Chapter 42: The Cabbage in My Garden Was Eaten by the Pig
Near noon, Lin Feier tiptoed into the clinic. Seeing Si Yanzheng writing a medical record with his head down, she smiled and walked over to him, "Hey, Professor Si, congratulations!"
"Thank you." Si Yan's pen didn't stop moving, his voice slightly hoarse from having just finished a consultation, his eyes still fixed on the medical record.
"I'm also going to Nian Nian's house for lunch. You know... could you give me a ride?" Lin Feier rubbed her hands, her tone full of anticipation.
Si Yan then raised his eyes, his brows slightly raised: "How many patients are there outside?"
"Another wave of plus signs just arrived, the line is really long." Lin Feier's face fell when she thought of this, and the corners of her mouth drooped so much that a bottle of oil could be hung.
Si Yan arrived late to work today, and with so many people waiting in line at the clinic, he figured it would take until the afternoon to finish. He picked up his phone, swiped his finger across the screen, and called Su Hong to explain why he couldn't come over for dinner.
"What about me?" Lin Feier poked the buttons on her white coat, her eyes pitiful, like a left-behind puppy.
"Hand over the work at hand, and go ahead." Si Yan said as he clicked on the transfer interface, "I'll send a red envelope, and you can take a taxi there yourself."
"Thank you, Professor Si! I wish you and Nian Nian a happy marriage and a baby soon!" Lin Feier received the red envelope, jumped for joy on the spot, turned around and ran away like a gust of wind.
Su Hong had already thought that the children would go to Si's house in the evening, so she closed the shop and asked Afen and Qiuyan to come along. She even invited her best friend Afang from the wedding photography studio next door - there was a big happy event at home today, so they had to have a lively gathering.
Afen and Zhang Qiuyan were packing up and preparing to lock the door when a guest came to the door.
Ah Fen looked up and recognized her. "Are you looking for our boss lady? Last time Nian Nian had a stomachache, it was you who helped take her to the hospital."
Chen Ran nodded, his eyes sweeping across the closed shop door. "I came to ask if the clothes from last time are ready. Su Hong isn't here today?"
"You mean that autumn outfit? It's not finished yet. I'll have to wait a few more days." Ah Fen wondered: I'm not in a rush to wear autumn clothes, so why bother making a special trip? If all else fails, can't I just call Sister Hong and ask?
Little did she know that "getting clothes" was just Chen Ran's excuse to come find Su Hong.
"Where are you closing the shop? Are you closing at noon?" Chen Ran looked at the two people carrying bags and couldn't help but wonder.
"How could we dare to close the business on normal days? Today, there is a happy event in Sister Hong's family, and she invited us to her house for dinner." Afen didn't think much about it - this person is the boss's friend, so it doesn't hurt to tell her.
"Oh? I haven't heard her mention it. What happy event?" Chen Ran paused his holding hand slightly, and his fingertips tightened unconsciously.
"Her daughter got married with her boyfriend!"
Chen Ran's heart skipped a beat, as if struck by something: My daughter is getting married already? Isn't she still in college? Who is that guy? How come there's no word of such a big deal?
His mind was instantly filled with question marks, and his chest felt like it was blocked by a ball of cotton wool. He felt stuffy and panicked, and even felt a sense of frustration as if his cabbages were being eaten by pigs.
But he didn't have the nerve to ask to go to Su Hong's house, so he could only force a smile: "Oh, congratulations."
Back in the car, his face immediately darkened and he made a phone call, "Go check who Su Nian is marrying?"
By this time, the kitchen of Su Hong's house was already wafting with enticing aromas. Su Hong had been in the kitchen since morning, pots and pans clanging as she soon laid out a table overflowing with dishes: glistening braised fish, amber-hued sweet and sour spare ribs, neatly arranged rows of emerald green vegetables, and even the soup, simmered to a rich, milky white. The aroma seemed to have legs, filling the entire house.
Zhang Qiuyan was shocked by the scene as soon as she entered the room. After listening to Su Hong and Afen's explanation of the whole process, she realized it belatedly and her eyes widened, her mouth opened so wide that an egg could fit in: "Niannian, is it true? Professor Si... was really caught by you?" As she spoke, she made an exaggerated "grabbing" gesture, which made everyone laugh.
"Qiuyan!" Su Nian's cheeks flushed, and he slapped her in annoyance, but his ears turned even redder.
