The medicine was bought, the money saved, and they even had an extra meat coupon in hand.
Su Ci was in high spirits. With a big wave of her hand, she said, “Let’s go! To the state-run restaurant! We’re having braised lion’s head meatballs! This meal’s on me!”
Lu Si sat in the sidecar of the tricycle, holding the bundle of herbs in his arms, and looked at her humming and pedaling energetically ahead. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
When they arrived at the state-run restaurant, it was peak meal time—the place was bustling.
In those days, only people of a certain status could dine out. Everyone wore bluish-gray work uniforms, chatting, drinking, and enjoying themselves.
Su Ci pushed Lu Si inside and found an empty seat by the window.
“Comrade, order the food!” she said, slapping the meat coupon onto the table with dramatic flair. “Two braised lion’s head meatballs, one plate of twice-cooked pork, and two bowls of steamed rice!”
The waiter noted the order and glanced at Lu Si’s legs. His eyes flickered with something unusual, but he said nothing and turned away.
At that moment, a mocking laugh came from the next table.
“Oh, isn’t this Commander Lu? What’s this—your legs are shot, and you’re still out at a restaurant?”
Lu Si’s body stiffened. His previously relaxed expression instantly hardened.
He turned to see a few casually dressed men at the next table, the one in the center holding a glass of wine and looking at him with a sneer.
It was his old nemesis, Wang Daqiang, the former military officer now serving as the head of the local security department.
Back in the army, Wang Daqiang had been completely under Lu Si’s command. Now, seeing him fall into misfortune, he couldn’t resist kicking him when he was down.
“Wow, the once-mighty Commander Lu, now in a wheelchair? And with a woman pushing you?” Wang Daqiang deliberately raised his voice, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
“I heard your leg’s never going to recover. How are you going to live? Want me to find you a gatekeeping job at the security office?”
A low chuckle rose from the surrounding tables.
Lu Si gripped the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles whitened. His face was pale, almost iron-like.
The humiliation of being publicly mocked made his blood feel like it had frozen.
He wanted to get up, to hit someone—but his legs… wouldn’t move.
“Hey, comrade, I don’t like hearing you talk like that.”
Su Ci suddenly spoke, her voice crisp and clear, cutting through the awkwardness.
She leisurely poured herself a glass of water without even looking at Wang Daqiang.
“My husband’s leg was injured serving the country—it’s a medal of honor. How does it become a joke in your mouth? Are you saying it’s shameful to serve the people?”
Wang Daqiang’s face changed. “I didn’t mean—”
“Then shut up,” Su Ci sneered. “And as for the gatekeeping job, I think it suits you perfectly. A mouth like yours would be wasted anywhere else.”
“You—!” Wang Daqiang slammed the table, “Who are you calling a dog?!”
“Whoever I feel like,” Su Ci said, feigning innocence.
Seeing Wang Daqiang about to make a move, Lu Si’s eyes darkened, his hand instinctively reaching for his waist (even though he wasn’t carrying a gun, it was a habit).
Su Ci gently pressed his hand down and patted it lightly.
“Don’t get angry. Stooping to their level only lowers you.”
Just then, the waiter brought the dishes.
A plate of glossy, aromatic braised lion’s head meatballs immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Su Ci picked up a large meatball and placed it in Lu Si’s bowl, carefully removing the scallions and ginger.
“Darling, eat up. We earned this meat coupon ourselves—if we don’t eat our fill, how will we have the strength to serve the country?”
She deliberately emphasized “earned ourselves.”
Then, in front of everyone, she picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork and brought it to Lu Si’s mouth.
“Ah—open your mouth.”
Lu Si froze.
With so many people watching, she… was feeding him?
“Come on, my hand’s getting tired,” Su Ci urged, her eyes carrying a subtle mix of mischief and reassurance.
Lu Si looked into her smiling eyes and instinctively opened his mouth.
At that moment, the surrounding laughter and Wang Daqiang’s angry face seemed to vanish.
In his world, there was only this woman and the piece of meat she offered.
So good.
Wang Daqiang watched them show affection so openly and eat with such gusto, his face green with envy. He could do nothing but sit and drink in frustration.
Su Ci fed Lu Si while muttering under her breath: “Hmph, serve him right. Who does he think he is, mocking someone like me?”
Lu Si listened, chewing the meatball, and somehow, the anger and humiliation inside him miraculously dissipated.
He looked at Su Ci with a deep, complicated gaze.
This woman always appeared like a small firecracker at his lowest moments, exploding through the scene and protecting the little pride he had left.
“Su Ci.”
“Hm?” Her cheeks were puffed with food.
“Delicious?”
“Delicious! So good!”
“Then eat more.” Lu Si offered her another meatball from his bowl. “You need strength to push me home.”
Su Ci glanced at the meat in her bowl, blinked, and suddenly smiled.
“As you command, darling!”
That meal was thoroughly satisfying.
After finishing, Su Ci pushed Lu Si out of the restaurant, strutting like a victorious rooster.
Wang Daqiang watched their backs, eyes dark and malicious. “Lu Si, just wait. I refuse to believe a cripple like you can have this much luck!”
…
After that triumphant meal of braised lion’s head meatballs, the sky changed as suddenly as a child’s mood.
The once-clear sky was covered with dark clouds, and rolling thunder rumbled as if ready to strike.
“Oh no, it’s going to pour,” Su Ci said, glancing at the sky and hurrying to the tricycle.
As bad luck would have it, just as she helped Lu Si onto the “convertible van,” and before pedaling two turns, a crisp “clack” rang out—the chain spun freely a few times and stopped completely.
Su Ci jumped off and saw that the chain had broken.
Industrial products were strong these days, but they couldn’t withstand the strain of carrying both people and cargo up steep hills.
“Old Lu, I think we won’t make it home tonight,” Su Ci decided at once, watching the heavy rain begin to fall.
“All the repair shops are closed, the roads are slippery, and trying to go on will jostle you apart. Let’s head to that inn ahead.”
Lu Si sat in the sidecar, his face darker than the storm clouds.
Not being able to return meant spending the night outside, exposing all his weakness and incompleteness in an unfamiliar place.