Chapter 662
The contract had been signed, so Su Miao went back to school to take the exam with peace of mind.
A week later, I packed up and went home for summer vacation!
In the dormitory, Su Miao hummed a little tune as she rolled up her quilt. Her roommate Guo Xiaojie leaned against the door frame and joked:
"Hey, our archaeology nerd is so happy, what good things are you planning for this summer vacation?"
"It's summer vacation~ I can go home and see our family and friends, of course I'm happy." Su Miao stuffed the folded clothes into the box.
Guo Xiaojie nodded and said, "That's right, I'm happy too. I heard my cousin gave birth to a little girl. She must be very cute. I have to go back and hug her."
Mr. Qin's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and their families all returned to China. They hadn't seen each other for decades and cried all night long.
"Dad, we're back..."
The older man's voice was choked with sobs. He was dressed in a suit and tie, with gray hair on his temples, but he wiped his tears with his sleeves like a child.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..." Old Master Qin stroked his son's face with his trembling hands, "Zhiyuan, you've grown white hair..."
A man next to him, who was about the same age as Qin Zhiyuan, suddenly knelt down and said, "Dad, I am an unfilial son..."
He burst into tears before he could finish his words.
Old Master Qin quickly bent down to help them, but the three of them ended up hugging each other and crying like a tearful person.
Two fashionable middle-aged women stood aside, wiping their tears silently, while two young men in their early twenties stood there at a loss.
Looking at his two grandsons who had grown tall and were older than Su Miao, Grandpa Qin's eyes were filled with relief and regret.
He waved tremblingly for the two young men to come over and examined their faces carefully: "They look alike, really alike...their eyes are like your grandmother's..."
After his two sons learned about the house sale, they were very grateful to Su Miao and his friends and specially prepared a family dinner to invite them.
Old Master Qin had a camphorwood box. The paint on it was mottled, but the copper lock was shiny as new.
He opened it carefully and found many blue and white porcelain tableware inside. They were used to entertain guests and had not been used for many years.
The old man personally wiped the dishes with a soft cloth. The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto the porcelain, and the glaze had a warm luster.
The aroma of braised pork wafted from the kitchen, mixed with the sweet scent of locust flowers in the yard.
Grandpa Qin personally cooked several authentic Beijing dishes. His grandson gathered nearby, curiously watching his grandfather cook:
"Grandpa, the food in Chinese restaurants abroad isn't as delicious as yours!"
"Hahaha! Look, you're trying to cheer Grandpa up again. The chefs who can work in a restaurant are all professionals. How can my home cooking skills compare?"
"It's true! I'll take you there to eat when we get back, and then you'll know if I was kidding you."
"Okay, okay, I'll see what happens then. Stand back, don't get burned."
Old Master Qin was wearing an apron and stir-frying with skillful movements. The diced meat in marinated sauce flew around in the pan, splattering oil. He smiled and pushed back his grandson who came too close.
Stir-fried diced pork, Kung Pao chicken, cabbage with vinegar, and a dish of homemade pickled garlic were served one after another.
He took out another jar of treasured wine, and the moment the mud seal was broken, the rich aroma of wine filled the air.
He couldn't help but take a sip himself and said with a smile, "When I was little, my family hired a cook, and I was a master who had never done any housework. Later on... I had to do everything myself."
Although his two sons have been living abroad for many years, they are able to cook hometown dishes very well. The Beijing-style shredded pork with soy sauce, sea cucumber with scallions, and white pork in clay pot are all very authentic.
The two daughters-in-law of the Qin family are Chinese who were born overseas. They speak Chinese with a distinct accent and usually cook Western food. They fried steak and made mashed potatoes. They had to go to the vegetable market early in the morning to grab this steak.
However, compared with the table full of Chinese delicacies, they felt a little embarrassed and immediately felt ashamed.
Lisa, the daughter-in-law, whispered to her husband, "I should have made another barbecue, but I didn't know where to buy butter."
To their surprise, Mr. Qin was very supportive of the dishes they cooked.
He scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes and tasted it carefully with squinting eyes:
"Wow! This mashed potato is so good! Look at how many teeth I've lost. This is perfect for me. It takes so much time and effort to cook the potatoes and mash them so densely. It's really thoughtful."
The two daughters-in-law looked at each other, and their tense shoulders visibly relaxed.
The eldest daughter-in-law, Amy, smiled and said, "Dad, if you like it, we will cook it for you every day at home in the future."
"Hahaha! Great, then an old man like me will have a good time."
After a few words, the two daughters-in-law felt relaxed.
Amy whispered to Lisa, "My father-in-law is much kinder than I thought. I've heard that Chinese elders are very strict..."
Before returning home, both of them were very nervous about living with a father-in-law whom they had never met.
Lisa had previously wanted to discuss with her husband whether to rent another house near their home.
Now looking at the old man's kind smile, she was suddenly glad that she didn't actually say it out loud.
Amy was afraid that, as some of her friends had said, living with the elders would lead to increasing friction.
Especially if the older generation likes to find fault, life will be even more difficult. I think it is better to keep a distance from them like real foreigners.
Amy's best friend once had a big fight with her mother-in-law because she always criticized her for not being able to cook Chinese food.
However, after spending the past two days with him, they have deeply felt their father-in-law's open-mindedness, elegance, and wisdom. They believe that the family can live together harmoniously in the future.
We chatted for a long time while eating. After clearing the table, everyone drank tea in the yard.
Old Master Qin went back to the house and took out a book that was old but showed that it had been carefully preserved. He handed it to Su Miao and said:
"Miao Miao, thank you so much for allowing our family to spend the last part of our time in our ancestral home before we go abroad. This booklet is an heirloom from my family, and I'm giving it to you."
Su Miao took it and took a look. It turned out to be a hand-painted "Beijing School Architectural Color Painting Atlas", which recorded in detail the patterns, color matching and craftsmanship of Hexi color painting, and even the notes left by the Qin family's ancestors when they repaired the royal buildings.
"This... is too precious! Grandpa Qin, this is a precious book passed down from your ancestors. I can't accept it." Su Miao was surprised and happy.
Old Master Qin waved his hand and said with a smile, "Take it. Not many people know this skill now. You may need it when you need to renovate the yard in the future."
This craft in our family has been lost to me. You are studying archaeology, and I hope that through you, this craft can be continued.
Of course, I am not saying that you must do it. You have good vision and are a professional in this field. You will get to know many people in the industry in the future. If you meet someone you think is suitable, give this booklet to him.
If this booklet can contribute to the development of traditional color painting, I will have done my part to honor my ancestors."
Su Miao accepted the booklet and said solemnly, "Grandpa Qin, don't worry. I will definitely keep this booklet well and make sure it is useful."
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