Chapter 75: At a Loss for Words
Su He really wasn’t acting on a whim—she had planned to do this even without that incident.
With a bit of prestige behind her, her grand money-making plans would be much easier to execute.
However, in this era, editorial cycles for newspapers and magazines were long. It would likely take at least two to three months before any results came back.
She didn’t explain all this to Tian Xiaotao. After Xiaotao got off work, the two of them strolled over to the state-run restaurant.
The restaurant only had a few scattered patrons. Not many people could afford to eat out in those days.
At one table, someone was ordering:
“Comrade, one bowl of braised pork, one plate of stir-fried dried radish, and four steamed buns.”
The server, a woman in her forties, didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Braised pork’s sold out.”
“Do you have any other meat dishes?”
“All sold out.”
“What about fish? Coming to a restaurant, we ought to at least have something meaty.”
The server snapped impatiently, “If you wanted meat, you should’ve come earlier. At this hour, you’re lucky there’s any food left at all. Are you ordering or not? Hurry up, there are others waiting!”
State-run restaurants were notoriously arrogant back then. Whether cooks or servers, they all acted high and mighty.
That group had to swallow their pride and settle for a plate of stir-fried potatoes, a plate of stir-fried dried radish, and four steamed buns.
Tian Xiaotao gave Su He a look that said, We might as well have gone to the supply and marketing co-op and grabbed some snacks.
She hadn’t wanted Su He to splurge in the first place. If she hadn’t feared offending Su He, she would’ve insisted on treating her instead, especially since she came from a better-off family.
Then that grumpy server impatiently finished taking another table’s order and came to Su He’s table.
Su He’s eyes lit up, and she stood up. “Sister Lu, it really is you! I wasn’t sure at first, but once I got closer, I recognized you!”
The server froze, scrutinizing Su He—she didn’t recognize her at all.
“Sister Lu, you forgot? I’m little Su! We chatted for half an hour while queuing at the co-op last time. You told me you worked at the state-run restaurant and said I should come find you sometime.
I’ve just been too busy, running between the textile and machinery factories. Oh right—this is Tian Xiaotao from the county radio station!”
She turned to Xiaotao. “Xiaotao, this is the Sister Lu I’ve mentioned to you so many times!”
Tian Xiaotao was baffled. When have you ever mentioned this Sister Lu?
Still, she got up and shook hands with the server.
The server also looked confused. When did this ever happen?
But upon hearing “textile factory,” “machinery factory,” and that Tian Xiaotao was from the county radio station, her expression softened with a smile.
“Ah, ah, I remember now—little Su! I was wondering why you hadn’t stopped by. So you’ve just been busy! What would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen whip up something special!”
Su He grinned. “Sister Lu, I’ll let you decide—you wouldn’t treat me poorly, would you?”
The woman chuckled and went to place their order.
As soon as she left, Tian Xiaotao leaned over and whispered, “Why haven’t I heard you mention her before?”
Su He blinked. “Because I just met her.”
Xiaotao: “…Then how did you know her surname is Lu?”
Su He pointed with her lips, and Xiaotao finally noticed a “Hygiene Responsibility Statement” posted on the wall with a list of names below it.
Still confused, Xiaotao asked, “There are a bunch of names on there—how were you so sure she was ‘Lu’?”
Su He smirked. “If I got it wrong, I’d just say I remembered incorrectly. Easy fix!”
Xiaotao: “…”
At a loss for words.
Not long after, the server brought over a bowl of braised pork, a soy-braised fish, some stir-fried dried radish, and two bowls of rice.
Xiaotao’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Didn’t she just say there was no meat at all?
And rice?! In this region where rice wasn’t grown, it was a luxury—most restaurants only served noodles or steamed buns.
The server smiled. “Little Su, see what I mean? Coming late can sometimes be just right! These were ordered ahead by a leader, but they just called and said something came up—so it’s yours!”
Su He didn’t expose her lie, simply smiled. “Thanks, Sister Lu! When I’m free, we’ll catch up properly. I travel a lot, but if anything comes up, just go to the radio station and find Xiaotao—she’ll get a message to me.”
That was exactly what the server had been hoping to hear. Her smile grew even brighter, and she brought over a pot of tea as well.
Xiaotao silently gave Su He a thumbs-up.
Respect! Truly, respect!
Su He picked up a piece of braised pork with her chopsticks—soft, flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth.
She couldn’t tell if it was just the ingredients of the era or the chef’s skill, but it was the best braised pork she’d ever had.
The two of them finished every bite of their meal.
Afterward, Su He chatted more with the server, managing to learn all about her background—and nearly everything about the unseen head chef as well.
Throughout the exchange, Tian Xiaotao maintained a stiff, awkward smile.
She thought: If Su He had been born a decade earlier, she’d have been the best intelligence agent in Huaxia!
When they left the restaurant, Su He was carrying a bag of roasted peanuts—courtesy of the server, for them to snack on during the movie.
“Xiaotao, that chef’s skills are top-notch. Let’s come back every few days for another round!”
Xiaotao: “…Aren’t you afraid of getting exposed? You didn’t even know her!”
Su He popped a few peanuts in her mouth. “Well, I do now, don’t I? First time is unfamiliar, second time we’re old friends.”
Xiaotao: “…”
After the movie, Xiaotao insisted on walking Su He home—she didn’t want a repeat of last time.
They stopped by Xiaotao’s house first, where she called her father to escort Su He home with them.
Su He was great with people—calling him “Uncle Tian” so naturally it made him beam.
Xiaotao even felt, for a moment, like she was the outsider!
As they neared the house, Su He spotted Old Man Ge.
He was standing there peering around, clearly worried since she hadn’t come home yet.
Su He’s heart warmed, and she ran over. “Old man, were you waiting for me?”
Old Man Ge huffed. “You wish! I’m just out for a walk!”
Su He chuckled and didn’t call him out on it.
From now on, if she was coming home late or not at all, she’d be sure to let him know—so he wouldn’t worry.
Back home, Su He took a bath. Her back and waist were sore, so she searched the exchange interface: “In-home SPA service.”
The screen replied: “No products found.”
Su He scoffed, “Useless thing—what good are you if you don’t even have that?!”
Exchange interface: …It’s not enough that you squeeze me dry—are you starting to emotionally abuse me now too?
In the end, Su He rented a massage chair and a mobile power bank, and after a relaxing session, finally felt some relief.
The mobile power bank was necessary because the electrical systems of that era were weak—one wrong move could cause a short circuit.
As for why she rented instead of bought—simple: she was broke!
The next morning, Su He didn’t go out. She stayed home to work on her writing.
While she was in the middle of it, someone knocked on the door. “Yongshi? Sister-in-law? Are you home?”
Su He paused. That voice sounded like Su Yongguo?
She hurried out, and sure enough—it was Su Yongguo.
Seeing the worry on his face, Su He quickly asked, “Dad, what are you doing here? Did something happen?”
