When Huo Haocheng returned home, everyone except Ruan Ruan had already eaten breakfast and gone to work. Last night, after Huo Haocheng left, Ruan Ruan thought it was still early and planned to wait for him to return before going to sleep. However, it was almost midnight, and Huo Haocheng still hadn't returned. She contacted the system and learned that the situation had become serious. Worried about Huo Haocheng, she hadn't slept and finally couldn't stay awake any longer until the early hours of the morning.

Huo Haocheng felt a pang of heartache when he learned from the system that Ruan Ruan had been worried about him until she went to sleep.

"Don't tell your sister everything anymore. If she asks you, just say I'm fine."

Looking at the sleeping Ruan Ruan, Huo Haocheng put the green rice dumpling on the table, washed up, went to bed, held Ruan Ruan in his arms, and fell asleep as well.

"Um....."

Ruan Ruan woke up from the heat and tried to raise her hand, but found she couldn't move at all. When she opened her eyes, she saw Huo Haocheng hugging her, blanket and all.

"woke up"

Huo Haocheng woke up the moment Ruan Ruan woke up.

"hot....."

Ruan Ruan, who had just woken up, made a soft, babyish sound as she looked at Huo Haocheng with sleepy eyes.

Huo Haocheng then lifted the blanket covering Ruan Ruan, gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, and then hugged Ruan Ruan again, resting his head on her neck. The two of them cuddled on the bed for a while before getting up.

It was almost noon when the two got up. Seeing that it was almost time to finish work, they ate some qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling) and then started working in the kitchen.

Ruan Ruan instructed Huo Haocheng to first singe the pig's head they had bought yesterday to remove all the pig hair. After the skin was burned to a golden brown, she washed it clean and then cut off the pig's head, snout, and meat.

Ruan Ruan also took out bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise and other seasonings needed for braising meat from the cupboard. After everything was prepared, Ruan Ruan started braising meat on one stove, while Huo Haocheng started cooking rice on another stove.

So when Huo's mother and son returned, they saw Ruan Ruan sitting by the stove tending the fire, while Huo Haocheng was wielding a spatula.

"I already told you, I can cook, and I'm actually a pretty good cook."

Ruan Ruan learned various life skills from a young age. In her grandfather's words, "You don't have to do it, but you must know it. Only if you know it can others not make things difficult for you." Later, during the years she studied abroad, Ruan Ruan really felt that her grandfather was very wise.

"I know you can. Smell it, how fragrant your braised meat is! You cook the meat, I stir-fry the vegetables, and I want you to taste my cooking too."

"Oh well"

Seeing the heartwarming scene between the two, Zhao Hongmei and Wang Qun didn't go in to disturb them, but instead sat down under the eaves to rest. Having worked so hard for so long, they were happy to have their son cook them a meal out of filial piety.

When the rest of the Huo family returned, they saw the two mothers serving dishes on the table, Ruan Ruan scooping meat from the pot, and Huo Haocheng cutting meat on the cutting board.

"Wow, this is quite a feast today!"

"Brother, what are you cutting? It smells so good!"

Huo Yue happily ran to Huo Haocheng's side.

"I bought a pig's head yesterday, and today Ruan Ruan made it into braised pork. It smells delicious, doesn't it? It's so delicious!!"

The younger brothers, who had also come drawn by the aroma, were truly itching to bite their older brother when they saw his smug, irritating expression.

"Big brother, you'll get beaten up for being so arrogant," Huo Haoshen said, rolling his eyes.

Huo Haocheng glanced at Huo Haoshen; "You? Not that I look down on you, but I could take you down with a single finger."

Then, glancing at his younger siblings behind him, he said, "All of you come at me together, I'll give you a handicap."

The guys looked at each other, no one said a word, it was all due to their overwhelming strength.

"Sister, you go first."

Huo Yue, who was watching the show, pulled Ruan Ruan over and placed her on the opposite side of Huo Haocheng.

Seeing this, the other brothers all stood behind Ruan Ruan, smiling broadly at their eldest brother, as if to say, "Come on, come on!"

Ruan Ruan looked completely bewildered. "I was just watching a show, why am I suddenly being asked to make a cameo appearance?!"

The elders watched the boys playing around with amusement, all turning their attention to Huo Haocheng, eager to see how he would break through this situation.

"Yes, my sister won."

Huo Haocheng glanced at Ruan Ruan, then immediately conceded defeat. He took her hand in one hand and, holding the bowl in the other, said, "Let's eat."

At the dinner table, everyone took a bite, and the dishes were completely devoured.

"Ah, I'm so full!"

"This braised pork is delicious!"

"My older brother's cooking is also quite good."

"Yes, it's the first time I've had my eldest son's cooking, and it tastes really good."

"I think this braised pork could be added to a wedding; it would be a great meat dish."

"Can"

"agree"

And so, braised pork became a main dish at the wedding.

"Actually, other dishes can also be braised. The braising liquid in the pot can be reused. I'll braise some other dishes tonight."

"Sigh, I just finished eating this meal and I'm already thinking about the next one."