouble without cause and being unreasonable.

If Chuxue hadn't said they were returning tomorrow and there was no need to argue with her, everyone probably would have wanted to scold her badly to vent their anger.

Chuxue naturally wasn't that kind-hearted; it was just that she needed to go out tonight, wanted to return to her room to catch up on sleep, and didn't want to lose the big for the small, lacking the energy to cope at night.