The people gathered at the kitchen door had their backs to the outside, and none of them noticed that their master had returned.

It was only after Shui Sheng, who was standing next to the master, coughed a few times to remind them that these people quickly made way for them.

Before even stepping into the kitchen, Ye Ren'an could already smell the aroma of the dishes. Hmm, they certainly smelled delicious, but he wondered what they would taste like.

Even after hearing from his three sons that his youngest son's grilled meat skewers were delicious, he still couldn't believe that his youngest son's cooking skills could surpass those of Chef Cai, the head chef in the kitchen.

Upon entering the kitchen, he saw his elderly father, mother, wife, and two sons sitting around a large table, already eating.

The old father had already had his fill of wine when he rushed back, only to find that they had already started eating before he even got a chance to.

This was the first time Ye Ren'an had ever seen his family so unruly.

Although he's not the eldest in the family, he's now the head of the household! Also, shouldn't meals be properly eaten in the living room?

His entire family, young and old, of a dignified fourth-rank prefect, are crammed into this kitchen to eat like this. It's truly unbearable to watch.

Master Cai, like a newly apprentice, stood beside his youngest son, observantly handing him ingredients or a plate every now and then.

Resisting the urge to sit down and taste the dishes his son had cooked, Ye Ren'an walked over to his youngest son, who was still cooking at the stove: "It's so hot and tiring, just make a few dishes, that'll be enough. There are still a few dishes left to cook, let Chef Cai make them."

He wasn't just saying it casually; he genuinely felt sorry for his son. Looking at the sweat all over his son's forehead, Ye Ren'an couldn't help but turn to look at his mother and wife, who should be the ones who cared most for their son. He really didn't know what to say.

I never realized my mother and wife were so interested in food.

"Sir, there are only two dishes left to cook. Let the young master prepare them." Chef Cai, who is usually quick-witted, seemed to have his brain fogged up by the fumes from the pot at this moment, and blurted out.

Upon hearing this, Ye Ren'an glanced at Master Cai with a complicated expression, wondering if he would understand after that glance. Unexpectedly, Master Cai, who had always respected him, had already turned his attention back to Tianxuan.

Alright, let's pretend I said nothing. Everyone in this mansion is acting strangely today.

"Since there are only two dishes left, let's not cram them all into the kitchen. Have someone bring the dishes that Tianxuan cooked to the dining hall. Or do you want the three of us to eat standing up?" Ye Ren'an said helplessly.

Of course, he didn't dare to be too harsh in his tone; he didn't want to be the most disappointing person.

Upon hearing his words, the others sitting around the table came to their senses and hurriedly got up to order the dishes to be taken to the dining hall.

Madam Ye instructed her servant to pour a pot of mead, saying that her grandson had personally cooked so many delicious dishes, it would be a shame not to drink some.

He then asked his daughter-in-law if she wanted to have a drink together. Before Xia could speak, Ye Ren'an answered for her: "On such a rare day, let's have a few drinks with Mother."

Before their son went missing, the wife would drink some mead. But after the day their son went missing, she stopped drinking altogether, saying it was all because of their son's first birthday party, when she drank too much and otherwise their son wouldn't have gone missing.

Ye Ren'an comforted her, saying that if she had been with her son at the time, she might have been killed like the child's wet nurse.

But the wife said she would rather have been murdered than live such a miserable life.

Now that my son is safely back by my side, the knot in my heart is naturally gone, and I can have a drink now.

"Tianxuan, Grandma is waiting for you in the dining room to eat together." The old lady walked out of the kitchen, not forgetting to turn back and tell her grandson.

"Grandmother, you all eat while it's hot, no need to wait for me," Tianxuan replied happily.

My cooking skills were up to par today, nothing was off, what a relief!

Tianxuan quickly brought the dishes she had prepared to the large table in the dining hall. Ye Ren'an, who had just sat down, pointed at the dishes on the table and asked in confusion, "Hey, when these dishes were in the kitchen just now, I clearly saw that you had already eaten some of them. How come they are still full now?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady glanced at her son and said, "What do you know? Tianxuan made extra of every dish except the fish. After they were cooked, he put them on plates for us to taste first. All the untouched dishes were covered by the bamboo dish cover on the side."

The dishes on the table now aren't leftovers from what we ate.

Hmph, doesn't she, as their mother, know? Her son had just entered the kitchen and saw that they had already started eating, and his expression turned a little... well!

However, the old lady also knew that in the past, when she waited for her son to come home and eat together, he would always let them eat first.

Sometimes, when the government office was busy investigating important cases, their son would come home very late. So they would not wait for him, but would order the kitchen to leave him food or prepare ingredients to cook for him when he returned.

His son was particularly concerned today, not because he hadn't waited for him to eat together, but because the dishes on the table were cooked by Tianxuan. As a father, he naturally wanted to be the first to taste the food his child had cooked himself for the first time.

"Oh, if I had known this would happen, I would have tasted a few bites when I was in the kitchen," Ye Ren'an said, feigning annoyance.

"Where did Liangwen go? Why hasn't he come back yet?" Old Master Ye asked, noticing the new dish the servant had brought.

Xia said, "Father, Liangwen's father fell and broke his leg when he was repairing the roof tiles before the New Year. He took leave to come back this time and was asked by his classmate to go and see his father. He should be back soon."

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!