Volume 1, Chapter 33: Give the Fatty Meat to Me

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Huo Hong led Fang Yu forward and introduced the two of them.

“Commander Huo, hello. My name is Fang Yu, and I’m a teacher at Lìzhi High School.” Fang Yu’s voice had never been so gentle and bashful. After shyly lifting her eyes to glance at him, she immediately lowered her head again.

“Hello. Huo Xiaohan.” Huo Xiaohan uttered the few words in a brief, formal tone.

Then he turned to Li Sumei and greeted her as well. “Hello, Auntie.”

His indifferent gaze swept across the room, paused briefly at the kitchen, then quickly withdrew.

“He’s so tall and handsome—he looks even better in person than in the photograph, and much more mature and steady,” Li Sumei praised sincerely.

“Come on, everyone, sit down. The food won’t taste good once it gets cold.” Huo Hong hurriedly ushered everyone to their seats. Judging from Section Chief Li and Teacher Fang’s reactions, they seemed highly satisfied with Xiaohan.

Xiaohan, however, remained as cold and stern as ever.

It was impossible to tell whether he had taken a liking to her or not.

That was how blind dates worked. If both parties felt they were suitable after meeting for the first time, they could more or less submit a report requesting permission to marry, then cultivate their feelings gradually after the wedding.

Huo Hong hoped Xiaohan’s marriage could be settled as soon as possible. As a regimental commander, he had left his personal affairs unresolved for so long that people outside were bound to start gossiping.

They might wonder whether he had some physical problem, or whether he had injured a certain part of his body during training…

So, as the matchmaker, Huo Hong kept trying to bring the two together at the dinner table, constantly finding topics for conversation.

Li Sumei responded enthusiastically as well, deliberately choosing to speak about Fang Yu’s strengths—and exaggerating them considerably.

Huo Xiaohan’s expression remained cold and indifferent. He seemed to be hungry, though, for all his attention was fixed on the food.

“Xiaohan has always been aloof and quiet since he was little. He never seemed to understand such things. When he was at military academy, girls even pursued him all the way to our home, but he refused to pay them the slightest attention. By the time the others graduated, they were already married. Only he has dragged things out until now.” Huo Hong nudged Huo Xiaohan with her elbow, urging him to say a few more words.

He merely gave a faint hum, his expression unmoved, and continued lowering his eyes to study the dishes on the table.

“Sister Fang Yu, try one of these garlic prawns.” Su Xiaohui picked up a garlic prawn, dipped it in a little sauce, and placed it in Fang Yu’s bowl.

“Thank you, Xiaohui. I can help myself.” Fang Yu sat opposite Huo Xiaohan, so shy that she did not even dare raise her eyes. Although she wore a smile in response to Su Xiaohui’s gesture, inwardly she was disgusted.

What a bumpkin. She did not even know to use the serving chopsticks when picking up food. Who would want to eat her saliva?

“Wan, Aunt Wu, don’t keep busy. Come over and eat.” Seeing that Su Wan was still occupied in the kitchen, Huo Jianguo called to her in a deep, steady voice.

“All right, Uncle Huo.” Su Wan turned down the flame beneath the stove, wiped her perspiring face with a towel, and walked over to the dining table.

After Aunt Wu had served everyone their rice, she sat down at the far end near the kitchen.

Su Wan looked at the remaining seats. The only empty places were beside Huo Xiaohan and next to Li Sumei.

Huo Xiaohan had been so fierce to her the previous week. Although she was unwilling to sit beside Li Sumei, it was still better than being scolded again.

She had just pulled out a chair and sat down when Li Sumei shifted unobtrusively to the side, as though she found the presence of a country bumpkin beside her deeply distasteful.

Sharp-eyed Huo Hong noticed this and called for Su Wan to sit beside Huo Xiaohan instead.

Su Wan glanced at Huo Xiaohan. Seeing that he showed no reaction, she walked over and sat down beside him. Since men usually sat with their legs spread apart, when Su Wan placed her legs beneath the table, her knee accidentally brushed against Huo Xiaohan’s thigh.

Huo Xiaohan immediately drew his legs together and sat upright, his back straight as a rod and his face even more severe.

Su Wan behaved properly as well and did not move any closer to him.

Huo Hong tried a piece of braised pork with preserved vegetables and found it delicious, so she put a piece into Li Sumei’s bowl. “Su Wan braised this pork very well. Section Chief Li, try some.”

Li Sumei picked it up and took a small bite, then offered a polite, perfunctory smile and nodded. “It is quite good. She must be accustomed to cooking at home, which explains how she managed to find work as a domestic helper so soon after arriving in Beiping. The pork is a little too tender, though. It needn’t be stewed for quite so long. Meat tastes better with a little chew to it.”

“Our household helper always steams fish. The flavor is wonderfully fresh. Braising it would only conceal the fish’s natural taste.”

Li Sumei continued critiquing Su Wan’s cooking with a beaming smile. At the end, she added praise of another sort. “Still, girls from the countryside are clever and capable. Unlike my Fang Yu, who knows only how to bury herself in books. What good are high grades if she cannot even cook?”

