Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Envy and Jealousy Chapter 611: Chapter 611: Envy and Jealousy Luo Qiao said, “He’s busy and can’t make it for lunch today, so don’t wait for him.”
Tiong Shulan knew exactly what Luo Siyuan was thinking, “Why don’t you take a portion to him, the dishes are ready.”
Luo Qiao replied, “No need to bother, let him be. I even brought roast duck for him.”
Thinking of something, Luo Qiao said, “Mom, there’s also a roast duck in that bag, I forgot to tell you.”
Tiong Shulan said, “I saw it when I was organizing earlier. Let them have it for dinner with drinks. We have plenty of dishes from lunch, and they can’t drink in the afternoon because they have to work.”
Luo Qiao replied with a light smile, “Mom, you arrange it.”
No sooner had she spoken than Yuan Weihan and Zhou Wanfeng came in together, with Zhou Wanfeng saying, “Sister-in-law, I’ve come to freeload a meal again today.”
Tiong Shulan stood up smiling, “Why be so polite, wash your hands, and we’ll get ready to eat.”
Then she quickly put everything in order, “Qiaoqiao, Xiaomin, come help.”
Luo Qiao and Zhou Xiaomin responded in unison, “Coming.”
After Yuan Weihan and Zhou Wanfeng washed their hands, the dishes were served on the table. Luo Qiao asked, “Mom, is fifth brother not coming home for lunch?”
Tiong Shulan answered, “He has to take the college entrance examination next year. The school is very strict. This semester, your father arranged for him to board, so he comes back every Saturday night and leaves Monday morning.”
Luo Qiao was a bit disappointed, “Then I won’t get to see fifth brother this time.”
Tiong Shulan said, “Tomorrow is Saturday, he’ll be back tomorrow evening.”
Luo Qiao said, “I have to leave tomorrow morning, my train is at two in the afternoon.”
Tiong Shulan became anxious, “Why can you only stay for one night? Then that means…”
She was too emotional to continue, Yuan Weihan said with a laugh, “That means you won’t get to show off Luo Qiao everywhere, right?”
Tiong Shulan got to the heart of the matter and replied somewhat awkwardly, “You and your clever remarks.”
Luo Qiao hastily said, “Next year, when I come back to Capital City for school, I’ll visit often.”
Tiong Shulan’s mood lightened a bit, “Come on, eat up. Later, I’ll take you and Xiaomin out to recognize the families in the compound, so you won’t feel unfamiliar next time you come.”
Yuan Weihan looked at Luo Qiao with sympathy, “Go ahead, you’ll have to face this sooner or later.”
Tiong Shulan added with a laugh, “That’s right. It’s not easy for me to finally have a daughter. Of course, I need to introduce her around, so they’ll stop talking behind my back about how I brag.”
Yuan Weihan nodded, “Let’s eat, let’s eat. I’ll wash the dishes later, you just go about your business.”
Tiong Shulan served a piece of fish to Luo Qiao and Zhou Xiaomin each. Luo Qiao thanked her and took a bite, “Hmm, mom, your cooking skills have improved a lot.”
Yuan Weihan explained, “Before, at the compound, she learned a lot from you all. After coming back, she’s been practicing hard, and it’s paid off. She’s almost surpassing me.”
Zhou Wanfeng asked, “Are you implying that Luo Qiao is good at cooking?”
Tiong Shulan lavished praise, “Our Qiaoqiao cooks really well. Otherwise, I couldn’t have improved so fast. She taught me quite a bit back at the compound.”
Luo Qiao said with a smile, “I’ll take over the cooking tonight, Uncle Zhou and Xiaomin can taste my cooking too.”
Zhou Wanfeng responded with a laugh, “Haha, good, good. My daughter and I will not hold back tonight. But Xiaomin will go pick up some ingredients this afternoon. You can’t object to that, otherwise we’d feel embarrassed to come over.”
In the afternoon, Tiong Shulan took Luo Qiao and Zhou Xiaomin to several houses, showing off enough before taking them to buy ingredients for the evening meal.
Meanwhile, the compound was abuzz, with everyone talking about Commander Yuan’s foster daughter: “She’s pretty and polite, no wonder Tiong Shulan always speaks so highly of her foster daughter.”
“I heard Commander Yuan and the Yuan Family’s boys are really fond of this girl.”
“This girl is indeed lucky; it’s truly a case of a carp leaping over the dragon gate.”
Of course, envy was unavoidable, and some couldn’t help but make sour comments: “Too much money and nowhere to spend it, had to take in someone else’s daughter. If you wanted to raise someone, there are plenty of girls in the compound; no need to pick one from outside.”
The speaker meant no harm, merely indulging in a moment of spite, but the listener took it to heart. Not far behind them, an eight or nine-year-old girl heard these words and began to harbor some thoughts.