Song Nian indeed dared not delay any further, with so many people around, by the time he finished registering, his workday would have ended. He told Song Yunuan to wait obediently and, with a pang of pain, even took out a dime for her to buy some candy from the department store across the street. He then hurriedly rode off on his bicycle.
Song Yunuan stood at the end of the queue, and in no time, another group of people joined behind her.
Song Yunuan decided not to line up anymore.
She started to reflect on the crisis facing the Song family.
Whether inside or outside of books, no one who is alive wants to die.
But now, their Song family had neither people nor money.
Like fish on a chopping board.
Yesterday afternoon, Old Man Song had gone to Nanshan County Town to call a former cadre who had once worked in the village, but unfortunately, the person wasn't in, and the one who took the call only said they'd return the message once the cadre came back.
How could they possibly return a call?
The person on the other end didn't even ask who Old Man Song was…
Song Yunuan touched her pocket, inside was two dimes Old Mrs. Song had given her and the dime her younger uncle had given her just now.
With the three dimes, she could buy four strings of candied haws and a handful of orange-flavored candies.
The large steamed dumplings of Nanshan County Town were famous, one only cost five cents and didn't require tickets; with three dimes, she could buy six.
She had only had a little rice porridge that morning and was already hungry.
Song Yunuan decided to try the large steamed dumplings first.
They were sold in the state-run restaurant right across the street.
A calamity could wait; eating her fill came first!
Just at this moment, a black car stopped in front of her.
One of the car doors opened, and a young man carrying a briefcase stepped out and headed to the Nanshan post office by the side of the road.
Song Yunuan stepped back two paces and took a glance at the car. It turned out to be the same one she had encountered on the road earlier, the one in the middle.
Looking further back, the other two cars were following right behind.
[It really is the "Hunter III" model, produced by Su National Production, ZH001. Only ten exist around the world with excellent performance. Indeed, its reputation is well-earned.]
A faint voice sounded in his ear, and Gu Huai'an in the car was startled and put down the document in his hand, looking around.
People were coming and going; nothing was amiss.
Only on the right side of the road curb, there was a young girl with skin as clear and white as jade, a pair of peach blossom eyes sparkling clearly like water, standing there lively, looking to be about sixteen or seventeen years old.
Gu Huai'an's brows furrowed slightly. He rolled down the car window, lazily gazing forward. His noble and elegant features were exceptional, yet his expression carried a bit of indifference, almost nonchalant.
A touch of amazement flashed in Song Yunuan's eyes.
[Aiya mama, whose young brother is this? He's too handsome, such a captivating noble pose. If it isn't practiced, it must be natural.]
Gu Huai'an paused in his movements.
His deep eyes accurately locked onto the young girl in front of him.
She seemed well-behaved and quiet, with an innocent and clear gaze, like a deer in the woods.
But how could she utter such an audacious voice?
After a few seconds of stillness, Gu Huai'an pushed the car door open and got out.
[Wow, that body, those long legs, must be at least 190 cm.]
[Study for the rejuvenation of China, strive for men with broad shoulders and narrow waists!]
[Which system's uniform is that? It looks absolutely dashing on him.]
[Recalling the ancient descriptions, like a majestic dragon or a graceful phoenix, the elegance of the willow tree facing the wind, it should refer to a bearing like his.]
[Wow, the large steamed dumplings are ready, charge!]
Gu Huai'an: ...
He was certain that the voice was coming from the young girl who was already rushing toward the state-run restaurant across the street.
At the same time, he ascertained that the young girl hadn't moved her lips at all!
Seeing Gu Huai'an exiting the car, the doors of the two cars behind him opened simultaneously, and several young men who looked ordinary but had sharp eyes alighted. Then, the secretary hurriedly followed, his face wearing an expression of surprise as he watched the Commander-in-charge suddenly get out.
Gu Huai'an cast him a glance and silently walked towards the opposite side.
With long legs, he quickly crossed the street.
Secretary Xiao Wu reacted fast, immediately waved his hand, and those few young people blended into the crowd and followed.
Xiao Wu didn't move; Xiao Fei had gone to mail a package, and he had to wait for him.
But he stared intently at the opposite side and was shocked to discover that their Commander-in-charge Gu was actually... actually queuing up!
The secretary incredulously widened his eyes.
Then, he rubbed his eyes vigorously.
No mistake, he wasn't seeing things, Commander-in-charge Gu was queuing in front of the state-run restaurant.
That was the place selling big dumplings.
Reportedly a major specialty of Nanshan.
But...
The peerless Commander-in-charge Gu standing there was like a phoenix among crows, attracting numerous gazes.
Xiao Wu gave a few instructions to the driver and hurriedly walked toward the opposite side.
Song Yunuan queuing up suddenly felt an oppressive sensation.
She turned her head to look back.
[Wow, a handsome young man!]
[Oh my goodness, the young man is also queuing, does he want to buy big dumplings, does the young man need to eat too?]
Gu Huai'an, who finally confirmed that he could hear the young lady's thoughts, raised his eyebrows.
He's human, of course, he has to eat.
[The young man is dressed so neatly, his buttons are done up so tightly, @#￥%...&&...***]
Gu Huai'an stood straight and tall behind the young lady.
His brows furrowed a bit; he had heard the opening phrases loud and clear, but the latter part was just noise. Even he, hailed as the core brain of Dragon Aviation Command Headquarters and fluent in multiple languages, couldn't guess what the girl was saying.
Of course, he couldn't understand.
The latter part was a bit racy and got censored.
But Song Yunuan, who had turned her head back without knowing, stopped short after mentally feeling up the young man's abs, because it was her turn next.
[Sigh, the young man really is in line, he mustn't go inside to eat, seeing the young man eat would break my heart!]
From the corner of his eye, Gu Huai'an saw the young lady's side profile, her long eyelashes flickering as if they were butterfly wings.
Regardless of how he suddenly started to hear the young lady's thoughts.
He just wondered internally how could she say such outrageous things with such a calm expression?
And why would it hurt her if he went inside to eat?
Then, the young lady began to speak.
She was talking to a waitress.
Her voice was soft and tender, with the unique cheerfulness of a young girl: "Sister, I heard that the big dumplings in Nanshan are even better than those at the First Steamed Dumpling Shop in the provincial city, is that true?"
The pretty, cute young lady, even the typically stern-faced waitress smiled upon being called 'sister': "Of course it's true."
Song Yunuan took out the recommendation letter that Song Liang had arranged through the back door for her that morning, her voice soft and gentle: "I grew up in the provincial city, and I don't know if Nanshan requires a letter of recommendation to buy dumplings, but I prepared one, here, take a look."
The crafty girl deliberately held up the recommendation letter.
Even Gu Huai'an couldn't see what was written on it.
Waitress: "No need for a recommendation letter, five cents each, how many would you like?"
"I'll take four, one of each filling, if that's possible?"
"Of course, of course."
The waitress put the big dumplings on a plate and handed them to Song Yunuan, who took them and yet didn't move; naturally, Gu Huai'an wouldn't urge her on.
Song Yunuan sniffed and her eyes widened exaggeratedly: "Wow, they smell so delicious, even more fragrant than the ones I ate at the First Steamed Dumpling Shop. Sister, I am so lucky I was mistakenly taken, but also fortunate to be exchanged back, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to taste such delicious big dumplings. Thank you, sister, thank you to the dumpling master chef!"
Her abrupt and nonsensical remarks left the waitress stunned for a moment. Mistakenly taken, exchanged back?
What did that mean?