“Mother, anyone can cook by following a recipe. It isn’t nearly as difficult as studying for an examination.” Fang Yu was displeased that her shortcomings had been brought up in front of the man she liked, and hurried to defend her image.

“That’s true. Once you’re married, you can practice more in the kitchen and you’ll learn.” Li Sumei immediately agreed.

She had elevated Fang Yu while reducing Su Wan’s hard work over the meal to nothing.

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Huo Xiaohan frowned slightly, visibly displeased.

His character was firm, cold, and straightforward. One was one, and two was two. If Su Wan’s cooking was good, he would not deny it. Even if it had been poor, he would never disrespect someone else’s labor by making careless, malicious comments.

“Auntie Li, I prepared these dishes according to Grandmother Huo’s and Uncle Huo’s tastes. They are older, so I stewed the meat a little longer.” Su Wan curved her lips and spoke in a sweet, soft voice, her manner gentle and docile.

With quiet gentleness, she returned the slap.

So fond of stirring up trouble, were they?

In a little while, she would tell Huo Xiaohan that Secretary Yang had invited him to dinner at his home. Through Secretary Yang, she would let Huo Xiaohan learn the true nature of this mother and daughter, then have him introduced to another woman.

She could tell that the pair were extremely pleased with Huo Xiaohan, especially Fang Yu, who had completely adopted the demeanor of a shy young woman.

She sat opposite him, wanting to look at him while maintaining the image of a reserved and refined lady.

Li Sumei’s face darkened after Su Wan had neatly rebuffed her. She had never expected a country girl to have such a sharp tongue.

Once Fang Yu’s marriage to the Huo family was settled, she would immediately have them send this bumpkin back to her hometown.

Along with Su Xiaohui.

She then turned back with a smiling face and continued discussing the two young people with Grandmother Huo and Huo Jianguo.

From beginning to end, Su Xiaohui ate only a few vegetables, taking several mouthfuls of rice with each serving of food and constantly drinking water between bites.

At the same time, she kept putting food into Fang Yu’s bowl. Whenever a dish had plenty of sauce or gravy, she would serve it to Fang Yu.

Fang Yu was nearly sick with disgust. She did not touch any of the food Su Xiaohui had picked up for her. At last, unable to bear it any longer, she pushed Su Xiaohui’s hand away and moved her bowl aside, forcing down her revulsion and impatience as she said, “Xiaohui, eat it yourself. I usually don’t eat very much.”

As she spoke, she transferred the food Su Xiaohui had served her back into Su Xiaohui’s bowl.

Su Xiaohui could feel the other girl’s contempt and disgust. Her lowered eyes were filled with hatred.

But it did not matter. Fang Yu might refuse the food she served, but she was still eating other dishes.

She would simply wait for Fang Yu and the Huo family to begin suffering.

Su Wan observed every one of Su Xiaohui’s actions, and things were indeed unfolding as she had expected.

She could not understand it. Although the Su family had always doted on the original owner, they had not treated Su Xiaohui poorly either. The entire family was honest and simple by nature. Why, then, were Su Xiaohui’s thoughts so vicious?

“Su Wan, don’t eat only vegetables. Have some meat.” After all, Su Wan had prepared the meal. During a pause in his conversation with Li Sumei, Huo Jianguo noticed that she was barely eating and placed a piece of meat in her bowl.

“No, thank you, Uncle Huo. I don’t really like meat.” Su Wan shook her head repeatedly. After cooking in the heat of midsummer and breathing in so much grease and smoke, she wanted only some refreshing cold vegetables.

But when an elder bestowed something upon her, refusing was not an option. She could only extend her bowl.

Then she could do nothing but stare at the fatty piece of pork braised with preserved vegetables, troubled and dismayed.

Perhaps she could ask Aunt Wu later whether she wanted it. Fatty meat was still valuable nourishment.

So she moved the piece of meat to one side.

Huo Xiaohan caught the movement from the corner of his eye. Lowering his voice, he said coldly, “You can give the fatty part to me.”

He then lowered his own bowl beneath the table.

Su Wan froze for a moment and glanced at him. His side profile was handsome and composed, his eyes deep as pools and covered by a frost that kept others at a thousand miles’ distance. He looked as though he had not been speaking to her at all.

Huo Xiaohan tapped his long fingers lightly against the table, seemingly urging her to hurry.

Seeing this, Su Wan quickly surveyed the table. When she was sure no one was paying attention, she used her chopsticks to separate the fat from the lean meat. Then she lowered her bowl beneath the table as well and placed the fatty portion into Huo Xiaohan’s bowl.

“Thank you, Commander Huo,” she said politely.

Huo Xiaohan sat upright with an impassive, cold expression and put the fatty meat into his mouth, chewing slowly.

When Su Wan saw that everyone had nearly finished eating, she rose and went into the kitchen to bring out the winter melon and kelp soup.

Li Sumei happened to be thirsty, so she ladled herself a bowl. After one sip, she said, “Su Wan, this soup seems a little bland. Commander Huo has just come in from outside and must have sweated quite a bit. He needs to replenish his salt and fluids.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll add some more.” Su Wan obediently fetched the salt jar, turned around, and added a spoonful to the soup.

