Chapter 201: Beauty Meets Beauty
A crowd of people buying jianbing guozi had gathered again in front of Second Brother Gu’s stall, so he didn’t have much time to talk to Dong Qiming.
But he would slow down his movements slightly, stealing moments in his busy schedule to teach Dong Qiming how to make them.
After one afternoon, Dong Qiming felt like he had gotten the hang of it. By the time they were about to close up shop, he still hadn’t had his fill.
"Cousin Dong, you should head back for now. You have an exam tomorrow. After you finish, you can come over every day to learn."
Second Brother Gu was only two years older than Dong Qiming, but he already looked the part of a master.
Dong Qiming looked at this older cousin of his with an admiring smile. "Okay, I’ll go home for dinner then. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon."
"Alright, you should get going then," Second Brother Gu said.
"Yes, Second Brother Gu." Dong Qiming said, turning to get on his bicycle.
Suddenly, he stopped and asked, "Second Brother Gu, do you really think I’m good-looking?"
After hearing this, Second Brother Gu nearly spat out the herbal tea he had just sipped.
He coughed twice before saying seriously, "Of course... you’re very good-looking."
Hearing Second Brother Gu’s reply, Dong Qiming’s face immediately lit up with joy, and he left happily.
Second Brother Gu watched Dong Qiming’s retreating figure and shook his head speechlessly, then went back to making jianbing guozi.
"Hah! Is your cousin a bit slow? He’s been standing in front of our stall all afternoon. You praise every young person who comes by, telling them they’re good-looking."
Su Qinchun said in a low voice, watching Dong Qiming’s back as he walked away.
"Don’t worry about it. Besides, he really is good-looking," Second Brother Gu said.
"Second Brother Gu, you don’t think he was standing there all this time because he really wants to learn how to make jianbing guozi, do you?" Su Qinchun asked.
"Heh, we’ll see how patient he is. If he’s willing to learn, I’m actually serious about taking on an apprentice."
Second Brother Gu skillfully made a jianbing guozi, a satisfied expression on his face.
Su Qinchun looked at Second Brother Gu and couldn’t help but retort, "Forget about whether you need an apprentice or not. With that rich-kid look of his, do you really think Dong Qiming would sell jianbing guozi?"
"And why not? My sister comes to sell jianbing guozi when she has time," Second Brother Gu countered.
"Second Brother Gu, why do you suddenly want an apprentice? Business at our family’s liangpi stall isn’t even a third of what it used to be."
"That’s not so bad. It means your parents won’t be as tired. As long as you’re earning a little more each day than you would at a regular job, it’s fine."
Second Brother Gu didn’t tell Su Qinchun that his mother was planning to move out of the residential compound, which meant he wouldn’t be coming to sell jianbing guozi there anymore.
Besides, they were returning to the Imperial City after summer vacation. Other people were starting to learn how to make jianbing guozi, but none of them were as delicious as his.
Second Brother Gu was worried about disappointing his regular customers, which is why he’d had the idea of taking on an apprentice. Who knew that heaven would actually send one his way?
Gu Jiaojiao finished administering the IV drips for Song Zijie and his sister. As she walked out of the hospital room, she was about to go look for her parents.
At the doorway, she ran into a couple. The woman was wearing a red dress; she was tall and slender, with fair skin, an elegant air, and a gorgeous face.
She bore some resemblance to Song Zijie, so Gu Jiaojiao guessed she must be his sister.
The man was about thirty years old, with well-defined features. He was tall and lean, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers.
"Gu Jiaojiao? What are you doing here?" Although the woman’s question was sharp with surprise, her voice was soft and carried an indescribable quality.
Gu Jiaojiao nodded, her expression placid. "This is my home. Why shouldn’t I be here?"
"Your home? Didn’t my parents say they bought a courtyard house here? Isn’t this our home?"
"Oh. Then you can go ask your mother," Gu Jiaojiao said before turning to leave.
But the woman grabbed her by the wrist. She looked at Gu Jiaojiao, her tone icy as she spoke.
"Gu Jiaojiao, stop right there. I want to ask you something, and you’d better answer honestly."
"What is it? Why so serious?" Gu Jiaojiao, giving her some leeway because of her pleasant-sounding voice, didn’t make a fuss.
The main reason was out of consideration for Song Zijie, since she would be collaborating with him a lot in the future.
"Why are you outside my brother’s hospital room? Are you trying to seduce—"
"Lili! What nonsense are you spouting? Let go of Jiaojiao right now," Aunt Song shouted.
She was coming over with freshly made soup when she saw her eldest daughter angrily grabbing Jiaojiao and spouting nonsense. The sight was so alarming that she started shouting from a distance.
"Mom! What is Gu Jiaojiao doing outside my brother’s room?" Song Lina asked persistently.
She was the eldest daughter of the Song Family. Not only was she beautiful with a good job, but she had also married the son of a high-ranking official in Qing City.
Her life was happy and perfect, so she was used to looking down on everyone.
Her brother was also very good-looking. It was one thing when he was a sickly weakling, but now there was hope for his full recovery.
Such a healthy and outstanding brother made her very proud. Countless young ladies from wealthy families wanted to marry him.
She had everything countless people could ever want. If her brother made a full recovery, then their Song Family would become even more glorious, even more powerful than it was now.
Her eldest uncle was the general manager of all state-owned restaurants in Qing City, and her father was the general manager of Qing City’s major supply and marketing cooperatives.
Their Song Family held a high status in Qing City; even her husband’s family had to rely on them.
There was no way her brother could be coveted by a fake heiress like Gu Jiaojiao!
"Jiaojiao is Divine Doctor Su Gu’s apprentice. She was administering IVs for your brother and sister. What’s the problem? You have an issue with that?" Aunt Song asked forcefully.
"Mom, I didn’t know!" Song Lina said in a wheedling tone. She made no move to apologize to Gu Jiaojiao right away.
"Gu Jiaojiao, when did you get to know Divine Doctor Su Gu?" Song Lina asked again.
"I don’t see any reason to tell you," Gu Jiaojiao said expressionlessly, then turned and walked away without a backward glance.
She saw right through the Song family’s eldest daughter. There was no need for her to humor such a self-important woman.
"Gu Jiaojiao, you—!" Song Lina was so furious she wanted to curse her out, but seeing her mother’s murderous glare, she chose to shut her mouth.
She was used to being flattered by everyone around her. She was eager to curry favor with Divine Doctor Su Gu, but she still looked down on Gu Jiaojiao, that adopted daughter of the Sheng Family.
The main reason was that Gu Jiaojiao had been known as the number one beauty of the residential compound ever since she was a child.
Song Lina was the beauty of the previous generation, and when one beauty meets another, the instinctive urge is to compete.
The old Gu Jiaojiao had been beautiful, yes, but her small face was still full of childish immaturity.
The Gu Jiaojiao of today was stunningly beautiful, with a curvaceous figure. Standing there, she was like a peony in full bloom.
This made Song Lina feel a sense of hostility the moment she saw her, which was why she had questioned her so rudely.
"Lili, when did you become like this?" Aunt Song said, her heart aching.
"Mom, what did I do? Gu Jiaojiao is just the Sheng Family’s adopted daughter. What’s so great about her?"
Song Lina pouted and spoke with disdain.