"Secretary Tian is here too!"
Xia Xue said enthusiastically, "I just stewed a big rooster. I also added many qi-tonifying and beauty-enhancing medicinal herbs as Xiao Fan suggested. Come back with me for dinner later."
"Mmm."
Tian Mengyao's mouth was watering.
Her workload had been heavy lately, and her appetite had increased.
It was lunchtime, and her stomach was already rumbling.
Gurgle!
Tian Mengyao clutched her abdomen and smiled sheepishly at Xia Xue.
Behind her, Zheng Yue, however, was so embarrassed that her face instantly turned red.
Because it wasn't her stomach rumbling, but Zheng Yue's!
Seeing Lin Fan's stunned gaze, Zheng Yue immediately knew that Lin Fan had heard it.
In an instant, Zheng Yue was utterly humiliated, wishing she could dig a hole in the ground with her feet and disappear into it.
"Ahem, alright."
Lin Fan pretended not to know anything, stood up, and said, "Sister-in-law, let's go back for dinner."
"Great!"
Tian Mengyao was overjoyed, with only the words "eat, eat, eat" in her mind.
Xia Xue smiled and suddenly thought of the other two.
"You... you must have come from afar, right? Come back with me for a simple meal before you leave. It just happens to be dinnertime."
"Sister-in-law, no need. They wouldn't fancy our plain home-cooked meals," Lin Fan said with a self-deprecating smile.
"What's it to you?"
Xia Xue glared at him and pinched his arm lightly.
"Ouch."
Lin Fan dodged to the side, looking wronged, "Really, sister-in-law, I'm not lying to you."
"Then I won't be polite," Zheng Yue adjusted her clothes and turned to smile at Xia Xue, "Thank you for your hospitality."
"It's just a home-cooked meal, no need to be so formal."
Xia Xue was surprised that the other party was not polite at all. After a moment's pause, she reacted and said enthusiastically, "Hurry up and come with me, it won't be good if it gets cold."
"Hey, you..."
Lin Fan was surprised in his heart, "Aren't you the fifth young lady of the Zheng family? Why are you joining us commoners for a meal?"
"What? Not welcome?" Zheng Yue communicated with her eyes.
Firstly, she was genuinely hungry.
She had been busy until late last night, startled and frightened, and then entangled by Zhou Weiguo in the morning. She had no time to eat.
Secondly, she wanted to understand Lin Fan's family situation.
Zheng Ke was also shocked when he heard her say she was going to Lin Fan's house for dinner.
The Zheng family's status in Siam was second only to the royal family. Zheng Yue lived a life of luxury, even drinking imported water from the West, where a single bottle of water cost as much as three to five days' expenses for a commoner's family.
"Miss, I'll go get the car."
Despite his doubts, Zheng Ke dared not disobey her orders.
"No need, it's just ahead, only a few steps away."
Xia Xue didn't want to be ostentatious in Wangjia Village, as the car outside the medical clinic was clearly expensive.
"Let's go."
Lin Fan tugged at Tian Mengyao's arm and took the lead.
Xia Xue frowned, slightly blaming Lin Fan for neglecting the guests.
"Miss, where are you from?" Xia Xue and Zheng Yue walked behind.
"I am from Siam, my name is Zheng Yue." Zheng Yue pointed to Zheng Ke, "He is my bodyguard, named Zheng Ke."
"Sawasdee ka." Zheng Ke clasped his hands together and said hello in Thai.
"Wow!"
Xia Xue's beautiful eyes widened instantly, her expression like she had seen a monster.
Zheng Yue found it amusing; she was just from Siam, was there a need to be so dramatic?
"Miss Zheng, you, you are also..." Xia Xue came back to her senses and clasped her hands together, mimicking Zheng Ke.
Zheng Yue in front of her did not look exotic at all, and her Mandarin was excellent. Could they be joking with her?
Zheng Yue smiled and nodded.
"Miss Zheng, how did you find this place?" Xia Xue was completely disbelieving that such a humble rural medical clinic could attract foreigners, as foreigners were rarely seen in the entire Yunqing City.
"I..." Zheng Yue thought for a moment and replied, "I heard of Mr. Lin's great reputation, so I specifically came to visit. He truly is an extraordinary person!"
Xia Xue's cherry-like mouth dropped open.
What did she just say?
Heard of Xiao Fan's great reputation!
Heavens!
Even foreigners knew how skilled Xiao Fan was in medicine!
In an instant, a strong sense of joy filled Xia Xue's heart.
Although she had always hoped Lin Fan would achieve great things and make a name for himself, she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Seeing her excited emotions, Zheng Yue asked inexplicably, "What? Mr. Lin isn't well-known usually?"
"No, no, no." Xia Xue quickly denied, "No one in the surrounding ten villages doesn't know about our medical clinic. You can ask anyone, and they'll all say my Xiao Fan is a skilled doctor."
"But..." Xia Xue continued with some embarrassment, "but you are too far away."
Zheng Yue explained, "I got to know him through a friend."
"Oh, then you've come to the right place. Tell me whatever ailment you want Xiao Fan to cure, don't hesitate!" Xia Xue, feeling proud, took it upon herself to agree on Lin Fan's behalf.
"Really?" Zheng Yue's eyes lit up. What a great opportunity!
"Fake!" Lin Fan stepped forward, pulled his sister-in-law aside, and said to Zheng Yue, "Don't fool my sister-in-law."
"Xiao Fan, how can you speak to them like that?" Xia Xue reprimanded.
Her generation had been educated since childhood that foreign countries were economically developed, superior to China in all aspects, and even the moon was rounder.
China, as a land of etiquette, should treat foreign friends with warmth and friendliness, yielding even if slightly wronged.
There was no other way. In the 1970s and 1980s, China had just opened its doors. When they discovered the vast gap between themselves and others, they inevitably developed a tendency to admire foreign things.
From high officials to commoners, there was dissatisfaction with their own country and envy of others.
Lin Fan's generation, however, grew up as China became increasingly powerful, living conditions improved, and confidence grew day by day.
"Sister-in-law." Lin Fan was helpless and didn't know what to say.
"Quickly apologize to them." Xia Xue felt Lin Fan had been rude to the foreign guests.
"She's not a foreigner at all," Lin Fan pointed at Zheng Yue, "Trace back a few generations, and she's definitely of Chinese descent. Ask her if you don't believe me."
Zheng Yue nodded, "Yes, I am indeed Chinese, with pure Chinese blood."
"Oh~" Xia Xue drew out the syllable, feeling a bit disappointed.
It was rare enough for Xiao Fan's fame to reach abroad, and now it turned out to be a fake foreigner.
"However, Zheng Ke is a native of Siam," Zheng Yue introduced.
"So that's how it is." Xia Xue became happy again; having foreigners was good!
As they talked, the group soon arrived at Song Yue's house.
Lin Fan pushed the door open and was the first to enter the courtyard.
Zheng Yue looked around and felt disappointed.
She hadn't expected such an accomplished person to live in such a simple dwelling.
Xia Xue hurried into the house, spoke a few hushed words with Song Yue, and then called for Lin Fan to set up chairs in the living room.
Song Yue was both shocked and nervous, looking out from the kitchen window, "Sister Xue'er, are they really from abroad?"