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Huo Xiaohan had just finished a bowl of rice and was about to serve himself some soup when Su Wan’s long eyelashes trembled faintly. She swiftly took the ladle from his hand.

Her soft, delicate hand brushed lightly against his fingertips, like sparks kindled into existence.

He immediately pulled away and withdrew his hand. Assuming she meant to serve him, he said coldly, “I can do it myself.”

Su Wan ignored him and served Li Sumei another bowl instead. “Auntie Li, try it again and see whether the salt is suitable now.”

She then served bowls to Grandmother Huo, Huo Jianguo, and Huo Hong as well, setting them aside to cool beneath the electric fan before they drank them.

This country girl’s cooking really was quite good. Fang Yu ladled herself a bowl too, blowing on it before taking a sip. The soup was refreshing with the clean flavor of winter melon and the savory freshness of kelp, so she eagerly took a second sip.

Su Xiaohui knew perfectly well that this soup was the safest dish of all. She ladled half a bowl and mixed it with rice.

At the same time, she silently watched everyone around her, finding it strange that no one had shown any signs of poisoning.

“Mm, the soup is just right now. You only added the salt too late, so the winter melon didn’t absorb the flavor. Next time, add it earlier.” After taking several sips and eating a piece of winter melon, Li Sumei smiled and offered Su Wan her advice.

It was said that one should not strike a smiling face. Although her words were inappropriate, she had presented them with apparent kindness and enthusiasm.

“Perhaps your sense of taste has weakened with age, Auntie. It tastes just right to me.” Huo Xiaohan placed a piece of winter melon into his mouth and spoke without the slightest tact. His voice was as cold and rigid as ever, like a heated iron bar, devoid of emotion or fluctuation.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Li Sumei’s face. She had not expected Commander Huo to defend this country bumpkin so openly.

She immediately grew displeased.

Seeing this, Huo Hong tried to smooth things over. She had just picked up a bowl of winter melon and kelp soup to taste it herself when Fang Yu suddenly felt a violent churning in her stomach. She opened her mouth and vomited, her entire mouth stained an unnatural black.

“Fang Yu, what’s wrong?” Li Sumei was terrified and hurriedly asked her. She herself was beginning to feel nauseated as well.

“Mother, I’m having trouble breathing.” Fang Yu had finished the entire bowl of soup. Her face contorted in pain as she spoke.

Soon afterward, Su Xiaohui felt nauseated too, and her stomach began to ache.

She had never expected nitrite poisoning to be so potent. She had barely eaten anything, yet her reaction was already so severe. Fortunately, she remained conscious.

The others’ symptoms would certainly be worse than hers.

“Section Chief Li, Teacher Fang—their hands and mouths!” Huo Hong saw that the skin around both women’s mouths and on their hands had turned black. She rose, her face filled with shock and concern.

Huo Xiaohan immediately understood. “They seem to have been poisoned. Call emergency services and get an ambulance here at once.”

The moment she heard the word “poisoned,” Li Sumei realized that Su Wan must have deliberately taken revenge over what had happened at the shopping center the previous day. She immediately pointed at Su Wan and accused her. “You put poison in the food? How could you have such a vicious heart?”

“Sister, you can’t resent them and tamper with the food just because you can’t attend school in Beiping and the Huo family doesn’t like you.” Bent at the waist as though about to vomit, Su Xiaohui spoke with a pained expression.

Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, her face filled with terror. “Sister, is that why you deliberately knocked over the salt jar in the kitchen, poured all the salt into the sink, and washed it away with water? Because there was something wrong with the salt?”

Huo Xiaohan immediately picked up the salt jar from the table and inspected it. He saw at once that the contents were abnormal. Pouring some into his palm, he examined it carefully.

“It’s nitrite. This industrial salt is highly poisonous. The symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and blackening around the lips.”

Every symptom matched.

His sharp, icy black eyes shot toward Su Wan.

Grandmother Huo clutched her chest, nearly fainting. Huo Hong hurriedly supported her and said in furious restraint, “Brother, you’ve brought a poisonous snake into this house.”

“Su Wan, what is the meaning of this?” Huo Jianguo returned from the study after calling for an ambulance. His expression was grave, and an intimidating pressure radiated from his entire body.

“Uncle Huo, Xiaohui was the one who gave me the salt from that jar. The problem is with the soup. Auntie Li and the others only began showing symptoms after drinking the winter melon and kelp soup with that salt added.” Su Wan spoke with complete innocence, pointing at the soup with an expression of bewilderment, as though she knew nothing about what had happened.

“That does seem to be the case. We never drank the soup, and none of us feels ill,” Aunt Wu added at that moment.

Only then did the Huo family realize that none of them appeared to be suffering any discomfort.

The only one among them who had eaten any winter melon was Huo Xiaohan, but the amount of poison he had consumed was small, so it had not affected him for the time being.

Su Xiaohui, who had been pretending to vomit in agony, suddenly froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

How could this be?