Translator: Lonelytree
“Chief Jiang, thank you so much for today!” Xiao Lingyu thanked him sincerely as she walked out of the police station.
Jiang Tao shook his head, “You were the victim in the first place.” He explained, “Lingyu, please don’t blame Captain Bi. He was just being thorough!”
Xiao Lingyu laughed. “Chief Jiang, you said it yourself. Captain Bi was only doing his job, so why would I blame him?”
Jiang Tao looked at the time and said, “It’s almost mealtime. How about I treat you?”
“Sure.” Xiao Lingyu agreed. She chuckled, “It’s my honor to be treated by the chief of Xing Yin County Police Station.”
After the two left, the people at the station started to gossip.
“Did you see that smile? Our iceberg of a chief was actually smiling!”
“I didn’t think our Chief Jiang would be so cute with a smile.”
“By the way, what’s the relationship between that girl and Chief Jiang? They seem so close. And most importantly, Chief Jiang was smiling at her! Is there something going on?”
“Could she be Chief Jiang’s girlfriend?”
“Do you think an iceberg like Chief Jiang will have a girlfriend? Chief Jiang is like a walking air-cond. Her girlfriend will be freezing all the time!”
“What nonsense are you people talking about!” Captain Bi scolded when he walked in and heard the gossip. “That young woman is the heroine who helped us break down Sister Hong’s human trafficking gang!” Basically, he was telling the officers Xiao Lingyu was not their chief’s girlfriend… yet.
“Oh, so that’s her!” The few female police officers immediately exclaimed, “She rejected the reward money of 50,000 RMB! If it were me, I would have accepted it and bought a house. Then, I’d be able to move out and won’t need to hear my mother’s nagging anymore. Sometimes, I wish I’d die. But she’s my mother. As annoying as her nags are, I have to listen to her.”
Back in this era, buying real estate was not that common. Only men who were getting married would consider buying a house.
“She is smart, brave, and not greedy. That’s very rare. By the way, are we sure she’s not the chief’s girlfriend?” A young female officer asked doubtfully.
“I don’t think so.” Her senior answered, “But it does look like our Chief is interested in her!”
“What?” The other exclaimed, “Sister Jiang, how can you tell?”
“Didn’t you all notice Chief Jiang would only smile at her?” Sister Jiang winked mysteriously. “However, the girl doesn’t seem too interested in our Chief. She is very polite around him!”
If a girl was interested in a man, they would act more reserved. However, Xiao Lingyu was polite and open around Jiang Tao. Clearly, she treated him just like a friend.
Jiang Tao had no idea his subordinates were gossiping behind him. He brought Xiao Lingyu to a nearby restaurant. As they got down the car, Jiang Tao said, “This place looks ordinary, but they have incredibly good food.”
“I can’t wait then!” Xiao Lingyu smiled.
“Tao Zi, you’re here!” The old couple who ran the restaurant greeted him when they saw Jiang Tao.
“Uncle Chen, Auntie Chen!” Jiang Tao said, “I brought my friend to have a meal here. Uncle Chen, you have to help me impress her with your cooking!”
“Haha, of course!” Uncle Chen laughed.
Auntie Chen looked at Xiao Lingyu and asked with a smile, “Tao Zi, is this your girlfriend? She’s really beautiful!”
Jiang Tao, who was always so calm, felt his face heat up. He stole a glance at Xiao Lingyu and was about to answer when Xiao Lingyu said, “No, Auntie Chen. Chief Jiang and I are just normal friends.”
Auntie Chen was surprised. “So, not your girlfriend?”
Jiang Tao shook his head. “No, but she is my friend who is a girl.”
Auntie Chen was slightly disappointed. “Tao Zi, how I hope this beautiful lady is your girlfriend. In the past two years, this is the first time you brought a lady to my place.”
Auntie Chen looked at the elegant Xiao Lingyu. She leaned in close to Jiang Tao. “Tao Zi, she might not be your girlfriend now, but what about in the future? You’re not young anymore. You can’t keep on delaying your marriage because of work. If you ask me, this young lady is perfect. You need to work hard to make her your girlfriend!”
