She stepped into the house and set her bundle on the floor, her tone sincere.
"From now on, I’ll work hard to repay your kindness."
Song Qingya cut her off directly.
"That won’t be necessary."
"It’s not convenient for you to live here. I’ve already made arrangents for you to work at the hospital."
Yang iling’s face fell, the smile she had been forcing completely collapsing.
"The hospital’s logistics departnt is short-staffed. You’ll be a perfect fit there."
Song Qingya continued.
"You’ll clock in and out on ti every day, and your room and board will be in the dormitory."
Yang iling was so angry she couldn’t speak.
’Send to the hospital?’
’How am I supposed to get close to the Fei Family then?’
’How can I dig up information?’
’How can I worm my way into this family step by step?’
She was grinding her teeth in hatred.
But she still had to force a smile and pretend to be grateful.
"O-Okay. Thank you for going to the trouble, Doctor Song. I’ll do as you’ve arranged."
She sneered inwardly.
Song Qingya gave a faint "Mm" and walked into the kitchen.
"It’s getting late. I’ll make dinner."
Yang iling quickly followed her, saying in a low voice,
"Doctor Song, let help you! I know I’m clumsy and not very quick with my hands, but I can handle simple tasks like plucking and washing vegetables, don’t you worry."
Liu Li wanted to stop her. Her lips parted, but then she pressed them shut again.
But Song Qingya didn’t refuse.
Without looking up, she pointed to a bamboo basket in the corner.
"Fine, you can sort the greens."
With that, she deftly took an apron from its hook and tied it around her waist in a few quick motions.
Then she turned on the faucet over the stove and began to wash the rice.
Next, she took out a kitchen knife. The blade danced lightly across the cutting board as a piece of pork belly was sliced into thin, even pieces.
Yang iling squatted on a wooden stool, holding a bunch of greens, but she barely moved a muscle.
Her eyes kept darting toward Song Qingya.
’What gives her the right to stand here, wearing an apron, holding a knife, looking like the true mistress of this house?’
’What gives her the right to have Fei Jin’s affection and live such a stable, respectable life?’
’And ?’
’We started from almost the sa place, but now I have to grovel just to get by.’
The more she thought, the more bitter she felt. She bit her lip and violently tossed the handful of greens into a basin of water.
"Oh no!"
It was followed by a loud CLANG as she failed to hold the enal basin steady, and it tilted.
The freshly washed vegetables spilled all over the floor.
She feigned panic and quickly bent over to right the basin.
But just as she got close to the stove, she deliberately knocked her elbow against a small porcelain bowl of sesa oil on the edge.
"SMACK!"
The bowl tipped over, and oil ran down the edge of the stove, dripping onto the floor. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.
"I’m so sorry, Doctor Song! I didn’t do it on purpose! I’m so clumsy, my hand slipped..."
She frantically pretended to pick up the vegetables, but a flash of triumph glinted in the depths of her eyes.
Song Qingya stopped chopping and turned her head. Her gaze fell upon the vegetables and oil all over the floor. Her brow furrowed for a mont, then relaxed.
She said flatly,
"Forget it. Just go outside for now."
"But..."
Yang iling tried to explain further.
"With you in the way, it’s hard for to work."
Song Qingya’s tone was calm.
After speaking, she lowered her head and resud slicing the at.
Yang iling was so furious her teeth ached, but she could only nod in agreent, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
"Alright, I’ll go then. Sorry for the trouble, Doctor Song."
As she walked away, she glanced back furtively, shooting a venomous look at Song Qingya and sneering in her heart.
’You got lucky today. Just you wait.’
When she reached the living room, she happened to see Fei Jin pushing the door open and coming inside.
His eyes imdiately went to Song Qingya in the kitchen, his voice gentle.
"Qingya, busy?"
Song Qingya turned at the sound of his voice. Seeing it was him, the corners of her eyes and brows instantly crinkled with a smile.
"Mhm, I just showed a nuisance the door."
Fei Jin raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t ask any more questions, instead walking straight into the kitchen and gently wrapping his arms around Song Qingya’s waist.
"My wife is just amazing. Nothing ever seems to be a problem for you."
He whispered, his voice full of adoration and tenderness.
Song Qingya’s body stiffened for a mont before she slowly relaxed, the corners of her lips curling up even higher.
"Stop ssing around, I’m cooking. The oil in the wok is almost hot. Any longer and the food will burn."
"My heart just aches for you."
Fei Jin nuzzled his face into her hair.
"Slls so good. What are you making tonight? Stewed pork? Or your specialty, braised fish?"
A faint blush crept onto Song Qingya’s cheeks.
She gently pushed his shoulder.
"Stop ssing around. You’re all sweaty and sticky, I can barely breathe. Go take a shower and stop getting in my way. Dinner won’t be ready for a little while anyway. It should be on the table right when you’re done."
"Yes, ma’am! Your wish is my command!"
Fei Jin grinned and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
Only then did he let go, satisfied. As he walked away, he turned his head and gave her a wink.
Yang iling, in the living room, saw the entire exchange.
Her head was lowered, and she was clutching a rag in her hand, her fingers gripping it so tightly they were almost trembling.
’It’s not fair!’
She scread inwardly, the rage almost bursting from her throat.
’Fei Jin should have been hers!’
’But now, he was smiling so gently and kissing another woman so naturally!’
Dinner was served—four dishes and a soup, the aroma filling the air.
The family gathered around the wooden table.
Yang iling kept her head down, silently shoveling rice into her mouth, but her eyes kept darting toward the serving dishes in the center of the table.
Finally, she put down her chopsticks, looked up, and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Aunt Liu, your sweet and sour cabbage is so authentic. It’s perfectly balanced, sweet and sour with just a bit of crunch. It’s the best thing to eat with rice. I loved it when you made this dish when I was a child."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the plate of sweet and sour cabbage, and her tone suddenly shifted, becoming light and airy.
"This version now..."
She didn’t finish, just shook her head slightly, her brow furrowed.
Liu Li’s expression imdiately turned a little awkward. She forced a smile, trying to smooth things over.
"Oh, maybe the heat wasn’t quite right. I’ll try to adjust it next ti."
Song Qingya, looking completely at ease, picked up a piece of at and placed it in Fei Jin’s bowl.
"Really? I guess I still have a long way to go to catch up to you."
She turned her head and gave Liu Li a sincere smile.
"Mom, I’ll have to trouble you to guide more in the future. I’d hate to give you all stomachaches with my cooking."
Hearing this, Liu Li’s face blood into a wide smile, and she waved her hands dismissively.
"Oh, don’t say that! Your cooking is wonderful as it is. It looks, slls, and tastes great. Old Fei and I both really like it!"
Yang iling felt a lump of frustration lodge in her chest.
She gritted her teeth, unwilling to let the matter be brushed aside so lightly with just a few words.
So, refusing to give up, she picked up a piece of braised pork and held it on the tip of her chopsticks to inspect it.
"This at... has it been stewed for too long?"
She finally spoke, her voice laced with a hint of concern.
"I rember Uncle Fei has always had bad teeth. This at is stewed so soft... will he have trouble chewing it?"
Uncle Fei was holding his bowl, drinking soup.
Hearing this, he gave her a detached glance but said nothing.
Song Qingya put down her soup spoon, picked up a piece of at, and examined it.
"Is it? I think it’s fine. The cooking ti was just right."
She chewed it a few tis, the corners of her lips turning up slightly.
"Mm, it’s stewed perfectly. It lts in your mouth, isn’t greasy at all, and is actually quite fragrant."
After speaking, she picked up a leaner piece of at and placed it in Uncle Fei’s bowl.
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