Chapter 379 - 377: Unhappy

Chapter 379: Chapter 377: Unhappy

Zhang Laodi nodded eagerly.

Her feelings for Gu Nuan Nuan were complicated—a mix of envy and gratitude. She often wanted to get closer to her cousin, but Gu Nuan Nuan was always too busy. Their paths rarely crossed, and they seldom had the chance to meet. On the rare occasions they did, their personalities clashed. One wanted to be proactive but couldn’t bring herself to, while the other had no interest in getting close. So, the two of them were like parallel lines, never quite managing to become affectionate.

But despite all that, Zhang Laodi still held a special affection for Gu Nuan Nuan.

"I don’t think I want anything in particular. I’ll like whatever you get me, cousin." Gu Nuan Nuan’s heart warmed slightly as she looked at Zhang Laodi. She knew a big reason her cousin wanted to be close was out of gratitude for the message she had delivered to her in the middle of the night long ago.

"Oh." Zhang Laodi sounded a little disappointed.

"Actually, I’m quite fond of tableware. How about this? When you have time, see if you can find a pretty set of bowls and dishes, or maybe a teapot, to bring back for me," Gu Nuan Nuan said offhandedly, unable to bear seeing her disappointment.

"Okay. I’ll definitely look for a really nice one." Zhang Laodi’s eyes lit up at once.

"Alright, alright. Now that Nuannuan is back, it should be about time to eat. Your grandma and the others should be about ready," Zhang Dazhuang said as he stood up. "Let’s go eat. We can talk while we eat."

The atmosphere at dinner was excellent. Gu Nuan Nuan discovered that Lin Su truly was a charmer, especially with women. His skills were top-notch, winning over females of all ages. From her grandmother and eldest aunt to her own mother, not one was immune; he had them all smiling from ear to ear. Even Gu Nuan Nuan herself couldn’t help but laugh more than usual. Seeing the blissful look on her cousin Laidi’s face, Gu Nuan Nuan finally let go of the slight annoyance she’d felt toward Lin Su before.

’To each their own. Just because he isn’t my type doesn’t mean other people can’t like him, right?’

Half a month flew by, and Lin Su and Zhang Laodi’s wedding was a lively affair. A few days before the ceremony, Zhang Laodi’s biological father and her stepmother, Yang Guiying, arrived with their son, Zhang Jizu, who was over three years old. They didn’t come empty-handed, either. They brought a dowry for Zhang Laodi that, while not a huge amount, was quite generous considering their family’s finances.

Over the past few years, Yang Guiying had, as promised, been on her best behavior. She not only kept Zhang Weimin completely in line, preventing him from causing any trouble, but had also borne him a son. There was no need for a DNA test—anyone with eyes could see that this time, Zhang Jizu was undoubtedly Zhang Weimin’s child. The father and son looked as if they were cast from the same mold. However, while their faces were similar, their personalities were polar opposites. The boy had been disciplined well from a young age. Even at just over three years old, it was clear he was not cut from the same cloth as his father. His temperament was about fifty or sixty percent similar to his grandfather, Zhang Dazhuang.

All of this made Zhang Dazhuang and Wen Xiu feel quite emotional, and they couldn’t help but treat this grandson and their new daughter-in-law much more warmly, secretly giving them quite a few perks. Of course, Wen Xiu was very tactful. The perks she gave, while appearing substantial to ordinary people, were nothing special in the eyes of Zhang Wei Qiang and Lin Qin.

Zhang Laodi was marrying up, but her dowry wasn’t particularly large. Besides the betrothal gifts from the Lin family, all of which were given to her, the most valuable item from her side of the family was the apartment she had received as a "reward" for getting into university.

Lin Su and Zhang Laodi’s temporary marital suite was set up in the city’s best hotel, which was also where the wedding banquet was held. On the third day, they paid the traditional visit to the bride’s family. On the fourth day, the young couple, along with Lin Qiao and her family—including her paternal grandparents—boarded a plane and left the Alliance.

Gu Nuan Nuan didn’t stay home for much longer, either. After convincing her family, she set off alone for Ju State, a journey that involved a plane, a train, and a long-distance bus. Transportation in this era was nowhere near as advanced as it would be in the future, so it took her a full three days of difficult travel to finally reach her destination.

It was already getting dark. Fortunately, Ju State was a famous hub for gemstones, so merchants flocked there year-round, making it far more prosperous than other places. Even though night was falling, the streets were still bustling with people, and it was easy to find lodging and food.

Gu Nuan Nuan wasn’t short on money, so she had no intention of roughing it. She went straight to the most impressive-looking, star-rated hotel and booked their best room. After tossing her luggage—a small travel backpack meant to be a decoy—into the room, she took Cao Cao and, in no hurry to go out, went directly to the hotel restaurant. There, she requested a private dining room and ordered a table full of local specialties.

An hour later, Gu Nuan Nuan had polished off every single dish on the large table. She let out a contented sigh. ’The past few days of travel weren’t so much tiring as they were rushed. I never had enough time to eat properly. This is the most satisfying meal I’ve had.’ She beckoned the waiter for her private room. The waiter looked at the empty plates on the table, then back at her, unable to conceal his shocked expression, as if he had just seen a ghost.

’Gu Nuan Nuan was instantly displeased, and the thought of leaving a tip to ask about the local situation evaporated. It wasn’t just the transportation; the service staff nowadays couldn’t compare to those of later generations either. A waiter from a dozen years in the future would never show such an expression in front of a customer, right?’

’So unprofessional.’

’Whatever.’

’This was the downside of traveling alone. Fortunately, she had anticipated this kind of situation. Otherwise, why would she have bothered getting a private room just to eat by herself? This was barely acceptable. Being stared at by one person with a weird look was better than being gawked at by an entire restaurant full of people as if she were a monkey in a zoo, right?’

Gu Nuan Nuan stopped reaching for her money and simply said two words to the waiter in a flat voice: "The check."

"Right away. The total is two hundred and sixty-five yuan." The waiter was clearly prepared, reciting the number the moment Gu Nuan Nuan finished speaking.

Gu Nuan Nuan nodded. When she had looked at the menu while ordering, she had already noticed the prices here were significantly higher than in other places. Without a word, she took out the exact amount, not a yuan more or less, handed it to the waiter, and then stood up and left.

The moment she stepped out of the hotel, she found herself on a bustling street.

The sky had grown completely dark, but outside, the street remained brilliantly lit. Shop doors were still wide open, and every storefront, inside and out, was teeming with people. The bustle seemed just as lively as it had been during the day. With a quick glance, Gu Nuan Nuan saw that in addition to shops selling all sorts of gems and jewelry, and even those with "stone-gambling" signs advertising raw stones, there were also numerous eateries, guesthouses, and small hotels.