Chapter 149 Birthday Banquet
Song Yazhi didn't even bother to clean up the dishes; she hurriedly put on her coat and went out.
Qiao Wanyin didn't take it to heart at all, and didn't even notice when she left.
Today's task is complete. Now, let's see how they react.
She knew Song Yazhi wouldn't give up easily, but she wasn't afraid.
In the rehearsal room of the cultural troupe.
Fang Wanyu was leaning against the barre, stretching her legs, her body flexibly pressing downwards.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and a familiar figure walked in.
She looked up and her face immediately lit up with surprise: "Aunt Song, what brings you here? What brings you here today?"
"Wanyu, are you busy right now? I hope I'm not bothering you."
Song Yazhi stood at the door, afraid of disturbing the other person's practice.
"No, no!"
Fang Wanyu quickly pulled her leg back from the barre and warmly took Song Yazhi's arm. "Auntie, please come in and sit down. I just finished practicing and was just about to rest for a while. You've come at the right time. Is there something you need from me?"
"Then I'll ask the commander for leave first. Please wait for me a moment."
As Fang Wanyu spoke, she turned and walked quickly toward the regimental commander's office, her steps light and brisk.
A few minutes later, she returned and led Song Yazhi into the adjacent lounge.
She skillfully poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Song Yazhi: "Auntie, please have some water to calm down and warm yourself up. We can talk about it slowly, don't rush."
Song Yazhi took the cup, lowered her head and took a sip. The water was a little hot, but she didn't mind.
Once I opened my mouth, all the pent-up frustrations I'd been holding in for the past two days poured out like a flood bursting its banks.
As she spoke, her voice trembled and tears welled up in her eyes.
"That girl is like a block of iron. No matter how much you talk, she won't budge. She's impervious to both soft and hard approaches, and nobody can do anything about her!"
She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving violently. "Now she's putting on an act like a perfect wife and mother, but I know she's probably plotting against me!"
Fang Wanyu listened quietly, not in a hurry to interrupt, but nodding from time to time.
She only spoke slowly after Song Yazhi finished speaking.
"I remember Wan Yin wasn't like this before..."
She sighed softly, "She used to be stubborn, but she was reasonable and knew her limits. How did she suddenly become so unreasonable? She doesn't even respect you as her elder?"
"You've noticed something's wrong too, haven't you?"
Song Yazhi's eyes were frighteningly bright as she grabbed Fang Wanyu's hand.
"I knew it! I knew something was wrong with her! She's definitely hiding something and is pretending to be something she's not!"
"Wanyu, please help your aunt! I really don't know what to do. If this continues, she'll ruin this family. Our house, our reputation, our son—she'll destroy them all!"
Fang Wanyu feigned a troubled expression, her brows furrowing slightly.
“Auntie, let’s just let this matter go. You know, Brother Li’an hates outsiders interfering in family matters. If he finds out I’ve gotten involved, he’ll say I’m meddling.”
"He dares to say that about you?"
Song Yazhi slammed her hand on the table, making a loud "bang".
Her voice suddenly rose: "With me here, he wouldn't dare utter a single word! He's my son, and you're my goddaughter. Does he dare disobey what I say?"
"This time, your aunt is begging you. Please help me think of a way to put her arrogance in check!"
Fang Wanyu knew exactly what Song Yazhi was up to.
"Then how about this, I'll go back with you first to see what's going on. It'll be good to see with my own eyes what Sister Wanyin has become. After all, just hearing what you say doesn't feel real enough; I'll only have a clear picture once I see it for myself."
As soon as Qiao Wanyin pushed open the door, a rich aroma of chives mixed with pork wafted out.
Song Yazhi and Fang Wanyu sat side by side at the dining table making dumplings.
Fang Wanyu whispered something, and Song Yazhi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The atmosphere was warm and natural.
"Mom, I'm home."
Qiao Wanyin casually hung the cloth bag on the hook behind the door.
She glanced at the neatly arranged dumplings on the table, then asked softly, "Do you need me to lend a hand? I'm free anyway."
Song Yazhi didn't even look up, and said in a flat tone, "I don't need you, Wanyu is enough. You've been busy all day, go and rest."
"I've prepared this filling perfectly."
Fang Wanyu looked up and smiled at Qiao Wanyin.
She deliberately placed this dumpling in the very center, saying, "Brother Li An used to say that it's even more delicious than the dumplings made by the chefs in my cafeteria, and that's no exaggeration."
Song Yazhi's tone was full of praise and pride: "That's right! Adong has been eating here since he was a child, and he only recognizes Wanyu's cooking skills. He always complains that the skin of other people's dumplings is too thick, or that the filling is too salty or bland. But he always eats two big bowls of Wanyu's dumplings."
Qiao Wanyin raised an eyebrow and glanced lightly between the two of them.
"That's great."
She said with a smile, "With such a capable sister like Wanyu, I'll go inside and rest for a while. I'm really tired today."
She turned and walked toward the bedroom, but as she reached the door, she turned back and added a sentence.
"Remember to call me when the food is ready! Don't get so caught up in talking that you forget I'm still sleeping inside."
The door had just closed when a loud "bang" came from the living room as a rolling pin slammed heavily onto the cutting board.
Song Yazhi lowered her voice and said, "Look at her, she's such a good actress! She comes back and just casually says something, and even offers to help. Who would believe that?"
Fang Wanyu didn't reply, but simply pursed her lips slightly: "Auntie, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Qiao Wanyin peered through the crack in the door, her ears perked up, her eyes calm.
But she suddenly pushed open the door, as if the aroma had truly whetted her appetite: "Wow, it smells so good! The smell has even filled the room!"
With that, she strode over to the dining table and sat down casually.
I picked up a dumpling, blew on it twice, and put it in my mouth.
"Hmm, not bad! Thin crust, fresh filling, Wanyu's cooking skills are indeed well-deserved! Much better than what I used to eat in the company cafeteria!"
Song Yazhi quickly walked over, her face darkening.
"Who told you to pick up your chopsticks?!"
"Didn't you say you didn't need my help?"
Qiao Wanyin blinked, her watery eyes revealing a hint of innocence and naivety.
"I'll just try one, I won't eat much, just one, really. Hmm... the taste is alright, but the chives are a bit old, they're a bit fibrous when you chew them. Next time I'll pick some tender ones, they'll taste better."
Fang Wanyu forced a smile, her lips twitching slightly.
"If Sister Wanyin likes it, I'll come and make it often in the future. It's not too much trouble anyway. If you like it, I'm happy to make it."
"That's too much trouble."
Qiao Wanyin picked up another dumpling without hesitation and lightly dipped it in vinegar.
"But since you're so enthusiastic, why don't you come again tomorrow? I remember that Li An loves sauerkraut filling, especially the kind with some pickled radish shreds. One bite and your mouth is full of saliva. You can make those too, right? Make some of those tomorrow, he'll definitely be happy."
Song Yazhi's face darkened, and her voice suddenly rose.
"Qiao Wanyin! Don't you have any manners? The elders haven't even started eating yet, and you've already started? This is a meal, not a banquet for just you! Don't you have any sense of hierarchy in this family?"
"I was just trying it out!"
Qiao Wanyin smiled sweetly, her tone as relaxed as if she were coaxing a child.
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