The Seductive Pretender: Sister-in-Law is Turning Gay - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: In This Life, She Was a Bit More Greedy; She Hoped Lin Yuqing Could Love Her.

Meng Luo had strongly encouraged Zhang Pingrui, a swimming coach at her gym, to join her in supporting her colleague’s business. However, upon arriving at the shop, they found only Xiao Ying busily working; the new shop manager was nowhere to be seen.

“Xiao Ying, where is Lin Yuqing?” Meng Luo poured herself a glass of water. Xiao Ying poked her head out, her voice filled with suppressed laughter. “She’s stuck at the intersection up ahead. She got pulled over by the traffic police and said she’ll be a bit late.”

Meng Luo and Zhang Pingrui exchanged a look wasn’t that a perfect coincidence? It was still early, so they hurried over to enjoy the spectacle.

When the two reached the busy four-way intersection, they saw four figures two large and two small squatting next to the police outpost. As they approached, Meng Luo discovered that both Lin Yuqing and Zhong Manjing had their eyes closed, muttering under their breaths.

“Electric vehicle drivers should follow the instructions of traffic lights… wear helmets properly…”

The traffic officer who had pulled them over was standing right beside them. “Recite faster; the kids are waiting to go home for dinner.”

Zhong Manjing pressed her hands together in prayer. “Officer, our Boss Lin is waiting to go back and open her shop. Big brother, please just let us go. Lin Yuqing, maybe we should just pay the fine instead.”

They had been given two choices: one was a forty-yuan fine, and the other was to study the traffic regulations and answer all the test questions correctly. Lin Yuqing had chosen the latter. As a result, the two primary school students had already finished and gotten everything right, while she and Lin Yuqing had missed one question and had to start over. This made Zhong Manjing wonder had she and Lin Yuqing actually graduated from elementary school?

Lin Yuqing said steadily, “Just a little longer and we’ll have it memorized.”

Zhong Manjing seized the opportunity. “Consider this a meal you owe me. Are these two little brats going to stay here with us? Let me see…”

Zhang Pingrui looked at the officer and said in surprise, “Dad, you’re on duty today?”

Su Xiaodong and Chenchen saw a familiar face and called out, “Hello, Coach Zhang!” Then, like startled quails, they tugged at Zhang Pingrui’s hem and whispered, “Please talk to Uncle Zhang. We won’t ever dare to go without helmets or carry four people again.”

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Zhang Guojie’s stern, upright face. Zhang Pingrui said, “Dad, that’s enough, isn’t it? These two kids are my students, and Lin Yuqing is my colleague. Her shop is the ‘Whatever Noodle Shop’ just up ahead it has a great reputation. We’re all on the same side. Next time you’re on morning duty, remember to support my colleague’s business!”

Zhong Manjing and Lin Yuqing immediately snapped their eyes open. Meng Luo smilingly snapped a photo of the two of them squatting on the road: “A rare image of early human enlightenment.”

“…” Lin Yuqing stood up, and Zhong Manjing took her hand to rise as well, saying with a smile, “So it’s Officer Zhang! Thank you for your hard work. It’s only right to be strict with us; didn’t we do something wrong? This was such a vivid educational lesson for the children, wasn’t it, Xiaodong!”

Su Xiaodong nodded vigorously and immediately caught on. “Yes! Thank you, Uncle Zhang! We’re leaving right now!”

Zhang Guojie hadn’t managed to say a word yet, but everything had been arranged for him. This girl named Zhong Manjing was all smiles, making it truly difficult to stay angry. He pinched Su Xiaodong’s ear. “You little rascal, alright then. Forget the reciting, but next time you must be careful not to do something so dangerous, and remember not to be so flashy.” That curtain of flowers swaying around was so bright and vivid; it would have been hard not to notice them as a target for a citation.

As they were leaving, Lin Yuqing finally said, “Officer Zhang, come to the noodle shop next time to try it out. It’s on the house.”

Zhang Pingrui was also preparing to leave. He waited specifically until Lin Yuqing and Zhong Manjing had walked a distance with the children before lowering his voice. “Don’t be too hard on that young girl. It’s not easy for them being here without family, and they are very good to us neighbors. She only went to pick up the kids today because Sister Su and Brother Li were busy.”

He was still thinking about the osmanthus plum juice Zhong Manjing had brought as an employee benefit last time.

“Traffic rules must be obeyed,” Zhang Guojie said, then thought for a moment. “That girl named Xiao Zhong seems very likeable… does she have a partner?”

“Old Zhang, don’t even think about it,” Zhang Pingrui looked at his father speechlessly. “Xiao Zhong said she came here specifically to find someone. Who else could it be? Her heart is already taken! Don’t overthink it!”

Lin Yuqing arranged for the two children to eat tomato noodle soup at the shop, while Zhong Manjing had potato mash mixed rice noodles with minced meat. After eating, Zhong Manjing would walk the children home.

“I won’t see them off,” Lin Yuqing said as she hurried into the kitchen to start working. Zhong Manjing waved at her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll come find you for a late-night snack once you’re off work.”

As she walked out, Zhong Manjing glanced back at the intersection. Amidst the busy flow of traffic, Zhang Guojie’s figure was methodically directing the cars.

Meng Luo walked back with her, rubbing her rounded belly and exclaiming how satisfied she was. She thought Zhong Manjing would rest after returning, but instead, Zhong Manjing brought out a glass pitcher filled with bamboo cane, imperata root, and snow pear water and asked her to deliver it to the noodle shop.

Meng Luo felt refreshed after drinking a large glass herself. “Why don’t you go yourself?”

