Feed Soup
In the front hall, Cui Zhijun was frightened by the lion's roar of the person in front of him.
He looked up. Taishi Zheng's father, his father-in-law. He held a rolling pin in his hand, a fierce presence radiating from his scarred face. Nearing fifty, the old general remained tall and sturdy, his posture erect. He looked like a majestic and powerful door god, possessing the aura of a man capable of defeating a hundred enemies alone.
Such a comparison,
Cui Zhiyun's demeanor of bright moon and refreshing breeze seemed a little weak.
But Taishi Zheng had no time to introduce her new husband, her son-in-law, to Taishi Zhengjiang. She only wanted to know who the unfamiliar face behind her father was.
"Dad, you, she... uh..." Unexpectedly, Tai Shi Zheng hadn't even stepped forward to say a few words.
Taishi Zhengjiang then stuffed the cleaned apple in his hand into Taishi Zheng's open mouth. "You little bitch, go to the side and finish your meal before you talk to me. Wasting food is a big taboo."
Such rude treatment.
Cui Zhijun witnessed every move of the father and daughter. Taishi Zhengjiang glared at him, and Taishi Zheng actually sat aside obediently with a ringo in his mouth.
There is always a mountain higher than the one you climb.
Before Cui Zhijun could recover from his shock, a voice of exclamation came from the Grand Historian Zhengjiang: "Oh! This must be my unparalleled, priceless son-in-law—"
Cui Zhijun was startled and quickly responded politely, "My son-in-law, I pay my respects to my father-in-law."
"Hey, no need to be so polite. Your unlucky daughter-in-law never asked for any etiquette when she saw me. You, my dear son-in-law, should be like her in the future. We are all family, just relax and be at ease. Hahahaha." Tai Shi Zhengjiang's hearty laughter rang out, and a dramatic scene appeared in front of the hall.
As Taishi Zhengjiang said this, he put down his walking stick and reached out to pinch Cui Zhijun's shoulder, wanting to praise him. But unexpectedly, "Ah, look at my son-in-law, his shoulders, ah..."
Tai Shi Zhengjiang touched Cui Zhijun's thin shoulders and began to doubt himself.
Reluctantly, he clenched his fist again and knocked Cui Zhijun's chest, "Haha, let me take another look at my son-in-law's chest muscles, um... his chest muscles, um... are quite... um..." But he fell into complete silence.
But the men of Taishi's family are all tall and strong, unlike ordinary people. How can normal people compare with them?
Cui Zhijun's stature and build were already quite robust for a scholar. Looking at his bewildered father-in-law, Cui Zhijun felt a tightness in his chest. He subconsciously took two steps back, fearing that Taishi Zhengjiang would do something outrageous again and kill him.
As expected, it was just as Cui Zhiyun expected.
Before waiting for three seconds, Taishi Zhengjiang lowered his eyes again and stared at his lower body.
It seems that Father Taishi will not give up until he finds advantages for his son-in-law that can match his own family.
Cui Zhijun was terrified. Should he hide or not?
Avoiding them is considered disrespectful to the elders, and not avoiding them may result in the extinction of the family lineage.
Cui Zhiyun was in a dilemma.
But look, at this critical moment, his wife, who was beside him, holding up the glistening fruit core she had chewed, saved him like a ray of divine light, "General Taishi, if you still want to hold your grandson—please leave him alone."
As soon as these words came out, Taishi Zhengjiang's feet were dangling in the air. He thought about it and finally let his son-in-law go for the sake of his grandson.
Cui Zhijun's face was full of shame.
Dad has withdrawn his foot, but what about his face?
After all, no one knows a father better than his daughter. Zheng turned around, placed the fruit core on the table, and said to Taishi Zhengjiang, "Dad, you're always making things difficult for my husband! We're a family of generals, but I'm a family of scholars. Can't you teach me something my husband is good at? Come on, husband, recite a poem for me to show your filial piety."
Cui Zhijun stood there in a daze, speechless. He felt something was wrong.
Why does this look so much like the scene when we were children paying New Year’s greetings and being asked to show our talents to the elders at home?
Taishi Zhengjiang waved his hand with a look of disdain, "Reciting poetry? I don't understand. I don't like that kind of thing. If it's swordplay, I'd like to hear the details."
"Dancing with swords? Then wait for your elder brother and sister-in-law to come back and let them perform for you." Taishi Zheng curled her lips and moved closer to Cui Zhijun. "My husband is a doctor of the Imperial College, a scholar. Unlike you rough guys, he is different-"
"Okay, okay, I'm just a rough guy, okay." Taishi Zhengjiang snorted and turned his hands behind his back.
At this moment, the woman who had been unable to get a word in finally found a chance to speak: "Master Jieshi, if there is nothing else, since your daughter and son-in-law are here, I will be leaving first."
Only then did Tai Shi Zheng recall what had just happened.
Taishi Zhengjiang suddenly clapped his hands, shocking everyone present.
