After that, Yang Fengxia didn't say anything more, but she kept a straight face, making it clear to everyone that she was in a bad mood.

When Cheng Baidong returned, he was puzzled. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Yang Fengxia, he made an excuse to go into the kitchen and asked Fang Qiao in a low voice, "Wife, what's wrong with your mother? She looks so pale."

Fang Qiao casually replied, "She's just giving me attitude on purpose, you don't need to pay attention to her."

"Did you two have a fight?" Cheng Baidong asked cautiously.

"Yes, she was hoping I would support her family financially, but I refused, and we had a huge fight."

Her family of origin was a source of pain for her, and Fang Qiao was unwilling to talk about it. She packed up her lunchbox and handed it to Cheng Baidong: "Go to the cafeteria and get a meat dish. We'll have some meat for lunch today."

Cheng Baidong wisely refrained from asking further questions. Recalling the usual Wednesday menu, he asked, "On Wednesdays, is the cafeteria serving stewed chicken with potatoes and stir-fried shredded pork with chili peppers? Which would you like?"

"Let's have stir-fried pork with chili peppers. The stewed chicken with potatoes in the cafeteria is all potatoes, with hardly any chicken at all. It doesn't look good at all." Fang Qiao waved his hand, signaling him to hurry up.

She was busy; there were green beans stewing in the pot.

After Cheng Baidong left, Fang Qiao lifted the pot lid, stuck the cornbread to the edge of the pot, and continued to cook it over low heat.

If you have children at home, undercooked green beans can easily cause diarrhea. Cook them until they are well-cooked and soft so that they are easier for children to chew.

An'an is six and a half months old and has started eating complementary foods. Fang Qiao first stir-fries the rice, then carefully grinds it into fine rice powder using a mortar and pestle. When it's time to eat, just scoop out two spoonfuls, mix them with boiling water to make a paste.

Fang Qiao can make enough food for An An for a week, which is very convenient.

Cheng Baidong bought the stir-fried pork with chili peppers, poured it into a plate, and set it on the table.

There were only two dishes for lunch: stir-fried pork with chili peppers and stewed green beans by Fang Qiao, served with cornbread and millet porridge.

With both meat and vegetables, two dishes weren't considered extravagant for entertaining one's mother-in-law these days, but they were respectable enough. Yang Fengxia couldn't find fault with it and sat down sullenly.

At lunchtime, Fang Qiao put An'an in a high chair.

The high chair was custom-made by Fang Qiao based on the baby high chairs of later generations. In those days, labor was cheap and wood was not expensive. The carpenter handled both labor and materials, and the high chair only cost one yuan in total.

The money wasn't much, but the carpenter was incredibly meticulous. Knowing it was for a child, he carefully sanded it smooth to ensure there were no burrs left, so the child's delicate hands wouldn't get hurt.

An'an loved the high chair from the moment she sat down, and she actively participated in every meal.

She already knows how to be greedy. When she sees adults eating, she waves her little hands, pats the high chair, and shouts "ah ah," meaning she wants to eat too and wants to be fed.

The rice noodles I made for her with boiling water were too hot; she needed them to cool down a bit before she could eat them.

"Don't worry, An'an, your rice noodles will be ready to eat soon," Fang Qiao reassured her.

An'an couldn't understand, but she was still very anxious. She pounded on the high chair with her little hands, making the frame rattle.

Yang Fengxia frowned and said to Fang Qiao, "Look how anxious you are. First, dip your chopsticks in the soup and let her taste it. If she tastes it, she'll stop crying."

Fang Qiao shook her head: "We can't let her try it. If she tastes it, she'll become picky and won't eat rice noodles anymore."

Yang Fengxia pursed her lips: "There's no such thing as a big deal. I gave birth to four of you siblings, and I fed all four of you like this. I've never seen any of you picky eaters or refuse to eat. You're just mildly hungry."

Fang Qiao ignored her, because the more she talked to her about this topic, the more excited she became.

Times have changed, a generation gap has formed, and parenting philosophies differ, so in the end, no one can win an argument.

Seeing this, Cheng Baidong offered to feed them.

"No need, you'll make a mess everywhere if you feed them, and then we'll have to clean it up later." Fang Qiao's tone was a little disgusted, and Cheng Baidong awkwardly touched his nose.

He really didn't feed him well.

Fang Qiao picked up the rice noodles, scooped out a little with a spoon, and dripped it onto the tenderest part of her wrist to feel the temperature. When she felt it was about right, she fed the spoon to An An's mouth.

An'an opened her mouth and took a tiny sip to taste it.

Yesterday she ate spinach leaf porridge, but the spinach must have tasted awful, because she shook her head the whole time and eventually refused to open her mouth.

Today, Fang Qiao steamed half a small sweet potato, mashed it, and added it to the paste.

An An tasted it and found it to be slightly sweet. She opened her mouth wide and ate it all in one bite. After finishing, she grinned foolishly at Fang Qiao.

Fang Qiao was also amused.

Who says kids don't understand anything? They know a lot!

I won't open my mouth because I know spinach puree doesn't taste good, but sweet potato puree is so sweet and delicious!

"Okay, stop laughing and eat."

Seeing that An'an kept smiling, Fang Qiao said something to her, and then fed her the second spoonful.

The sweet potato porridge was delicious, and An'an loved it. She ate one bite after another, and the small bowl of rice noodles was quickly finished. An'an was full, and she wouldn't eat any more when fed. Instead, she held the spoon in her mouth and blew bubbles, scattering rice noodles everywhere. After blowing them, she grinned foolishly at Fang Qiao, as if waiting for her praise.

I can't bring myself to praise...

"Alright, stop being naughty, go chew on your teething toy." Fang Qiao put the bowl of rice noodles aside, took out a handkerchief to wipe her clothes and high chair clean, and then gave her a teething toy made from the trunk of a Sichuan pepper tree so she could chew on it and play with it before starting to eat her own meal.

After the meal, Yang Fengxia didn't want to stay a moment longer. She picked up her basket and was about to leave when Fang Qiao stopped her. He escorted her to the entrance of the family compound and then turned back.

As I walked to my doorstep, I ran into Li Dan coming out.

When Li Dan saw Fang Qiao, a bright smile appeared on her face: "Xiao Qiao, I was just looking for you. I have a baby girl and I'm planning to set up two tables in the yard to celebrate. It's scheduled for Sunday night. Why don't you come?"

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