Now that Ye Lan and the old lady have arrived, we definitely need to add some dishes.
Ye Lan placed the thermos she brought on the table, looked up and smiled mysteriously, "Don't stew it, Mom brought you some soup."
Xu Ruantang didn't think much of it.
Ye Lan would come over from time to time to stew various soups for Xu Ruantang and Chen Ji.
She is very skilled at cooking.
"Then I'll go cook a few dishes."
Xu Ruantang picked up her apron and prepared to go into the kitchen. "Mom, sit with Grandma for a while. Chen Ji will be out soon."
The old lady and Ye Lan hadn't seen Chen Ji for a long time, and Xu Ruantang wanted them to have a chat.
Ye Lan followed her into the kitchen. "Ruan Tang, you've been working all day. Go and rest. Mom will cook."
In the end, the two of them did it together.
The old lady sat at the table picking vegetables, chatting with the two men across the kitchen.
"Ruan Tang, thanks to you, your sister-in-law looks much better lately."
Ye Lan couldn't stop smiling when she mentioned this.
She only hoped for a harmonious family and that her children would be healthy.
Xu Ruantang smiled and asked, "And Yiyi? Have you been experiencing bloating lately?"
The old lady came in carrying the prepared vegetables. "Every day, following your instructions, I make that little brat kick his legs, and he farts one after another, so loudly."
“Yes.” Ye Lan chuckled. “After exercising during the day, he doesn’t cry at night anymore and sleeps soundly.”
Just then, Chen Ji came out carrying a sleepy-eyed baby.
When he came out of the shower, he found Xiaobao rolling around on the bed and almost falling to the ground. He quickly went over and scooped the child up.
Xiao Bao never fusses when he wakes up; he's soft and squishy like a little white dumpling, and he's incredibly cute.
"Little Bao, let Great-Grandma hold you."
Afraid of tiring the old lady, Chen Ji found some shoes for her to put on and put Xiao Bao down to run on the ground.
The old lady was playing with Xiaobao in the main room when Chen Jimai stepped into the kitchen.
Ye Lan turned around and was startled when she saw his face. "Wow, you've lost so much weight?!"
If Ye Lan hadn't been holding a knife, she would have wanted to drag him over and examine him from head to toe.
Chen Ji's eyes were cold and clear. He said half-jokingly, "Eating bread, a bunch of vegetable leaves and mashed potatoes every day. Mom, I reckon even the pigs in our country would lose half their weight if they went there."
Xu Ruantang smiled and turned to look at him.
Her gaze was so blatant that Chen Ji met her eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"So, would you like rice or noodles for dinner?"
Ye Lan couldn't help but mutter, "What kind of country is this, letting everyone come back hungry?"
Chen Ji walked quietly to Xu Ruantang's side and gently pinched her waist.
"Anything is fine."
Xu Ruantang moved aside, signaling Chen Ji not to move.
Before Ye Lan could say anything more, there was a knock on the door.
She put down the knife and quickly walked outside, saying, "I'll go take a look."
As soon as Ye Lan left, Xu Ruantang glared at Chen Ji and said, "Get out."
"Weren't you supposed to be back late tonight?"
Footsteps sounded in the main room, and Ye Lan was talking to someone.
Xu Ruantang looked outside curiously, then turned and nudged Chen Ji's waist with her elbow. "Your dad's here? Come on, let's go out and see."
The last time Chen Lin came was when he angrily berated Chen Ji.
Seeing Xu Ruantang and Chen Ji come out of the kitchen, Chen Lin put the wine in his hand on the table.
He looked somewhat awkward. "I was just passing by and came in to take a look."
The others looked at each other.
Chen Lin's excuse was terrible; the entrance to the compound was much closer to the Chen family's house than Chen Ji and Xu Ruantang's small courtyard.
They wouldn't pass by the small courtyard on their way back to the Chen family home, unless they took a detour.
Xu Ruantang was the first to react, and she took a cup to pour tea for Chen Lin, saying, "Dad, have some tea."
Chen Lin nodded with a serious expression. "Mm."
"Boss, you haven't eaten, have you?"
The old lady saw right through her son and asked, seemingly casually.
Chen Lin picked up his teacup and put it down again. "Mom, I didn't eat."
After he finished speaking, he coughed lightly and looked at the little baby nestled in the old lady's arms.
Ye Lan looked knowing. "Ruan Tang and I are cooking, so let's eat together."
Chen Ji remained silent, standing coldly to the side.
Just as he was about to follow into the kitchen, Chen Lin called out to him, "Chen Ji, come here, I have something to tell you."
Chen Lin's expression darkened.
Chen Ji hasn't said a word since he entered the room.
Even though he knew that Chen Lin was naturally cold, he still felt very uncomfortable.
Chen Ji frowned slightly, paused for a moment, and then walked to the dining table and sat down in the place furthest away from Chen Lin.
Seeing this, Chen Lin frowned in displeasure, "I'm your father, I don't eat people, you..."
He sighed halfway through his sentence and stopped talking.
"Fine, I didn't come here today to argue with you. Do you know about the promotion?"
After this overseas mission concluded, Chen Ji, Lu Shishen, and many other participating officers were commended for their merits, and their promotions were only natural.
Chen Ji replied calmly, "Yes, I know."
“There was a transfer between military regions. I was originally going to send you to the southwest, but I stopped it.”
Chen Lin glanced into the kitchen and continued, "Your mother and grandmother are right. Take advantage of your youth and have a child as soon as possible."
Even Chen Ji was surprised that Chen Lin would say such a thing.
The topic changed a bit too quickly.
Is this still Chen Lin?
Chen Ji couldn't help but glance at Chen Lin again.
Chen Lin looked helpless. "You brat, what are you looking at? If you want what's best for your wife, you should think about it carefully."
In the kitchen.
Xu Ruantang and Ye Lan heard every word of the conversation.
Ye Lan smiled and said, "What's wrong with your dad today? Has he suddenly changed his personality?"
"Is it because Chen Ji was promoted and didn't embarrass Dad?"
Xu Ruantang guessed in a low voice.
Chen Lin is a typical patriarch, the kind of person who values family interests more than personal interests.
Xu Ruantang didn't want to comment; that was Chen Ji's father, not hers.
Before dinner, Chen Lin played with Xiao Bao for a while, which was unusual for him.
Xiao Bao accepted all offers without hesitation, even smiling happily at Chen Lin's serious face.
Before long, Chen Lin, that stubborn old man, had succumbed to temptation.
While playing, he even let Xiaobao ride on his shoulders and took the child around the house.
The house was filled with Xiao Bao's excited shouts and giggles.
The dinner went fairly well.
Ye Lan only brought enough soup for two bowls, and Xu Ruantang wanted to give it up, but Ye Lan sternly refused.
“Your grandma and I make soup at home all day long, and your dad drinks it every day too. We’re all tired of it.”
Ye Lan pointed to the soup in the bowl and urged the two of them to drink it quickly.
"This soup is specially made to nourish you and your stepson."
The old lady chimed in, "Your mother's gesture is so kind, so you two shouldn't keep refusing. If you want some, we'll make it again next time."
Xu Ruantang picked up a spoon, tasted it, and said with a smile, "Mom, next time you can teach me how to make the soup so delicious."
It's not only fresh, but also has a hint of sweetness.
Before she knew it, Xu Ruantang had finished the whole bowl.
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