Chapter 29: Antiques, Small Antiques, and Troublemakers

The Shen family's old house is located in the southeast of South City, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, covering a vast expanse of land. In the morning, one can see distant mountains merging into dark green, with clouds and mist lingering among them. In the evening, as the sun sets, the sky is filled with rosy clouds, and weary birds return to the forest.

Since college, Shen Yixiao has moved out to live on his own, returning only on specific days and when Ms. Wen summons him.

When I pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard, I noticed that the green bamboo on the side had changed its species and the potted plants had also changed. I knew that Ms. Wen had put in a lot of effort.

"The second young master is back!" When Mrs. Wang saw Shen Yixiao, she smiled and turned around to report the news.

Shen Yixiao slowly intervened and followed behind: "Sister Wang, shouldn't you come to greet me first?"

When he entered the room, he saw Wen Xianyun busy in the kitchen wearing an apron, holding a spatula in her hand and greeting him: "Xiaoyi is back, wash your hands and wait for dinner."

"Are you cooking again?" Shen Yixiao had a bad feeling.

"Just wait for the food." Wen Xianyun responded and continued to work.

Shen Yixiao turned his head to look at Shen Zhongting who was reading a newspaper on the sofa, twirled the car keys in his hand, and said nonchalantly: "Don't you care about your wife?"

Shen Zhongting pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose, looked up at him, and said seriously: "Don't be disrespectful, talk properly."

Shen Yixiao shrugged, threw the keys on the coffee table, took the grapes washed by Mrs. Wang, picked up one and put it in his mouth, and frowned instantly.

"Where did you buy these grapes that are so sour?"

Mrs. Wang smiled and explained, "Madam planted it herself."

Shen Yixiao sat up straight, put the plate back, looked at the pomegranates, persimmons, and raspberries beside him, and twitched his lips slightly: "Are these all planted by Ms. Wen?"

"Yes."

Shen Yixiao: "..."

"Am I coming back alone?"

Shen Zhongting didn't even raise his head: "Your brother has an appointment tonight."

"Wash your hands and eat!"

Wen Xianyun called from the kitchen, Shen Zhongting put down the newspaper and went to help serve the dishes.

At the dinner table, Wen Xianyun pushed a dish in front of Shen Yixiao and looked at him expectantly: "How does it taste?"

Shen Yixiao: "You said you had something urgent to ask me to come back, isn't it just for food tasting?"

Wen Xianyun looked at him with some resentment: "You haven't been home for so long, isn't it okay for an old mother to miss her son?"

Shen Yixiao exposed her on the spot: "The last time I came back, you were playing mahjong. You thought I was in the way and didn't even give me dinner. Have you forgotten?"

"Ahem..." Wen Xianyun coughed twice guiltily and winked at Shen Zhongting.

Shen Zhongting put down his chopsticks and righteously scolded him: "Just eat when I tell you to. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Shen Yixiao: "..."

Wen Xianyun looked at him with a loving smile: "This is a new dish I invented recently, stir-fried sea bass with beans."

"Your dad said I've perfected it, so he wanted to give it to you to try."

Shen Yixiao was already in despair when he heard this combination. He turned to look at Shen Zhongting with an expression that said, "How can you say such a cruel thing?"

Shen Zhongting glared at him and said, "I love my wife!"

Shen Yixiao picked up a piece of string bean, took a look at it, and put it down, fearing that it might be undercooked and poisonous.

As for the fish, if it is not cooked, just eat it as sashimi.

He carefully picked up a small piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it without even taking a sip.

"How about it?"

Shen Yixiao didn't taste anything at all: "Well done, don't do it next time."

Wen Xianyun put down his chopsticks in disappointment: "I knew your dad was just teasing me!"

Shen Zhongting gave him a glare, and Shen Yixiao pulled the corner of his lips and had to cooperate with his father to pamper his wife.

"Ms. Wen, what I mean is that cooking is too hard. Just make a meal occasionally as a reward for Old Antique, don't tire yourself out."

