Chapter 53: Second Sister-in-law?

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Second Sister-in-law?

Zhou Ling was a producer and director at the national television network and had worked on several documentaries.

The network had recently decided to produce a Food documentary, which was currently in the planning stages.

Zhou Ling had been appointed executive director, a position second only to the chief director in status and authority.

For someone who had just turned thirty, she was undoubtedly a standout in her field!

However, Zhou Ling didn’t fit the stereotype of the sharp, decisive career woman clad in a power suit.

On the contrary, she had a soft, full figure, with delicate features that were incredibly warm and approachable. She was like a beauty from the Tang Dynasty, exuding a unique and vibrant life force.

Thanks in no small part to her friendly face, she found it easy to connect with people while traveling the country for her documentaries.

Case in point—

Carrying their equipment, Zhou Ling and her colleagues got out of their vehicle and squeezed through the stream of people into the night market.

They finally managed to reach the outskirts of the fried rice stall, only to find it impossible to take another step. They couldn’t even get a clear look at the owner.

It was as if all the energy of the entire night market was focused on this single fried rice stall.

’There are just too many people!’

Zhou Ling scanned the area, preparing to ask someone a few questions.

Seeing his chance, a male colleague who always enjoyed competing with her darted forward, his eyes glinting, and quickly found a target.

"Miss! Could I ask you something?"

"No, you can’t."

The young woman clutched her bag, her face a mask of suspicion.

Zhou Ling had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.

"I’m sorry about that. My colleague didn’t mean any harm, he just wanted to ask you a few questions."

The young woman’s expression softened slightly when she saw Zhou Ling.

"Oh, I see! I thought you were trying to cut in front of me... Go ahead, ask away!"

Zhou Ling latched onto a key phrase.

"Cut in front of you? Do a lot of people try to do that?"

"Of course! The line here is always so long that tons of people try to sneak their way in. One person just tried a moment ago, but lucky for me, I saw right through their little trick!"

The young woman boasted proudly to Zhou Ling.

Seeing that the woman was happy to talk, Zhou Ling took out her phone and started a voice recording.

"We’re from a television network and we’re working on a show. Would you mind if I recorded your voice for it?"

The young woman found Zhou Ling so approachable that she agreed without hesitation.

She then launched into an enthusiastic torrent of words:

"It’s not just today, the line is this long every day! I have no idea why everyone is so obsessed with this one fried rice stall. They come back time and time again and never go anywhere else. Just look at the stall across the way—their business is terrible!"

"Me? This is my third visit."

"Delicious? Of course, it’s delicious! It’s the one thing I look forward to every day after work!"

"Paid shills? No way! The owner is super stubborn. When he says there’s a purchase limit, he means it. It doesn’t matter if you throw a full-on tantrum on the ground, it won’t work! At least, it never worked for me!"

"I have heard that the owner is a celebrity... but who cares? As long as the fried rice is delicious, that’s all that matters!"

"..."

The young woman rattled on and on into the phone without even pausing for breath, not even needing Zhou Ling to prompt her with questions.

Before they knew it, the young woman was near the front of the line, and Zhou Ling had shuffled along with her.

More and more wary eyes started to fall on Zhou Ling and her crew.

’Maybe we should just wait off to the side...’

Just then, a small, childish voice piped up from behind her.

"Ma’am, please go to the back of the line."

Zhou Ling turned around, but the space behind her was empty. There was no one there. She was momentarily confused.

Then she heard the voice again:

"Down here, thank you."

Zhou Ling followed the instruction and lowered her gaze...

’Huh?’

It was a little tyke who didn’t even reach her waist, looking to be about three or four years old.

Zhou Ling was married with a son of her own, who was about the same age as this little boy. Seeing him, she felt an instant sense of warmth.

"Hey there, little guy. Are you the junior boss here?"

Nan Yi put on a serious expression and said sternly:

"Flattering me won’t work. I’m not letting you cut in line."

Zhou Ling burst out laughing right then and there.

Hearing this, a few people nearby also began to chuckle.

Nan Yi didn’t understand what was so funny and his eyes widened slightly.

"D-Don’t laugh!"

His voice rose slightly, laced with annoyance.

Just then, a little cannonball shot out from the side, full of aggressive energy.

"Yiyi! Is someone bullying you? I’m here to help you—whoa!"

He had overshot his mark and ran headfirst right into Zhou Ling’s legs.

Zhou Ling instinctively reached out to steady the dizzy child.

’Wait, this kid looks really familiar...’

Qing Xi looked up, dazed and confused.

"Mom... Mommy!"

He was so thrilled he literally jumped for joy.

For the past two days, Qing Xi had been watching Nan Yi interacting with his mother, and he couldn’t have been more envious.

Just a moment ago, Qing Xi had been muttering about how much he wanted to see his mom.

Who would’ve thought that in the blink of an eye, his mom would appear before him as if by magic!

Qing Xi was ecstatic, bouncing and hopping around Zhou Ling.

He even pulled Nan Yi over, telling his little friend Yiyi:

"This is my mommy! She’s super pretty! And she can eat a lot!"

The comment snapped Zhou Ling out of her shock.

Quick as a flash, she clapped a hand over her son’s mouth and gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Some compliments are best kept to yourself, you don’t need to say them out loud... But Xixi, what are you doing here? Weren’t you with your uncle?"

With wide, innocent eyes, Qing Xi pointed behind him.

"Uncle is here too!"

Zhou Ling followed his finger—

And there he was: their family’s glamorous, dazzling superstar, standing behind the fried rice stall. He was drenched in sweat, working busily with movements so swift and skillful that anyone who didn’t know better would assume he’d been running the stall for a decade.

’N-No, that can’t be right. Is that really Fu Chao?’

’The young master Fu Chao, who was raised in the lap of luxury and never had to lift a finger?’

Zhou Ling was so stunned she was speechless for a long moment.

Meanwhile, her colleagues beside her all gasped in astonishment.

"Fu Chao? Sister Ling, you’re related to Fu Chao? Oh my god!"

Even the young woman Zhou Ling had just interviewed crowded closer.

But not for Fu Chao, of course.

The woman smiled obsequiously.

"Ma’am, since you know the owners, could you put in a good word for me? Ask them to let me buy a few more servings, to ignore the purchase limit! I’m not greedy, just five! Oh wait, no, three!"

Zhou Ling politely declined.

Having gotten most of the answers she needed for her preliminary interview, Zhou Ling led her colleagues to a less crowded spot to avoid attracting any more attention.

Qing Xi, meanwhile, grabbed Nan Yi’s hand and happily ran up to Fu Chao, saying a few words.

Fu Chao immediately looked up.

He couldn’t hide his surprise when he saw Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling could only give him a helpless wave.

Fu Chao said something to Nan Zhi, then temporarily set aside his work and walked over.

He greeted her as soon as he reached her.

"Second Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?"

To be precise, Zhou Ling was Fu Chao’s cousin-in-law.

Fu Chao’s mother, Qing Qing, was the eldest of her siblings. She had twin younger brothers.

The older twin, Fu Chao’s second uncle, had a single son, Qing Yi. He was the second-oldest cousin, as well as Zhou Ling’s husband and Qing Xi’s father.

The younger twin, Fu Chao’s youngest uncle, had a daughter, Qing Si, who was ironically the eldest of all the cousins.

As for Fu Chao himself, he ended up as the third-oldest in their generation.