Su Su calmly picked up the menu of the state-run restaurant and glanced over it casually.
Almost everything on it was a specialty from Black City: braised pickles, bubbling green beans, Guo Bao Rou (crispy sweet and sour pork), Di San Xian (stir-fried potato, eggplant, and green pepper), chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised knife fish, sauerkraut stewed with blood sausage, spicy dried tofu, roasted chicken frames, sticky bean buns, fried cakes, beef hot pot…
Su Su smiled at Qin Xutao and asked, “Do you have any dietary restrictions?”
Seeing him shake his head, she grinned.
She casually ordered just one dish—Guo Bao Rou—and handed the menu to the waitress. “Start with this, please.”
The waitress snorted, “Just one dish? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
With that, she twisted her waist and carried the menu to the kitchen.
Su Su grinned, winked at Qin Xutao, and said, “Don’t worry. Today I’m going to teach her what it really means when the customer is always right.”
Soon, the waitress brought out a plate of food.
As she turned to leave, Su Su immediately called out, “One dish doesn’t seem like enough!”
“Waiter, we’ll have another dish—chicken stewed with mushrooms.”
The waitress’s face darkened. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Su Su countered directly, “Do I need to explain what to order to you?”
The waitress stomped off, annoyed, carrying the menu to the kitchen. When the next dish arrived, Su Su smiled again.
“This dish looks good too. I want to try it!”
…
Su Su ended up ordering everything she wanted, separating each dish individually, before finally handing the menu back to the waitress. “Start with these.”
The waitress turned pale, her legs trembling slightly.
Watching the two of them eat and chat, she ground her teeth in anger.
When it came time to pay, if they couldn’t produce the money, she was determined to call the police and have them arrested!
Sensing the waitress’s sharp gaze fixed on them, Su Su’s smile grew even brighter.
In a good mood, she deliberately served some of her favorite dishes into Qin Xutao’s bowl, smiling warmly. “This is delicious. Try it.”
Qin Xutao looked at her smiling face.
The frown that had been there all along finally relaxed.
Indeed, the waitress had been in the wrong first. Su Su had no ill intentions—she was only teaching her a lesson.
After finishing the meal, the waitress stepped forward, her voice sharp and sarcastic. “Can we settle the bill now?”
“Wait a little longer.”
“Then bring us some takeout bags. We can’t waste food.”
The waitress, furious, brought over a few bags.
Su Su calmly packed up all the leftovers, then turned to Qin Xutao and smiled, “All set, let’s go.”
She bypassed the glaring waitress and went to the counter.
“Check, please.”
She pulled out a hundred-yuan note and placed it on the table.
The cashier quickly handed back the remaining change.
The waitress standing nearby was stunned. She actually had that much money! Her face shifted from green to pale in disbelief—it was quite a sight.
Su Su once again felt the joy of having money.
Happily, she grabbed Qin Xutao’s hand and left the restaurant.
They got into the car and drove back to the military family housing.
Along the way, Su Su hummed a tune, feeling in high spirits, which even made Qin Xutao’s lips curl into a slight smile.
When they arrived, Qin Xutao received a phone call. “There’s a sudden task at work. You go back and rest for a while.”
Su Su nodded and watched him leave before entering the housing area.
Under the banyan tree, a crowd had gathered.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out.
“You’re coming back with me! Mom has already arranged your marriage!”
A burly man shouted harshly.
“I’m not going back with you!”
Among the crowd came frightened crying, which sounded like Fang Yingqiu.
Su Su stepped closer and confirmed—it was indeed her.
Her hair was disheveled, tears streaming down her face, her expression pleading.
“No! If you don’t marry, how can I afford a wife? Do you want me to be single for life?”
Fang Zhigang reached out, trying to drag her away.
Fang Yingqiu clutched the banyan tree tightly.
The onlookers couldn’t stand it, whispering among themselves, “Fang Zhigang is really despicable!”
“Exactly. I heard that Fang Yingqiu’s mom was going to marry her off to a cripple just to raise money for Fang Zhigang’s wife.”
“Ugh, with a scoundrel like Fang Zhigang, who would dare give him their daughter?”
“It’s such a pity for Fang Yingqiu—a good young girl, being married off to a cripple!”
At this moment, Fang’s mother heard the commotion and rushed over, her face full of anger.
“Zhigang! This is a military area, what are you doing!?”
Fang Zhigang looked dismissive.
“Aunt, what’s the big deal about the military? Is there some rule saying I can’t take my sister home?”
Fang’s mother’s chest heaved with anger.
Fang Zhigang continued, “Aunt, if you don’t want me to take my sister home, then introduce me to someone else. I see there are some nice girls in the military housing.”
He glanced around with his yellowed eyes.
Suddenly, Fang Zhigang spotted Su Su in the crowd and his eyes lit up. “Aunt, I think that one is perfect!”
Following the direction he pointed, it was Su Su.
Fang’s mother was furious, seeing stars before her eyes.
This Fang Zhigang was completely lawless. Su Su was Captain Qin’s fiancée!
Since the last time she realized Su Su’s weight with Captain Qin, she hadn’t dared touch her, even with all her courage.
Yet Fang Zhigang reached out to Su Su with his hand.
“Little beauty, what’s your name?”
Slap—
Su Su’s gaze was icy. She immediately slapped his hand away and said coldly,
“You’ve got some nerve, harassing a military family member!”
“Just for that, I could have you locked up for proper discipline!”
Hearing this, Fang’s mother rushed over.
She knew that if Su Su wanted to press charges, one count of harassment against Fang Zhigang would be enough to have him disciplined.
But Fang Zhigang was her nephew.
If she had him locked up now, how would she explain it to his parents?
So she could only force a smile and say, “No, no, no, my nephew doesn’t understand.”
Then she turned and scolded him sharply, “You fool! This is Captain Qin’s fiancée! Apologize immediately!”
Fang Zhigang’s expression darkened. He glared at Su Su, grinding his teeth. “I’m sorry.”
Fang Yingqiu, still on the ground, stared at Su Su in a daze.
She had always tried to dress up beautifully, yet here she was, a mess in contrast—what a huge difference!
A surge of intense resentment flashed through Fang Yingqiu’s eyes.
Why!?
How could two people be treated so differently by fate!?
Swallowing the bitter taste rising in her throat, she thought of her worthless brother and an idea formed in her mind.
She forced a stiff smile. “Zhigang, I want to talk to you.”
Then she stood up, dusting the dirt off her clothes, and stepped out of the military housing.
Fang Zhigang spat on the ground impatiently. “Well, hurry up and say what it is!”
Fang Yingqiu said directly, “Did you set your sights on Su Su?”