Chapter 90

When the street lights came on, a sumptuous dinner was served.

Just as planned, there were four cold dishes, four hot dishes, and a steaming crucian carp and tofu soup.

The dining table wasn't very large, only able to accommodate about eight people. Four people sat in pairs, facing each other, not far apart.

"When he heard you were coming, your Uncle Jiang asked Nian Nian what you like to eat and learned a new recipe."

Yao Qing smiled as he picked up a shrimp for Chen Fengni and ordered the two dishes placed in front of her. "Look, these are both new to me. Come and try them and see if they suit your taste."

"Thank you, uncle and aunt."

The smoky aroma of food is the most soothing. Chen Fengni felt warm in her heart and looked down in the direction Yao Qing pointed.

The dishes were delicate and exquisite in shallow dishes with attractive colors. One dish was bandit pork liver and the other was stir-fried beef tripe with sour radish. Both were cooked with a lot of chili peppers and garlic sprouts, and the red and green colors looked very nice.

The aroma of the chili peppers is overflowing and spreading in the air, making people's mouths water.

Chen Fengni took a piece of tripe with chopsticks and put it into her mouth. Then her eyes lit up. Before she could swallow the food, she covered her mouth and praised, "It's delicious."

The beef tripe is fresh, spicy and cooked to the perfect temperature. It is chewy but not overcooked. It is a perfect match with the crispy and delicious shredded pickled radish.

"I'm glad you like it." Yao Qing said comfortedly, "Nian Nian said that the weather has cooled down, and you like spicy food recently, especially offal. Lao Jiang looked through the recipes for a long time before finally deciding on these two."

Jiang Honggang picked up the chopsticks and glanced at Yao Qing when he heard this.

He said expressionlessly: "Why are you saying this? Come on and eat."

"Okay, okay." Yao Qing was helpless and secretly winked at Shen Fengni, as if to say, "See, I told you he can't speak."

Chen Fengni understood what he meant and silently curled her lips, as if she was sharing a little secret with her friend that only they knew.

Just as she finished the food in the bowl, a bowl of soup was pushed in front of her.

"Drink it while it's hot." Jiang Zhuoyan said, and emphasized, "I made this."

The milky white fish soup was steaming and sprinkled with a handful of chopped green onions, giving it a perfect presentation.

Chen Fengni cooperated and scooped a spoonful to taste it, "Nian Nian, your cooking skills have improved again."

In their daily lives, she and Jiang Zhuoyan were never stingy with their praise for each other. Even for the smallest things, they would habitually praise each other, and both of them enjoyed it.

Jiang Zhuoyan was indeed very happy, and her voice rose at the end, "Then drink more."

Chen Fengni nodded, and as a courtesy, she peeled a shrimp for her and put it in the bowl.

The next second, another dish was pushed in her direction.

Jiang Hong's voice rang out across the dining table, "Feng Ni, try this again."

It was a pot of boiled beef. Because it was too full, the soup was shaking and almost overflowing.

Shen Fengni quickly held onto the edge with her hands, "Thank you, uncle, I can reach it."

Unable to refuse the kind offer, she put the crucian carp and tofu soup aside for the time being and picked up a large piece of beef.

"I made this." Jiang Hong said, "Please give me your evaluation."

The scene before me was strangely familiar, overlapping with a certain fragment in my memory.

Although there was no emotion in Jiang Hong's voice and his face was serious, Chen Fengni inexplicably felt that he was very similar to Jiang Zhuoyan in the past when he was seriously asking for praise.

Usually at this time, all you need to do is... give lots of praise.

"It's very delicious." Shen Fengni said tentatively, "This is the best boiled beef I've ever eaten. Uncle, you can open a restaurant now."

As expected, Jiang Hong enjoyed it very much and a smile appeared on his face.

He said: "You are too kind. There is still room for improvement."

Jiang Zhuoyan glanced at him sideways, looking a little unconvinced, but did not say anything.

Seeing this, Yao Qing deliberately cleared his throat and pointed to another dish: "This green pepper stuffed with meat is also delicious. Who made it?"

Jiang Hong immediately replied, "I did it."

"It tastes so good. I wasn't hungry originally, but now I want to eat two more pieces." Yao Qing was very supportive and asked Chen Fengni, "Right, Fengni?"

"I like it too." Shen Fengni agreed of course. The dish was so delicious that it was impeccable.

Jiang Zhuoyan raised his eyes and emphasized, "I made the meat filling."

Jiang Hong tactfully retorted, "It's because the heat is just right."

Jiang Zhuoyan: "Preparation is also very important."

Jiang Hong: "I bought all the vegetables and meat."

Shen Fengni: ...

In the eyes of others, the two people who are in high positions are arguing with each other as if they are kindergarten kids. I'm afraid no one would believe it if they told others about it.

Yao Qing was right, Jiang Zhuoyan's personality was indeed more like his father's.

Chen Fengni couldn't help laughing and used the food to hide the smile on her lips.

She saw Yao Qing across the table winking at her, like a little girl who had succeeded in a prank.

Then, like coaxing a child, he picked up a shrimp for each of them and said, "Alright, alright, you two are equally good, both are five-star chefs. Stop arguing and just enjoy your meal."

