Chapter 322 The Orphanage's Lies: The Handsome Flower Boy 22

However, the bed in his room was bigger, softer, and more comfortable.

"It's very comfortable and soft."

"Thank you, Mom," Lu Jinnian said.

This is a spring bed that Shen Ci specially chose, which is a Simmons mattress, not the hard wooden bed that Lu Jinnian slept on in the orphanage.

A significant portion of a person's day is spent lying in bed, so it's essential to get a good night's sleep.

After touring the new house, the excitement finally subsided a bit, and Shen Ci rubbed his hands together somewhat embarrassedly.

"The New Year is almost here, and everything at home is prepared, but we haven't found a suitable housekeeper to cook yet."

Tonight, we'll either eat out or buy groceries and cook ourselves; we have everything we need at home.

Lu Jinnian answered immediately without any hesitation.

"Mom, do it yourself."

I can cook, I'll do it. Besides, eating out is too expensive.

He felt like it was all a dream. Although Shen Ci was his biological mother, they hadn't spent many years together.

Having received so much all at once, I always feel like I owe something.

Some people just can't accept the kindness of others.

Of course, the benefits he gained from deceiving those girls were different; he obtained them through deception, by using his sweet words and good looks to provide emotional value in exchange.

He took it for granted, but Shen Ci was different.

Shen Ci gave to him without asking for anything in return.

He needed to do something to alleviate the strange feeling in his heart; he urgently needed to do something for his family and for Shen Ci.

Shen Ci felt a warmth in her heart, understanding Lu Jinnian's awkwardness. Such a sensible child was like this, not rejecting his feelings.

"Okay, then let's cook ourselves, mother and daughter! Let's go to the market to buy groceries."

Shen Ci had already asked someone to prepare all the pots, pans, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar for the house; everything was ready. The reason she hadn't bought the vegetables in advance was because they wouldn't keep for long.

At this time, the state-run vegetable market has already closed.

They went to a nearby spontaneous free market, a place that only comes alive in the evening.

This was a characteristic of the era, appearing only in the early days of opening up. The market wasn't large, but it was quite crowded, mostly with nearby residents carrying baskets to buy vegetables.

Where there is demand, there will be a market. People need a farmers' market for convenience and affordability, so the free market came into being.

The vegetables in this free market aren't plentiful, but they're all grown by local families in the nearby suburbs, so they're relatively fresh, the prices aren't too high, and you can pick and choose what you like.

"Xiao Nian, what do you want to do? Mom will help you."

Looking at the relatively fresh fruits and vegetables on the stall, Lu Jinnian had already started planning the menu.

"Mom, it's summer now, let's make some cucumber salad, it's refreshing."

Buy another tomato and make a tomato and egg stir-fry.

Then I'll weigh out some ground pork and make meatballs for you; you'll have soup and vegetables too.

These are all home-style dishes, but they are made with high-quality ingredients. They are rarely available in the orphanage. He only tasted them because a female classmate treated him.

Although he rarely ate it, it tasted good and was the best meal he had ever eaten. He had memorized the recipe before he met his mother and practiced it in his mind many times.

Shen Ci readily agreed, so the mother and son began to buy groceries. Lu Jinnian was in charge of selecting the vegetables, while Shen Ci simply paid for them.

Choose cucumbers with the flower and thorns still attached, and tomatoes that are slightly pink so they will be more juicy. I bought a piece of pork and asked the vendor to chop it into minced meat for me.

I also bought a bunch of bok choy, scallions, ginger, garlic, and a few eggs.

After buying all the vegetables, I spent less than two yuan in total, but my basket was already full.

The system's information said that this child was a smooth talker who cheated women out of money, but Shen Ci only saw his maturity and how virtuous he was at such a young age, and how he could cook.

He even knows how to bargain when buying groceries, and seems quite experienced in the process, clearly the image of a thrifty and hardworking househusband.

Back in her new home, everything was complete. Lu Jinnian tied on an apron and skillfully began washing, chopping, and beating eggs.

Shen Ci would occasionally hand him something, like peeling garlic.

The old mother was relieved to be able to eat her son's cooking.

Lu Jinnian was busy at the stove, and the sound of sizzling came from the pot. Before long, the aroma of food wafted out.

This is home.

I have a house, family, everyday life, and heartfelt wishes.

While Lu Jinnian was busy stirring the minced meat, other dishes were being cooked in a pot next to him. Before he knew it, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, but there was a warm light in his own courtyard.

For the first time, he felt that the light was lit for him, and for the first time, he felt that he truly had a home and a mother behind him.

My wandering heart has finally found shore.

"Ding-dong! Special mission: Sense of belonging to home complete!"

Salvage value +20%!

Current rescue rate: 37%!

Reward: The ownership certificate for the local traditional courtyard house has been issued and the transfer has been automatically completed.

The 100x return of 850,000 has been added to the total funds.

A house worth 8,500 yuan, with a 100-fold return, yielding 850,000 yuan in hand. Take a gamble, and you could go from a bicycle to a motorcycle. A rough calculation shows that she's not far from becoming a millionaire.

The new home is great and very peaceful.

Lu Jinnian's cooking wasn't particularly delicious; it was just the taste of normal home-cooked dishes. After all, he hadn't had many opportunities to cook like this before.

In the orphanage, all the children are divided into groups and take turns helping the director cook. Otherwise, the director would be exhausted if she were to cook all by herself.

However, the welfare home rarely serves meat. Most of the time, they eat steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water. Steamed buns are easy to store, quick to make, and filling.

As for vegetables, they are usually boiled, because stir-frying uses more oil, and even when stir-frying, only a small amount of oil is used.

You might know all the steps, but the result won't be as delicious as what a professional chef makes.

But it feels very homey.

Now, Shen Ci finally had Lu Jinnian by her side, giving him a place to stay and a decent home.

Given time, the two will gradually become familiar with each other.

During this period, so many things were accomplished: reuniting with relatives, buying a car, making donations, publishing in newspapers, receiving commendations, and buying a house—it was as if a fast-forward button had been pressed.

Before they knew it, most of the summer vacation had passed, and Lu Jinnian would be starting school soon. Shen Ci wasn't too worried about his grades, as he studied every day.

Since the family is wealthy, even if someone doesn't do well in school, there's no need to force them to study. They can become whatever they want: a painter, musician, doctor, teacher, or just an ordinary worker.

The wealthier a family is, the more tolerant it is of its children. This wealth extends beyond just material wealth; it also extends to the boundaries of a family's desire for control.