The Home Cooking at the Chief's House

Xia Xiang had a very good impression of Cao Yongguo's family. Not only did Cao Yongguo help change his fate, but his family also treated him with no condescension or neglect, truly treating him as a junior friend. Whether it was because Cao Yongguo valued the face of his brother or because he was always this way, Xia Xiang had no reason not to respect him.

Cao Yongguo was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. He was a typical northerner, tall and robust, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. When he saw Xia Xiang enter, he looked up, nodded, and said, "Sit wherever you like."

Since he had lived another life, could he do something for Cao Yongguo in this life? After all, Cao Yongguo was only 50 years old, and a 50-year-old department-level official, if slightly maneuvered, could retire with a vice-provincial treatment, which would not be too much to ask.

Moreover, if he entered the political arena with Li Dingshan, Cao Yongguo, who had been an official for many years, although always in a middle position, was still a department-level official with his own network and connections. He could share resources and complement each other with Li Dingshan. After all, they would be comrades-in-arms on the same front, and having more friends would mean more paths in the confrontation with the provincial party secretary.

After saying one sentence, Cao Yongguo did not look up again and focused entirely on reading the newspaper, ignoring Xia Xiang. Xia Xiang sat at the corner of the sofa, quietly sitting there, looking calm. He noticed that Cao Yongguo glanced at him a couple of times from the corner of his eye, but he pretended not to notice, sitting upright and looking straight ahead.

Cao Shuli, wearing slippers, came running out of the kitchen, holding a fruit platter with washed apples and pears. She placed it in front of Xia Xiang, revealing a beautiful set of teeth, and said, "Xia Xiang, don't be polite, have some fruit."

Xia Xiang said, "Thank you," but did not reach for the fruit. Cao Shuli, however, enthusiastically picked up an apple and took a fruit knife to peel it. Xia Xiang wouldn't let her do it and reached out to take the apple and the knife, saying, "Let me do it. Be careful not to cut your hand."

Cao Shuli smiled mischievously, "Underestimating me, am I that clumsy?"

"You are not only clumsy but also clumsy-handed!" Cao Yongguo put down the newspaper and, when he looked at Xia Xiang again, his eyes were full of approval. He pointed at Cao Shuli, "Look at you, so flustered. You're already a big girl and still don't know how to be steady. Do you know that in ancient times, a woman of your age should smile without showing her teeth and walk with small, delicate steps?"

"Here we go again, Dad, you are a national official, you should keep up with the pulse of society, right? How can your mind be so stubborn and outdated? Without boasting, my dignified image is already top-notch among the ladies at our school. What kind of eyesight do you have, not seeing any of my good qualities?"

Facing his daughter's retort, Cao Yongguo burst into laughter and turned to Xia Xiang, "Xia Xiang, you judge. Shuli says she's a lady, are today's college students really that bad?"

Xia Xiang thought, in a few decades, many female college students would be crying and begging for sponsors. Compared to the future, at least the current female college students still had the innocence and shyness of young girls. He had to speak the truth, "In my opinion, it's not bad for Shuli to be lively. A girl who is lively and cute is more likable."

"Exactly, many boys at our school like me, and every day someone writes me love letters..." Cao Shuli raised her head, her face filled with indescribable pride and excitement.

Cao Yongguo's face darkened, "How many times have I told you, no dating during college. This is non-negotiable."

Cao Yongguo, having been an official for many years, exuded an imposing presence when he became serious, making people feel inexplicably oppressed. Even though Xia Xiang was three meters away, he felt his chest tighten and almost couldn't breathe.

Cao Shuli's expression changed, and she leaned closer to Xia Xiang, as if seeking someone to rely on, her eyes showing unease. It was clear that Cao Yongguo's family discipline was strict, and Cao Shuli was afraid of her father's wrath.

Xia Xiang gently pulled Cao Shuli, making her sit on the sofa, then with a flick of his hand, a long, unbroken apple peel fell off the apple. Next, he used two fingers of his left hand to hold the apple, and with the fruit knife in his right hand, he made a single cut along one side of the apple. Before half of the apple could fall, he flipped his wrist, and the half apple was perched on the tip of the knife. The entire action was smooth and visually pleasing, and most importantly, his hands never touched the flesh of the fruit, keeping it clean and hygienic.

Xia Xiang pushed the apple towards Cao Shuli, gesturing for her to take it. Cao Shuli's eyes widened, her mouth agape, her expression exaggerated to the extreme.

"You're amazing, Xia Xiang, how did you do that, it's incredible." If not for her father's presence, she would have shouted in amazement.

When Xia Xiang was a child, he stayed at his grandfather's house, and every summer vacation, he would return for a while. His grandfather had a few acres of orchards, and his favorite thing was to lie under the trees, holding a small knife, and whenever he fancied a fruit, he would cut it down and peel it. Over time, he developed the skill of peeling fruits without breaking the skin.