He continued what he had just said, pushing the colorful silk that she had secretly placed on the table with the woman, "Aunt Li, Aunt Li, please see, my daughter came to sleep and I forgot about you. I am sorry for the negligence. Please forgive me. You kindly helped me prepare this meal today, but you refused to accept money. Then you must accept this colorful silk as a reward."
"Master Jishi, don't be like this, don't be like this. I appreciate your kindness. But the things are valuable, I really can't accept them. I have something else to do, I really should go." The woman thanked him and left in a hurry.
Seeing he couldn't stop her, Taishi Zhengjiang hugged Caiduan and sighed, "Ah, Aunt Li from the west is really kind-hearted. We ran into each other on the street yesterday. When she heard you were coming home, I had to prepare a table of food by myself, so she came to help me early this morning. Dad asked her to stay for dinner, but she didn't want to delay our reunion, so she left without even a sip of water. My daughter, you must remember this favor."
The old man watched the man walk away. When he turned around, he saw that everyone in the hall was staring at him. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
So, that's what happened...
Tai Shi Zheng understood the situation and finally put her mind at ease. There was no need to disturb her mother's spirit in heaven. Fu Yuanzi breathed a sigh of relief. "Master, you scared me to death. I thought you were going to—"
"What do I want?" Taishi Zhengjiang was confused.
Zheng was afraid that the conversation would get more chaotic, so she quickly interrupted them, "Yuanzi, I thought you wanted to book a table outside for dinner."
"Book a table? What table? I haven't eaten Dad's meal in three days, don't you miss it? How can it be as delicious as Dad's cooking? My dear son-in-law, are you hungry too? Come on, follow Dad to the backyard. We'll have a few more dishes and then we can have dinner. You can try Dad's cooking today."
As Taishi Zhengjiang said this, he pulled up Cui Zhijun's sleeve without any awkwardness.
He and his daughter are really alike.
Cui Zhijun paused, pointing to the gifts he had brought, and said, "Father-in-law, what about these things and the relatives at home..."
Taishi Zhengjiang glanced back and said, "Well, thank you for your kindness, son-in-law. My family doesn't have many relatives, so let's skip the back and forth congratulations. It's too long-winded and troublesome. You can just take the gifts you need to exchange later. The Taishi family doesn't have so many rules, so just be casual."
After saying this, the old man took his son-in-law and went to the backyard.
This made the forgotten girl very unhappy. Zheng cursed her father for being partial, but she held Cui Zhijun's other arm.
In this way, with two "guardians" on his left and right, Cui Zhijun was trapped by the father and daughter.
But once a sheep has fallen into the tiger's mouth, it is difficult to escape.
Cui Zhijun had no choice but to follow the father and daughter to the small door leading to the backyard.
But look, three of them are stuck outside the door,
It's impossible to go horizontally, and no one wants to hit the head vertically.
An awkward atmosphere spread.
Cui Zhijun, a sheep in the tiger's mouth, had just mustered up his courage when he was interrupted by Taishi Zheng. Zheng said in a deep voice, "Dad, let go and go first."
Taishi Zhengjiang pulled Cui Zhijun and said, "You little bitch, Dad is your elder, please give me some face and let go first."
A strange desire to win was ignited. The father and daughter stared at each other from between their son-in-law and husband, neither willing to give in.
The anxious eyes burned more and more fiercely.
Cui Zhijun felt that he would be affected soon. He sighed helplessly, then gently raised his arm that was held by the father and daughter, and walked calmly through the door alone.
At that time, Zheng and Dad's hands still maintained their original appearance, but when the two looked at each other, there was no longer Cui Zhiyun blocking them.
Hmm? Why do I feel like something's missing?
Zheng pouted.
Wait, where did the son-in-law go?
Dad frowned.
The father and daughter turned around again and heard Cui Zhijun calling out twice from the other side of the door with a gloomy face: "Father-in-law, Madam."
After he finished speaking, Taishi Zhengjiang's frown gradually relaxed, and Taishi Zheng's pouting mouth also slowly closed.
The two men looked at Cui Zhiyun, then glanced at each other, and both laughed to cover up the embarrassment.
"Ahahaha, young people are just quick-footed. I passed by without even noticing. Come on, girl, there's mushroom soup stewing on the fire. Let's go take a look."
"Hey, hey, hey, yes, yes. Father, please, please, I'll go with you to check on the soup."
The father and daughter were very respectful to each other, and they walked around Cui Zhijun and went all the way to the kitchen.
The lonely and empty house is filled with sadness and desolate wind.
Cui Zhijun looked at the backs of the two people leaving, wanting to leave but stopping himself, and in the end, only a sigh was left on the ground.
What he saw and heard today was enough to break the chains of his life, bound by the rules of etiquette. Only after meeting Taishi Zheng could Cui Zhijun understand...
It turns out that people can live freely.
He did not blame them for their rudeness towards him.
