Father Song and Mrs. Song, after all these decades together as husband and wife, knew each other as well as they knew themselves. He was very aware that Mrs. Song was just taking a stance at this mont, deep down she was also worried about her family back ho, but she felt sowhat shad by how Wang Qinghua had co to Z City only to rush back afterward.
However, what could be done? They had only arrived in Z City for one day, and already there were discomforts and injuries back ho. Their eldest son was caught in the middle and felt like he was nobody, inside and out. How could the elderly couple stay calm and remain?
"Why can’t I just stay in Z City and not go back?" Mrs. Song said, huffing.
Father Song imdiately glared at her and scrutinized her for a long ti, with tension creeping into the atmosphere of the living room. "I don’t have the energy to deal with you. If you don’t want to go back, then stay; I’m going back by myself tomorrow," Father Song said with a sullen expression and then took Song Chengguang by the hand to wash up after setting down his backpack.
Mrs. Song felt sour over Father Song’s dismissive attitude but held back from lashing out. Aunt Luo stepped in to soothe her at the right mont before heading into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
"Mom, why are you and Dad getting upset with each other? Dad is just a straight shooter; don’t take it to heart," said Song Yuan Yao upon seeing the situation was not looking good. She handed the twin siblings over to Xu Jingjing to watch and then sat next to Mrs. Song to comfort her.
"Who’s upset with him? I just don’t want to go ho and face your sister-in-law’s attitude, always feeling wronged no matter what," Mrs. Song grumbled, her voice tinged with hurt. "But I can’t bear not seeing Niuniu, my little girl. Who knows how badly that heartless mother of hers injured her. After all, I raised her from infancy; how could I not ache for her?" Mrs. Song said, her mind drifting to Niuniu back in her hotown.
Originally, she wanted to bring Niuniu along to Z City for a few days, but Wang Qinghua stubbornly refused, claiming it was her daughter and wouldn’t let her mother-in-law take her out and about. Out of spite, she hadn’t brought Niuniu, and now, knowing the child was hurt, she felt it was utterly heartless.
"I know you have a sharp tongue but a soft heart," Song Yuan Yao imdiately coaxed, swinging Mrs. Song’s arm to sweet-talk her. "How about this? Don’t hurry back tomorrow. One day won’t make a difference. I’ll find so ti tomorrow to take you both to the nearby mall, maybe watch a movie or sothing. I heard watching movies in a theater is really comfortable. It’s nothing like the occasional screenings we have back in the village!"
"Watch a movie? Why waste money on such nonsense? Everything is so expensive in the city. Even a bottle of soda costs several coins!" Mrs. Song had seen children eagerly buying soda during her phone call back ho earlier, several coins trading hands without a second thought.
"Mom, it’s not a big deal about the money," Song Yuan Yao laughed, now used to seeing more money and feeling financially secure, she spoke firmly without showing any signs of backing down. "Mom, it’s your daughter’s first ti getting her paycheck. Don’t worry about the money, just let take care of it!"
"Okay!" Mrs. Song, cheered up by Song Yuan Yao’s persuasion, imdiately echoed in agreent, pleased to enjoy her daughter’s filial piety: "I shall enjoy my daughter’s generosity."
After Father Song and Song Chengguang finished washing their hands and cleaning up the evidence of their little snacking misdeed, they returned to the living room. Mrs. Song no longer exhibited her previous defiant attitude, though she still huffed when she saw Father Song, it was clearly different from her stubbornness before.
"Sister Luo, I’ll co help you with dinner," Mrs. Song signaled to her daughter with a look, then stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
"There’s no need, just relax out front," Aunt Luo gently refused.
"No problem, I can’t sit still anyway. My daughter has been craving the tender starch-coated pork slices I make. I’m just about to head back and make them for her; she’s probably thinking about them so much. By the way, where did you put the starch?" Mrs. Song said as she opened the cupboard to look for the ingredients but couldn’t find the starch.
"Here it is!" Aunt Luo imdiately produced a box of starch for Mrs. Song: "Your daughter has been missing your tender starch-coated pork slices for so ti now. Unfortunately, the ones I make aren’t authentic. We have all kinds of techniques for cooking dishes here, and besides, the kids also miss their own mother’s cooking. Today, you’ll have to show your technique and teach a little. That way, when you head back to your hotown, I’ll be able to make so for Yuanyao and the others to satisfy their cravings."
"That would be lovely; the kids owe you a lot for taking care of their als." Aunt Luo’s efforts to flatter Mrs. Song instantly made her beam with happiness. Mrs. Song felt that hiring soone to cook and take care of the children was a waste of money. With the amount they were spending, she could help cook and take care of the house herself. But considering that she couldn’t stay in City Z for long, the thought of soone else cooking to make their lives easier ward her toward Aunt Luo even more.
"Actually, tender starch-coated pork slices are quite simple. The key is cutting the at to the right thinness and making sure it’s properly flavored when you tenderize it with the starch," Mrs. Song enthusiastically began to share her culinary skills with Aunt Luo in the kitchen.
In the living room, Xu Jingjing was taking care of the children, while Song Yuan Yao discussed the plans she had made with Mrs. Song with Father Song, and he nodded in agreent.
Soon, it got dark, and Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuanming ca ho, arriving just in ti for dinner.
At the dinner table, Mrs. Song brought up going back to her hotown, which surprised Xu Xiuxiu. She knew that Father Song and Mrs. Song couldn’t stay long, especially since Wang Qinghua was about to have a baby. But Xu Xiuxiu hadn’t expected them to hurry back so soon. After hearing Mrs. Song complain a bit about the situation, however, Xu Xiuxiu understood.
"Then tomorrow, Yuanyao, could you please take Mom and Dad out? Although City Z is being rebuilt after the disaster, the big shopping malls are fairly intact and have a complete range of facilities. Right now, it’s actually a nice place to visit." Xu Xiuxiu and Song Yuan Yao arranged plans: "I have to run to Soup City tomorrow; there’s a lot to take care of, so I cannot accompany you, elders."
"You go ahead with your work; don’t let us hold you up," Father Song said, unconcerned.
Mrs. Song also nodded in agreent.
After dinner, everyone sat together in the living room to watch the news, which almost exclusively covered the post-disaster reconstruction of City Z. When the news ended, everyone dispersed naturally. Xu Xiuxiu pulled Song Yuan Yao aside to chat for a bit when she was about to head to her room, discussing the next day’s plans for taking the Song Family elders out.
"Tomorrow, take Mom and Dad to buy a couple of outfits, so tonics to bring back, and here’s so money for it. If it’s not enough, let know, and I’ll reimburse you," Xu Xiuxiu generously handed Song Yuan Yao 500 yuan: "Make sure you don’t lose it."
"Sister-in-law, you shouldn’t spend so much; I have money," Song Yuan Yao said sheepishly, reluctant to accept it.
"Take it! Since I can’t accompany Mom and Dad, consider it doing my filial duty through you," Xu Xiuxiu gestured for Song Yuan Yao to accept the money.
"Sister-in-law, you’re too kind. In that case, I’ll gratefully accept it," Song Yuan Yao understood that although Xu Xiuxiu was short on funds, she was only short on large amounts, not a few hundred yuan. So, after a little hesitation, she accepted the money. After all, she planned to save her salary for tuition and living expenses, and the thought of spending all her money and then asking her parents for more was sothing she wouldn’t do.
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