"I have a younger sister who loves apples, so I peeled them for her every day. Gradually, I mastered the technique of peeling fruits without breaking the skin. My sister is very cute and pretty, and I always thought that if any boy dared to bully her or have bad intentions, I would make him pay. Because I love my sister, I don't want her to be hurt. Loving someone sometimes means wanting to do everything for them, to protect them completely, to prevent them from being deceived or hurt by boys... Director Cao loves you like the apple of his eye, so naturally, he has high expectations. He doesn't want to bind you with rules, but rather, he wants to use his rich life experience to teach you that each stage of life has its own tasks. For example, during college, the main focus should be on studying. Even if you meet a boy you like, you should learn to control yourself. After all, college is just a transit station in life, and once you graduate, you might part ways..."

Cao Shuli, holding the apple, listened intently, her eyes fixed on Xia Xiang, noticing the sadness and longing in his eyes, the sparkling sorrow in his bright eyes, which made her heart ache. She turned to Cao Yongguo, "Dad, don't blame me, I only said that someone likes me, not that I'm dating. You are so harsh, even though you care about me. Can't you be a bit more gentle, so I can accept it, okay?"

Cao Yongguo gave Xia Xiang a grateful glance and chuckled, "Shuli, isn't Dad worried that you might be deceived? You are still young, how can you tell if those boys who show you attention are good or bad?"

Cao Shuli, puzzled, said, "Is it wrong for others to like me? Is liking someone good or bad? By the way, Xia Xiang, since you are a boy, what do you think is the psychology behind a boy liking a girl?"

"Well, it varies from person to person, hard to generalize..." Xia Xiang felt a bit awkward. In college, when boys discussed girls, it was often about naked bodies and sexual desire. Men could separate love and sex, but women were different, loving first and then having sex. In front of Cao Yongguo, he didn't dare to speak freely.

Cao Yongguo, as an experienced person, knew that Cao Shuli's question was difficult to answer. Seeing Xia Xiang's dilemma, he guessed it was hard for him to respond, so he interjected, "Xia Xiang is a guest, quickly pour tea for the guest."

Cao Shuli reluctantly went to make tea. Xia Xiang peeled another piece of the apple and placed it on a plate, pushing it towards Cao Yongguo, and respectfully said, "Director Cao, have an apple. Apples are known as the fruit of intelligence, which can enhance wisdom and delay aging."

Cao Yongguo, deep in thought, picked up the apple and started eating, saying, "Nowadays, children are so hard to manage. When we were young, we obeyed our parents and never caused trouble. Times are changing, but some old traditions and virtues should not be lost."

Xia Xiang thought about how, in the future, Cao Yongguo refused to collude with Gao Chengsong and was eventually transferred to the Surveying and Mapping Bureau, ending his career in disappointment. He vaguely remembered hearing that Cao Yongguo might be transferred to the Provincial Construction Committee as the director, but due to Gao Chengsong's interference, Cao Yongguo's dream of further advancement was shattered.

From this, Xia Xiang deduced that Cao Yongguo was a straightforward person who refused to compromise with Gao Chengsong. Xia Xiang couldn't advise him to change his stance and align with Gao Chengsong. Given Cao Yongguo's character, such advice might backfire and leave a bad impression. Besides, even if he aligned with Gao Chengsong, after Gao Chengsong's downfall, he might suffer even more. However, after Gao Chengsong's fall, Cao Yongguo did not regain his position, suggesting there might be more to the story.

"Yes, the integrity and spirit of the older generation are incomparable to ours, but people need time to grow, from youth to maturity, it's a gradual process..." Xia Xiang continued, following Cao Yongguo's line of thought.

Cao Yongguo looked at Xia Xiang with interest, "Xia, I feel you've matured a lot. It seems going out into the world does make a difference. Though you are only three years older than Shuli, you seem ten years more mature. If Shuli had half your steadiness and insight, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Xia, stay for lunch, don't go yet," Cao Yongguo's wife, Wang Zhifen, came out of the kitchen, her hands covered in flour, wearing an apron. She was dressed simply, looking like an ordinary housewife, with none of the airs of a director's wife.

Though others were hospitable, he couldn't take himself as a family member. Xia Xiang quickly stood up to say goodbye, "I don't want to disturb Aunt, I should go now..." Xia Xiang hadn't asked where Wang Zhifen worked or her position, so he addressed her as Aunt.

"No, you can't leave!" Cao Shuli ran out of the kitchen, holding a teacup, and said angrily, "It's rude, I just made you tea, and you're leaving without even taking a sip, completely ignoring my efforts, how hateful!"