Chapter 630: Chapter 543: Wei Zhenqing

Xiao Man was happy to see Wei Zhenqing. Seeing a familiar face in a strange place was always a comfort. She enthusiastically invited him to have lunch with them.

Wei Zhenqing was starving, so he didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down and made small talk with Xiao Man, asking if she was getting used to things. He mentioned the climate here was drier and hotter than in Wancheng, and the sun was especially vicious. He advised her not to go out unless necessary, or a pretty, fair-skinned girl like her might get tanned as dark as charcoal. Then he added with a laugh, "I thought the chief was just engaging in wishful thinking. I didn’t think the elders back home would let you come out here. After all, this godforsaken place is no fun... I can’t believe he actually pulled it off."

Gu Shaojun shot him a sidelong glance. "I’m not you. That’s why I have a wife, and you don’t!"

"Hey! That’s a low blow! Since when did you get so mean? What do you mean I don’t have a wife? If you have one, how could I not? I’m just..."

"Just that you’ve been on seven or eight blind dates, and every single one has been a bust!"

"Do you think I want to go on blind dates? It’s my mom who’s dragging me to them! And they’re a bust for them, not me! I’m the one who wasn’t interested! Just you wait, one day I’ll meet my own Little Manman..."

"Get lost! There’s only one Xiao Man in this world, and she’s mine!"

"Will you let me finish? I was saying—in the future, I’ll definitely be able to find a girl I truly like, just like you did!"

"Cut the crap. We’ll see it when it happens. I wouldn’t be surprised if you stay a bachelor for life. If you don’t go to the mess hall soon, you’re going to starve."

Wei Zhenqing looked at Gu Shaojun, displeased. He pointed to the small round table in the middle of the room, on which sat five or six fragrant, freshly cooked dishes. Xiao Man was even making a soup.

"Why would I go to the mess hall? There’s so much food here, and Xiao Man specifically asked me to eat with you!"

"None of it’s for you. Surely you wouldn’t be so shameless as to disturb our private time? What’s that saying again—it’s immoral!" Gu Shaojun said as he walked to the kitchen to get the soup.

Wei Zhenqing retorted, "Trying to kick me out when there’s good food and drinks? You’re the one who’s immoral!"

Xiao Man, who had just washed her hands and was drying them with a cloth at the kitchen doorway, watched the two of them speechlessly. ’Are these guys really partners? They seem more like a demolition duo.’

But in their last life, the two of them had been incredibly close, their bond unspoken. When one was crippled and refused to marry, the other used the excuse of not finding a compatible partner for life to remain single, unwilling to settle. Wei Zhenqing was always at Gu Shaojun’s house, often staying for long periods. Every time he pushed Gu Shaojun’s wheelchair for a walk outside, many women would stop in their tracks. Their gazes were fiery, amazed, admiring, or pitying, following them like a spotlight. They would remain standing there, stunned, long after the two men had disappeared from view. It was no wonder, given how extraordinarily striking the two men were. One was ruggedly handsome and charismatic, the other silent and still. Though they never spoke, you could feel the thousand invisible threads that connected them. Back then, Xiao Man, working as a caregiver, would follow a dozen paces behind, carrying a water bottle and a change of clothes...

Gu Shaojun set out the bowls and plates. Wei Zhenqing immediately rushed to wash his hands, then returned to the table and hurried to pull out a chair for Xiao Man, inviting her to sit. He pretended not to notice Gu Shaojun’s cold stare. As the three of them were eating, a communications officer called out, "Report!" and entered, handing a letter to Wei Zhenqing. Wei Zhenqing only glanced at the writing on the envelope before quickly stuffing it into his pocket. Gu Shaojun, however, had already seen it. He picked up some food for Xiao Man with his chopsticks and said with a smile, "See? We shouldn’t have invited Zhen Ting to eat today. Now we’ve exposed his secret."

Xiao Man asked, "What secret? I don’t see one."

"The letter is the secret. It’s from Mrs. Wei. Without fail, every letter contains a few photos of single young women. If you don’t believe me, ask Zhen Ting. If he’s interested, he keeps the photo; if not, he has to send it right back."

"Wow, Wei Zhenqing, are you holding a beauty pageant? This is more exciting than an emperor choosing his concubine for the night! How about I help you strategize?"

Wei Zhenqing could only manage a wry smile. ’My mom isn’t even that old... no, wait, my grandparents are forcing her to do this. They keep saying that since I’m patrolling the front lines every day, if something were to happen to me, I should at least leave an heir for the Wei Family...’

He was also secretly amazed. ’Has Gu Shaojun had a complete personality change? He’s normally so calm and collected, the very picture of a prim, proper, and sanctimonious man. He never makes small talk or teases others, not even his long-time partner and friend. If you don’t bring up your private matters, he would never mention them, let alone joke about them. But today, he’d casually exposed my blind dating adventures, and he even knew the exact number... Becoming so easygoing and gossipy... it’s a little unlike him.’

’To be able to change a person’s character so drastically, it seems that thing called love is truly miraculous. Maybe I should have a little more faith, listen to my mom, and keep going on these dates. Who knows, maybe I’ll find the one next time and get myself a wonderful wife too?’

’Sigh, why don’t I have an awesome ancestor like Gu Shaojun who arranged a childhood betrothal for him long ago? Then I wouldn’t have to wear myself out running around on blind dates. When the time came, a sweet and lovely little wife would just show up on her own. How easy and heartwarming would that be!’

After the meal, the couple cleared the table and washed the dishes, not letting Wei Zhenqing help. Gu Shaojun even gloated as he shooed him away, telling him to go read his letter and reply promptly. Wei Zhenqing was thoroughly dejected.

When Xiao Man heard him mention replying to Mrs. Wei, an idea struck her. She quickly called for Wei Zhenqing to wait. After drying her hands, she went into the inner room and came out a moment later with a bundle. She said with a smile:

"Brother Shaojun told me that Mrs. Wei often sends you delicious food, and he gets to enjoy some of it too. He also said that my grandmother’s sauces taste a lot like the ones from your family’s century-old, time-honored shop. So this time, I brought some extra local specialties for you to send back to Mrs. Wei to try. Also, I can make some things myself at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute. In here are some skincare products and some newly developed health supplements. My whole family uses them, so please tell Mrs. Wei she can use them without worry. If she likes them, she can always get more from me."

Wei Zhenqing was, of course, aware of Xiao Man’s reputation as an Imperial Doctor Disciple. He was always with Gu Shaojun, so whenever he got minor cuts or scrapes, weren’t the medicines Gu Shaojun provided all top-quality? There was absolutely no way he could refuse a gift of skincare and health products from Xiao Man for his mother. He accepted the bundle with delight, thanking her repeatedly and glancing over at Gu Shaojun.

Gu Shaojun’s mouth twitched. "They’re not for you. Hurry up and send them to Mrs. Wei!"

He knew Xiao Man’s intentions. In their previous life, Mrs. Wei had doted on Xiao Man, generously teaching her how to make all sorts of sauces and pastes without holding anything back. It was only right for her to show some filial piety to this elder now.

But that wasn’t all Xiao Man was thinking.

According to what Mrs. Wei had told her in her past life, in 1985, when she was forty-six years old, Mr. Wei’s first love had suddenly reappeared. Without a moment’s hesitation, Mr. Wei had decisively divorced Mrs. Wei. He started a new family with his first love, even having a son with her. He seemed to grow younger, living a vibrant and prosperous life. Mrs. Wei, on the other hand, suffered a major illness. From then on, her health was never good. She grew more and more haggard, looking like she was over seventy before she had even turned sixty.

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