This meal was exceptionally pleasant and enjoyable.
When we went in, it wasn't even midnight yet, and there weren't many people. Shen Huaichuan ordered dishes that his family liked.
Zhouzhou had been longing for candied sweet potatoes, Zhou Qiqi loved steamed fish, and there were also two tender and flavorful home-style dishes specially ordered for the two elders. They had thought of everything very carefully.
After ordering, Shen Huaichuan was about to get up and go to the front desk to pay the bill.
Seeing this, Shen Zhenbang immediately stood up, took out his wallet, and quickly followed.
His daughter-in-law's extravagant shopping spree that morning touched him, but also made him feel a little guilty. He felt he should do something for his family.
He stopped his son and said loudly, "Let your mother and I treat you to this meal!"
Shen Huaichuan glanced at his father's serious expression, and without further hesitation, nodded and replied, "Okay, I'll listen to Dad."
At this moment, Zhou Qiqi, who was sitting at the table, raised her voice:
"Huaichuan, could you grab a bottle of soda for Zhouzhou while you're at it? It's getting cold, so could you tell the waiter to warm it up in the hot water pot before bringing it over? Don't let the child drink it cold!"
After saying that, she turned her head to the side and asked her mother-in-law, Qin Peilan, who was holding Zhouzhou in her arms and speaking softly:
"Auntie, the plum juice that this restaurant makes itself is really delicious. It's appetizing and helps cut through the greasiness. Would you like to try a bottle?"
Qin Peilan was previously in the sanatorium, where He Wanrou controlled her food and drink, always forbidding her from eating this or that, saying that she was old and had a bad stomach, so she always ate very bland food.
I was in a rare good mood today, and I enjoyed my shopping trip. Hearing this, I smiled and nodded.
"Okay! I'll do as you say and try it out!"
Zhou Qiqi immediately raised her voice again and added towards the counter:
"Huaichuan, get a bottle of plum juice for Auntie and me, and ask Uncle if he wants some too!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhenbang also became interested: "Sour plum drink? Then give me a bottle to try!"
The father and son then walked together toward the counter.
The waiter said that the hot soda and plum juice were kept warm on the stove in the back, and asked them to wait a moment while it would be brought over.
The waiter turned to get the items. There weren't many people in the restaurant at that moment, and only the father and son remained at the counter.
Over the years, Shen Huaichuan has had very few opportunities to see his parents.
He had almost no opportunities to spend time alone with his father.
Neither of them were talkative people.
Standing side by side, with nothing else to do, they were both a little at a loss, and the atmosphere was quiet and somewhat subtle.
Especially Shen Huaichuan, who remained calm and composed when giving a report to tens of thousands of people in the army.
Standing next to his father, he felt flustered and didn't know where to put his hands.
It was Shen Zhenbang who broke the silence first.
He looked into the distance and saw Zhou Qiqi say something that made Qin Peilan laugh heartily, while Zhouzhou nestled in her grandmother's arms and giggled.
As he watched that heartwarming scene, a rare look of contentment appeared in his eyes, and his tone softened considerably:
"You're something else! You found such a great wife without making a sound. Well done! You deserve praise! Keep it up!"
Shen Huaichuan was taken aback when his father suddenly praised him, but he immediately denied it:
“Dad, there’s no need to keep trying. In this life, the next life, and the life after that, I only want this one wife. I’ve made up my mind about her.”
Shen Zhenbang was taken aback by his son's sudden and straightforward declaration of loyalty, then chuckled and patted his mouth:
"Oh, right, right! Look at me, I'm so happy I'm babbling! Anyway, you did the right thing, you did a great job!"
Over the years, Shen Zhenbang has rarely praised his son so directly; the atmosphere between father and son is always silent and heavy.
At that moment, this simple affirmation warmed Shen Huaichuan's heart, making him feel as if he had drunk a warm drink of soda.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he said softly, "Thank you, Dad."
The father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief and warmth in each other's eyes, and their lips curled up slightly in unison.
Just then, the waiter brought over the warmed drinks.
Shen Zhenbang took the drink, patted his son's shoulder hard, and then turned and walked towards the dining table.
Shen Huaichuan stood there, looking at his father's slightly aged but still upright back, and a faint smile involuntarily curved his lips upward.
"It really tastes good, sweet and sour."
Qin Peilan took a sip of the warm plum juice and squinted her eyes contentedly.
She hadn't tasted such a rich flavor in a long time.
Perhaps because she was in a good mood, and the plum juice whetted her appetite, she ate much more than usual at this meal.
The family chatted about their morning's events while eating, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
They were family after all. In just one morning, Qin Peilan had already learned to understand a lot of Zhouzhou's lip movements. The two of them kept "talking" as if they could never finish.
Just as we were about to finish eating and were about to pay the bill and leave, a large group of people, young and old, poured into the restaurant. It was quite a lively scene.
Upon closer inspection, it really was someone I knew!
Leading the group was the tall and burly Zhang Guoqiang, who had a cheerful expression on his face, and next to him was the straightforward Zhao Damei.
Zhao Damei carefully helped her father-in-law, Old Master Liang.
Accompanying Mr. Liang was a kind-looking old lady with gray hair. Her eyebrows and eyes resembled Zhang Guoqiang's, so she was obviously his mother.
At the very back of the line followed a string of bouncy little kids, about six in total, the children of Zhang Guoqiang and Zhao Damei.
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