"So what if she's ugly and uncultured? She's a good woman who knows how to take care of someone. That's a lot better than you two, who've probably never lifted a finger in your lives," Aunt Li scoffed at them.
Guo Meiyun wanted to argue back, but Lin Jin stopped her, whispering, "Meiyun, we have important things to do today. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture over something petty!"
Guo Meiyun had to agree. She shot Zhu Yun a sideways glance, her eyes filled with smug satisfaction. 'I'm about to become Mr. Chu's wife,' she thought, 'while this ugly village woman, Zhu Yun, is only fit to be a stepmother. She even has to turn over her house and salary! The thought of it is just too satisfying!'
"That's right, Jinjin. You haven't been eating well lately. You have to eat your fill today!"
'I refuse to believe it,' she thought. 'In front of all these people, how could Zhu Yun, who's just helping with the cooking, possibly kick out a guest?'
Lin Jin smiled and nodded. "Just talking about it is making me hungry. Dinner's about to be served. Let's go eat."
Before she left, she even smiled at Zhu Yun and said, "You've worked hard, Classmate Zhu."
That gloating, triumphant look of hers made Zhu Yun let out a cold laugh.
"Oh, my apologies. I didn't realize you'd be here for dinner. I didn't take a pregnant woman's dietary needs into account when I was cooking, so I'm afraid there are many dishes you won't be able to eat."
"What do you mean she can't eat them?" Guo Meiyun asked as she watched huge platters of food being served, unable to resist. She just wanted to see Zhu Yun's desperate, last-ditch struggle. "If other people can eat it, why can't Lin Jin?"
Zhu Yun nodded earnestly, her expression dead serious. "Well, she can't eat the spicy diced rabbit, can she? I've heard the old folks say that eating rabbit meat will cause the baby to be born with a cleft lip."
Aunt Li nodded, clearly enjoying the drama. "That's right. In our Old Li Village, there's a child with a harelip—their mouth is split right here. Word is their mother got a craving and ate rabbit while she was pregnant."
"There's a whole table full of food. So she can't eat that one. Aren't there others?" Guo Meiyun huffed.
"The Spicy Blood Stew is heavy on oil and spice. It'll cause constipation, and pregnant women can get hemorrhoids from childbirth!"
"The Lychee-style Fish is made with snakehead. Eat that, and the baby's skin will be dark, just like mine..."
"The Lion's Head meatballs, spare ribs, Beggar's Chicken, and roe deer meat were all braised with wine. Can a pregnant woman drink alcohol? And the century eggs, salted duck eggs, and cured bacon are all preserved foods, full of additives that can affect a fetus's development."
"A baby in the womb isn't as resilient as a kid who's already up and running around. If Ms. Lin isn't afraid, then go ahead, eat whatever you want. It's like taking a slow-acting poison. But if you end up giving birth to a child that's dark-skinned, short, or has birth defects, just don't you dare blame me. All it will mean is that your cravings got the better of you!"
Lin Jin's eyes went wide, the tantalizing aroma of the food filling her nostrils. After hearing what Zhu Yun said, she really didn't dare to eat. 'After all, we're enemies,' she thought. 'Who knows if she's put something in the food?'
"Then... then I can't just sit here with nothing, can I?" she said, biting her lip. She looked like a poor, bullied bride, her eyes welling with tears.
"The stir-fried cabbage and shiitake mushrooms with bok choy have chili in them, too. The fried buns are also heavily seasoned. I guess you can only have the cornmeal buns and steamed wild greens," Zhu Yun said with a helpless shrug.
Guo Meiyun shot her a venomous look before pulling Lin Jin away.
"Lin Jin, that drug... will it still work if it's taken orally instead of injected?"
"I... think so?" Lin Jin said, sounding unsure.
"I can't worry about that now. I'll just use a bigger dose," Guo Meiyun said, a cold smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Meiyun, we have an agreement. As soon as... as soon as Mr. Chu tears at your clothes and grabs you, you have to start screaming. Don't let it actually go too far!" Lin Jin said, her voice laced with worry. "I'm afraid if it gets too out of hand, it'll be hard for you to salvage the situation."