“I still have a lot of things to do. It’s time to vent the air from the pickle jars, I have to stir-fry dishes, and I need to make cold appetizers.” Zhong Manjing opened the fridge to take out pre-prepared boneless chicken feet to defrost. As she began slicing lemons to make the spicy and sour brine, Meng Luo started shouting, “You’re making lemon spicy-sour boneless chicken feet again! Please, give me some!”

The mere thought of it made her mouth water.

Zhong Manjing said, “I’ll give you some when you get back. Also, could you help me get some fresh giant river prawns? Oh, and when you’re at Sister Su’s shop, tell her to come back early.”

Meng Luo: “Roger that!”

By the time Meng Luo returned, the chicken feet were already soaking, and the blue crabs were already chopped. Zhong Manjing put the cleaned river prawns into the crisper; she would stir-fry them right before leaving to ensure Lin Yuqing could eat them at their hottest after work.

Meng Luo was dazzled by the sight. “What’s the occasion for such a feast today?”

“Does it have to be a special day to eat well? Even if you’re alone, you should eat a good meal.” When Zhong Manjing focused at the kitchen counter, she truly enjoyed herself; she loved the slow process of turning fresh ingredients into gourmet food.

“Did she drink it?”

“She did. I told her you gave it to her, and she said it was delicious and that you are very skillful.”

Zhong Manjing smiled and pointed to a small glass jar of pickled radishes on the table. “Take this with you. I made two more jars; there’s so much I can’t possibly finish it all.”

White radishes were delicious this season—crisp and juicy. They were wonderfully crunchy once pickled.

Meng Luo made a sound of agreement, then asked curiously, “It seems like ever since I met you, you’ve been making pickles. Before, it was in small jars, but since you started supplying Boss Lin, you’ve been making them ten or twenty pounds at a time. Do you really like pickles that much? I don’t see you eating them very often.”

Zhong Manjing indeed didn’t eat them often. She would give her finished products to the neighbors and ask if the flavor needed improvement, but she only ate them herself occasionally on lazy days. Yet, her fridge was always stocked with fresh pickles, ready to use at any time.

“I’m actually quite indifferent to them, but there is…” There is someone who likes them more. When this thought appeared in Zhong Manjing’s mind, her movements faltered for a moment.

Is that so? Was it because she liked them so much?

At the time, Zhong Manjing simply thought she had calculated that Lin Yuqing would lack the capital to buy pickles in bulk, and she could use this opening to get closer to her. Now, thinking deeply on it, that wasn’t the whole story.

The formation of this habit could perhaps be traced back much further.

When Lin Yuqing was brought back by Zhong Suyuan and kept under house arrest, there was a period when she wouldn’t eat anything. She hated Zhong Suyuan, and she hated Zhong Manjing just as much.

At that time, Zhong Manjing’s attitude toward Lin Yuqing was equally hostile. Once, out of boredom, she had pickled a small jar of vegetables. She didn’t eat them, but Zhong Suyuan had brought them out.

“Jingjing made these?” Zhong Suyuan raised an eyebrow and tossed the jar to the nanny. “The things she makes could probably kill someone; she doesn’t even eat them herself. Give this to Lin Yuqing today. Isn’t she on a hunger strike? Watch her eat it.”

But that day, Lin Yuqing ate them. The nanny secretly found Zhong Manjing and said, “Miss Lin liked them very much. I heard her say they were delicious.”

Zhong Manjing had truly thought she would be poisoned and had even prepared a private medical team, but it never happened.

Meng Luo laughed and said, “But we all love eating them, right? It’s because your cooking is so good; you’ve spoiled our palates so much that we crave them if we go a day without. It’s the same with Lin Yuqing’s shop—you make so much and don’t even charge her. What are you after?”

What am I after?

Zhong Manjing looked down at the ebony cutting board.

In her previous life, she had loathed Lin Yuqing because of Zhong Suyuan, and Lin Yuqing had hated her in return. But in this life, she was a bit more greedy; she hoped Lin Yuqing could love her.

Today, the “Whatever Noodle Shop” closed half an hour early because everything was sold out. Business had been too good. Some neighbors had heard about the incident earlier and came by to offer their regards, even stopping by the window to console Lin Yuqing: “Little Lin, don’t take it to heart. Old Zhang is just a bit of a serious person.”

It had been nearly a month since the shop opened, and it had already secured a place in people’s lives. Because the shop offered flavors friendly to children, many parents had their kids’ breakfasts settled here regularly.

Lin Yuqing replied to each one, “I understand. I’ll definitely pay attention to traffic regulations next time.”

She finished cleaning up before 9:00 PM and sat downstairs as usual to do the bookkeeping. Thinking that Zhong Manjing would be coming soon, she didn’t turn off the air conditioning.

However, fifteen minutes past nine, the person who usually appeared punctually hadn’t arrived. Instead, the person who pushed open the door was Zhang Pingrui, carrying a familiar insulated bag.

As soon as he entered, the fresh aroma of stir-fried crab and giant river prawns filled the air, along with a spicy and sour sauce.

“Xiao Zhong can’t make it for now. She was worried you hadn’t eaten yet, so she asked me to deliver the food first.” Zhang Pingrui scratched his head, feeling awkward as he met Lin Yuqing’s questioning gaze, and placed the bulging insulated bag on the table.

Lin Yuqing frowned. “What happened to her?”

“Well, it’s nothing major yet. Xiao Zhong is reporting a case at the police station right now. But that person, actually…”

Before Zhang Pingrui could finish, Lin Yuqing had already quickly closed and gathered the ledgers on the table. “Is she alone? Is she still there? Please take me there right now.”

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