But when Cui Zhijun turned the corner, he met Taishi Zheng who was hiding in the flowers and trying to scare him. Zheng suddenly jumped out from the bushes and shouted: "Hey——"
Cui Zhijun looked at his philandering wife with an expressionless face.
Seeing his reaction, Taishi Zheng complained unsatisfactorily, "Sir, could you at least give me some reaction? Aren't you afraid? Or have you guessed that someone is hiding here?"
"It's already late autumn here, and the grass and trees are withered. It's hard for me not to see it." After Cui Zhijun said this, he raised his foot and walked forward.
Zheng followed closely behind.
Cui Zhijun caught sight of her following him and asked, "Didn't you go to the kitchen with your father-in-law? Why are you hiding here?"
"What else could it be? Waiting for you. Do you think I can really leave you and go first? It's your first time at home and you don't know the way. I have to take care of you, just like yesterday at Lingyuxuan. Wasn't it you who went out of your way to help me out?" Zheng shook the fallen leaves above her head and spoke casually.
Cui Zhijun heard this and said, "I'm just passing by."
"Okay, okay, I'm just passing by. I'm just passing by my heart~" Tai Shi Zheng looked at his stingy look, didn't bother to argue, and took his arm.
Cui Zhijun, however, looked unwilling.
“…”
-
When he arrived at the kitchen, Cui Zhijun saw a round table under the corner pavilion outside, with a high pile of firewood on the side. Is this where the Taishi family eats?
Although it lacks exquisite and simple furnishings, it adds a touch of warmth and homeliness. Thinking of the splendor of Lingyuxuan, it leaves people with only coldness and alienation.
After a few steps forward, Zheng led Cui Zhijun into the back kitchen. The delicious aroma of the mushroom soup filled her heart and spleen. Zheng leaned on the noodle table with shining eyes, "Dad, this soup smells so good, can you give me a bowl to try first--"
"You little bitch, you're so greedy." Although the old man said it with disgust, he didn't stop serving the soup.
He handed the prepared mushroom soup to his daughter, then turned and asked his son-in-law, "Would you like to try a bowl too?"
Cui Zhijun raised his hands but did not answer.
Zheng quickly responded before he could finish his long-winded formalities: "One bowl for the two of us will be fine. We still need to save room for dinner. Dad, hurry up and cook. I'm hungry."
"My dear, let's go out. Dad hates being watched while he cooks."
"That son-in-law..."
Cui Zhijun staggered and was taken out by Zheng again.
Tai Shi Zheng hurriedly put the hot bowl under the corner pavilion and pinched her ears, but she seemed to feel the heat was not going away, so she turned around and pinched Cui Zhijun's earlobe with her fingers.
Little did I know whether it was the heat that made her face red, or the embarrassment from the sudden contact.
Cui Zhijun stared at Taishi Zheng in front of him, "What are you doing?"
"It's hot, I'm letting the heat out. My earlobes aren't working well." Zheng looked innocent. Cui Zhijun wanted to move but didn't dare. "Alright, let go."
Seeing this, Zheng rubbed his earlobe gently twice before letting go.
Then, sitting side by side, Taishi Zheng blew on the mushroom soup in the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and handed it to Cui Zhijun, "Here, my dear, ah—try it and see if it's hot... no, not fresh."
It was a close call, I almost let it slip.
Cui Zhijun didn't say anything. He said, "I can drink it myself."
Taishi Zheng stubbornly offered him the spoon, refusing to give up until he took a sip. Cui Zhijun had no choice but to let her feed him a sip, saying, "It's not hot."
He had long seen through Zheng's little thoughts.
But Zheng was addicted to feeding him. Without saying anything, she fed him spoonful after spoonful, causing Cui Zhijun to drink it up without even having time to say anything.
The small bowl of mushroom soup was almost empty, but Zheng was reluctant to take a sip herself.
Unexpectedly, Taishi Zhengjiang came running out of the kitchen in a panic.
When he saw this scene, he cried out that something was wrong.
Zheng didn't care. She just fed the last spoonful of mushroom soup into Cui Zhijun's mouth, then turned around and said to her father, "Dad, you came at the right time. I'll let my husband drink this bowl first. Can you give me another bowl——"
"Girl, come here." Tai Shi Zhengjiang waved his hand cautiously.
Tai Shi Zheng walked towards his father in confusion.
Taishi Zhengjiang looked at the empty bottom of the bowl, his face extremely heavy. He asked tremblingly, "Did you drink...drink it all?"
Zheng nodded, "Yeah, I drank it all."
Taishi Zhengjiang got the answer and looked up at Cui Zhijun, who was standing under the corner pavilion, with a look of pity. Cui Zhijun met his gaze and quickly stood up and smiled.
Taishi Zhengjiang could no longer smile, a bitter taste lingering on his lips. He patted his daughter's shoulder and said earnestly, "Daughter, go see a doctor. I think I used the wrong mushrooms in this mushroom soup; it might be poisonous..."
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