"You just need to wash your little hands and wait to eat. It's good that your mother and grandmother are here."
Er Ya shook her head and said, "That won't do. I'm all grown up now. How can I just sit around and wait to be fed? That wouldn't be a good child."
Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother agreed with Er Ya's assessment; children shouldn't be raised to be lazy. However, looking around the kitchen, she realized there was nothing Er Ya could do to help.
After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "Why don't you go and call your father back? See where he is; he hasn't been seen all morning."
Where else could they go? Probably back to the old house. But I didn't want Jiang's mother to know about this, so as not to affect her mood. I nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go find Dad. Mom, you know the steps below, right?"
Jiang's mother said irritably, "Don't you trust your mother? Isn't it simple? Just stir-fry the ingredients, add some water, bring it to a boil, and then pour in the vegetables one by one, and that's it."
Er Ya gave a thumbs up: "Yes, that's right, Mom, you're amazing."
"This child, but you know, it's quite convenient. Why didn't anyone think of eating it this way before? Isn't it much simpler than kneading dough and making noodles?"
It sounds simple, but it requires quite a lot of ingredients. Just the cost of oil and materials alone would deter many people. It's only because her family is rich now that they can afford it. In the past, even if they knew it was delicious, they would never have made it. Filling their stomachs in the simplest and cheapest way was the most important thing.
Er Ya patted her little chest proudly and said, "That's because they're not as smart as me. Only I could come up with such an idea."
"I won't delay Jiang's mother from cooking," Er Ya said, and then ran off to call Lin Jianguo for dinner.
When Er Ya came running up to the old house, panting, Lin Jianguo was already eating. Old Mrs. Shen was diligently serving him meat and urging him, "Second son, eat quickly, your mother made this especially for you."
Lin Jianguo was flattered. From childhood to adulthood, Grandma Shen had never served him any food. He was lucky to have anything to eat. He quickly took the bowl with both hands, put the meat in his mouth, and savored the delicious aroma. So this is what it feels like to be loved by your mother.
As soon as Er Ya entered the courtyard, she saw the whole family sitting at the table, enjoying each other's company. It seemed they had gone to great lengths, as they had stir-fried a plate of eggplant, green beans, and pork stew, with more than a dozen slices of meat floating on top.
Even Lin Daya, who was usually disliked, had two pieces of meat in her bowl and was wolfing down her food, afraid that someone would snatch it away if she ate too slowly.
Er Ya ran up to Lin Jianguo and complained, "Dad, you're eating here without telling us. Mom has cooked dinner at home and is waiting for you."
Lin Jianguo quickly put down his chopsticks and bowl, and acted like a child who had done something wrong, saying carefully, "It's my fault, I'm so sorry. Your grandma made dinner and called me to eat, but I forgot to tell you."
Grandma Shen slammed her chopsticks down and said with a dark face, "What? Does your father have to report to you before coming to his own mother's house for dinner? I'm not trying to be mean, but look at you, what kind of child starts scolding their father as soon as they come up to the table?"
Niu Shi chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, "That's right, Second Brother, your daughter has gone a bit too far. If this were my Daya, I would have slapped her right then and there."
Old Man Lin felt that Old Lady Shen was right this time, so he didn't try to reconcile them. He just silently puffed on his pipe.
Lin Jianqun just kept eating, since he had already said everything he wanted to say, so he might as well take the opportunity to eat a few pieces of meat.
Lin Jianguo was in a great mood, feeling that he had never been closer to his parents. But then Er Ya suddenly scolded him. He hadn't realized it before, but now that he heard what they said, he realized that it made sense. Who is the father after all?
He plopped down on the stool again, picked up his chopsticks and took another bite of meat. After chewing, he slowly said, "Tell your mother when you get home that I'll go back after I finish eating."
Grandma Shen's face immediately lit up with a smile: "That's right, this is my good son. Here, have another piece of meat."
No one paid any more attention to Er Ya. Er Ya stomped her foot angrily, turned around and left.
When Lin Jianguo saw that Er Ya had left, he wanted to stand up and look at her, but Grandma Shen and Lin Jianqun pulled him back and told him to eat more.
After Er Ya ran away, she was very angry. Her father, who had always loved her, treated her like that, and she decided she would never talk to him again.
But after walking for a while, her anger gradually subsided. She understood Lin Jianguo. Children who have always lacked love will greedily want to hold onto the warmth of family once they experience it. Wasn't she the same way?
So when she got home, and her mother asked about Lin Jianguo, she just waved her hand dismissively and said, "Grandma had something to discuss with him. Dad stayed at the old house for dinner and asked me to come back and tell you."
“Your dad is acting strangely. He seems to be getting along exceptionally well with them these past few days, something that has never happened before.”
As her husband, she knew all too well about Lin Jianguo's unusual behavior.
Before, when they talked about the old house every night, they would sigh and lament. But now it's different. Whenever they talk about it, they talk about how good his mother is to him and how close she is to him. She even thinks she's imagining things, or that the old woman has become a different person.
Er Ya chuckled inwardly. Sure enough, Old Lady Shen hadn't been so doting on him before. Every time she saw him, she looked like she wanted to kick him to death. How could Lin Jianguo possibly be close to them? But now it's different. He's enjoying the same treatment as Lin Jinbao.
He didn't say anything on the surface, just shook his head perfunctorily, indicating that he didn't know either.
"Forget it, let's not dwell on this anymore," Jiang's mother said with a smile as she opened the pot lid. "Look, isn't this the kind of hot pot you wanted to eat?"
The hot pot broth was a bright red color, and it kept bubbling. Each bubble burst open like a beautiful flower in bloom.
The aroma of hot pot filled the entire room; tempting and spicy were its defining characteristics.
The mysterious combination of various ingredients makes your mouth water even before you take a bite.
Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Countless chili peppers float on the spicy red broth, which boils, swirls, and tumbles, releasing its aroma.
The spiciness and umami flavors blend together, creating an olfactory stimulation.
The aroma is so enticing, and the chili peppers, like fish, appear and disappear in the bubbling red soup. Even before tasting a single bite, the fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth.
To be continued!
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