Back to the 1980s: Transmigrated as the Bigshot's Pampered Wife-Chapter 102: Egg and Loach Soup

"Yes, let’s go! Let’s go to your house for dinner." Mr. Sheng was so excited he could barely speak coherently.

He’d heard Old Three mention several times that Su’s mother was a village banquet cook, and her food was absolutely delicious.

Neither he nor Sheng Shiwu had ever imagined that Gu Jiaojiao could cook. When she lived with them, Jiaojiao had never lifted a finger to do housework.

She didn’t even know how to clean a scallion, let alone cook a meal.

Gu Jiaojiao had only made the offer out of politeness, assuming Mr. Sheng would decline. She never expected him to not only accept but also seem so excited about it.

’Wasn’t this adoptive father supposed to be powerful, high-ranking, and decisive? This is it?’

Seeing his wife staring at Uncle Sheng with a strange expression, Su Shuochi knew she wasn’t excited.

"My mom is an amazing cook. Uncle Sheng, you won’t be disappointed."

Su Shuochi spoke up quickly, afraid someone else might praise Jiaojiao’s cooking.

Grandpa Gu, thinking his grandson-in-law was just trying to be modest, chimed in, "My daughter’s mother-in-law cooks as well as a chef from a state-run restaurant."

Geng Ruixian was still lost in his own thoughts. ’How can I gain some weight and look a little younger?’ 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Meanwhile, Gu Jinghua was pondering why everyone in the residential compound seemed to avoid his brother-in-law. ’Is he just too exceptional, or has he managed to offend them all?’

Gu Jiaojiao’s first aid for Gu Jinghua had taken some time, and since both Gu Jinghua and Geng Ruixian were unwell, they walked slowly.

By the time their party arrived home, Mr. Su and Su’s mother had already returned from selling their cold noodles. There were many more stalls selling cold noodles now.

Gu Jiaojiao had told them to close up shop after selling four hundred bowls each day—two hundred at noon and two hundred in the afternoon.

Their cold noodles tasted better than those from the other stalls, so they always sold out quickly.

They were usually sold out before the other stalls had even really started their day’s business.

Mr. Gu and Second Brother Gu, who sold jianbing, weren’t back yet. No one had managed to replicate their recipe.

They were trying to sell as many as possible while business was booming. Second Brother Gu made the jianbing with fiery enthusiasm while Mr. Gu handled the money.

Su Qinchun would go help after school, but they always made sure to return right on time for dinner.

For one, the Su family ate dinner an hour later than most, and the Gu men needed the nutrition, so they had to come home for a hot soup.

For another, Gu Jiaojiao had said that there was no end to the money one could earn, and it wasn’t worth it to work day and night only to ruin your health.

"Uncle Gu, Geng, Jiaojiao, you’re back." Mr. Su, who was pumping water in the courtyard, greeted them with an honest, good-natured smile.

"Dad, this is my direct superior," Su Shuochi said, introducing Mr. Sheng to his father.

"Hello, sir. Please, come inside and have a seat. I’ll park the bicycle for you," Mr. Su said, flustered.

"Thank you, Comrade Su," Mr. Sheng replied politely.

He gave Su Shuochi a deep look. ’He didn’t even introduce me as Jiaojiao’s adoptive father.’

And Jiaojiao hadn’t said anything either. This made him feel a bit awkward, but he couldn’t blame Jiaojiao.

’When you can’t treat everyone equally, abandoning the adopted daughter to compensate the biological one is the only way to restore peace to the family.’

’It’s unreasonable to harbor selfish intentions yourself, yet expect others to be magnanimous.’

’Some wounds are soul-crushing. Kindness must have a sharp edge.’ This was something he had taught Jiaojiao.

And Jiaojiao had mastered it perfectly. Although Mr. Sheng felt a little awkward, he was also gratified.

Gu Jiaojiao saw Mr. Sheng’s awkwardness vanish in a second, as if nothing had happened. ’So as long as you aren’t the one who feels awkward, nothing is ever a problem.’

Mr. Sheng was truly an impressive man. The original owner of this body had held deep admiration for him, and now, Gu Jiaojiao also found herself looking at him in a new light.

