Chapter 35: The Purple-Clad Figure Appears Again

Lu Hao felt exceptionally restless. He had originally intended to visit Fang Jing over the weekend and perhaps share some intimacy, but the thought of her nagging him the moment they met instantly extinguished his desire.

He drove to his mother Su Hong’s bakery. The shop was named after her and spanned two floors: a hundred-square-meter space on the ground floor used primarily for baking, and living quarters upstairs. Although it was not in the heart of the county, it was near the old town square, ensuring a steady flow of customers.

"Mom, I’m home," Lu Hao called out as he entered.

"Your Aunt Hongxia hasn’t arrived yet, and I haven't finished cooking. If you’re hungry, grab some bread to tide you over," Su Hong replied while helping a customer weigh their items.

She made a wide variety of breads—fruit-filled, red bean, mung bean—as well as various pastries, all sold by weight. They were almost always sold out by the end of the day.

His mother was not particularly old, just fifty this year, having given birth to Lu Hao at a young age. Yet, in the last couple of years, her hair had turned significantly grey. Watching her busy figure, Lu Hao felt a complex mix of happiness and heartache. She had told him his father died in a car accident years ago and had never remarried. With no sign of his paternal grandparents or other relatives throughout his life, it was easy to imagine how difficult her journey had been.

Just as Lu Hao was about to help tidy up the shop, a customer walked in. He froze upon seeing who it was.

"Lu Hao, what a coincidence! Are you here to buy bread too?" Ye Ziyi was clearly surprised to see him there as well.

"Not exactly. This is my mother's shop. Since it’s the weekend tomorrow, I came home right after work today," Lu Hao said with a smile.

"I’d heard this bakery was quite popular in Anxing County, so I came to check it out. I had no idea it was your mother’s shop. In that case, you’ll have to give me a discount," Ye Ziyi joked, tearing a plastic bag from the dispenser.

"What discount? It’s on the house. Try this mung bean one; it’s absolutely delicious." Lu Hao picked one up with a pair of tongs and handed it to her.

Although the bakery lacked the sophisticated equipment of a big-city shop, the ingredients were high-quality, free of artificial colors or additives, and always fresh. Lu Hao had full confidence in the taste.

Ye Ziyi took a bite and nodded in silent approval. The bread was crisp yet soft, the dough perfectly kneaded. With each bite, the rich flavor of the mung bean was complemented by the subtle fragrance of osmanthus. She truly hadn't expected someone in a small place like Anxing County to bake bread this well.

"Your mother has a wonderful touch," Ye Ziyi praised.

"My mother’s cooking is even better than her baking. Why don't you join us for dinner tonight?" Lu Hao invited tentatively.

"Maybe another time; I have things to attend to today," Ye Ziyi said, a flash of envy crossing her eyes. Her mother had passed away when she was young, and she was accustomed to eating out, rarely enjoying home-cooked meals. Seeing Lu Hao’s genuine joy when speaking about his mother had stirred some old memories.

"By the way, the situation regarding your cousin is quite complicated, but although he has been removed from his post, he is at least safe. That should be the end of it for now. Tell him to take a good rest," Ye Ziyi said while picking out more bread.

"Was that your doing?" Lu Hao asked, stunned.

"Who else? Didn't I tell you last time that I would do my best?" Ye Ziyi rolled her eyes, realizing Lu Hao must have thought she was just making conversation.

Lu Hao scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. He hadn't given much thought to what she said during their previous meal. Reflecting on it now, he realized that when he spoke to his cousin, Liu Yuanda, on the phone, Liu had mentioned that someone in high places had suddenly intervened. Lu Hao hadn't looked into it, assuming it was one of Liu’s own connections, but it was clearly Ye Ziyi who had helped.

"Thank you!" Lu Hao said, his face full of gratitude. He certainly hadn't wanted to see his cousin go to prison; Ye Ziyi had done him a massive favor.

"However, your promotion to deputy section chief is going to be difficult. You need to work harder in your own role," Ye Ziyi said seriously after finishing her selection.

"It’s fine. My affairs aren't as important as my cousin's. As long as he's safe, it doesn't matter if I don't get promoted for a while. I’ll focus on the poverty alleviation work, and I’m sure an opportunity will arise eventually," Lu Hao said, feigning a relaxed attitude. They were not related, and he had only saved her once. Since she had already helped with the Liu Yuanda matter, he had no face to ask for more.

Lu Hao’s reaction surprised Ye Ziyi. She had expected that once he realized her influence, he would be eager to use her to climb the ladder, or at least press her about the promotion. That he didn't made her feel he was grounded and not greedy.

Ye Ziyi tried to weigh her bread to pay, but after Lu Hao’s persistent refusal, she finally gave up. At their last meal, Lu Hao had tried to pay, only to be told the bill was already settled; he was even less likely to let her pay for the bread now.

"Stop staring. She’s already driven off. Is she a friend of yours?"

After Ye Ziyi left, his mother’s voice sounded behind him. Although Su Hong had been busy, she had been observing every interaction between Lu Hao and Ye Ziyi. Even without hearing the conversation, the smile on her son’s face told her they were getting along well.

"Yes, someone I just met," Lu Hao replied.

"What’s her name?"

"Ziyi."

"That’s a lovely name, and she’s quite pretty. But let me remind you, you’re already engaged to Fang Jing. Don't you dare do anything unfaithful. If you wrong Fang Jing, I won't forgive you," his mother said, hands on her hips with a stern expression.

"Don't worry, Mom," Lu Hao quickly assured her. Ever since he started seeing Fang Jing, she had always known how to make Su Hong happy, and Su Hong was clearly satisfied with her future daughter-in-law.

"Aunt Hongxia will be coming over shortly. She said she has something to discuss with you, which is why I called you home," Su Hong added.

In the early years, Su Hong had run the bakery alone, but as she aged and the customer base grew, she hired help. Yu Hongxia had been with her since Lu Hao was in high school—over a decade now. She was diligent and had become Su Hong’s closest friend, taking on much of the workload. Lu Hao had a very high opinion of her. However, Yu Hongxia’s husband had recently fallen ill and was hospitalized, keeping her away from the shop.

At seven in the evening, Yu Hongxia arrived, looking harried. As Su Hong served dinner, Lu Hao noticed that Yu Hongxia’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying. He asked with concern, "Aunt Hongxia, my mother said you wanted to talk to me. There’s no one else here; please tell me what’s wrong. If I can help, I certainly will."