Ah Fen also brought her high school-aged son, Zihao. The half-grown boy leaned over the dining table and poked his head out curiously: "Sister, what does my brother-in-law look like?"
"What a handsome guy!" Lin Feier rushed to answer, her tone full of pride.
Aunt Fang smiled as she pulled out a photo album from her bag and flipped through it. The smile lines in her eyes were filled with joy. "Here, take a look! These were taken during my last fashion design photo shoot. I developed them and made a special album."
In the photo album, the intimacy between Su Nian and Si Yan, which was both wanting to speak but unable to, was as high-end as the cover of a fashion magazine.
"Wow, this is so beautiful!" Lin Feier couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. She had always known how beautiful her best friend was, but when she stood next to Professor Si, her beauty reached a new level, with more layers, as if they had found the most harmonious light and shadow.
A group of people sat around the dining table, the aroma of food mixed with laughter, the sound of clinking glasses was full of blessings, and even the air was soaked with sweet warmth.
Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, someone knocked on the door.
As the door opened, Si Yan was standing in the entrance hall, with the cuffs of his white shirt rolled up to his forearms and two buttons undone on his collar, as he walked in with the warmth of the outdoor sunshine.
"Si Yan is here. Didn't he say he was too busy with patients at noon?"
He was holding a paper bag in his hand, his eyes fixed on Su Nian's face: "I'm done with my work, so I came to take a look."
Su Nian stood up suddenly, the chair legs making a light sound on the floor: "Didn't you say it would be late?"
"Try harder." Si Yan handed her a paper bag containing freshly bought strawberries, each one plump and glowing red.
Lin Feier, still stuffing a piece of pork chop in her mouth, mumbled, "Professor Si is incredibly efficient!"
Zhang Qiuyan's eyes lit up, and she leaned over to Afen and whispered, "Professor Si is really better looking than any magazine model!"
Zihao leaned on the back of the chair and whispered to Su Nian, "Sister, my brother-in-law is so handsome."
Su Hong's eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. She stood up to add more dishes and chopsticks. "Ayan hasn't eaten yet, right? I'll go stir-fry two more dishes."
"No need, Auntie. I'll eat it like this." Si Yan held her hand.
"Still calling me auntie? You should change your way of speaking!" Aunt Fang cheered from the side.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. Mom! Don't bother me, I'll just eat it like this." Si Yan was very sensible and quickly changed his words, calling out "Mom" loudly.
"Hey, good boy. I'll get you some soup." Su Hong smiled happily when she was called "Mom".
He turned and went to the kitchen and took out a bowl of milky white duck soup from the soup pot. The edge of the bowl was still steaming: "Then drink some soup first."
As she spoke, Su Hong took out a bulging red envelope and handed it to Si Yan with a smile, "This is for you from mom, take it."
Seeing Si Yan refuse and feel embarrassed to take it, Aunt Fen smiled and reminded him, "You have to take this money for changing your statement, Si Yan."
Si Yan had no choice but to take it, saying repeatedly, "Thank you, Mom, thank you, Mom!" He handed the red envelope to Su Nian and said, "You keep it."
Lin Fei'er joked, "Oh, Professor Si seems to understand the truth that 'if you give your money to your wife, your life will be prosperous!'"
Su Nian's face flushed with anger, and her fingertips holding the red envelope felt slightly hot. When she raised her eyes, she met Si Yan's smiling gaze, and there was an unconcealable sweetness in both of their eyes.
Si Yan blended into the lively atmosphere very naturally. He didn't put on any professorial airs and was able to chat with everyone.
He asked Su Nian to pack a red envelope for Zihao, and when handing it to him, he bent down deliberately and looked at the child at eye level: "It's the first time we meet, this is a little gift from your brother-in-law." Zihao took it with a red face and whispered "Thank you, brother-in-law", which made everyone at the table laugh.
He said gently to Aunt Fen and Aunt Fang, "The clinic recently received some new health teas. Let Nian Nian take you over someday. I'll take your pulses and help you get some exercise."
Aunt Fen waved her hands quickly: "How can I be so embarrassed..."
"We are all family, why be polite?" Si Yan smiled frankly, his eyes sweeping across the people at the table, finally falling back on Su Nian's face, with an unconcealable warmth.
Su Hong looked at this scene, her heart felt sweeter than drinking honey, and her mouth never closed - this son-in-law is not only handsome, but also has a good temper. He takes care of everyone very well, and is really satisfying from the inside out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
