"How could that be fake?"
Xia Xue gave Song Yue a look. "Don't look at her like that, it'll make her uncomfortable."
"The woman is a Siamese Chinese, and seems very wealthy. The thin, dark man is her bodyguard."
Xia Xue introduced.
"My heavens!"
Song Yue covered her mouth, unable to voice the rest of her thought.
If Lin Fan was playing around with women at home, he was even getting involved with foreign women?
Of course, Song Yue would never dare say this to Xia Xue, or she'd fly into a rage.
A short while later.
A large pot of steaming, fragrant stewed chicken was served.
The rooster Xia Xue had bought weighed a full ten pounds and had been free-range for over a year, making it exceptionally plump.
Now that everyone knew she was Lin Fan's sister-in-law, people gave her the best when she went shopping, and at very reasonable prices.
"It smells so good!"
Lin Fan sniffed the air, filled with the rich aroma of stewed chicken, the umami of wild mushrooms, and a faint scent of traditional Chinese medicine, making one's appetite surge.
"So fragrant!"
Zheng Yue couldn't help but exclaim, as she was indeed hungry.
"Eat, eat. I also cooked a pot of mixed grain rice. Cooking in the countryside isn't as fancy, so don't mind it."
Xia Xue worried that the foreign guests might not be accustomed to Chinese food.
"This is very generous, thank you for your hospitality."
Zheng Yue said with delight.
Lin Fan picked up a thick piece of chicken breast, two pieces of mushroom, and scooped a small bowl of chicken soup, placing it in front of Tian Mengyao.
"Everyone, eat. Don't be shy."
Tian Mengyao was specially treated and was, of course, extremely happy.
Zheng Yue shot Lin Fan a cold glance, feeling a pang of annoyance.
"Miss, I'll serve you."
Normally, this task would fall to Wan Na.
But since Wan Na wasn't present, Zheng Ke took it upon himself.
"No need, I can do it myself."
Zheng Yue refused, serving herself.
Zheng Ke could only watch her, ready to intervene if she got burned.
"Delicious!"
"So fragrant~"
"Xiao Fan, what kind of mushrooms are these?"
Tian Mengyao ate heartily, praising the meal.
"How would I know? Patients gave them to me. They were gathered from the mountains. I didn't expect them to be so tasty."
Lin Fan tried to recall, but he'd even forgotten who gave them to him.
"Look at you."
Tian Mengyao rolled her eyes. Such kindness from a patient, and he treated it so casually!
Zheng Yue ate slowly but steadily.
She was dissatisfied with everything in Shimenzhen, including her promise to invest ten million US dollars, which was purely out of consideration for Lin Fan.
Only this meal was to her twelve-point satisfaction.
The five of them soon ate their fill.
Zheng Ke ate quite a bit and said apologetically, "When I was young, my family was poor, and we didn't have enough to eat. I have a big appetite."
Song Yue's eyes widened at this. "Aren't you foreign? Can't people get enough to eat abroad?"
"Yes, it's not just my family, many places don't have enough food."
Zheng Ke replied truthfully.
Xia Xue and Song Yue exchanged glances, seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
This foreign country was completely different from what they had imagined.
Didn't they say that the moon was rounder in other countries?
How could people not have enough to eat?
"Zheng Ke's hometown is even poorer than here."
Zheng Yue sighed.
Siam had a good geographical environment and had always been prosperous, but the financial crisis of '97 had dealt a devastating blow to the country, from which it had yet to recover.
The Zheng family was also greatly affected at the time, but with their strong foundations, they managed to pull through soon.
Ordinary people, however, were not so fortunate.
They had little savings, and their living standards steadily declined.
"Ah?"
Xia Xue and Song Yue were almost shocked speechless.
Foreign countries were poorer than their own countryside!
Was it true?
Zheng Ke smiled with a complex expression.
After joining the Zheng family, he had witnessed extreme prosperity and the lavish lifestyles of the rich, and his own life had improved. However, the tragic memories of his childhood were something he would never forget.
Song Yue's house had three brick houses, one serving as a kitchen and another as a storage room.
The renovation was simple, or rather, it had been well-renovated before, but it might have been deliberately damaged by someone later. All valuables had been looted.
Yet, such a home was considered wealthy in his hometown.
All along the way, all he saw were smiling faces and peace, which refreshed his spirit.
In comparison, his hometown was simply unbearable to look at!
Poverty brought countless troubles.
Corrupt officials, rampant gangs, and rampant illegal transactions everywhere.
People lived day by day, numb to reality, living only for the moment. His father was like that too.
"This place is very good, very safe."
Zheng Ke said in broken Mandarin.
Xia Xue and Song Yue frowned, thinking Zheng Ke was just being polite.
How was this place good?
Remote, backward, with young people leaving to work, leaving only the elderly and children behind.
Was this really something to envy?
"I'm serious."
Seeing their disbelief, Zheng Ke said again, earnestly.
Zheng Yue then stood up and said with a smile, "We should be going back."
"Leaving already?"
Xia Xue was taken aback, then realized and waved. "Wait, I'll get you some local specialties. They're all grown and picked by the villagers, not worth much, just a token of our appreciation."
Zheng Yue smiled and shook her head. "No need, we have everything at home."
Xia Xue was determined to give them something.
It was rare for foreigners to visit their home, and they couldn't possibly be left without a gift, or it would be bad publicity.
Xia Xue looked at Lin Fan and instructed, "Xiao Fan, keep the guests company for a bit. I'll go get some things with sister."
Lin Fan was exasperated.
They were wealthy Siamese, did they lack these simple local products?
"Your sister-in-law is a very good person."
Zheng Yue said to Lin Fan.
If Lin Fan were even a tenth as accommodating as Xia Xue, she would have already recruited him to work for her.
Xia Xue and Song Yue searched in a hurry for a long time, but only found peanuts, grains, and vegetables at home.
This made Xia Xue frantic.
She couldn't possibly present such meager gifts to foreign guests!
"Xiao Fan! Xiao Fan!"
Xia Xue called out twice.
"What is it, sister-in-law?"
Lin Fan asked.
"Those things you have stored in the west room of your clinic, why didn't you get some for them?"
Xia Xue had thought that just as big hospitals had walls full of congratulatory banners, their clinic could have a room full of thank-you gifts to decorate the place.
Besides, they were only temporarily staying at Song Yue's house and would move back sooner or later. If they brought everything, it would be inconvenient to take back, and it wouldn't look good.
"So you're blaming me?"
Lin Fan was a little helpless.
"They're all with you, and you haven't organized them."
Xia Xue, fearing Song Yue might be offended, shifted the blame to Lin Fan.
Lin Fan glanced at the kitchen and suddenly thought of something good.
"Cough, cough."
As the saying goes, a unique skill can conquer the world. Lin Fan planned to play a trick on Zheng Yue.