Volume One, Chapter 14: Clinging to the Son of the Household

“Once, mother asked my elder sister to cook. She only stepped away for a moment, and nearly set the kitchen on fire. After that, no one in the family ever let her cook again.”

What Su Xiaohui said was all true.

In the countryside, especially for women, it was unimaginable for anyone not to know how to cook.

Huo Jianguo clearly hadn’t expected this, but he still chose to trust Su Wan: “If Su Wan couldn’t cook, Principal Song’s family wouldn’t have kept her on.”

Madam Wu also spoke up in Su Wan’s defense: “How could that be? That girl is so quick and nimble. She’s helped me a lot these past few days. She even washed the clothes this morning.”

“Have you ever seen her cook or prepare a meal?” asked Madam Huo sternly.

Wu Ma was caught off guard by the question. Indeed, it was she who always cooked; Su Wan only helped with small tasks, like peeling garlic or rinsing rice.

“This is sheer nonsense. If anything happened to Principal Song’s family—if they got food poisoning or the house caught fire—Xiao Han’s career advancement would be over. If it escalated, the entire Huo family would be implicated.”

With a loud slap, Madam Huo slammed her chopsticks down on the table and spoke sharply: “How could you introduce such a lazy, clumsy troublemaker as a housekeeper? Wu Ma, go find her immediately.”

Wu Ma was intimidated by Madam Huo’s authority, her face full of panic as she stammered, “Su Wan should be at Principal Song’s home now. I don’t even know where that is.”

She and Aunt Wang had only exchanged a few words at the market. Besides knowing the employer’s identity, they hadn’t asked for a specific address.

After meeting at the market yesterday, Aunt Wang had taken Su Wan back. She didn’t accompany her because she wanted to cook at home.

Madam Huo shot a fierce glance at Wu Ma, then turned to Huo Jianguo: “Call Xiao Han immediately. Have him contact Principal Song and get that girl back.”

Though Huo Jianguo trusted Su Wan, Su Xiaohui’s words couldn’t be ignored. He went into the study and dialed Huo Xiaohan’s office number.

The phone rang unanswered several times. Just as he was about to hang up, Huo Xiaohan answered, panting heavily, evidently having just finished running.

“Xiao Han, do you have Principal Song’s number?” Huo Jianguo cut straight to the point and briefly explained the situation.

“Dad, I’ve heard from villagers that she can’t cook, that the whole family got food poisoning and were bedridden for three days,” Huo Xiaohan frowned deeply, realizing the gravity of the matter.

Previously, he had only relayed to his parents the issues about Su Wan’s character that the village secretary had confirmed. As for the villagers’ other claims, he hadn’t mentioned them since they were unverified.

He hadn’t expected Su Wan to run off and work as a housekeeper for the leader of his military academy.

“I’ll call Principal Song’s son right away. Don’t worry, Dad. It’s not yet time for lunch.”

Hearing this, Huo Jianguo’s expression grew heavier.

He urged Huo Xiaohan over the phone to contact Principal Song quickly, apologize, and have Su Wan return as soon as possible to prevent the situation from worsening.

“What did Xiao Han say? This is only her third day and she’s already caused trouble.”

After hanging up and returning to the living room, Madam Huo noticed Huo Jianguo’s unusual expression and twisted her lips.

“Mom, Xiao Han has already called Principal Song’s son. Su Wan should be back soon.”

“Hmph. I always wondered why she suddenly wanted to become a housekeeper. At first, I thought she was trying to improve herself, but it turns out Principal Song’s family has a son… She’s just desperate to live there as a housekeeper to find a good match. What a schemer.”

Madam Huo was furious. She hadn’t been so angry at first, but after seeing Huo Jianguo’s changed expression, she realized Su Xiaohui had downplayed the situation.

“Mom, Su Wan isn’t what you think. She just wanted to work her way through school and gain some experience,” Huo Jianguo disagreed.

“She knew she couldn’t cook, yet still had Wu Ma help her find a housekeeper job. That girl is cunning. She knows wealthy families can afford housekeepers. Once she lives there, she can latch onto their impressive son. With the Huo family’s influence backing her, no one would refuse to marry her.”

Madam Huo had never met such a calculating person. She skipped breakfast, clutched her chest in frustration, and returned to her room.

“Grandma Huo, please don’t be angry,” Su Xiaohui hurried after her, trying to soothe her.

She regretted telling the story so soon. If Su Wan had really caused trouble cooking, the Huo family would never have kept her.

But now, with things blown up like this, even if Su Wan came back, life at the Huo household would be grim.

Well deserved. She had brought this on herself.

After hanging up, Huo Xiaohan tried calling the military hospital where Principal Song’s son worked but was told that Dr. Song was in surgery, still likely to be in the operating room for another hour or two.

With no choice, Huo Xiaohan decided to go to Principal Song’s house himself. But just as he stepped out of the office building, Political Commissar Liu caught up to him with an urgent order: a sudden meeting was called by the higher-ups.

Military orders were absolute. Without hesitation, Huo Xiaohan headed straight to the conference room.

After the meeting, it was already ten-thirty. He called the military hospital again; Dr. Song was still in surgery.

Grabbing his car keys, he jumped into his car and drove straight to the school’s staff housing.

He had visited Principal Song’s home once before during his military school days and vaguely remembered it was on the third floor of the leadership’s residential building. After climbing the stairs, the first apartment on the right was Song’s.

As he approached, he overheard voices talking about the new young housekeeper at Principal Song’s:

“The new housekeeper at Principal Song’s place really knows how to cook. The braised pork was so aromatic, the smell even drifted all the way to our faculty building. My child was so tempted he started crying, begging for some.”

“Yes! I could almost taste it just from the smell. It was absolutely delicious.”

“This morning, when I went to buy vegetables, I ran into the little housekeeper. She was carrying a basket, looked so fresh and pretty, like a movie actress from a magazine. Her voice was soft and gentle, calling everyone ‘Teacher’—it was so soothing to hear.”

Hearing this, Huo Xiaohan furrowed his brows.

Good cooking, fragrant aroma, carrying a basket—could this be Su Wan?

Striding up to the second floor of the residential building, he caught a tantalizing scent of food. By the third floor, the meat’s aroma was even stronger.

Though it was summer and people usually had little appetite in the heat, this delicious scent whetted his hunger.

Two or three children stood outside Principal Song’s door, drooling. Principal Song smiled warmly, placing a piece of meat from the bowl into each child’s palm.

The children eagerly ate it, licking their hands with satisfied expressions, their eyes pleading for more.

At that moment, Huo Xiaohan appeared in the hallway, tall and upright in his summer beige military short-sleeve uniform.

Principal Song immediately looked over, both surprised and delighted.

“Little Huo, you came just in time! Our new housekeeper made the most exquisite braised pork today. Come in quickly.”

While inviting him in, Principal Song called toward the kitchen, “Xiaowan, we have a guest. Bring another bowl and set out an extra pair of chopsticks.”

“All right!” came a clear, melodious voice from the kitchen, like a sweet babbling brook.