Wen Xianyun wiped away her nonexistent tears and looked pitiful: "I'm just too bored. All I can do is cook and grow flowers. If only..."

She paused, then changed the subject: "If you could give me grandchildren to play with, I would definitely not have time to cook."

Shen Yixiao leaned back in his chair and chuckled. So she was waiting for him here!

"I was wondering why Little Antique didn't come back today. Turns out it was the Hongmen Banquet!"

"Not only did they test me for poison, they also forced me to get married, but I'm the only one doing it!"

Wen Xianyun stopped pretending: "What you said is true. Am I not breaking through them one by one?"

"I went to your Uncle Li's house a few days ago, and his daughter-in-law was pregnant with her second child. As for you, I didn't even see the shadow of your daughter-in-law!"

Shen Yixiao searched the table for edible dishes and said unconcernedly, "If anyone wants to urge you, they should urge Little Antique. He's almost thirty, and it's still too early for me."

Wen Xianyun sighed, "If I could urge Little Antique to move, would I have to go after a troublemaker like you?"

"You know your brother's personality. Forget about having a wife. He's already old and he might not even have held a girl's hand. How can I count on him?"

"But you're different..."

"???" Shen Yixiao, whose reputation was damaged, asked, "What's wrong with me?"

Wen Xianyun came closer with a smile on his face, gossiping, "I heard that you've been getting close to that girl from the Jiang family lately."

Shen Yixiao frowned and looked at her strangely: "Who told you that?"

"I read the entertainment news! Why don't you sign her to the company and promote her?"

Shen Yixiao still looked lazy. "I didn't sign it. Besides, the Jiang family is throwing money at her, so why should I refuse? You're a bastard if you don't make money."

Wen Xianyun: "So there are so many female celebrities in your company, but you don't even like any of them?"

"The company signs so many artists every year, am I interested in all of them?"

Shen Yixiao laughed: "Your son runs a company, not a harem."

Wen Xianyun kicked Shen Zhongting under the table: "Aren't you going to say something?"

Shen Zhongting, who had suffered an unexpected disaster, said: "...You little bastard, you only know how to piss off your mother!"

Wen Xianyun: "Is this what I asked you to say?"

Shen Zhongting came forward and said, "Wife, don't be angry about this brat. It's not worth it."

Wen Xianyun was furious when he saw Shen Zhongting like this: "Xu Bai is just like you. He can't even find a girlfriend at the age of nearly 30. You are just an old antique..."

"And you," she looked at the lazy Shen Yixiao, "you little bastard, what's the point of having that face and that mouth!"

Wen Xianyun began to attack indiscriminately, and the father and son remained silent.

After she had finished cursing, Shen Zhongting poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her: "Drink some water to moisten your throat and calm down."

Shen Yixiao was watching the fun and didn't mind making things worse: "Dad, Ms. Wen is not going through menopause, you have to be careful."

"Shut up!" Shen Zhongting looked at the brat who was adding fuel to the fire and wanted to throw him out.

Wen Xianyun drank half a glass of water, elegantly took a tissue and wiped his mouth, then told Mrs. Wang beside him, "Take away the pork rib soup and spring rolls."

Those were the only two dishes that were not made by her.

Just as Shen Yixiao was about to get up, Shen Zhongting stopped him: "Eat your meal before leaving."

Shen Yixiao sighed: "Just based on today's meal, I will have to extort at least two million from Xiao Gudong."

Wen Xianyun snorted softly: "Do you think he can escape?"

Shen Yixiao raised his eyebrows slightly, and a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

After dinner, he drank two large glasses of water.

Wen Xianyun looked at him and then remembered that he had something important to do: "This weekend is Mr. Ji's 80th birthday, remember to attend on time."

"Know."

"Okay, it's nothing, go away."

Chen Yixiao didn't linger at all. He picked up the coat on the sofa and walked to the door, not forgetting to turn back and remind him: "Remember to let Xiao Gudong come home for dinner tomorrow."

Shen Xubai, who had just left the dinner party, suddenly sneezed.

Who is thinking about him?