Auntie Chen said and saw the blush rise for the first time on Jiang Tao’s usually cold face. Auntie Chen turned to Xiao Lingyu. “Miss, Tao Zi is usually so engrossed in his work that he doesn’t have the time to have a relationship. But Miss, Tao Zi is a good man. You’ll be happy if you marry him.”
Xiao Lingyu nodded and said, “Yes, Chief Jiang is indeed a good man. The girl to be his girlfriend or wife will be very happy. Chief Jiang, I envy that girl.” In other words, she would not be that girl.
Jiang Tao didn’t show it, but he was internally disappointed. Once Xiao Lingyu said that Auntie Chen stopped playing match-maker.
She ushered them to their seats. “Please sit down. Why are you standing?”
The two found a seat. Xiao Lingyu looked around. They were in the old city district, and the restaurant was relatively remote. She had no idea how Jiang Tao found this place. However, it was clear that he knew the perpetrators.
In five years, this part of the old city would receive a huge transformation. With the new projects coming up, the prices of real estate would soar. The government would pay a large amount of money to the existing tenants to move. Xiao Lingyu immediately hatched a plan. When she had money, she would buy some real estate here.
Jiang Tao handed the menu to Xiao Lingyu, “Lingyu, order whatever you like. Uncle Chen is a very good cook.”
Xiao Lingyu smiled, “I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything Uncle Chen cooks. I’m sure Uncle Chen will impress me with his culinary skills, right, Uncle Chen?”
Uncle Chen guffawed. “Miss, don’t worry. I will make my favorite dishes for you to enjoy!”
“Thank you, Uncle Chen!” Xiao Lingyu smiled.
While they waited for the food, Jiang Tao asked, “Lingyu, what brings you to the county town today?”
“I’m here to sell vegetables!” Xiao Lingyu casually replied, “I’ll be doing that for the next few days!”
“You’re selling vegetables?!” Jiang Tao was surprised.
He had done a little research on Xiao Lingyu. She was a famous university student who had worked in a big city for two to three years. He assumed she would go back to the city and not be a vegetable and fruit vendor.
Young people, especially those as cultured as Xiao Lingyu wouldn’t be selling vegetables because they would be embarrassed.
“Why? Are you surprised?” Xiao Lingyu asked. “You can succeed in any field. Who knows, I might make a name for myself selling vegetables and fruits.”
“You’re right.” Jiang Tao smiled.
“Uncle Chen, I grow very good produce. How about I have Chief Jiang bring you some? They are all organic and free of pesticides.”
“That would be wonderful!” Uncle Chen accepted. “It just so happens that I’ve run out of ingredients. Tao Zi, I’ll have to trouble you then.”
“This is nothing, Uncle Chen.” Jiang Tao answered.
A moment later, the dishes were served.
There was boiled meat, a fried bak choi, and tofu braised fish.
“Try this. This meat is delicious. It’s tender, smooth, and fragrant!” Jiang Tao picked a piece of boiled meat for Xiao Lingyu.
Xiao Lingyu said very politely, “Thank you, Chief Tao, but I can serve myself. You need to eat some too!” Xiao Lingyu tasted the meat, and her eyes lit up. “Uncle Chen, your cooking is amazing!” She gave Uncle Chen a thumbs up. “Uncle Chen, your cooking is better than a five-star chef. The meat is cooked so tenderly!”
Jiang Tao laughed, “Actually, Uncle Chen was the head chef at a five-star hotel. He opened this shop after he retired!”
“Oh?” Xiao Lingyu was surprised. “Uncle Chen, thank you for sharing your talents with the general public like us.” After all, not everyone had the chance to taste the cooking of a five-star chef.
“Haha. Girl, you are such a sweet-talker. I like it!” Uncle Chen laughed heartily. “You should come more often if you like my cooking.” He glanced at the silent Jiang Tao and added, “Tell Jiang Tao to bring you.”
Xiao Lingyu chuckled, “Uncle Chen, do you mean I can’t come without Chief Jiang?”
Auntie Chen immediately scolded her husband jokingly, “Old man, see what you’ve done! You’ve made the girl misunderstood! Girl, you can come with anyone you like. We’ll be happy to serve you!”
“Okay, I’ll come back often in the future!” Xiao Lingyu added, “Uncle Chen, Auntie Chen, my name is Xiao Lingyu, so you can call me Lingyu!”
“Alright!”