Chapter 129: All Satisfied, Need to Pamper Da Yizi

"What, you're leaving?"

After deciding, Xu Yuexin walked to the secondary bedroom doorway and, as if nothing were amiss, looked at Da Yizi and said.

Still have the nerve to act like nothing's wrong!

Chen Yixue, upon seeing Xu Yuexin, was furious to death, yet couldn't show it in front of her younger sister.

"Right, you've already returned, so I'll go back."

Chen Yixue lifted her suitcase and, in a neutral tone, said, "You two just get along fine here."

"You'd better stay."

"I'm going out of town again in two days."

Xu Yuexin blurted out the lie, his face unmoved and his heart untroubled.

No way, he says he's leaving again? Is he really lying to himself? After dealing with Xu Yuexin so many times, Chen Yixue instinctively grew wary, suspecting he was making things up.

"Sis, did you hear that?"

Chen Qiaoqiao at this moment shook her sister's arm and said, "Just stay here and live."

Fine then…

Even though she still doubted Xu Yuexin, Chen Yixue couldn't say anything else, so she set the suitcase down.

"Let's go out for breakfast."

Xu Yuexin stepped forward and said.

The three left the Guogong Mansion Main Hall and walked side by side forward.

At that moment, Xu Yuexin, taking advantage of Da Yizi's unpreparedness, slipped his hand around his wife's raised hip, gave it a light pat, then quickly grabbed his wife's hand.

He actually dared…

Da Yizi's face flushed instantly, and she wanted to grab Xu Yuexin right away to question him.

Who does she think he is! "The crabs are in season, let's go eat crab roe buns."

Xu Yuexin said as if nothing were wrong.

Chen Qiaoqiao didn't answer right away; instead she turned to Chen Yixue and asked, "Sis, do you want to eat?"

"Eat then."

Chen Yixue's mind was a mess, she had no thought about food, and she replied casually.

Xu Yuexin was blatantly testing her limits! At that moment, Chen Qiaoqiao noticed the red flush on her face.

"Sis, what's up? Why is your face red, are you uncomfortable?"

Chen Qiaoqiao asked concernedly.

Xu Yuexin stifled a laugh and looked at Da Yizi: "The sky isn't even hot, why is your face so flushed."

Chen Yixue at that moment literally wanted to kill him with her own hands.

The lowliest of people, how can they sink so low! "I just drank a cup of hot water, it got me excited."

"Also maybe I'm tired from carrying the suitcase."

Chen Yixue hurriedly made an excuse, then quickly changed the subject: "Which place do you want to eat at?"

"Let's go to the Jiangsu Beijing Office; their crab roe buns are authentic."

Xu Yuexin answered without hesitation.

After 1978, the provincial and municipal Beijing Offices gradually resumed, bringing regional specialty dishes.

Moreover, their restaurant is open to the public, and citizens can dine there freely without any restrictions.

However, most people still don't know this, Chen Yixue included.

"Can we go there?"

Chen Yixue looked at her younger sister puzzledly; she really didn't want to talk to Xu Yuexin right now.

"When I was interning at the sea, I heard people say it's possible to go."

Chen Qiaoqiao affirmed, "I just never thought of going there."

"Then let's try it today."

Xu Yuexin said.

Living inside the Second Ring has a perk: everywhere is close.

Soon, Xu Yuexin, his wife, and Da Yizi walked to the Jiangsu Beijing Office restaurant, ordered a basket of crab roe buns and three bowls of crab roe noodles.

In no time, the crab roe buns, noodle soup, and vinegar dish were brought up together by the server.

The buns were made with Yangcheng Lake crab and Zhenjiang vinegar; the Suzhou noodle soup had a hot topping.

As soon as breakfast was set on the table, Xu Yuexin's party smelled a strong fresh aroma that made the taste buds tingle.

When the steamer was opened, steam rose from the crab roe buns, and through the thin dough you could see the filling.

Xu Yuexin picked up a bun, dipped it in the vinegar and said, "Eat it while it's hot, don't let it cool."

After speaking, Xu Yuexin placed the bun on a plate, tore it in half with chopsticks, blew on one half, and put it into his mouth.

Eating crab roe buns requires quick eyes and hands: you must tear it open to let heat escape without burning, while also preventing the juice from spilling and spoiling the texture.

"Hmm… really fresh."

Just as Xu Yuexin put the bun into his mouth, his wife had already eaten half of hers and commented, "The crab roe is delicious."

Chen Yixue tasted the crab roe bun and also thought it was great.

How did he even learn about this place?

Chen Yixue looked at Xu Yuexin puzzledly and said, somewhat bewildered.

After finishing the crab roe buns, the three began to clear the Su-style noodle soup from the table.

Pickled mustard greens with fresh bamboo shoots stir-fried with shredded pork, the noodle topping was tasty, and the broth was also very good.

Xu Yuexin and his daughter‑in‑law ate with relish, but Chen Yixue was a little distracted.

Chen Yixue firmly believed that Xu Yuexin keeping her here might be a trap, intended to continue taking advantage of her.

But she didn't want to expose him in front of her younger sister.

Early the next morning, Chen Yixue walked into the main courtyard and questioned Xu Yuexin, who was lying on a rattan chair enjoying the breeze: "Weren't you supposed to go out of town?"

"Why aren't you leaving yet."

"I said I'd leave in a couple of days."

Xu Yuexin lay still on the chair, glanced at Da Yizi and said, "Besides, this is my home."

"Are you trying to drive me away and take over?"

"Heh, I think you're just lying."

Da Yizi sneered, "You want to cheat me into staying, don't you?"

"Whatever you think."

