Chapter 596: Evoking Longing

Lu Ye went out into the kitchen, and Bai Zhi said to Ye Qingbai in an annoyed tone, "Alright, stop trying to sow discord between us. What good will it do you to make us argue? He's your boss. Do you think you'll get away with offending him?"

She looked at him, her soul asking, "When we argue, when I cry because I'm sad and upset, does that make you happy?"

Ye Qingbai hurriedly explained, looking embarrassed, "Cousin, that's not what I meant. It's just that my brother-in-law is a little hostile towards me."

Bai Zhi scoffed, "What hostility could he possibly have towards you? Before I was your cousin, how good was your relationship? You were always calling him 'Brother Ye' and looking at him with such admiration. Now that you're part of my family, you're taking advantage of the situation and trying to put yourself in his place?"

Ever since Lu Ye became his brother-in-law, Ye Qingbai has been showing off.

She could clearly sense that Ye Qingbai was getting cocky.

When Ye Qingbai first met them, he didn't treat Lu Ye this way.

Of course, she could understand that Ye Qingbai might want to support her and felt that he was her brother and should be respected.

But he also had to know his limits. After all, Lu Ye was his superior, and now that Lu Ye had been promoted to deputy battalion commander, what was he, a mere platoon leader, showing off for?

"No, I absolutely did not mean that. Please don't misunderstand me."

Ye Qingbai hurriedly explained, "Now I'm your family member, so I have to consider things from your perspective in everything I do. I'm just worried about you."

He muttered, "Ye-ge never used to be this hostile towards me."

Previously, their relationship was purely that of superior and subordinate, plus brothers.

Ye Qingbai sighed, "Alright, that's enough. It's all my fault. Okay, I won't say anymore."

"I'm going to help my brother-in-law cook."

After he finished speaking, he went to the kitchen.

Bai Zhi called out towards the kitchen, "Just put the vegetables in, don't add any seasonings, I'll add them later."

After Bai Zhi performed acupuncture on Xiao Wei, she was told to hold the treatment for another 15 minutes before the needles could be removed.

"Auntie Xiaobai, was that person really your brother?" Xiaowei asked curiously.

Bai Zhi replied, "Yes, he is my cousin."

How did he get injured?

"Injuries sustained while catching bad guys."

After hearing the reason for Ye Qingbai's injury, Xiao Wei's gaze towards Ye Qingbai changed after Ye Qingbai came out of the kitchen, and he immediately became affectionate towards him, unlike his previous arrogant and cold demeanor.

He even had to sit next to Ye Qingbai while eating.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at Ye Qingbai and asked, "Uncle, how many bad guys did you catch?"

"Hmm?" Ye Qingbai looked at him in confusion upon hearing this.

"How many bad guys did you arrest before you got injured?" Xiao Wei asked repeatedly.

"There are so many."

"Wow, Uncle, you're amazing!"

Xiao Wei looked at Ye Qingbai with admiration and vowed, "When I grow up, I will also catch bad guys."

Ye Qingbai poured cold water on the idea, saying, "There aren't that many bad guys for you to catch. Just protect yourself."

This is Ye Qingbai's most heartfelt hope for Xiaowei.

Political Commissar Zhang's wife died while arresting bad guys.

He sincerely hoped that Political Commissar Zhang's son could grow up healthy and live a peaceful life.

Bai Zhi handed chopsticks to everyone, "Come on, everyone, try my stew, how does it taste?"

Ye Qingbai took a bite, and his face immediately lit up with delight. He exclaimed, "Wow, Xiaozhi, this tastes amazing! It tastes just like home!"

Bai Zhi said, "Then eat more, there are steamed buns here."

"Aunt Bai, the meatballs are delicious." Xiao Wei also praised Bai Zhi's cooking skills.

"Then you should eat more too."

"How does it taste?" Bai Zhi asked Lu Ye with expectant eyes.

"good."

Lu Ye picked up some meat from his bowl and gave it to his wife, telling her to eat more meat.

He felt incredibly satisfied as he ate the food his wife had cooked.

During the meal, he asked Bai Zhi, "So the shop matter is settled?"

“I paid a deposit of 100 yuan. Mr. Xia said I should come to him tomorrow afternoon to sign the contract, and then I can collect the rent in full. By the way, do you have time? Let’s go sign the contract together.”

Lu Ye readily agreed, "Sure."

Ye Qingbai originally wanted to say that if Lu Ye didn't have time, he could continue to accompany Bai Zhi after his rehabilitation treatment, but the words caught his attention when he noticed Lu Ye's expression. He was too scared to say it aloud. He couldn't overstep his bounds again; although he meant well, Lu Ye might not appreciate it.

Just as everyone was eating, Political Commissar Zhang came to pick up his son.

"I'm so sorry, it's a bit late again today." He came in looking travel-worn and immediately began apologizing.

Compared to usual, I left work 20 minutes earlier today. I rushed home to cook for my son, but I didn't expect him to eat it again.

"Platoon Leader Ye is here too. Are you feeling better?"

Ye Qingbai quickly put down his chopsticks and stood up. "Political Commissar, I feel much better."

Bai Zhi stood up and warmly greeted him, "Political Commissar Zhang, please sit down, I'll get you some food."

Political Commissar Zhang waved his hand with a smile, "No, no, we came back early today and were planning to go home and cook."

"Dad, I'm almost full, you don't need to cook for me anymore." Xiao Wei patted his round belly. "Aunt Xiao Bai's cooking is so delicious, and she even makes meatballs."

Bai Zhi said, "I still have plenty of stew left, please have a bowl. Xiao Wei's treatment is over, and he has eaten, so you won't need to cook when you get back."

Political Commissar Zhang wanted to decline, but Lu Ye pulled him down to sit, saying, "Sit down."

There was still quite a lot of the stew made with angelica root in the pot.

She served Political Commissar Zhang a bowl of stew, and then brought him some steamed buns.

"Try this, it's a stew I made. There are also steamed buns. Eating only stew won't keep you full."

"How could I possibly accept this?" Political Commissar Zhang felt somewhat awkward at Bai Zhi and Lu Ye's enthusiasm.

It's one thing for my son to trouble others, but he also comes over to freeload a meal; I really feel bad about it.

Bai Zhi handed him the chopsticks directly, "It's just a bowl of rice, what's there to be embarrassed about? Eating a neighbor's bowl of rice shouldn't violate any principles or rules, right?"

Bai Zhi's words made Political Commissar Zhang a little embarrassed. He laughed awkwardly and said, "That's not what I meant."

If we keep refusing, Bai Zhi might really misunderstand.

So Political Commissar Zhang said thank you and had no choice but to pick up his chopsticks.

But after taking two bites, he stopped, his eyes welled up with tears, and he raised his hand to cover his face and wept.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Xiao Wei looked at him with a serious expression.

Lu Ye and Bai Zhi were also completely baffled. They thought that eating a bowl of braised noodles shouldn't be enough to move them to this extent.

Political Commissar Zhang is not such a sentimental person.

He wiped his face and said to his son, "I'm thinking of your grandparents."

Yes, the taste of this stew reminded him of his deceased parents.

When they passed away, the stew cooked by the family's chef tasted exactly like this.