Chapter 545: Jiang Yixia Takes the Initiative to Cook for Lu Fan, Relationship Greatly Improves!

Pan Lanfang hadn’t seen Lu Fan for a long time, not since he visited Qingshan Village before the New Year.

She sat in the courtyard, sorting vegetables. She picked off the wilted leaves and tossed them into a basket, neatly stacking the good ones in another. Inside the main room, Jiang Guoqiang was watching TV. The volume was low, and he occasionally flipped from one channel to the next.

She set down the vegetables, picked up her phone, and scrolled to her chat with Lu Fan. Their last conversation was half a month ago when he asked about her health, and she replied that she was doing great.

She thought for a moment, typed a few words, and deleted them. She typed another line and deleted that too. After hesitating for a long while, she finally sent a message.

Pan Lanfang: [Xiaolu, have you been busy lately? It’s been a while since I last saw you. I miss you.]

After sending it, she placed her phone on the stone table and resumed sorting vegetables. A few minutes later, the phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw Lu Fan’s reply: [I’m not busy, Ma’am. I’ll come visit you and Mr. Jiang tomorrow.]

Pan Lanfang looked at the message and smiled. She called out toward the main room, “Old man, Xiaolu is coming tomorrow.”

Jiang Guoqiang didn’t respond.

Pan Lanfang called out again, “Old man, did you hear me?”

“I heard you,” Jiang Guoqiang’s muffled voice drifted from the room. “If he’s coming, he’s coming. What are you shouting for?”

Pan Lanfang ignored him and lowered her head to continue sorting vegetables, a smile playing on her lips.

Early the next morning, Lu Fan set off from Yangcheng.

Chen He drove. The journey took over three hours, and it was almost noon by the time they arrived at Qingshan Village.

The car stopped at the village entrance. Lu Fan got out and took two bags of items from the trunk. One bag contained nutritional supplements for Pan Lanfang, and the other held tea and liquor for Jiang Guoqiang. They weren’t particularly expensive gifts, but they were practical things the older couple could use.

He walked along the familiar narrow path into the village. A few elderly villagers were sunbathing by their doors. Seeing him, they smiled and greeted him.

“Xiaolu, you’re here?”

“Yes, sir,” Lu Fan nodded with a smile.

When he reached the courtyard gate, Pan Lanfang was already standing there waiting. She wore a dark red floral jacket, her hair neatly combed, and her face bloomed with a bright smile.

“Xiaolu, you’re here!” Pan Lanfang welcomed him, taking his hand and looking him up and down. “You’ve lost weight. Have you not been eating well?”

“I haven’t lost weight, Ma’am. I’ve actually gained a couple of pounds,” Lu Fan said cheerfully.

“Gained what? Your face has thinned out,” Pan Lanfang said, pulling him inside by the hand. “Hurry inside, Mr. Jiang is in the main room.”

Lu Fan followed her into the courtyard. The osmanthus tree in the yard was much lusher than the last time he visited. Several hens were kept in a chicken coop in the corner, clucking CLUCK CLUCK CLUCK. Firewood was neatly stacked against the kitchen wall.

Jiang Guoqiang sat on a chair in the main room, holding a cup of tea. His eyes were glued to the TV, not looking toward the door.

“Old man, Xiaolu is here,” Pan Lanfang called out.

Jiang Guoqiang gave a noncommittal “Hmm” and didn’t turn his head.

Lu Fan walked in, placed the bags on the table, and stood in front of Jiang Guoqiang. “Mr. Jiang,” he greeted.

Only then did Jiang Guoqiang turn his head. He glanced at him, his gaze lingering on Lu Fan’s face for two seconds before he turned back to the TV.

“Sit,” Jiang Guoqiang said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t exactly cold, either.

Lu Fan sat down in the chair next to him. Pan Lanfang went to the kitchen to pour some tea, bringing it over and setting it in front of him.

“Have some water, Xiaolu,” Pan Lanfang said with a smile.

“Thank you, Ma’am.” Lu Fan picked up the cup and took a sip.

Jiang Guoqiang continued watching TV in silence. Lu Fan also stayed quiet, just sitting there.

The only sound in the main room came from the television. It was some drama where the male and female leads were arguing. The volume was low, but in the quiet atmosphere, it sounded exceptionally clear.

Pan Lanfang peeked out from the kitchen, glanced at the two men, and retreated inside.

After a while, Jiang Guoqiang broke the silence. “How is your company doing lately?”

“Not bad. It’s pretty stable,” Lu Fan answered.

“Making money?”

“A little.”

Jiang Guoqiang nodded and fell silent again. After a long pause, he spoke up again. “How are Sifan and Silu doing lately?”

“They’re both doing well,” Lu Fan replied. “Silu is getting good grades at school, and she even took on a project for our company last week. Sifan’s studio has expanded too, and they’ve relocated to the branch office.”

Jiang Guoqiang nodded once more and asked nothing else.

Pan Lanfang came out of the kitchen holding a plate of sliced fruit, which she placed on the table. She looked at Jiang Guoqiang, then at Lu Fan, and smiled. “You two chat. I’ll go cook.”

“I’ll help you, Ma’am,” Lu Fan said, standing up.

“No need, no need. Just sit here and talk with Mr. Jiang.” Pan Lanfang pressed him back into his chair and turned back to the kitchen.

The main room grew quiet once more. The drama on the TV finished and switched to a news broadcast. The anchor spoke quickly, rattling off a string of numbers that were hard to catch.

“Mr. Jiang, is your health doing alright?” Lu Fan asked.

“Great. I can eat and sleep well,” Jiang Guoqiang replied.

“That’s good to hear.”

Jiang Guoqiang picked up his teacup, took a sip, set it down, and kept his eyes on the TV. Suddenly, he remarked, “Last time you were here, you helped me catch those fish. They ended up selling for a good price.”

Lu Fan was taken aback for a moment before smiling. “That’s great.”

“Hmm,” Jiang Guoqiang nodded. “The dealer said the fish were raised well and the meat was firm. They sold for fifty cents more per pound than everyone else’s.”

“That’s because you raised them well, Mr. Jiang,” Lu Fan said cheerfully.

Jiang Guoqiang glanced at him, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he wanted to smile, but he held it back. He picked up his teacup to take another sip and said nothing more.

At noon, Pan Lanfang prepared a table full of dishes. Jiang Guoqiang sat at the head of the table, Lu Fan sat beside him, and Pan Lanfang sat opposite them.