20th Octopus Feast

What are you thinking about?

Xie Jingyuan walked up to Xie Qi and said with a smile, "Haven't seen you for the past few days, still holed up in Jiu Cai Ju?"

"Reading in the room."

Of the entire Xie family, only Xie Shan and Xie Jingyuan treated Xie Qi well.

In an ordinary family, a junior who is favored by the head of the household will surely be treated like a star, just like Xie Xuchuan.

Unfortunately, Xie Shan was merely a servant of the Xie family. Xie San Niang had taken him in as a son-in-law in his early years, thus giving him the empty title of head of the family.

However, times have changed. Although Xie Shan was a son-in-law, he had a great talent for business and soon expanded the Xie family business.

After realizing that he could not do without the Xie family's business, Xie Shan felt more confident and gradually became dissatisfied with just being the Xie family's son-in-law.

When you have too many thoughts, it's easy to feel resentful.

At that time, Xie Shan and Xie San Niang's relationship was extremely precarious; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that enemies meeting each other were extremely hostile.

The affection between husband and wife gradually eroded, almost leading to a lose-lose situation.

Later, perhaps realizing the drawbacks, their relationship gradually improved over the years.

However, a rift eventually formed, and the couple became somewhat distant and distant in the Xie family's inner quarters.

Xie San Niang disliked Xie Qi, so Xie Shan insisted on promoting Xie Qi. Unfortunately, Xie Shan came from a lowly background and was ultimately inferior to Xie San Niang, so he couldn't make decisions for Xie San Niang in the Xie family.

Xie Jingyuan only knew that his parents' relationship was not harmonious, but he did not understand why his two twin nephews, who were only three years younger than him, were so different.

In the Xie family, Xie Qi was like a rotten, stinking fruit in an unknown corner of summer.

Normally, no one cares whether he lives or dies, but if anyone does encounter him, they all... treat him with great disdain.

"You're a bit too quiet."

Seeing Xie Qi alone, Xie Jingyuan stood beside him and said, "I received some imported goods a few days ago. Go to Zhiyun Pavilion later and take a good look around. Take whatever you like."

"Thank you, Third Uncle."

"Don't mention it."

Xie Jingyuan patted Xie Qi on the shoulder and urged him to sit down quickly.

"Third Master's fish is truly excellent. Just now, this old servant passed by the small kitchen and smelled that aroma..."

With her nose twitching slightly, Li, Xie San Niang's dowry maid, quipped, "Oh my, the fragrance is so enticing, it almost makes my tongue fall off."

As she spoke, she directed the maid beside her to set out small white porcelain dishes for eating fish and silver forks for picking out fish bones for everyone.

The maid arranged the plates in a circle, but when she walked up to Xie Qi, she realized that one set was missing.

The young girl was a little stunned. Seeing that everyone at the table seemed not to have seen her, she turned around and left, thinking of going to get another set.

Xie Qi rarely appears with the Xie family, though things have improved somewhat in recent years.

Years ago, even the Xie family almost forgot that their eldest and second sons were twins.

As if no one noticed the missing set of bowls and plates, Granny Li continued to stand beside Xie Jingyuan, trying to curry favor: "The old lady's stomach hasn't been feeling well these past few days. After drinking Third Master's fish soup today, it's likely that the soup will cure her."

"Is your mother unwell?"

"It's an old problem..."

Xie Jingyuan caught some really good fish. Today, the small kitchen prepared a whole fish feast, including pan-frying, stir-frying, and braising.

Xie Qi sat down next to Xie Xuchuan, head bowed and silent. He was already used to the fact that among this group of people, he was the only one missing his belongings.

After Xie San Niang spoke, everyone picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

Hua Nanzhi served Xie Xuchuan a bowl of soup and then placed a piece of the most tender steamed fish belly on his plate.

The fish belly is adorned with emerald green scallion shreds, and sprinkled with a few bright red chopped chilies. The spicy, numbing, salty, and savory flavor of the fish, mixed with the oily aroma, wafts into the nose, making one's mouth water.

"This fish is so fresh, you should try it."

Xie Xuchuan shook his head, having no appetite.

His mind was full of worries, and he couldn't eat anything.

Thinking of Jiang Wansu and Shen Yuanzhu, Xie Xuchuan pinched the bridge of his nose: "Mother, I have something to tell you after dinner."

Since Shen Yuanzhu said her mother agreed, she agreed to bring Wansu and Yulin's child back to the Xie family, so he would grant her wish.