Chapter 248: Stuck Together Like Glue and Lacquer

"Still being picky?"

Xu Yuexin glanced at Da Yizi and said.

"I'm not messing with you, I'm going to wash the dishes."

Da Yizi stood up, turned her back to Xu Yuexin, and strode with her long legs toward the kitchen.

At that moment, Xu Yuexin stepped forward and embraced her from behind.

"Let go, I've got you."

Da Yizi grabbed Xu Yuexin's hand, trying to push him away.

Huh…

At that moment, Xu Yuexin blew a warm breath onto her earlobe.

Ah…

Da Yizi's whole body went limp; if Xu Yuexin hadn't been holding her, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Xu Yuexin, still holding her in his arms, smugly raised his large hand, and at the same time gripped Da Yizi's chin with his other hand, forcing her to turn and kiss him.

The four characters "born with seductive bones" truly found perfect embodiment in Da Yizi.

…

After being as inseparable as glue and lacquer with Da Yizi for a long while, Xu Yuexin finally ended the kiss and gave Da Yizi's pert butt a firm pinch.

"It hurts."

【7】 Da Yizi furrowed her brows, tapped Xu Yuexin's hand, and said.

Da Yizi furrowed her eyebrows, gave Xu Yuexin's hand a pat and said.

"I'm leaving."

Xu Yuexin smiled smugly, planted another kiss on Da Yizi's face, then released her and walked toward the door.

The place where his daughter-in-law works is a bit far from Guogongfu.

Xu Yuexin drove for over ten minutes before arriving.

After parking at the headquarters gate for a short while, Xu Yuexin saw Chen Qiaoqiao briskly walk out of the building.

Her face showed not a hint of fatigue; on the contrary, she was radiant, as if she had just come to work at the crack of dawn.

Seeing Xu Yuexin's Mercedes, Chen Qiaoqiao jogged over, opened the door, and took the passenger seat.

"I have something to tell you."

Chen Qiaoqiao lowered her voice, her face unable to hide her joy, and said, "Our Deputy Director is retiring."

"That's good news; logically it should be your turn to take his position, right?"

Xu Yuexin heard it with delight and said.

"Nothing unexpected, it should be like that."

"My current rank is Manager, I enjoy Deputy Director-level Benefits, and I have just received a Deputy Senior Title."

Chen Qiaoqiao, delighted, calculated, "In terms of qualifications, no one can surpass me."

Xu Yuexin nodded and pressed the accelerator.

"Has the leadership given you any hint?"

"Not yet; it feels close."

Chen Qiaoqiao leaned contentedly in her seat, her eyes sparkling as she said.

In public institutions, the Deputy Level is a hurdle.

Take state-owned enterprises as an example: once you reach the Deputy Level, you are qualified for transfer to a Communist Party or government agency.

Moreover, these days, transferring personnel from state-owned enterprises to Party or government bodies is very common and requires hardly any effort.

Because a few years ago the state clarified that economic construction is the focus, state-enterprise cadres have been working on the economic front lines for years, accumulating ample experience in developing industries, making them highly valued in Party and government organs.

Xu Yuexin had previously talked with his daughter-in-law; she wants to reach the Deputy Level, so she looks for a chance to transfer out and enter politics.

If she succeeds this time, it will undoubtedly bring her closer to her dream.

…

The next noon, Chen Qiaoqiao unusually went home for lunch and brought good news to Xu Yuexin.

"The department head called me for a talk; they plan to appoint me as Deputy Director."

After entering, Chen Qiaoqiao, with a trembling voice, said to Xu Yuexin.

"Then, shall we celebrate tonight?"

"Hmm, call my sister over."

Chen Qiaoqiao replied without hesitation.

"Alright."

Xu Yuexin didn't think further and readily agreed.

However, when his daughter-in-law finished lunch and returned to the company, Xu Yuexin thought of some troublesome points.

He had just coaxed Da Yizi over yesterday. If he uses the same excuse today, she would probably refuse—like calling a wolf.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuexin grew worried.

If he inexplicably asks his daughter-in-law to deliver the notice, she'll surely ask whether the two of them have fallen out.

That would only create more complications.

Xu Yuexin felt a headache thinking this, but forced himself to dial Da Yizi's number.

As he expected, Da Yizi flatly rejected the invitation, a bit angry.

"One lie is enough; you want to lie again the next day?"

"You think I'm a fool?"

Da Yizi hung up after speaking, leaving Xu Yuexin listening to the muted beeping on the line, feeling depressed.

By the heavens and earth's conscience, he really isn't lying this time.

Why does fate have to make things so hard for this honest man? With no other choice, Xu Yuexin drove to Tuanjie Lake and explained the situation to Da Yizi in person.

"Qiao Qiao really made progress this time."

"She really was the one who had me call you."

Xu Yuexin sat on the sofa, his face gloomy, and explained to Da Yizi.

"I don't believe it unless she calls me and tells me."

Da Yizi huffed, still extremely dissatisfied about being duped yesterday.

"As for this, if I let her call on her own, she'd become suspicious."

Xu Yuexin spread his hands and said, "How about this: I'll give you her office number, and you call her office."

"Just ask if it's real."

"Uh, well, that's not necessary."

Da Yizi, seeing Xu Yuexin say that, began to believe him a little.

A short while later, Da Yizi and Xu Yuexin went downstairs, got into his car, and returned together to Guogongfu.

"Let's make a few more dishes today and make the celebration more grand."

After getting out of the car, Xu Yuexin exclaimed joyfully.

"I'll be your assistant."

Da Yizi saw that Xu Yuexin had no intention of taking advantage of her, so she smiled and said.

Guogongfu has, besides the main hall's small kitchen, a separate firewood room dedicated to cooking.

In fact, this is the real kitchen of Guogongfu, but because it's far from the Guogong Mansion Main Hall, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao usually don't cook there.

Today Xu Yuexin plans to prepare a feast for his daughter‑in‑law; there are many dishes, so he chose to cook here.

"Tell me, when the Guogong used to live here, did they also have people cook in the firewood room?"

After entering the firewood room, Da Yizi asked in confusion.

"Then why not build a firewood room as a landscape feature?"

"Cooking here in winter and bringing the dishes inside would make the house cold, wouldn't it?"

"They must have had insulated containers."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and said, "Never mind them; let's finish our own meal first."

Finishing his sentence, he pulled the fish, meat, and vegetables he bought today from the car's trunk and carried them to the firewood room.

The fish‑killing was handled by Xu Yuexin, while Da Yizi selected the vegetables.

The two divided the work, and before long a gentle plume of smoke rose from the firewood room's ceiling.

These days, Jingcheng Urban Area can still buy firewood, but in a few years it will probably be unavailable.

When Chen Qiaoqiao returned home, Xu Yuexin and Da Yizi had prepared the Eight Hot Eight Cold, a total of sixteen dishes, all lined up on the table.

Chen Qiaoqiao was delighted to see so many dishes.

"So many dishes—are we celebrating the New Year?"

"Well, since you've improved, Xue Xue and I made two dishes to celebrate you."

"That's more than enough; if we can't finish them, it's wasteful."

"Not wasteful, not wasteful."

Xu Yuexin took his daughter‑in‑law's hand and said, "It's not like we eat like this every day."

"Let's eat."

At that moment, Da Yizi brought the rice, handed over chopsticks, and said to her brother‑in‑law.

(End of chapter)