"Su, Sister-in-law, you’re back! Sister-in-law, you asked me to buy some loaches last time. I got lucky today and bought about a dozen pounds!"

Song Zijie’s excited voice rang out in the courtyard.

He strode into the Su family’s yard like he owned the place, followed by a younger man.

Song Zijie couldn’t carry heavy things, so the man placed the bucket of loaches in an open area in the middle of the yard, then turned and left.

After helping Mr. Sheng park the bicycle, Mr. Su carried the bucket of loaches into the living room.

"Song Zijie, you’re incredible! You actually managed to buy over ten pounds of loaches. We’ll have loach and egg soup tonight, and some pan-fried loaches too."

Gu Jiaojiao was thrilled to see the bucket of wriggling loaches. "My grandfather and my family are seriously in need of nutrients."

"Loaches are higher in protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins than most fish and shrimp, plus they’re lower in fat and have even less cholesterol."

"They also contain unsaturated fats and have nourishing and detoxifying properties, and they’re good for replenishing the blood."

Grandpa Gu watched his granddaughter speak eloquently with delight, while Mr. Sheng just stood there, wide-eyed and stunned like a block of wood.

’Did his granddaughter hide her talents when she was with the Sheng family? Does Mr. Sheng not know that Jiaojiao knows medicine and can cook?’

’No wonder my grandson-in-law insisted it was his mother who did the cooking.’ Grandpa Gu was as sharp as a tack, with a mind that could see through anything. He immediately picked up the thread.

"Loach and egg soup is nourishing, quenches thirst, and helps clear heat and dampness from the body. This is especially true since loaches live in rice paddies, small rivers, and marshes."

"Besides eating tiny insects, they also ingest mud every day, and they have a high absorption rate for iron."

"That makes loaches a high-iron food. Eating them promotes hemoglobin synthesis and is excellent for enriching the blood."

"Zijie, you should stay for dinner too and build up your blood. Mr. Sheng, you’re in for a real treat today, haha..."

"Grandpa Gu, you know so much! The Divine Doctor also told me I need to enrich my blood. In that case, it would be rude to refuse, so I’ll stay for dinner."

Song Zijie readily agreed. ’I helped Su sell a ton of rice and half a ton of noodles today. I’ve earned a meal.’

"Mr. Sheng, please don’t stand on ceremony. Have a seat. Shuo Ci, pour him a cup of tea. I’m going to the kitchen to help."

Gu Jiaojiao looked at the supposedly sagacious Mr. Sheng, who was just standing there dumbfounded in the middle of the living room, glancing around aimlessly.

She offered a polite invitation. ’Life isn’t just about personal gain; it’s more about mutual support and offering each other warmth.’

’Besides, the original owner of this body told me in a dream that how I interact with the Sheng family is none of her concern. The grievances between them have been settled.’

’When people interact, words might be what initially puts you at ease, but in the long run, it’s a person’s character that brings true comfort.’

’In the adult world, no one has it easier than anyone else; some people just put in effort that goes unseen.’

’People struggle through life. The only way is to keep striving upward and enriching your own inner world.’

’Then you can become stronger and luckier than others. And that, right there, is life.’

With these thoughts, Gu Jiaojiao’s mood brightened. She picked up the bucket, which weighed over ten pounds, and headed for the kitchen.

"Jiaojiao... let me help you carry that in," Mr. Sheng said, finally snapping out of his daze.

He was afraid she wouldn’t be able to lift such a heavy bucket of loaches.

But what made his eyes blur with tears was the sight of Gu Jiaojiao already disappearing into the kitchen.

Gu Jiaojiao had no time to dwell on Mr. Sheng’s inner turmoil. She washed half of the loaches.

She put them in a pot, poured in cold water, and added salt, scallions, ginger, oyster sauce, and other seasonings.

She brought it to a boil over high heat, then turned it down to a low simmer for thirty minutes before whisking some eggs and pouring them into the pot.

"Jiaojiao, your adoptive father is here?" both Su’s mother, who was chopping vegetables, and Mrs. Gu, who was tending the fire, asked in a hushed whisper.

"Mom... He’s not my adoptive father anymore." As soon as the words left Gu Jiaojiao’s mouth, she saw both her mother and mother-in-law staring at her with wide eyes.