"I'll help you..."
"No need, no need!"
Wang Xiulan pressed her mother back into the chair.
"You two don't need to do anything today, just wait to enjoy the meal!"
Soon, it was evening.
A delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen, and Wang Xiulan, wearing an apron, was busy running around in front of the stove.
The braised pork belly simmered in the iron pot, bubbling and rolling in the dark brown broth.
Steam rose from the steamer next to it, containing freshly cooked braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens.
"Mother, please sit still!"
When Wang Xiulan saw her mother about to get up to help, she quickly pressed her shoulder down.
"It's been so many years since I cooked for you; I must show my filial piety today."
The mother-in-law's eyes reddened again as she watched her daughter's busy figure.
"Ten dishes are too much, how can we possibly eat that..."
"Not much, not much!"
Wang Xiulan deftly poured the blanched vegetables into the hot oil wok.
"Jianguo specially went to Quanjude to buy roast duck and also ordered two jin of good wine. It's rare for you two to come all this way, so you must eat and drink well."
Inside the main room, Su Jianguo was having tea with his father-in-law.
The old man kept glancing into the yard.
There, Su Yufen was playing with two children, their cheerful laughter ringing out from time to time.
"This house... is really nice."
My father-in-law suddenly spoke up.
"It's much more spacious than last time I came."
Su Jianguo refilled his father-in-law's tea.
"It was renovated the year before last, and a side room was added. Once the weather gets warmer, I plan to tidy up the yard too and plant some flowers and plants."
"It must cost a lot of money, right?"
The father-in-law asked instinctively, then awkwardly took a sip of tea.
"good."
Su Jianguo smiled.
Business is good now, and I can afford it.
Wang Xiulan's voice came from the kitchen.
"Yufen, come and serve the dishes! Dinner is ready!"
In no time, the octagonal table was filled to the brim.
At the very center sits a glistening roast duck, surrounded by braised carp, braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, poached chicken, steamed shrimp with garlic and vermicelli...
The two elderly people were astonished by the ten main dishes served.
"This is way too expensive..."
The mother-in-law muttered under her breath.
Su Jianguo poured a glass of baijiu for his father-in-law.
"Dad, try this, it's Lao Bai Fen from Xinghua Village, it's said to be twenty years old."
After a few rounds of drinks, the father-in-law's face gradually turned rosy.
He picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, then suddenly asked.
"Jianguo, where are Mingqiang and Mingde? Why didn't you call them back to eat with us?"
Wang Xiulan's chopsticks fell onto the table with a "clatter".
Su Jianguo calmly replaced her shoes with new ones, speaking naturally.
"The eldest is married and doesn't come home often. The second eldest... works far away, and the youngest lives at school and only comes home on weekends."
"oh..."
The father-in-law nodded and picked up another piece of braised pork.
"As long as the children are successful."
Wang Xiulan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and added a spoonful of shrimp to her father's bowl.
"Dad, please eat more. I specially picked these shrimp at the market; they're very fresh."
"Okay, okay..."
The father-in-law agreed, but suddenly stopped eating and looked away into the distance.
"Your eldest brother's family is wealthy; they got married last year..."
The atmosphere at the dinner table paused subtly.
Su Jianguo keenly noticed that his mother-in-law quietly tugged at his father-in-law's clothes under the table.
"Yeah?"
Wang Xiuqiang laughed.
"All the wealthy people have settled down and started families? Time flies..."
"They hosted twenty tables."
The father-in-law seemed oblivious to his wife's hint and continued talking to himself.
"The bride price is 300 yuan, not even including the 'three turns and one sound'..."
My mother-in-law suddenly started coughing, and my father-in-law stopped talking and started picking at the rice in his bowl.
After the meal, Su Yufen took the initiative to clear the dishes.
Su Jianguo then pulled Wang Xiulan into the kitchen.
"Xiulan, have you noticed? Mom and Dad are acting a bit strange today."
Su Jianguo lowered his voice and glanced towards the main room.
Wang Xiulan turned on the tap to wash the dishes.
"Maybe he was tired from the journey? After all, he's getting old..."
"wrong."
Su Jianguo shook his head, took the bowl from her hand, and wiped it dry.
"Dad suddenly brought up your nephew's wedding just now, and even specifically mentioned the amount of the bride price. Mom's reaction was also strange."
The sound of rushing water drowned out their conversation.
Su Jianguo leaned close to his wife's ear.
"I had a feeling they came here for a reason."
Wang Xiulan's hand paused.
"What could be wrong? The letter didn't say anything..."
That's why it's suspicious.
Su Jianguo frowned.
"Two elderly people in their seventies traveled all the way from Baoding by train just to see their daughter?"
Wang Xiulan bit her lip.
"you mean..."
"Find an opportunity to ask."
Su Jianguo neatly stacked the dried bowls.
"Maybe something happened at home and they're too embarrassed to ask."
Wang Xiulan nodded, her eyes slightly red.
"If it's true... if they really are in trouble, we're able to help now..."
Su Jianguo patted his wife on the shoulder.
"Go ahead and ask them carefully. Remember, no matter what, I'm here for you."
Wang Xiulan took a deep breath, took off her apron, and walked towards the main room.
Su Jianguo stood at the kitchen door, watching his wife help his mother to the side room to rest, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
In his previous life, his parents-in-law had also visited, but he was so preoccupied with making a living that he didn't pay attention to these details.
Looking back now, not long after that visit, I heard the news of the elderly couple's passing...
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