The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Thirteen

Lanying awoke the next morning determined.  She would take back control of her money, her restaurant, and her other assets.  It was time.  She let too much get away from her in her grief.  But Bohai's betrayal woke her up.  She was an independent, intelligent woman and if she wanted to take the whole world on her shoulders, she was capable.  She knew this about herself.  She would not have a problem finishing everything she wanted to accomplish, by herself.  It was time to visit the restaurant.

She threw on her casual attire, there was no need to dress formally, she was the boss after all.  A pair of jeans, complete with a rip in one leg.  A soft pink blouse, the color of freshly bloomed peach blossom petals.  Her new brown, slip-proof boots.  And modest jewelry, her mother's single, bright pearl necklace that hung a couple of inches below her neckline.  At the last minute, she returned to her box of jewelry and retrieved her charm bracelet.  

Though most of her charms symbolized her love of all things food and cooking, she also acquired a few special charms throughout the years.  A tiny pearl to represent her mother and Jia Mingzhu.  A pair of father's hands and a toy car for her father and brother.  A firecracker for her time at the orphanage, as well as a young boy and girl hugging for Bohai.  And when she left the hospital she added a wolf, a peach blossom petal, a baby boy, and an Emperor's robe.  Her tribe, her husband, her son, and the Emperor she'd saved all had a place on her tiny silver rope chain.  The last charm she acquired was a tree of life, this was meant to symbolize all the family members she lost.  This was her life, floating on a chain, attached to her wrist.

She carried this with her, her life written on her in ornaments, and decided she would conquer this day, come hell or high water.  Lanying went to find Buta.  This was a good chance to let him see the city and visit her restaurant.  She felt this was necessary for the young boy she'd come to love over the last couple of weeks.  She wanted Buta to remain a part of her life.  Though he was older, it made her feel as though she had a son again.

She shook him awake and hurried him to dress in decent clothes today.  They would be seeing her lawyer a little later in the day.  Lanying informed Matron Mother of her plans and went to stand beside the car, waiting for her young disciple.  It didn't take him long.  Buta came dressed in a pair of khaki slacks and a buttoned shirt, it worked.  He ran out of the inner courtyard and slid across the gravel to where she stood, excited.

"You ready?" she asked expectantly.

"As ready as I'll ever be, JieJie!  Let's do this!" he could barely contain his jumping.

They got into the car and started the forty-five-minute drive into the city.  Buta couldn't sit still.  Barely restrained by his seatbelt, he sat on the edge of the passenger seat, watching the grasslands fly by his window.

Buta glanced at Lanying often, then finally asked, "JieJie, are you okay?"

"Well, to be completely honest, no, I'm not okay," she gave him an awkward, reassuring smile.  "But I will be.  That's why we're going to the city.  So your JieJie here, can get okay.  I just need to speak to my staff in person and make arrangements with my lawyer.  Then, I'll be much better, promise."

"Okay, JieJie, but if you need to cry or scream, your trusty sous chef is right here!  You just go ahead!"

She laughed and they spent the rest of the ride singing along with the radio and dancing.  Wudi was in the backseat watching the two interact.  He couldn't help thinking his wife would have been a great mother to their sons.  No, he thought, she will make a great mother someday.  They would still have time.  He bobbed his head to the beat of the music.