Guo Meiyun patted her hand. "Don't worry, Lin Jin. I'm a grown woman. Of course I know how to handle this. He's the only man I've liked for all these years. It's worth being a little crazy just this once!"
***
The sky gradually darkened, the setting sun leaving behind just a faint red blush. In the courtyard, a dim yellow lamp cast a hazy glow over everything.
The meal was a lavish spread, and everyone was getting impatient. After the host said a few words, people eagerly picked up their chopsticks and dug in.
Guo Meiyun approached, carrying a wine pitcher and two cups. She stopped in front of Zhu Yun and said with a smile, "Classmate Zhu, I was in the wrong before. I misunderstood you. I'm sorry. I offer you my sincerest apologies. You're a good comrade, and from now on, let's work hard together for the factory's development!"
"Everyone's in high spirits today. How about we bury the hatchet over a glass of wine?"
Her voice was loud enough to attract the attention of the men's table.
The crowd cheered, playfully goading them to drink.
Zhu Yun accepted the cup and toyed with it in her hand. 'They say a good chef not only has excellent skills but also an extremely sensitive sense of smell and taste,' she thought. 'This wine really is good. Pure sorghum liquor.'
"Are you worried I'm trying to harm you?" Guo Meiyun added with a smile. "We can switch cups if you'd like."
She held her cup out to Zhu Yun with an open, magnanimous air, her expression looking perfectly natural and sincere.
"What kind of talk is that, Ms. Guo? Harm you? You two just didn't know each other before. It's normal to squabble a bit. Now that you're acquainted, you can just get to know each other better. What kind of huge grudge could a couple of young women possibly hold?"
"That's right, Chef Zhu is a straightforward person. Just down it in one go!" others chimed in with a laugh.
"There's no need," Zhu Yun said coolly. "You drink first, as a sign of respect."
Guo Meiyun's expression relaxed slightly. She couldn't help but glance toward Lin Jin, who was gripping her chopsticks tightly. 'It's going just as we planned.'
'Ever since Zhu Yun fell in the pond and woke up from that fever, she's become so calculating. Given her personality, she was bound to demand we switch cups.'
'But, by proactively and magnanimously offering to switch, I'd make her suspicious of my motives, and she'd refuse!'
"You're sure?" Guo Meiyun asked, her brow furrowed slightly. "Then I'll drink first as a sign of respect."
With that, she tipped her head back and downed the contents of the small cup, even turning it upside down to drain the last drops. "Your turn!"
Zhu Yun smiled and pushed the cup forward. "Everyone knows a proper apology requires downing three cups as a penalty. There's no reason for me to join you."
"Here you go, Ms. Guo. Hold it steady now. Don't spill it or secretly pour it out, otherwise, I might think there's something wrong with this cup of wine! Everyone, you're all my witnesses, okay?"
Guo Meiyun went rigid. 'Why isn't Zhu Yun playing by the script?'
'Her original plan had been to take the cup and then either 'accidentally' spill it and pour a new one, or use the dim light as cover to secretly dump it out.'
'But Zhu Yun had cut off all those escape routes. Now, everyone's eyes were fixed on her like searchlights.'
Guo Meiyun caught a glimpse of a tipsy Chu Shenyu out of the corner of her eye. She secretly gritted her teeth, then nodded with a smile. "Fine. Three cups it is."
As she spoke, she took the cup, drank it down decisively, then poured herself another and drank that one as well.
Whether it was psychological or not, after drinking, Guo Meiyun felt a heat spreading through her body. Her heart began to race, THUMP-THUMP-THUMP, and she had an overwhelming urge to do something, anything, for release. She forced herself to endure it and returned to her seat.
A short while later, with a loud THUMP, Wu Quanquan's head hit the table. He had passed out drunk.
Everyone burst out laughing. "The young man just needs more practice. You have to drink more often to build up a tolerance."