Happy Little Farmer
Chapter 166 Zhu Shanshan’s Hint

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 Zhu Shanshan’s Hint

Zhu Shanshan dragged Yang Fan into a restaurant across the street without explanation.

The flower-adorned proprietress seemed to be quite familiar with Zhu Shanshan, teasingly said upon seeing her, "Shanshan, couldn’t you have picked a different time? I’m swamped right now, and here you are, adding to the chaos!"

"Do you hear yourself talking? It’s noon, big sister. Others are hungry, and I’m hungry too!" Zhu Shanshan glanced over, a bit annoyed, and said, "Do you have a private room? Make space for me quickly. The dishes, as usual... Oh, not right, Fanzi, what do you want to eat?"

"I’m fine with anything," Yang Fan replied, withdrawing his gaze from the lady boss.

Though they were in this crowded and lively restaurant, the female proprietress exuded an air as if she belonged to a genteel teahouse—gentle and calm, even her gaze carried an understated elegance.

Clad in a plain, elegant, emerald green qipao, her jet-black hair loosely tied behind her head, a Chinese camellia adorning her temple, she seemed like a delicate maiden from another era.

No wonder the restaurant was bustling. She sat by the entrance, a striking billboard in herself, more effective than any advertisement.

"We do have a dish called ’anything’ in our restaurant. Would you like to order it?" the proprietress asked with a light chuckle, waving a round fan in her hand.

"I’ll take it," Zhu Shanshan grandly declared, waving her hand, "I would believe it even if you said your crappy restaurant offered escorts."

"As long as you pay up, I can arrange for someone to keep you company. No big deal," the proprietress replied, tossing a flirty wink, her words accompanied by a laugh.

Zhu Shanshan’s expression suddenly scrunched up in distaste, "Ew, stop teasing me. Hurry up, will you? I’m in a rush."

"Take the third floor. Those private rooms are currently empty," the lady boss chuckled and instructed.

Zhu Shanshan led Yang Fan to the third floor and they casually entered one room.

"Sister-in-law, don’t you think it’s a bit much for the two of us to occupy such a large private room?" Yang Fan said, looking around the spacious room in surprise.

This private room was large enough to accommodate twenty or thirty people.

Yang Fan and Zhu Shanshan sitting there made it feel exceptionally roomy.

"All the rooms on the third floor are large ones. Don’t worry about it," Zhu Shanshan replied. "This cheeky girl is my bestie. There’s no need to stand on ceremony with her."

Yang Fan had already figured that out, their conversation bore no hint of politeness, clearly indicating a close relationship.

It wasn’t long before the food was served.

"Here’s your ’anything’ meal," the waiter said with a slight smile, placing the dishes on the table.

Yang Fan looked at the dishes, his expression slightly perplexed.

Sautéed potato, green pepper, and eggplant; stir-fried lettuce; and a plate of stir-fried pork. This was considered ’anything’?

"This ’anything’ does seem rather haphazard," Zhu Shanshan laughed heartily. "Could it be that it’s up to the chef’s mood, whatever is ready just gets stir-fried?"

"That’s not exactly it. These three dishes are home-style and suit a wide range of tastes. So when guests are unsure what to order, we recommend this ’anything’ set," explained the waiter.

"An ’anything’ with some rationale," Yang Fan commented with a smile.

This ’anything’ was indeed to his taste.

"Come on, let’s eat quickly. I was actually thinking of advising you to take a break today so we could enjoy a good meal, but I know you too well, Fanzi. You wouldn’t pass up this opportunity, so let’s make it quick," Zhu Shanshan said as she served Yang Fan a bit of food with her chopsticks.

"Sister-in-law, I can manage by myself," Yang Fan said.

He had always found it a bit awkward to have someone else serve him food and had never gotten used to it.

"Eat up," Zhu Shanshan urged, her eyes softly smiling, staring straight at Yang Fan. "Fanzi, I’ve always been curious, do you have a partner yet?"

Yang Fan shook his head.

He actually had someone now, in fact, three.

But his sister-in-law didn’t let him spread the word, Wei Juan wouldn’t admit to it either, and there was Yu Hong Dou, whom he had just begun to develop a rapport with—Yang Fan couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious.

So, rounding up or down, he could only say he had none for now.

"No? Well, that’s a relief," Zhu Shanshan murmured as if deep in thought.

Yang Fan, with his cheeks stuffed and bulging, looked at Zhu Shanshan with some surprise.

He had thought Zhu Shanshan was going to urge him to find someone, but she came out with this instead.

Meeting Yang Fan’s gaze, Zhu Shanshan chuckled lightly, "You can’t find someone too early, you know? I am a lesson from the past on that."

"But you and Old Zhou are doing quite well, aren’t you?" Yang Fan was somewhat surprised.

A faint trace of melancholy flickered across Zhu Shanshan’s brows as she sighed lightly, "Only we know whether we are fine or not. Old Zhou is not very capable, but his heart flutters more than anyone else’s. He thinks he’s quite secretive, but is there ever a wall in the world that doesn’t leak? I just can’t be bothered with him."

A sense of alarm suddenly hit Yang Fan. Shanshan knew all about the things Old Zhou had done?

"So, sister-in-law, are you planning to..."

"What can I plan? As long as you keep life and the life with ’that word’ separate, these issues can be resolved easily. Right now, I am just waiting for a chance to have a clear-the-air talk with him, to go our separate ways and not interfere with each other." Zhu Shanshan said, then served Yang Fan another chopstick-full of food, "Eat up."

"Oh..." Yang Fan replied faintly.

Although he was quite familiar with Old Zhou and his wife, this wasn’t something he could comment on.

And, stirred by Zhu Shanshan’s words, his little heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

Her mentioning these things now was clearly intentional.

When the speaker has a purpose, the listener naturally does as well.

"Sister-in-law, do you already have someone in mind, or have you made some arrangements?" Yang Fan asked deliberately.

He wanted to know if he was just one of several options.

"I do, but sadly it’s a case of unrequited love. Some play deaf and dumb to the extent they won’t even stretch out a hand. It leaves me to dress up fancy every day, only to admire myself," Zhu Shanshan said, supporting her cheek with her hand and looking sideways at Yang Fan, her voice wistful, "Fanzi, do you think I’m pretty?"

Yang Fan nodded without hesitation, "Pretty, glamorous, elegant."

"Oh... So you mean I might lack a bit of that ’little woman’ charm?" Zhu Shanshan murmured softly.

"Sister-in-law, I think your charm is great as it is, nothing lacking," Yang Fan said.

Zhu Shanshan’s words clearly had a specific meaning, but Yang Fan dared not be sure they were meant for him.

Reading too much into it could be rather embarrassing, after all.

Suddenly, Yang Fan felt some movement on his leg. Looking down, he saw Zhu Shanshan had taken off her shoes at some point and was gently rubbing his calf with her foot.

"Fanzi, do you like more mature women? You know, the kind that takes action themselves, cries out at just a little touch," Zhu Shanshan asked with a coquettish smile at the corner of her mouth.

Yang Fan’s heartbeat accelerated suddenly—she was about to bring everything into the open.