Chapter 443 - "Yeah, no." (1)
Tong Xuelu made Jackson fried taro chips and red bean cakes. Naturally, she made for the others as well.
Wen Rugui, too, got a serving of them.
As Jackson was pecked by the Production Team’s geese, the Production Team slaughtered the goose that pecked him and gave it to him.
Tong Xuelu was to make braised goose that night.
The ingredients for braised goose were goose meat, bell pepper, mushrooms, and black wood ears.
She would first drain the goose and marinate it for 10 minutes before coating them with egg and fried them. Once they were fried to a golden-brown color, she would retrieve them and braised them with the sauces.
Braised goose was savory and has a good texture. The other ingredients, thoroughly absorbed the flavor of the sauces, would be crispy and delightful. They go very well with rice.
Jackson, viewing the goose as his number one enemy, had two large bowls of rice violently.
After dinner, everyone washed up and returned to their room to turn in for the night.
Wen Rugui went out for a walk while the others were still downstairs and only returned after everyone had already bathed.
He then snuck into Tong Xuelu’s room while the others were not paying attention.
As Tong Xuelu stayed on the second floor by herself and the others from the Commerce Department and Jie Chengzhou father and son were staying on the third floor, nobody noticed that Wen Rugui and Tong Xuelu were staying in the same room.
Tong Xuelu felt her heart ached when she saw Wen Rugui returning pale from the cold weather.
“You could have just waited at the lobby. You didn’t need to go outside.”
Wen Rugui shook his head. “No, I don’t want to risk anyone seeing me and tainting your reputation.”
He had already made a mistake. The least he could do was to make sure that nobody found out. He would never forgive himself otherwise.
Tong Xuelu said, “Hurry up and bath. You don’t want to catch a cold.”
Wen Rugui nodded and was just about to walk out with his clothes when he stopped suddenly and asked, “Oh right. What are your plans tomorrow?”
Tong Xuelu said, “Comrade Jie is going to visit a few of his old classmates and teachers. Young Comrade Jie did not want to go with so Vice Director had me accompany him to go sightseeing.”
Wen Rugui paused for a little and said, “Okay. I get it now.”
As he spoke, he closed the door behind him and headed downstairs.
The thought of Tong Xuelu accompanying Jackson the next day left Wen Rugui feeling more and more unhappy.
He could tag along but he couldn’t stop Jackson from taking photos of her.
He did not like the feeling.
Looking at the tap, he suddenly got an idea.
By the time he walked back out of the bathroom, he was shivering like a sieve and he was pale.
The server was startled when he saw Wen Rugui. “Are you feeling alright, Comrade Wan? You look so pale.”
Wen Rugui shook his head. “I am fine.”
Having said that, he headed back upstairs. In order for Tong Xuelu to not notice his current state, he even rubbed his hands and cheeks vigorously in the stairwell.
He finally snuck back into the room after he was warmed up.
Sure enough, Tong Xuelu hadn’t noticed anything unusual about him. The two chatted for a little while before the turned in.
When Tong Xuelu woke up the next morning, she reflexively looked over at Wen Rugui’s bed.
Wen Rugui was already up and headed down to the lobby the same time yesterday. This day, however, she could see that Wen Rugui was still in bed when she looked over. In fact, his breathing seemed to be somewhat labored.
That was odd to Tong Xuelu. She called out to him. “Are you still asleep, Rugui?”
There was no answer.
That was even more odd. Tong Xuelu got out of bed and walked over to check on him.
She saw that Wen Rugui’s eyes were shut tightly and his face red.
Startled, Tong Xuelu reached her hand out and checked his forehead. He was burning up.
“Wake up, Rugui. I think you are running a fever. We need to take you to the hospital.”
Wen Rugui opened his eyes slowly. Looking at her dispirited, he said with his very nasal voice, “I’m fine. I just need some rest.”
Tong Xuelu changed as she said, “No, you are burning up. We need to head to the hospital now. Let me go tell the others that I will not be joining them today.”
Wen Rugui suddenly regained his clarity of mind when he heard her. He paused, then said, “Okay.”