Chapter 416: Chapter 416: Accompaniment
Shen Yiguang half embraced Yang PeiMin as he sat down, noting that all the dishes were already served, and handed her a pair of chopsticks, saying, “Eat first.”
Luo Dahua looked on and laughed, “What’s the matter? This is how it is with children, one can’t have a peaceful meal. I’ll set some dishes aside for Auntie; what does she like to eat? I’ll get her a few more bites of those.”
Stir-fried garlic sprouts with pork belly, scrambled eggs with chives, cabbage stewed with tofu, and a soup of pork bones stewed with carrots and corn—Luo Dahua had prepared all home-cooked dishes. Although she asked this way, she mostly picked up slices of meat.
Yang PeiMin helped her bring it over and kept it warm in the kitchen.
When she returned to the dining table, the crowd had started chatting under Luo Dahua’s lead, and on her own bowl, there were two pieces of lean meat and a chopstick-full of eggs. Smiling, it seemed to be Shen Yiguang’s doing.
Sitting next to Shen Yiguang, he pushed a bowl of soup towards her, “Drink the soup first.”
Yang PeiMin graciously accepted and thanked him.
After finishing the soup, she glanced up and noticed across the table, Lu Hailing was looking straight at her. When Yang PeiMin looked back, she gave a friendly and shy smile before lowering her head.
Yang PeiMin looked away; being treated like something novel wasn’t a good feeling.
Luo Dahua joked from the side: “Look at our Shen Ying, he really dotes on his wife. Next time, I should have Mr. Lu come over to see.”
Yang PeiMin glared at her playfully, “Don’t make things up about Brother Lu; he has been doing fine. Last time you left, wasn’t he worried about you and came to pick you up?”
Luo Dahua shook her head with laughter, “You really thought he came to pick me up because he’s worried about my safety? It was because both he and his son were hungry, and his son couldn’t eat what he cooked; he wanted me to hurry back and cook.”
Everyone burst into laughter at her revelation.
Shen Yixiang laughed the loudest, “Brother Lu is really funny; did he really say that? This won’t work, Sister-in-law Lu, you need to speak to him.”
Luo Dahua also laughed, “At his age, who can still tell him what to do?”
Shen Yiguang chuckled, “Be careful in case Mr. Lu hears you.”
“If he knows, he knows. I’m not lying.”
When Hai Jun was about to pour Shen Yiguang a drink, Shen Yiguang stopped him with a hand, “I don’t feel like drinking today.”
Yang PeiMin explained, “He has to help his son make a toy later, and I’m afraid he’ll fall asleep if he drinks this.”
The drink was actually bought by Peijun, as they normally didn’t stock such things at home.
Acknowledging this, Hai Jun didn’t drink either. He put the wine bottle back and then talked with Shen Yiguang about some military matters, but Shen Yiguang didn’t seem very interested.
“Next week there’s a task; what do you think about it? If you’re prepared, you might benefit from participating,” Shen Yiguang eventually asked.
Hai Jun pondered, “My mother is still staying here, and although she has been looking better these past days, her appetite isn’t too good—she struggles to eat dry food. I’m thinking I can’t go too far for now.”
Shen Yiguang didn’t push him; being recently promoted, it seemed like he wasn’t too interested in activities without too much military glory.
Yet Shen Yixiang felt her brother made sense and couldn’t help but say, “My brother is definitely considering your best interests; I think you should go.”
Hai Jun looked at her helplessly, “It’s just my mother; I really can’t be at ease.”
Shen Yixiang looked at Hailing, “Isn’t Hailing here too? This is the military, not some remote area; if something happens, surely we all won’t just stand by.”
Lu Hailing quickly nodded, “Brother, rest assured, I will take good care of Mom.”
Lu Haijun glanced at Shen Yiguang and chuckled, “Then I’ll follow the boss’s lead.”
Shen Yiguang nodded but did not say anything more.
Finally, in the courtyard, Chen Guizhi had managed to put her grandson to sleep and came in. Yang PeiMin quickly stood up to help hold him, allowing her to go have her meal.
But Chen Guizhi didn’t need her help and whispered, “If you move him, he’s sure to wake up again. I’ll put him back in bed myself.”
Yang PeiMin followed her to help prepare the little one’s urine pad, to prevent the sheets from getting wet.
Dahua shook her head, “Raising a child really isn’t easy.”
Lu Hailing spoke softly, “Actually, finding a way can be quite easy. I help my sister-in-law take care of three children at home.”
Dahua glanced at her, aware she was Shen Yixiang’s future sister-in-law. She seemed docile and honest, but still lacked a bit of shrewdness in her eyes. Thinking this, she responded, “That’s also your skill.”
Lu Hailing nodded and looked at Shen Yixiang, whispering, “I’d also be happy to help take care of the children when my sister-in-law has any.”
Dahua smiled but did not continue the conversation.
Shen Yiguang also put down his chopsticks and stood up, “I’ll go check inside and call mom out to eat.”
“Go ahead,” said Dahua.
After Shen Yiguang entered the room, Lu Hailing said to Dahua, “Sister-in-law, shall I also check inside? If the child wakes up, it’ll take a while to soothe him again.”
Dahua advised her, “Don’t go in. Auntie has experience in childbirth; these small issues won’t trouble her. Don’t worry, just eat more.”
Lu Hailing nodded.
Chen Guizhi carefully put Lele down. As soon as the little one touched the bed, he seemed ready to open his eyes. Chen Guizhi quickly and gently patted his back, and after a while, seeing him fall asleep again, she stood up and gestured for her daughter-in-law and son to go out.
Yang PeiMin said, “Mom, you go eat first. I’ll watch him.”
Chen Guizhi left.
Shen Yiguang followed his mother out, then closed the door behind him.
Yang PeiMin raised an eyebrow, “Why close the door? Do you have something to say to me?”
Shen Yiguang came over and hugged her, “Let’s take a nap with our son.”
Yang PeiMin pushed him away, “There are still guests outside.”
“It’s fine, isn’t mom outside? They’ll leave soon.”
Yang PeiMin still shook her head, “Your sister is okay, but I need to speak with Sister-in-law Lu.”
Shen Yiguang looked a bit aggrieved, “Wife, look how long it’s been since you’ve properly spent time talking with me.”
Actually, Shen Yiguang had been coming home earlier than usual, managing to be there for dinner, but lately, Yang PeiMin had become busy. She had a pile of homework to do at night, and by the time she finished, she would fall straight to sleep. Sometimes, even if their son was crying from hunger, she wouldn’t know, and it was he who would wake her to feed the baby.
Then she would be drowsy and let the son feed on his own; before he even finished, she would have fallen asleep again.
Shen Yiguang seriously doubted that if he weren’t there to sleep beside them, their son might end up hungry till dawn.
Yang PeiMin felt a bit embarrassed and soothed him, “Okay, I promise you, after I talk to sister-in-law, I’ll come in and join you.”