We ate lunch at the stone table in the courtyard.
The sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was gentle.
Qin Tian picked up a piece of stewed lamb spine, which was cooked until very tender. The meat separated from the bone with almost no effort. He put the piece of meat in his mouth, and his eyes lit up instantly.
"This...this mutton!" he exclaimed. "It has absolutely no gamey smell, and how can the meat be so tender and fragrant?!"
This tastes better than any of the chefs at any state-run restaurant he's ever eaten at! No, it's countless times better! The meat is fragrant but not greasy, and the spices are perfectly integrated, not overpowering the mutton's natural flavor but elevating it to a whole new level.
"Uncle, please try this." Su Wantang smiled and served him a bowl of pumpkin porridge.
Qin Tian took a sip and was stunned again.
The pumpkin porridge was sweet but not cloying, with a smooth and creamy texture. A warm, sweet sensation slid down his throat, as if dispelling all the fatigue and gloom in his body. He felt completely comfortable, inside and out; the depression and frustration of the past few days seemed to have been dissolved in this porridge.
Lu Linchuan ate the roasted lamb chops. The outer skin was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was tender and juicy. With one bite, the juices burst in his mouth. The delicious taste made him, who was not usually picky about food, unable to resist eating a few more pieces.
"Wantang, your cooking is absolutely amazing!" Qin Tian ate with his mouth full of oil, a long-lost, heartfelt smile on his face. "Delicious! So delicious!"
As he ate the lamb spine and drank the pumpkin porridge, he felt that he had never eaten such a comfortable meal in his life.
In the past, the dinner table was always filled with Li Xiumei's complaints, accusations, and sarcastic remarks. He had no appetite and often ate only to fill his stomach.
Today, the sunshine, family, and delicious food... all of this made him feel that he had truly "come alive."
Watching her uncle wolf down his food, Su Wantang felt a pang of sadness mixed with tenderness. She kept putting food on Qin Tian's plate and serving him porridge, as if trying to make up for the warmth she had missed over the years with this one meal.
The meal was thoroughly enjoyed.
The lamb spine and lamb chops on the table were completely devoured, and Qin Tian even used the broth in the pot to soak rice, eating everything clean.
After the meal, Qin Tian leaned back in his chair, patting his belly contentedly, his face glowing with a healthy rosy light. He watched Su Wantang and Lu Linchuan clearing away the dishes, a wave of emotion and peace washing over him.
This is home.
He has his most beloved niece and his nephew-in-law whom he trusts implicitly.
very nice.
However, this warm tranquility was shattered by Lu Linchuan's next words.
“Uncle,” Lu Linchuan washed his hands and walked up to Qin Tian, his voice steady, “Everything is packed, we… should leave tomorrow.”
Qin Tian's heart sank suddenly.
The home we finally found, the warmth we finally felt—are they going to disappear so soon?
Su Wantang also stopped what she was doing. She looked at Lu Linchuan, then at her bewildered uncle, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.
Lu Linchuan's gaze fell on Qin Tian, with a hint of apology: "The army still has a mission, and I've already exceeded my leave this time. We need to get back to the island and rejoin the team as soon as possible."
Mission accomplished, return to the team.
These two words made Qin Tian's attempts to persuade him to stay stuck in his throat.
He came from that era himself, and he knows better than anyone that military orders are absolute.
A wave of disappointment washed over him, but he showed no sign of it on his face. He was an elder and couldn't let the children feel embarrassed.
He slowly stood up, patted the wrinkles on his clothes, and tried to make his voice sound normal.
"It's time to go, the mission is important." He nodded, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. "Come visit your uncle often when you have time." (This chapter has been read. Please click the next chapter to continue reading!)
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