Chapter 53: To Win a Woman’s Heart, You Must First Win Her Stomach

When Sheng Zexi agreed without hesitation, Gu Jianing gave him a big thumbs up, unable to hide the smile on her face.

Looking at his adorable little wife, Sheng Zexi was almost entranced.

His wife was truly beautiful!

Just a little silly, though.

His silly wife probably didn’t know that, for her sake, he had specially sought out a chef to learn how to cook.

Back then, when he was injured and Gu Jianing took him in, he stayed at the Gu family’s house for a while. During that time, he gradually fell for her. But later, because of his infertility, he left without confessing his feelings.

After returning, he tried to get over Gu Jianing, but once his heart was moved, her image haunted his dreams, growing deeper and deeper. How could he possibly let go?

After struggling for half a year, Sheng Zexi finally decided to give himself a chance.

He wanted to go to Huaihua Village and be by Gu Jianing’s side right away, but at the time, he couldn’t get leave, so he had to hold back for the moment.

Coincidentally, during a mission, he met a chef. He remembered how his future mother-in-law had once mentioned that Gu Jianing was picky and loved to eat, but didn’t like cooking.

She’d said she wanted to find her daughter a husband who could cook.

Sheng Zexi thought, if he could cook well, his chances of a successful proposal would be much higher.

So, after helping that chef with a big favor and paying him, Sheng Zexi would go learn from him whenever he had free time during missions.

And it turned out, he was quite talented at it. With his hard work, by the end, the chef even wanted to take him as an apprentice and marry his granddaughter to him.

Of course, Sheng Zexi politely refused. When the chef found out he was learning to cook for a girl he liked, he gave Sheng Zexi a thumbs up.

“To win a woman’s heart, you must first win her stomach. It’s great that you have both the idea and the initiative.”

Back in the day, the chef himself had won the most beautiful girl in the area with his cooking skills. Now, that girl had been his wife and companion for decades.

“Jianing, are you home?”

Just as Sheng Zexi was lost in his happy thoughts, a voice from outside interrupted him.

“That should be Sister Shuwan. I’ll go take a look,” Gu Jianing recognized Zhang Shuwan’s voice, hurried out, and opened the door.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Zhang Shuwan smiling warmly, holding out a bowl to her.

“Jianing, you haven’t eaten yet, right? I just made some stir-fried cabbage with cured pork and thought I’d bring you a bowl.”

The bowl was filled with cabbage and a generous amount of cured pork, the delicious aroma wafting through the air—clearly, Zhang Shuwan was a good cook too.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept this, Sister Shuwan. You should keep it for yourself and Guoguo,” Gu Jianing knew that meat was a rare treat, especially in the resource-scarce northwest, and she couldn’t take someone else’s cured pork.

“Oh, come on, Jianing, don’t refuse. Not to mention you saved my Guoguo, but personally, I just really like you. I’m happy to give this to you, so just take it.”

After a few rounds of polite refusal, Gu Jianing finally gave in.

Suddenly, she had an idea. “How about this, Sister Shuwan, come inside with me.”

“Hm?”

Zhang Shuwan was a bit puzzled, but let Gu Jianing lead her toward the kitchen. Before they even got close, she could hear the sounds and smell the delicious aroma coming from inside.

Someone was cooking meat, too.

As soon as she entered, she saw a tall figure in an apron busy at the stove.

Looking closer—was that Sheng Zexi?!

My goodness! The head of the Sheng family was actually the one cooking!

Sheng Zexi looked up and saw Zhang Shuwan standing there with his wife. He nodded in greeting, “Sister Shuwan.”

“Hello.”

“Brother Xi, Sister Shuwan brought us some stir-fried cabbage with cured pork. Is your spicy stir-fried rabbit ready? Give her some too.”

Gu Jianing took a bowl from her own cupboard, poured the cabbage and pork into it, and handed the empty bowl to Sheng Zexi.

As it happened, Sheng Zexi’s stir-fried rabbit had just finished.

So, he took the bowl and started filling it with rabbit meat.

Since his wife had said to give some, he didn’t hesitate. After all, it’s only right to reciprocate.

“No need, Jianing, Captain Sheng, really, there’s no need,” Zhang Shuwan hurriedly tried to refuse.

But Gu Jianing wouldn’t let her. Although she wasn’t the most generous person, she understood the importance of reciprocity.

Besides, she genuinely liked the Zhang family.

“Sister Shuwan, you just gave us cured pork. How can you refuse what I’m giving you now?”

“If you refuse, I won’t dare accept anything from you in the future.”

As she spoke, Sheng Zexi had already filled the bowl with rabbit meat and handed it to Gu Jianing.

Gu Jianing promptly passed the bowl—meat and all—to Zhang Shuwan, accompanying her out the door.

“Take it home and share it with Guoguo and Captain Lin. Try my Sheng’s cooking.”

“It smells delicious, so I’m sure it’s good.”

With Gu Jianing being so insistent, Zhang Shuwan had no choice but to accept.

But she felt she was getting the short end of the stick. The cabbage and pork she brought over was only about a third to a quarter meat, but the bowl of rabbit meat she received was packed full.

Zhang Shuwan thought to herself, Gu Jianing was truly a good person—definitely a friend worth having.

Before she left, Zhang Shuwan pulled Gu Jianing aside and whispered mysteriously, “Is it really Captain Sheng who cooks at your house?”

Gu Jianing blinked. “Yes, I don’t know how to cook. He said he likes making food for me.”

Zhang Shuwan: Oh my, I’ve never met a man who actually enjoys cooking before.

She thought, Captain Sheng must really love Jianing.

If anyone else had seen that scene just now, they’d be as shocked as she was.

Even after carrying the bowl home, Zhang Shuwan was still in a daze.

“Weren’t you just dropping off some food? Why did you bring something back?” Lin Xing and Guoguo had already set the table and were waiting for her.

Looking up, they saw her still holding the bowl, lost in thought.

Zhang Shuwan snapped back to reality, quickly put down the bowl, and sat down.

“Guess what this is?”

“This is rabbit meat—Jianing gave it to me.”

“What? How could you accept that?” Lin Xing frowned. That was a lot of rabbit meat.

“I couldn’t refuse. Jianing is a good person. Next time we have something, I’ll make sure to think of her,” Zhang Shuwan wasn’t the type to take advantage of others.

“Try the rabbit meat and see if it’s good,” Zhang Shuwan picked up a piece and put it in Lin Xing’s bowl.

As for Guoguo, since the rabbit was spicy and not suitable for children, Zhang Shuwan rinsed off some of the spice before giving it to her.

Lin Xing picked up a piece and took a bite. His eyes lit up—it was delicious! Perfectly seasoned, just the right amount of salt and spice to whet the appetite. And of course, it was meat—who doesn’t love meat?"