Chapter 1539: Zhao Suchun Picks Vegetable Leaves

State-run Restaurant

Chen Boxu spoke enthusiastically about his childhood with Zhou Xiaobai, expressing their intimate relationship in his words, as well as his doting and love for Zhou Xiaobai, shaping the image of a childhood sweetheart big brother.

Hearing Chen Boxu reveal childhood embarrassments, Zhou Xiaobai couldn't help but blush and say: "Chen Boxu, that's enough. Those are all things from when we were little. Hurry up and eat. I have things to do after I finish."

Chen Boxu smiled and said: "I'll listen to you. Xiaobai, Luo Yun, this meal is my treat. Order whatever you want to eat."

Not knowing if it was intentional, Chen Boxu deliberately ignored Cao Weiguo, treating him like air, not even willing to let his gaze fall on him. However, Cao Weiguo didn't care. Chen Boxu's little thoughts were obvious—wasn't it just that he liked Zhou Xiaobai and treated him as a romantic rival? Childish.

Because of Chen Boxu's arrival, the atmosphere at the table became less relaxed. Zhou Xiaobai was annoyed by Chen Boxu's enthusiasm. After eating a few bites without interest, she looked at Cao Weiguo: "Brother Weiguo, are you finished?"

Cao Weiguo put down his chopsticks: "Finished."

Zhou Xiaobai stood up and said: "Then let's go."

Chen Boxu hurriedly stood up and chased after Zhou Xiaobai: "Xiaobai, do you have anything to do this afternoon? If not, let's go boating. I remember you love boating."

Zhou Xiaobai turned to look at Cao Weiguo, and Cao Weiguo smiled and said: "You go have fun. I have things to handle this afternoon. Goodbye, Comrade Zhou Xiaobai, Comrade Luo Yun."

Hearing that Cao Weiguo had things to do in the afternoon, Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun were somewhat disappointed, while Chen Boxu was overjoyed.

Cao Weiguo parted ways with Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun at the entrance of the state-run restaurant. With the eyesore gone, Chen Boxu chased after Zhou Xiaobai, offering excessive flattery as if he were an animal in heat, making Luo Yun feel a chill.

On the other side, Cao Weiguo saying he had things to do in the afternoon was not an excuse, but the truth. Otherwise, he would have liked to go boating with the two young and pretty beauties, rowing oars in the summer.

On the way to his master's house while pedaling his "Double-Eight," Cao Weiguo saw an acquaintance from afar.

"Suchun, stop digging. In this day and age, who can bear to throw away vegetables that can be eaten?"

An older woman shook her head with some heartache and persuaded Zhao Suchun, who was burying her head in picking vegetable leaves.

Zhao Suchun wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a simple smile: "I'll look a bit more. This is such a big vegetable market."

Ever since Zhao Yuchu was overthrown, the Zhao family's life had plummeted. The whole family relied on Zhao Suchun to struggle to maintain it. With no money to buy vegetables, they could only pick vegetable leaves at the market.

Cao Weiguo rode his bicycle over: "Zhao Suchun."

Zhao Suchun turned to look at Cao Weiguo, thinking for a long while before remembering who Cao Weiguo was: "You are, you are that Department Chief Cao, I remember you."

Cao Weiguo looked at Zhao Suchun, who was covered in patches, and then at the vegetable basket in her hand, which contained a few pitiful vegetable leaves.

"Come over here with me for a moment. Help me pass a few words to your father."

Cao Weiguo beckoned to Zhao Suchun and pushed his "Double-Eight" to a quiet corner.

Zhao Suchun carried the vegetable basket and followed behind Cao Weiguo: "Department Chief Cao, just say whatever you have to say. Being so mysterious is quite scary."

Cao Weiguo took a stack of money and coupons from his pocket and handed them to Zhao Suchun: "You, you need to restrain this careless temperament of yours. I know your family's situation is not good, and your father is undergoing education. You must be careful in everything you do. Take this money and these coupons to subsidize the household. Tell your father to take care of his health and believe in the organization."

Zhao Suchun hurriedly backed away: "Department Chief Cao, I can't take this."

Cao Weiguo kept a straight face: "Why can't you take it? Your father and I are friends despite the age gap. It's just that for certain reasons, it's inconvenient for me to visit. This money and these coupons are a small gesture of mine. This is for your father, not for you. You cannot refuse."

Zhao Suchun took the money and coupons with emotion and bowed deeply to Cao Weiguo: "Thank you."

Ever since her father became a power-holder taking the capitalist road overnight, relatives, friends, and neighbors had all avoided her family, and some even made things difficult for them and bullied them. Although she had little education and a simple, honest nature, she could still feel the warmth and coldness of human relationships and the fickleness of the world.

Thinking of the attitude of relatives and friends toward her family, and then comparing it with Cao Weiguo's "goodwill," it could be said to be like heaven and earth, making her moved and grateful from the bottom of her heart.

"Alright, hide the things well. If there are any difficulties in the family in the future, you can come to Nanluoguxiang to find me. Hurry home. I have things to do, so I won't talk to you anymore. Give my regards to your father."

Cao Weiguo said a few words with a smile and rode his "Double-Eight" away stylishly.

Zhao Suchun stood in place, staring at Cao Weiguo as he went further away. She hid the money and coupons inside her clothes and hurriedly carried the vegetable basket home. If she lost this money and these coupons, her sin would be great.

"Hey, stupid eldest, you went out for half a day and came back like this? Are we going to drink the northwest wind tonight? Tell me, were you slacking off and hiding for leisure outside?"

Seeing Zhao Suchun return with a pitiful vegetable basket, Xu Minrong opened her mouth and scolded her. Zhao Sumian watched coldly from the side, and Zhao Sujue was grinning at the door...

Zhao Suchun was already accustomed to Xu Minrong's scolding and didn't take it to heart at all. She put down the basket in her hand and walked quickly toward Zhao Yuchu, who was lying on the bed pretending to sleep.

"Dad! Dad! Wake up! Guess who I met today?"

Zhao Suchun reached out to push Zhao Yuchu excitedly. Zhao Yuchu opened his eyes decadently and said irritably: "Stupid eldest, stop tossing me around. Let me be quiet for a while."

Xu Minrong walked over with wide eyes: "Stupid eldest, what are you trying to do with all that noise!"

Zhao Suchun said excitedly: "Dad, when I was picking vegetable leaves at the market, I met that Department Chief Cao. He also asked me to give this to you, asked me to send his regards to you, told me to tell you to take care of your health, believe in the organization, and also said that if our family has any difficulties, we can go to Nanluoguxiang to find him."

Hearing Zhao Suchun's words and seeing the stack of money and coupons in her hand, Zhao Yuchu and Xu Minrong's eyes widened instantly, and Zhao Sumian and the others also had eyes shining with greed.

"Department Chief Cao is kind."

Zhao Yuchu took the money and coupons with emotion and sighed from the bottom of his heart.

Xu Minrong snatched the money and coupons away and counted them with shining eyes: "Fifty yuan, one hundred catties of national grain coupons, and ten catties of meat coupons."

Zhao Sumian said in surprise: "So much."

Zhao Sujue shouted excitedly: "Does that mean we can have meat to eat? I want to eat meat. I haven't eaten meat for a long time."

Zhao Yuchu scolded with a straight face: "Quiet. Look at how you are all startled; what does that look like? Hide all this money and these coupons well. Without my permission, no one is allowed to touch them. Our family can't eat meat now. Eat what we usually eat. Also, this matter must be kept secret. No one is allowed to say a word about it to the outside." ===== CHAPTER 1541 =====