Xu Yuexin said leisurely, "You seem a bit angry; why not lie down here and enjoy the breeze too?"

After that, Xu Yuexin shifted on the rattan chair, freeing his fingers, and said.

"I'm in a great mood, but seeing you makes me angry."

Da Yizi snorted, "How come fate always lets you have it so easy?"

"Because I have more conscience than you."

Xu Yuexin declared confidently.

Chen Yixue was shocked by her brother‑in‑law's words to the point of having her worldview shattered: How could he say such a thing? "How shameless of you. Of everyone around me, you are the most unscrupulous."

"No, as I just said, my conscience is at least more than yours." "Aren't you ashamed to say that?"

"Not ashamed. Just like you just thought I'm living too well, but have you ever considered that I'm your brother‑in‑law?"

"If I'm doing poorly, Qiao Qiao, as your sister, would inevitably be implicated. It's like you're cursing your own sister—are there any sisters in the world who would do that?"

"You… I never meant that!"

Chen Yixue was nearly knocked out by Xu Yuexin's anger.

Back then, Chen Qiaoqiao, when she cut in line, received the highest monthly stipend in the entire Communist, and all that money was earned by her.

Now, after Xu Yuexin's sly argument, it seemed as if she were hoping her sister would fare poorly.

Heaven and earth's conscience, how did I end up with such a brother‑in‑law?

"See, you still claim you have no anger."

Xu Yuexin closed his eyes, leisurely rocking the rattan chair, and said, "Go drink some cold plain water and suppress your anger."

But before the words finished, Xu Yuexin felt a sudden chill.

Immediately after, the rattan chair and he tumbled forward out of control.

Fortunately, Xu Yuexin reacted quickly, steadied himself in time, and avoided a six‑limb‑to‑the‑ground disaster.

Da Yizi showed no martial virtue! She actually ambushed the 21‑year‑old old comrade! She almost flipped both him and the chair.

Xu Yuexin thought irritably, turned and looked at Da Yizi.

What a fellow, Da Yizi actually cried.

"Xu Yuexin, your sharp tongue hasn't been a recent thing; I've endured it."

"You take advantage of me, and I avoid you as well."

"But I won't let you say anything about me and Qiao Qiao!"

Chen Yixue, tears like rain on pear blossoms, sobbed, "The feelings between me and her aren't something a selfish person like you can understand!"

Damn, I hit Da Yizi's reverse scale.

Xu Yuexin hurried forward, placed both hands on Da Yizi's shoulders, and said, "I didn't mean that; don't overthink it."

"I know you two are close, so you see, I buy things for each of you separately."

"This time I brought back a lot of good stuff from out of town, planning to show you."

"Come, let's go inside and have a look."

"Let go of me, I don't want it!"

Da Yizi pushed his arm away and said.

"Alright, quite fierce indeed."

But thinking about it, if she could be easily coaxed in this situation, she wouldn't be Da Yizi.

Seeing Da Yizi so resolute, Xu Yuexin didn't press the issue.

"Fine, go back to the room and rest."

Xu Yuexin, unhurriedly, patted Da Yizi's fragrant shoulder and said.

Xu Yuexin had just figured out that Da Yizi's anger wasn't solely because of that remark.

In essence, it stemmed from that night before the move.

That time Xiao Xu was comfortable, and now it's time to coax Da Yizi back.

Xu Yuexin mused, steadied the rattan chair and continued sunbathing in the courtyard while pondering a solution.

After a while, he saw Da Yizi carrying a box, passing through the courtyard ahead of him.

"Preparing to go home?"

Xu Yuexin asked slowly.

"None of your business."

"Then Qiao Qiao asks me, what should I say?"

"Think it over yourself."

Da Yizi said coldly.

She is still angry…

Xu Yuexin thought, and in the blink of an eye had an idea.

"Then shall I be frank with Qiao Qiao?"

"You…"

Chen Yixue was pinched at the vital point and stopped in her steps.

"If you dare tell Qiao Qiao, then you are my enemy."

She slowly turned around, warning Xu Yuexin with a measured cadence.

"An enemy's an enemy."

Xu Yuexin, pretending not to care, said, "Anyway, when the time comes, the one who'll have to worry is you, not me."

"…"

Chen Yixue was utterly beaten by his shamelessness.

"What exactly do you want?"

Chen Yixue, carrying a box, walked up to Xu Yuexin and asked tremblingly.

"Just stay and live here. Rest assured, for the coming period I won't disturb you."

"How can you guarantee you'll keep that promise?"

Chen Yixue asked cautiously; she currently had little trust in Xu Yuexin's promise.

"Gentlemen's Agreement."

"Do you consider yourself a gentleman?"

"Of course. A gentleman masters the Six Arts—poetry, books, rites, music, archery, and charioteering—I am proficient in all of them."

Xu Yuexin said proudly.

Among those six, especially archery, is his forte.

"Stop this nonsense; your words have never counted."

Chen Yixue frowned and said, "What you say today can be contradicted tomorrow."

"Ahem, that's not right."

Xu Yuexin said calmly.

Looking at Da Yizi's posture, just relying on clever talk won't get past her; he must lay out facts and reason earnestly.

"Which point is wrong?"

Da Yizi sneered, "Now you tell me."

"First, regarding Qiao Qiao, I promised to marry her; I've kept that, right?"

"That's the only thing, then."

"Hold on, I'm not done yet."

"You surely remember, I promised to treat both of you sisters equally; have I also fulfilled that?"

"Don't mention the house at Unity Lake; even the courtyard beneath our feet, if you wish, belongs to the three of us."

Xu Yuexin spread his arms and said magnanimously.

(End of chapter)