Jiang Zhuoyan snorted, "How childish."

Jiang Hong said with a stern face, "You are so disrespectful."

That being said, given Yao Qing's family status, face had to be given. Thus, the dispute came to a temporary end, and the atmosphere returned to harmony.

When we left Jiang's house, it was already past ten o'clock in the evening.

Maybe it was because she had such a happy day today and her nerves were still in an excited state, Shen Fengni found that she didn't want to go home.

So she said to Jiang Zhuoyan, "I want to go for a ride."

The lights were off inside the car, the electronic screen emitting a faint glow. The evening breeze, with a hint of chill, blew in through the half-open window, chilly and refreshing.

Jiang Zhuoyan was setting the destination, and when he heard the words, his finger on the screen paused.

She turned around and asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Shen Fengni thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the river."

Jiang Zhuoyan deleted the destination in the dialog box and re-entered it. "Okay."

The river at night reflects the colorful lights, presenting a bizarre and dazzling hue. Across the river, tall buildings are brightly lit, like beautiful palaces from a fairy tale.

Shen Fengni got out of the car and stood by the river.

She heard footsteps beside her, and it was Jiang Zhuoyan walking up to her.

Without turning her head, she looked towards the other side and whispered, "Nian Nian, I'm really happy today."

For a long time, the concept of "happy family" was like the distant lights across the river, or the beautiful displays in the glass window to her. She could see it but could not touch it, and she was just a bystander.

Today's experience has made the unreachable become within reach, and the vague shadow become concrete. Looking back on it now, it seems incredible.

Different from love, but it also makes her blood boil.

Jiang Zhuoyan lowered his head and took her hand, holding it in his palm, "My parents like you very much."

Shen Fengni turned her head to look at her, her eyes sparkling, "Why do you think so?"

Jiang Zhuoyan's parents had already made it clear enough. This was a fact that needed no proof or further explanation, but she just wanted to hear the answer from Jiang Zhuoyan herself, and wanted to hear her family's love for her again, so she asked even though she knew the answer.

"Nine out of ten things my mom said today were compliments on you, and the remaining one was asking me to treat you well. And when I came back by myself before, my dad wasn't so enthusiastic about cooking. There wasn't eight dishes, four was good enough."

Jiang Zhuoyan answered seriously. As she pondered, she remembered another thing, "Oh, by the way, just now in the car, my mother sent me a message. You were in a daze at the time, so I didn't tell you."

Shen Fengni asked curiously, "What did you say?"

"She sent me the recipes for the dishes you praised so much tonight and asked me to make them for you."

Jiang Zhuoyan smiled and pulled the person closer to her. "He also said that my dad heard that you wanted to have a picnic in the yard and planned to put a set of tables and chairs under the apricot tree. He's already thinking about it."

In fact, in addition to this, Yao Qing also mentioned one thing.

She and Jiang Hong wanted to give Shen Fengni several properties and shops in prime locations as a gift.

But based on Jiang Zhuoyan's understanding of Shen Fengni, she felt that what she had just said would make her girlfriend happier. Moreover, Shen Fengni probably wouldn't be willing to accept such an expensive gift.

But it doesn’t matter. After marriage, all her property will be shared with Shen Fengni.

"Isn't that next spring?" Shen Fengni was delighted after hearing this, her tone rising slightly. "It's too early to start looking at it now."

Jiang Zhuoyan said, "Only a few months, it will be quick."

Shen Fengni sighed a little, "That's right."

In the past, she often lamented how long and boring time was, but ever since she got together with Jiang Zhuoyan, the days seemed to pass faster and faster. In the blink of an eye, time slipped through her fingers.

The sound of wind gradually rose in my ears, and a subtle coolness came over my skin.

"It's raining."

Shen Fengni said with some regret.

The beautiful scenery and the beautiful people were right before her eyes. She had originally wanted to stay a little longer to enjoy the breeze, but now she had no choice but to return to the car to avoid the rain. However, before she could move, an umbrella opened above her head with a slight sound.

It was as if a barrier separated the two of them from the rain. Raindrops slid down the pure black umbrella and dripped onto the ground.

Jiang Zhuoyan looked at her, and said with a hint of pride, "I brought an umbrella."

"Nian Nian is amazing." Shen Fengni immediately understood what she meant and praised her skillfully before asking, "Why did you think of taking an umbrella?"

"When I got up this morning, I checked the weather forecast and it said it would rain tonight."

Jiang Zhuoyan moved the umbrella in her hand to the side to ensure that Shen Fengni would not be wet at all. "So when I got out of the car just now, I took out the spare umbrella from the car."

Moreover, Shen Fengni rarely made requests to her and was rarely willful. On this rare occasion, she didn't want her to lose her fun because of the rain.

Shen Fengni was slightly startled, then smiled.

She leaned over and kissed Jiang Zhuoyan on the cheek, "Niannian is so nice."

The rain was getting heavier, and the raindrops hit the umbrella, making crackling sounds.

The space under the umbrella was narrow, and they were so close that they could hear each other's heartbeats.

Chen Fengni hugged the person next to her and suddenly felt extremely relieved.

She knew that in the long time to come, even if it rained for the thousandth time, someone would hold an umbrella for her for the thousand and first time.

And so is she.

(End of text)