No Secrets from Qian Ling

The three people in the kitchen all heard Qian Ling's cries. They couldn't experience the pain of losing a child or a husband that Qian Ling felt. This time, Jiang Fan didn't say a word and prepared dinner seriously. His mood was also suppressed. Jiang Fan was a person easily affected by his surroundings.

Qian Ling sat at the head of the table, with Qian Wan on her left, then Su Qing, and Jiang Fan served the dishes plate by plate.

Cabbage and meatball skewers, freshly made meatballs.

Sautéed green beans, hand-shredded king oyster mushrooms, egg-wrapped tofu.

Quick-fried pork slices, stir-fried meat with three delicacies, sweet and sour pork ribs, ants climbing a tree (a dish made with vermicelli and meat).

Marinated potato shreds, sweet and sour jelly.

Three vegetarian, four meat dishes, one soup, and two cold dishes.

Jiang Fan didn't rush to sit down. He placed four bowls of rice on the table and handed chopsticks to each person before finally fetching a glass of water and taking his seat.

Jiang Fan was hungry, but he hadn't started eating, quietly waiting for the host to take the first bite.

Qian Ling looked at the food on the table and was slightly stunned. She whispered, "Jiang Fan, have you learned how to cook?"

Jiang Fan smiled softly and shook his head. "No, I just have an interest in cooking. To be honest, I was tricked into it by a saying that men who cook are very handsome. So, once you enter the kitchen, it's like entering a deep sea. There's no way out. After marrying Tang Wan, she didn't cook, so..."

Qian Ling picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in Qian Wan's bowl, then another piece of king oyster mushroom in Su Qing's bowl, which surprised Su Qing. She held her bowl with both hands to receive it, and Qian Ling tapped the edge of Su Qing's bowl with her chopsticks and whispered, "You don't need to be so polite."

Then she placed a piece of pork rib in Jiang Fan's bowl. Without hesitation, Jiang Fan reached out, picked up the rib, threw it into his mouth, and grinned foolishly. His childlike behavior also amused Qian Ling, who smiled and said, "You're mischievous! Do you understand the saying that a gentleman stays away from the kitchen?"

Jiang Fan nodded. "I know. It's said that cooking is something women and servants do. It's Mencius reminding their lords not to act with a woman's compassion. Times have changed! Men and women are equal now. Men have good physical strength and can do some work without being exhausted. Besides, rural kids don't have so many rules."

"You're eloquent, just like my son. I've said this to him, and he also gave me a long lecture. Now I can confirm that Qian Wan didn't teach you this. Let's eat. You've been busy for over an hour. Are you hungry?"

"I'm very hungry!"

Jiang Fan started eating, and slowly Qian Ling noticed that Jiang Fan only took dishes that were closest to him and didn't reach for those farther away. Qian Ling stood up and swapped the positions of the potato shreds and the quick-fried pork slices. Jiang Fan ate voraciously, as if he hadn't eaten for a long time. It was his unpretentious manner that made Qian Ling feel good. Every time Qian Ling put food in his bowl, he would lift his head, squint, purse his lips, smile, and then lower his head to eat it all.

Qian Wan and Su Qing beside him really envied Jiang Fan. Since the start of the meal, Qian Ling hadn't eaten much and kept putting food in his bowl. Su Qing was about to open her mouth to remind Jiang Fan but was intimidated by Qian Ling's cold gaze.

Qian Ling was willing. She didn't like those young people who fawned over her and spoke nicely. At her age and position, she had met all kinds of people and could discern what they were after from simple interactions and behaviors.

But she didn't find any ulterior motive in Jiang Fan. She invited him to her home, and he came and made a table full of food. He didn't pretend to be refined or deliberately genteel. Eating was just eating.

This child was very down-to-earth. He was hungry! He just wanted to eat.

Qian Ling liked this feeling very much. Looking at Jiang Fan was like seeing Qian Huan. Qian Ling's husband also had the surname Qian, and their eldest son was named Qian Huan. The child who hadn't been born yet and had died was to be named Qian Jiu, a name suitable for both boys and girls.

What a pity.

Things went contrary to one's wishes.

After eating three large bowls of rice, Jiang Fan couldn't eat anymore. Seeing Jiang Fan's pained expression, Qian Ling stopped putting food in his bowl and smiled softly with her eyes closed. "Jiang Fan, you're very similar to Huan in your personality and speech, but you're a bit shorter. He was very tall. In terms of appearance, my son is definitely the most handsome."

Jiang Fan grinned and said, "My mom also says I'm handsome, heh! But there's nothing I can do about my height. Should I wear a pair of high heels tomorrow?"

Bang!

Qian Ling patted Jiang Fan's shoulder and scolded with a smile, "Boys should be more masculine and not too feminine. Wash the bowls later and digest your food."

"Alright!"

It had to be said that Jiang Fan's personality was really attractive. He was obedient in front of his elders and knew what to say and what not to say. Qian Ling also had a good appetite today. She didn't eat much rice but had plenty of dishes.

After the meal, Qian Wan lay on the sofa, touching her round little belly, and muttered that she would definitely starve herself for a day before eating the food made by Fan again. Su Qing skillfully demonstrated her tea art. This woman was also quite capable.

