Xiao Lang received her gaze but pretended not to see it, instead smiling even more happily. He walked over to Chen Xiaoru, gently put his arm around her shoulders, and whispered in her ear, "Wife, don't worry, I'm here. I'll take care of all the housework from now on. Just take good care of me and wait for you to give birth to a big fat boy for me!"
Chen Xiaoru's heartbeat quickened at his sudden love words and affectionate gestures, and her cheeks instantly flushed. She gently pushed Xiao Lang away and scolded him, "Who's going to give birth to a big fat boy for you? Don't talk nonsense! Mom is still here!"
Mother Xiao looked at the young couple flirting and laughed from ear to ear: "Oh, you two, really... Okay, okay, I, an old woman, won't disturb you anymore. Xiaoru, you have a good rest, I'll go see if there is anything else to clean up." After saying that, she walked away with a smile, leaving the space to the young couple.
Xiao Lang watched his mother leave, then turned to look at Chen Xiaoru, his eyes full of doting and love: "Wife, look, your mother loves you so much. You have to be filial to her, understand?"
Chen Xiaoru nodded and said softly, "I know, I will. Mom is so kind, I will definitely be filial to her and treat her like my own mother."
Xiao Lang felt even more tender-hearted after hearing this. He reached out and gently stroked Chen Xiaoru's hair, saying softly, "You're so good. Let's go to the kitchen and make some dumplings."
Chen Xiaoru hummed an "hmm" and followed Xiao Lang obediently towards the kitchen. Sunlight streamed in through the window, shining on the two of them, making them feel warm, as if even the air was filled with a warm scent.
That evening, the steaming hot buns finally came out of the pot. Chen Xiaoru couldn't wait to pick one up, but she cried out "Ouch!"
"What's wrong?" Xiao Lang and his mother asked at the same time with concern.
Chen Xiaoru held up the oddly shaped bun in her hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, look at this, isn't it ugly?"
This bun is indeed unique. The folds are pinched crookedly, bulging on one side and sunken on the other, like a deflated ball.
Mother Xiao leaned in to examine it carefully, then compared it to the other plump and round buns. She couldn't help but burst out laughing, then nodded in agreement: "Well, it is a bit... unique."
Chen Xiaoru smiled, rolled her eyes, and handed the "ugly bun" to Xiao Lang, saying seriously: "Xiao Lang, you are the ugliest. This bun suits you best. Eat it!"
Xiao Lang was stunned for a moment, then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This daughter-in-law really knew how to "make the best use of things"! He was about to refute when he heard Xiao's mother laughing beside him.
"Yes, yes, Xiaoru is right! Xiaolang, this bun is a reward for you! It's because you look... well, quite distinctive!" Xiao's mother smiled and did not forget to "finish off the attack".
Xiao Lang was completely speechless. He looked at the "ugly bun" in his hand, then at his mother and daughter-in-law who were laughing so hard that they fell backwards, and shook his head helplessly. These two people were now a united front, specifically bullying him!
He deliberately acted as if he was aggrieved and said, "Okay, you two are teaming up to bully me! I eat it, is it not okay for me to eat it?" As he said that, he opened his mouth wide and took a big bite of the bun.
"Oh, you know what, this ugly bun tastes really good!" Xiao Lang said vaguely while chewing.
Chen Xiaoru raised her chin proudly: "Of course, don't you see who packed it!"
"Yes, yes, my wife is the best!" Xiao Lang quickly agreed with her, "But, my wife, can you make them look a little prettier next time? I'm afraid I won't be able to eat buns in the future."
"Hmph, you dislike me? Then don't eat!" Chen Xiaoru glared at him in pretended anger.
"No, no, no, I'll eat it, I'll eat it!" Xiao Lang quickly raised his hands in surrender. "My wife made these buns, and even if it's a 'car accident scene', I'll eat them all!"
Xiao's mother watched the young couple bickering, and the smile on her face deepened. She felt warm in her heart. This was the taste of home! Her son used to be very reserved, and the house was always quiet. Now that Xiaoru was here, the atmosphere has become lively.
"Alright, alright," Xiao's mother said with a smile, "Why are you two still acting like children? You're grown up, yet you're still fighting over a bun." She paused, deliberately putting on a stern face, but her tone was smiling, "Eat it quickly, or it won't taste good if it gets cold. Buns lose their soul when they're cold!"
Chen Xiaoru stuck out her tongue, made a face at Xiao Lang, then obediently picked up a bun and began to eat it in small bites. As soon as she took a bite, her eyes lit up: "Hmm! It smells so good! Mom, your cooking skills are amazing!"
We had dinner in such a warm atmosphere.
The warm atmosphere of dinner had not yet dissipated. Xiao's mother and Chen Xiaoru sat side by side on the sofa in the living room. Chen Xiaoru gently leaned her head on Xiao's mother's arm, with a barely perceptible tremor in her voice: "Mom, thank you for letting me...feel your mother's warmth again."
Mother Xiao was slightly startled, then hugged her tightly with heartache: "Silly girl, what are you talking about."
"Mom, you don't know, my parents passed away when I was four..." Chen Xiaoru's voice dropped to a whisper. "Later, I lived with my grandparents. You know, the older generation tends to favor boys over girls. Anything delicious at home went to my cousins, and I could only drink watery food. It wasn't even porridge, it was just rice soup!"
Xiao's mother listened, her brows knitted into knots, and her heart was filled with sourness. She patted Chen Xiaoru's back gently, as if comforting a frightened kitten.
Chen Xiaoru sniffed and continued, "I was young and ignorant back then, and I felt hungry. When I couldn't stand it any longer, I ran to the mountains to find something to eat. As a child, how could I tell what I could eat and what I couldn't? I ended up eating the wrong things, and I kept getting fatter. As you know, I wasn't as quick at work, so my grandma...she beat me."
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