Having received the reply he wanted, Lu Changzhu was ecstatic. The old pipe in his hand almost slipped from his grip as he shakily tucked it into his belt.
"Great, it’s a deal then. I’ll go right now and ask the second brother to butcher a pig, oh, and buy so prepared foods too. Our family’s little chicks have also grown up; let’s slaughter one for dinner to nourish your body. Rember, you must bring your wife and children ho for dinner, ha!"
"Mhm!"
Lu Changzhu left with a bright smile, completely oblivious to Lu Zhenping’s sour expression.
After playing outside for a while longer, the father and his four sons finally returned ho.
Shen ng had cooked a large pot of tender pumpkin stewed with firewood chicken, made flatbreads, stir-fried a dish of spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and simred a pot of rice soup. The delicious aroma of the food was so enticing that even the dogs passing by craned their necks to sniff the air.
"Mom, what delicious food have you made? It slls so good!"
"I haven’t had such delicious food made by mom for a long ti. When dad isn’t at ho, we never have such a treat."
"Exactly, mom is biased. Only when dad is at ho do you cook such delicious als."
"I can eat two big bowls of rice today, I’m really happy."
The children were chattering away, and Shen ng, busy adding firewood to the stove, waved her hand at them.
"You ungrateful little things, when have I not cooked delicious food for you when I’m at ho? It’s the sa cooking skills, the sa dishes. How co they didn’t sll as good before? Your dad just got back, and you’ve already learned to complain. Humph, if you keep on fussing, see if I don’t smack your bottoms."
"Hehehe, mom, I was only joking. You can’t really hit . Hit big brother instead, he started it!"
Lu Mingkai laughed mischievously, backstabbing his older brother while pulling a face at him, which led to Lu Mingliang chasing after him to tickle him.
Shen ng scolded them with a laugh and then turned back to continue with the cooking.
Lu Zhenping sat on the rocking chair at the entrance of the main hall, watching his naughty children and his virtuous wife, feeling an unprecedented sense of contentnt.
Lu Jiasheng and Xie Jinghao heard that Lu Zhenping had co back and hurried over with their children. Xiao Long also ca along; it had been a long ti since he had seen his uncle, and he wanted to have a chat with him.
As the group approached the courtyard entrance, Xie Jinghao quickly held them back.
"Wait, let’s go back first and co over later in the evening."
"What’s wrong, wife? I haven’t seen my big brother in so long. I heard he participated in the flood relief efforts. I don’t know if he had a hard ti. I really want to have a good chat with him!"
"I miss uncle too. I miss him as well."
Xiao Long didn’t speak, but he looked at Xie Jinghao with hopeful eyes, because in their family, it was actually Xie Jinghao who made the decisions.
"Let’s not go, didn’t you sll that? Elder sister-in-law must have made sothing delicious. Big brother is finally back, and he surely has a lot to share with elder sister-in-law and the kids. Let’s not interfere. Let them have a good al as a family first. It’s better to visit after they’ve finished eating."
"Yes, yes, yes, you’re right. I was so focused on talking to big brother that I forgot about that. Let’s go, let’s hurry up and leave. If big brother sees us, he’ll definitely invite us in. Xiao Gang, co to daddy."
Xiao Long also thought the teacher’s wife was right and quickly followed suit, lifting his foot carefully. Lu Zhenping looked outside, raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
"Ti for dinner, ti for dinner."
Tender pumpkin stewed with chicken, juices spreading over the pancake, so fragrant it’s to die for, and finely shredded spicy and sour potato strips cooked just right, crisp and spicy, incredibly delicious.
And there’s the fragrant rice soup, very nourishing for the stomach.
Lu Zhenping rolled up his sleeves and ate heartily; he had longed for his wife’s cooking.
Watching him eat with pleasure, Shen ng directly served him a large chicken drumstick.
"Your dad is a hero; he deserves the big drumstick."
"Uh-huh, yes!!!"
Mingyang and the kids stuffed their little mouths full, wholeheartedly agreeing with her, even using their chopsticks to serve their dad, while Lu Zhenping chuckled softly at them.
"Xiao ng, this ti for the disaster relief, Ning County made a huge effort. Besides the governnt-supplied materials, the first batch to reach the disaster area was from your Ning County. The person in charge ntioned you specifically during the eting. You don’t know, but you’re famous in our regint now, I’ve gained so light from your fa too."
"Really? Hehehe, but isn’t this what’s supposed to be done? As a military family mber, I should have this awareness and certainly contribute my strength to the people in the disaster area."
"Mm, you’re right."
Shen ng lowered her head bashfully with a sowhat proud look in her eyes. After all, at first, she hadn’t been purely motivated for the sake of the disaster area; she also saw it as a chance to promote Ning County. But when she thought about it, these two goals were not contradictory.
After dinner, Shen ng took the children outside while Lu Zhenping stayed in to tidy up the dishes. She wanted to give him so good rest at ho, and it was a great opportunity to pick a lon from their private plot to soak in water, ready for him when he woke up.
The weather was relatively cool today. Shen ng moved a small bed to the front of the yard from their private plot, and the kids squeezed onto it, laughing and chatting while she fanned them with a palm-leaf fan.
Soone ca looking for Lu Zhenping, but before Shen ng could respond, squinting Mingyang hurriedly said, "My dad is really tired, he’s sleeping at ho. Co back tomorrow to talk to my dad!"
No matter who ca, it was always the sa response, and gradually, the word got around. Lu Changzhu heard this and felt an aching tenderness for his son all over again; his child was the one who brought the most pride and was the most cherished in the Lu Family.
"Old lady, tell Lao Er to make another trip to the Cooperative Society for so tofu and pig’s trotters. Tofu stew with fish, and braised pig’s trotters. I rember the State-Owned Restaurant has such dishes. Let Lao Er’s wife cook it; I heard she’s had them in town before. She’s got such a good elder sister-in-law looking out for her, surely she’s more than willing to prepare a al."
Hearing this, Liu Sanjin’s face darkened. In just a short ti, Lao Er had already run to the Cooperative Society twice, and now he had to go again, which ant there was a lot yet to buy.
"Enough with you, just look at how much has been bought already, and how much — over ten dollars spent in that kitchen. Aren’t you satisfied yet? We have chicken, at, and eggs; isn’t that enough to fill elder brother’s stomach? You still want more, what are you thinking, what are you really after? You’ve never treated Lao Er and Lao Si as well as this. Do you even act like a father?"
"Don’t stir up trouble with !"
"Hmph, I’m stirring trouble? Clearly, it’s you causing trouble. After all these years, halfway to the grave and you still think of her, as if only her sons are of your blood. I’ve given you five children; did you ever truly care for any of them? Is your heart made of stone, you old fool?"
"What do you have to hum about? Don’t make such a fuss. No point in raising your voice if you have no logic. Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a mouse can dig holes. Look at the elder brother’s ability, and then look at your five children. Hehe, can they compare? Your sons, daughters, and your current good days — who do they depend on? Why do you always forget that?"
Liu Sanjin: "...."
Why, why do you always have to stab at my heart?! Am I not trying to be ambitious? I cannot muster it, I can’t!!!
Reviews
All reviews (0)