As the aroma wafted into the living room, steam rose from the covered clay pot on the dining table, bubbling out from the small hole. Jiang Cheng sniffed and got up to walk towards the table.
"The food is ready," Jiang's mother called out as usual.
This really reminds me of my childhood, when I would hear my mother calling out every time it was mealtime.
The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes: sweet and sour fish, stir-fried bitter melon, braised beef brisket with potatoes, and delicious fish soup.
All of them were dishes that Jiang Cheng loved to eat, no matter which one. Jiang's mother remembered them all and made them perfectly.
Jiang Cheng and Luo Xiaoli sat down on chairs to the side, picked up chopsticks, and waited for their elders to start eating first, as was the established custom.
"Try it. It's been a while since I made braised beef brisket with potatoes. It should still taste the same as before."
After Mr. Jiang, the head of the family, started eating, everyone else immediately followed suit.
Jiang Cheng praised it highly after just one taste. The potatoes were soft and tender, and the beef brisket was soaked in the soup. It was so much better than the one he had made in Huanjiang Community.
This is a skill honed over many years in the culinary arts; it can't be achieved without time and practice.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious and joyful. Jiang's mother always liked to talk, and since Jiang Cheng had finally come back, she naturally had a lot to say. She even asked him how his recent perm looked and whether it was good-looking.
Jiang Cheng could only say it looked good, but this earned him a punch from his father, who said, "Look how good your son's taste is! You're the only one who says it doesn't look good, but all the neighbors say it looks good."
Jiang's father gave a helpless smirk, said nothing, and silently sipped his liquor.
It was an extremely heartwarming scene. All four of them had smiles on their faces. As people get older, they like to reminisce about the past. Jiang's father was telling funny stories about Jiang Cheng's childhood, which made Luo Xiaoli very happy. She kept asking questions.
Jiang Cheng listened silently, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
He has reached a higher level in his life, but no matter where he goes, what he experiences, or how expensive the places he lives, he still feels that home is the most comfortable place for him.
Here, you don't need to worry about anything. Open your heart, be yourself without any inhibitions, be a child.
No matter how far he is from home, his parents still think of him. This concern is like the string holding a kite, giving him a sense of belonging.
Just a few years ago, when Jiang Cheng was still in high school, he wasn't the most outstanding person in the school, or even in his class. He was only considered relatively good. At that time, he couldn't have imagined what kind of achievements he would make in the future.
Not to mention him, no one around could have imagined it.
When the human genome was first developed and made public, Jiang's mother called and said a few words to him, telling him to learn from Jiang Cheng, who had the same name, and see how successful he was.
This further illustrates that expectations were far less than they seemed.
As they talked, Jiang's mother kept piling food into his bowl, and the same was true for Luo Xiaoli's bowl, which was almost piled up into a small mountain. There was simply no way they could finish it all.
She wanted to use these meals to represent a mother's most simple and sincere love.
Jiang's father is not good with words, just like his son; their personalities are too similar.
But a hint of pride still lingered in his eyes.
Once his appetite was satisfied, Jiang Cheng seemed to have forgotten what his purpose was in coming today, until Luo Xiaoli secretly kicked him under the table.
Jiang Cheng began to have some doubts and turned to look at her.
Then she kicked him again.
He suddenly realized, oh no, he'd been so busy talking that he'd forgotten to get to the point.
Jiang Cheng looked at his parents, whose faces were beaming with joy, coughed lightly twice, composed himself, took a deep breath, and put down his chopsticks.
"Mom... Actually, there are some things I wanted to tell you today."
Even after hearing this, Jiang's mother still had a smile on her face, completely unaware of what Jiang Cheng was going to say next.
"Just say what you want to say, what's wrong?"
Jiang Cheng pursed his lips. "I have a girlfriend. We've been dating for six months, and I'm planning to tell you all now."
Luo Xiaoli quickly turned her head away. She was really nervous, biting her lip lightly. Even though she hadn't revealed her identity yet, a blush had already crept onto her cheeks.
Jiang's mother paused for a moment, stunned for only half a second, then waved her hand, "Hey, I thought it was something serious. You're an adult now, isn't it normal to have a girlfriend? By the way, where is that girl from? Do you have a picture?"
The middle-aged woman's gossipy nature was immediately piqued, especially since it involved her own son, which made her even more interested.
Upon hearing this, Jiang's father also looked over with curiosity.
“Her home is in Fengzhou, and I have her photos, but I don’t think it’s necessary to look at them.”
"Why is it unnecessary?"
"Because..." Jiang Cheng coughed lightly twice, picked up a glass of water from the table, and tried to cover up his embarrassment by drinking water.
"Why? Tell me!"
Faced with the urging, Jiang Cheng put down the glass of water. As if he had made a decision, his expression turned serious. He reached out a hand to the side, grabbed the unsuspecting Xiao Li, and then raised her hand up as well.
This action completely stunned Luo Xiaoli; she hadn't expected Jiang Cheng to be so direct...
Across the table, the middle-aged couple stared blankly at their tightly clenched hands, taking several seconds to react. Mr. Jiang even asked, "What does this mean...?"
"You're so stupid!" Jiang's mother gave her husband a shove.
At this moment, Luo Xiaoli's face had risen to an unimaginable temperature, and she dared not lower her head. Because this moment was too important to her, it would be somewhat impolite to look directly at Jiang Cheng's parents' faces, so her gaze wandered and dared not focus. Her mind was in a daze, her cheeks were flushed and bright red, she could not say a word, her eyes darted around, and she was extremely flustered.
"The girlfriend I was talking about earlier is Xiao Li." Jiang Cheng was very serious, more serious than ever before. He didn't seem to be talking to his parents, but rather it was a declaration of everything for the future.
His lover was the flustered young girl he was holding hands with.
In the secondary living room, around the dining table, all was silent.
Two couples representing two eras gazed at each other in silence. Though they did not speak, their eyes conveyed everything they wanted to say.
Jiang's parents had some expectations, but they didn't expect that Jiang Cheng would bring Xiao Li here today to lay his cards on the table.
The couple looked at their partner, who was holding hands tightly and seemed a little nervous, and a relieved smile appeared on their faces.
The children we once sheltered have truly grown up. They will face the complexities and storms of this world. If they can still hold onto this sincere affection and remain steadfast as ever, then it will be a test of their character.
Only then can it be called love.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