It was just that the Dahongpao tea tasted bland to Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan really wanted to have a cigarette. When he was hesitant, Qian Ling handed him a teacup. "If you have a smoking habit, don't hold it back. Consider it a reward for cooking tonight."

Jiang Fan didn't take the cup but instead took out two pieces of tissue paper and placed them on the tea table, then sprinkled a little water on them. He smiled and said, "Then I won't be polite!"

Qian Ling pouted, held her hot tea, and softly said again, "I heard some things about you from Qian Wan. The furniture mall business that Honor is focusing on now was something you came up with in just two days. To be honest, I don't believe it. No one can make a perfect plan in just two days."

Jiang Fan lit a cigarette and said lightly, "You're right, Ms. Qian. When the plan was submitted to the high-level meeting, it was just a rudiment. I didn't calculate the costs of later construction, as well as advertising, investment promotion, and other trivial matters."

At this point, Su Qing gritted her teeth and glared at Jiang Fan. Qian Ling smiled and raised her hand to touch Su Qing's head, signaling Jiang Fan to continue. Jiang Fan grinned and said, "If I were to sell this plan, I would need half a month to work on the details. But for the company, two days are enough. Actually, in these two days, I also accompanied my ex-wife to the hospital for a night and went shopping for a morning because this is the company's plan. It's like the ancient imperial court, where civil officials just talk, and military officials run around tirelessly. I think this analogy is quite apt."

"The civil official just talks, while the military officer runs around tirelessly?"

Su Qing felt that something was off as she thought more about it. She reckoned that the civil official referred to Jiang Fan, and the military officer was herself, Su Qing?

"I won't call him General Jiang anymore," Qian Ling said with a smirk.

"Did you know Tu Xiao or Guan Junbiao before?"

Upon mentioning these two names, Jiang Fan scratched his head embarrassedly.

"No, actually, it's quite a coincidence. My landlord's son is dating Tu Xiao's daughter. Due to some matters, my distant nephew, who's not even related to me, needed a male elder to accompany him to school for support. So, I went with a warm heart and met Tu Kun. Oh! I also had a fight with Guan Junbiao in an alley outside the school. He was knocked down by me and didn't get up. After that, Guan Junbiao, because of his family's young lady, sold me a favor, which can be considered as a debt of gratitude."

"Oh? I'm curious about what kind of favor Guan Junbiao could sell you."

"Lin Xuan offered me 400,000 yuan for my legs and gave me a 100,000 yuan advance."

Su Qing only learned about this news in the afternoon. She was relatively calm, but Qian Wan, lying on the sofa, suddenly sat up and asked in a low voice if it was because of Tang Wan. Jiang Fan bitterly smiled and nodded.

"There's some agreement between Tang Wan and me. It was a forced situation back then, and it turned into what it is now. Later, Tu Xiao urgently needed to transform, and his initial choice was Gao Luxing. However, due to some reasons, I was also involved."

Jiang Fan honestly told his story. Qian Ling put down her teacup and carefully observed Jiang Fan. After a long time, she frowned and bitterly smiled.

"I don't know whether to say you're lucky or unlucky. So, you want to intervene in the conflict between Su Qing and Gao Luxing? Or should I say you've already helped Su Qing stabilize her position in Rongyao? Have you thought about the fact that your presence will change the future of Rongyao?"

Jiang Fan shook his head, looking confused.

"I haven't thought about it. I need money, and Su can give me money. I help her with things. She's the first person who has given me the most trust. I can't earn money from two places at the same time. A servant cannot be loyal to two masters. I understand that."

Qian Ling smiled again.

"And today, you acted as a good-for-nothing person and threw away 100,000 yuan in one breath? Jiang Fan, I find that I can't understand you. You're really smart when I say you're smart, but you're really foolish when I say you're foolish. Only money is the most real, and everything else is variable."

This time, Jiang Fan also smiled.

"Money can be earned again if it's lost, but some things, if not done, will be regretted for a lifetime and can't be compensated for. In my heart, money isn't the most important thing because I believe in my own brain. I can earn money. So, I don't want to regret it."

"Including the time when you were almost imprisoned?"

This sentence was like a bomb, but Jiang Fan was not affected at all. He wasn't annoyed or embarrassed by having his old wounds exposed. He just scratched his head embarrassedly.

"Ms. Qian, I was young at that time. Why are you poking at my scars?"

Bang!

Qian Ling slammed her cup on the table and angrily said,

"You've been poking at me all night, and I can't let you off? Get out! I'm tired of seeing you."

"Oh! Will Su send me off?"

"Qing Qing will stay. I have something to say. Qian Wan, give him your car key, and get out early. Seeing you reminds me of Qian Huan, and it makes me feel suffocated."

Jiang Fan nervously took the car key. When he stood up, he accidentally took the tissue paper used for ashing cigarettes on the table with him. When he reached the door, Qian Ling suddenly said,

"Come over to cook when you're free. The food tastes good."

Jiang Fan turned around and grinned.

"Can I stay for the food?"

"Get out!"

"Okay!"

After going downstairs, Jiang Fan was blown by the evening breeze. He couldn't figure out what Qian Ling's purpose was in seeing him tonight. When he walked to the McLaren, Jiang Fan felt like crying. He had to drive this car again?