“This girl, sharp-tongued, no one can match her.”
Chen Liming glanced at his younger daughter. Indeed, these past few years, thanks to this girl, his elderly couple wouldn't have been so saddened by their constant missing of their son.
With this lively daughter around, their days weren't too dull.
“Alright, alright, you two take care of the children, I’ll go prepare the dishes. Tonight, we must make a table full of good food to welcome my precious grandchildren.”
Qin Lifen reluctantly put down the baby, if she didn’t have to cook, she really wouldn't want to let go of her little granddaughter.
“Dad, Mom, you both rest, I’ll do it.”
Shen Xue quickly followed into the kitchen. How could she not see that her in-laws doted on the two little ones immensely?
Besides, this was their first time back home, and she, as the daughter-in-law, couldn't really treat herself as a guest. She definitely had to be diligent with chores.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I want roast chicken.”
“I want braised pork.”
The babies perked up as soon as they heard about cooking.
They hadn’t eaten much good food on the train at noon, only a bit of the pancakes Liu Chunmei had made. The two little ones had been craving something else for a long time.
“Okay, okay, okay, Grandpa will take you to buy roast chicken. Jinling’s roast chicken is delicious every day.”
Upon hearing his precious granddaughter wanted roast chicken, Chen Liming got up and asked his wife for money.
Although they were usually very frugal, they were willing to spend any amount when they heard their children wanted to eat something good.
“That’s perfect, our son and daughter-in-law are cooking at home, let’s enjoy ourselves too.”
“I’ll go with you, and take Yanyan and Haohao to stroll around our Jinling city.”
When Qin Lifen heard Shen Xue was going to cook, she stopped heading into the kitchen. She hated cooking the most in her life.
“You old woman, the moment I say cook, you run faster than anyone else.”
Chen Liming naturally understood his wife’s situation. If she had a choice, she’d rather eat at the factory canteen every day and not have to cook at all.
“It’s alright, Dad, Mom. You can take Yanyan and Haohao for a walk. It’s the first time the two little ones have come home since they grew up, it’s time they got familiar with the place.”
“Dinner will be handled by Xue’er and me. We guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
Chen Yang had personally experienced his mother’s cooking skills in his previous life and found them truly uncomplimentary. It would be better for him and Shen Xue to handle it.
“Brother, Sister-in-law, thank heavens, I finally don’t have to eat Mom’s cooking anymore.”
“Make that salted duck Dad hid last time, don’t let Mom ruin it.”
Chen Yu was instantly happy when she heard Chen Yang and Shen Xue were cooking. Not to mention, thanks to her little niece, there would be roast chicken to eat.
“You little girl, if you don’t want to eat my cooking, just say it. From now on, you’re on your own, I’m not cooking.”
Qin Lifen cared about her reputation. This little girl was undermining her in front of her daughter-in-law.
“Mom, I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it, okay? I can burn through a pot just boiling rice, asking me to cook is like asking for my life.”
Chen Yu’s little face crumpled. Her school didn't have a cafeteria, and if her mom didn’t cook, she’d starve.
Even though Chen Yu was powerful at school and her grades were excellent, her culinary talent was a perfect inheritance from her mother, even surpassing her mother. She couldn’t even stir-fry a complete dish.
“Dad, Mom, hurry up and buy the roast chicken, stop bickering with this girl.”
“Big Sister gets off work at six, right? Let’s finish cooking early so she can eat as soon as she gets back.”
With his lively younger sister causing so much fuss, Chen Yang didn't want to waste time arguing with her. He hadn’t been able to show filial piety to his parents for five years, so today, he and Shen Xue would cook a good meal to honor them.
Chen Liming, holding one child in each hand, led the two little ones out. Qin Lifen, too, stopped arguing with Chen Yu and, grabbing her money pouch, followed them.
“Old Chen, these are?”
“My precious grandchildren, twins!”
As soon as they stepped out, an old neighbor saw Chen Liming holding a pair of porcelain dolls and looked surprised.
Before Chen Liming could even speak, Qin Lifen’s loud voice carried to several nearby courtyards.
Then, all the way, the old couple stopped to greet everyone they met, cheerfully announcing, “My precious grandchildren, twins,” their pride practically written on their faces.
At this moment, Aunt Zhao, hiding inside the house, watched Chen Liming and his wife beaming with pride, and felt a pang of sourness in her heart.
When would she be able to hold her head high, proudly showing off two cherished grandchildren to outsiders? That little brat, if he didn’t find her a daughter-in-law soon, not only would she have no food, but he wouldn’t be allowed back home, he could sleep on the street.
Chen Yu went back to her room to sleep, preparing for a feast when she woke up. Chen Yang and Shen Xue were in the kitchen. Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Qin Lifen had bought a lot of ingredients.
Smoked meat and salted duck hung from the beams. Chen Yang sliced some chilies, preparing to stir-fry cured meat with green peppers. However, he thought that since the food here was sweet, his parents might not be used to the spiciness of the chilies.
“I’ll go buy a pork knuckle, and later I’ll make them Dongpo Pork Knuckle, so you can also taste the sweet dishes from our Su Province.”
Leaving Shen Xue to prepare other ingredients at home, Chen Yang, familiar with the way, rode his father’s old bicycle to the farmers’ market next to the factory.
It was already afternoon, and he wondered if there would be pork knuckles at the market.
This era was different from modern supermarkets with large freezers. In this heat, meat wouldn't keep.
Chen Yang looked around and couldn't find any pork knuckles. He had to buy a piece of pork belly that looked relatively fresh. Dongpo Pork Knuckle was out, but Dongpo Pork was still worth a try.
His son wanted braised pork, so this was a good opportunity to let him try the taste of Dongpo Pork.
Just as Chen Yang went out to buy meat, Chen Juan rode her bicycle home.
She was getting married the day after tomorrow, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow, her unit leader had specifically given her an early dismissal. However, when she returned home, she found the door unlocked.
Two large bundles were left in the living room, and her father wasn't in his favorite reclining chair. Chen Juan looked around every room but couldn’t find anyone.
Her younger sister was sleeping like a little pig, so she didn't wake her.
As for the kitchen, she didn’t know her mother’s situation, and she wouldn’t stay in the kitchen unless absolutely necessary.
“I’ll be getting married in two more days, and I feel a bit sad.”
Chen Juan poured herself a bowl of cooled boiled water and lay in her father’s rocking chair, swaying gently.
The man her colleague Sister Wang had introduced was tall and handsome. Her parents were quite satisfied with him, and he treated her very well.
It was just that his family was from Shanghai, and he had no one to rely on in Jinling. Currently, he was still squeezed into the single dormitory provided by the school, sharing a room with another teacher.
Jinling University hadn't built any new teacher dormitories yet, and Chen Juan didn't know where she would live after marriage.
She couldn't possibly live at her parents' home after getting married, could she? That wouldn't be proper.
She knew Li Zhengpeng was also trying to find a solution, but so much time had passed, and with her wedding approaching, he still hadn't been allocated housing by his unit. Chen Juan was getting a bit annoyed.
Although her parents had said they could live at home first, and her second brother’s room was empty, she still felt a sense of unease.
After getting married, one should have their own home, no matter how small.