Chapter 274: Is This the Power of Love?

Gu Zhi glanced at the basket in Gu Nan’s hands. There were quite a few things inside, and the entire basket seemed nearly full.

“My goodness, that’s a lot of things. Niannian must be exhausted,” Gu Zhi said to Su Niannian, who had just walked to the kitchen door.

“I’m not tired. I saw that the water chestnuts were selling well in the county today, so I bought a little more,” Su Niannian replied with a smile.

At that moment, Gu Nan had already started pulling things out of the basket one by one.

They were in mesh bags, which Su Niannian had bought ahead of time and placed in the storage space, specifically for the convenience of packing some items.

Now, they were just right for holding the water chestnuts.

Apples, pears, peaches, and some large dates were all taken out.

The basket also contained some cakes and snacks, like little sesame pastries, which Su Niannian had bought to treat the family.

Additionally, there were the sugar chestnuts that Gu Ningning had mentioned before, and Su Niannian had bought quite a few of them.

“Niannian, next time if you’re buying so many things, let Gu Nan go with you to help carry them.”

“Such heavy items, you must be exhausted. Go sit down at the dining table,” Gu Zhi said, a little concerned for Su Niannian.

Su Niannian smiled and repeatedly insisted she wasn’t tired.

However, there’s a kind of exhaustion that only a mother can feel. Su Niannian, helpless, had no choice but to leave the kitchen and head to the dining table.

Gu Zhendong was already sitting at the table. He had been carried out by Gu Nan earlier, as they said it was good for him to get some sunlight.

Gu Ningning, carrying Tianyang, had gone to the kitchen and come back with her hands full of items.

Even little Tianyang was carrying something in his hands.

Gu Zhendong took a look and saw it was all cakes and snacks, along with sugar chestnuts—clearly not cheap items.

“You’re spoiling the child too much,” Gu Zhendong remarked. He hadn’t worked for a long time and felt some guilt over it.

Not to mention, when Gu Zhendong had injured his leg earlier, not only had he stopped earning money, but he had also spent a significant amount of the family’s savings.

This had always weighed heavily on his heart.

“Brother, what are you talking about? Aren’t children meant to be spoiled and cherished?” Su Niannian said with a smile, but there was a trace of bitterness in her heart.

In Su Niannian’s memories, before she turned several years old, when her mother was still alive, she had been very happy and carefree.

The things she liked to eat, her mother would make for her by hand.

For the things her mother couldn’t make, she would buy them for Su Niannian to enjoy.

At that time, the happiest period of Su Niannian’s life was before she met Gu Nan.

After Su Niannian’s mother passed away, and Tao Chunhua came into the family, Su Niannian’s life began to take a turn for the worse, becoming unbearable at times.

However, no matter how difficult or painful it had been, those days were now behind her.

Su Niannian looked at the handsome figure busying himself in the kitchen, a smile spreading across her face.

Seeing how well Su Niannian and Gu Nan got along, Gu Zhendong felt genuinely happy for them. He could only hope that the young couple would continue to be happy forever.

“Gu Ningning, it’s time to eat. Why are you opening the snacks? Hurry up and bring the dishes over!”

Gu Zhi stood at the kitchen door and saw that Gu Ningning had already opened the oil paper wrapping the cakes and snacks. She scolded her lightly.

Gu Ningning, called out by her mother, stuck out her tongue and quickly gathered the oil paper together, rushing to help with the meal.

Soon, all the dishes were placed on the table.

There were a few simple vegetables, but each contained a bit of meat, and the main dish was rice.

“Everyone, let’s begin,” Gu Zhi said, and she picked up a slice of meat and placed it on Su Niannian’s plate.

“Try it,” Gu Zhi said with a smile.

Su Niannian also helped to serve Gu Zhi some vegetables before starting to eat.

“Your cooking is really getting better and better, Mother,” Su Niannian said after taking a bite, praising her.

“As long as you like it,” Gu Zhi smiled in response.

Afterward, Gu Zhi nudged Su Niannian with her elbow and then looked toward Gu Nan.

“Hmm?” Su Niannian asked, confused.

“This dish was cooked by Gu Nan,” Gu Zhendong said with a smile.

It wasn’t anything bad; it was just better to say it directly.

Gu Zhendong chewed the vegetables in his mouth and thought the taste was quite good, much better than his own cooking.

He recalled back when Gu Nan had just returned from the army and tried his hand at cooking. That was… difficult to swallow.

Without exaggeration, Gu Zhendong had once thought that Gu Nan’s cooking was a complete waste of food!

Even though it was a simple, basic dish, just a quick stir-fry shouldn’t have been that awful.

Compared to now, Gu Nan’s cooking was like night and day.

Was this… the power of love? Gu Zhendong thought silently to himself.

He then realized he had unknowingly just eaten a serving of dog food—really…

Upon hearing this, Su Niannian’s eyes widened as she looked at Gu Nan, seemingly questioning if it was true.

Gu Nan flashed a smile and silently nodded.

Su Niannian’s eyes curved into a smile.

My dog of a man, and now he cooks so well.

Seeing Su Niannian smile so happily, Gu Nan felt that everything he did was worth it.

This feeling was so good.

He thought, if only he had time in the future, he could make her favorite dishes, just for his little girl.

Gu Nan hoped that Su Niannian would always be happy, because when she was, it would make him feel that everything in the world was perfect.

This meal was an enjoyable one for everyone.

It seemed that ever since Su Niannian came into their lives, the clouds that once hung over this home had parted, leaving behind nothing but clear skies.

The sunlight streamed in.

“Big Brother, I went to the county town today and brought back some medicine for you. After dinner, I’ll make the medicine for you,” Su Niannian said to Gu Zhendong.

Gu Zhendong smiled and nodded. “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

“Niannian, there’s no need. You should rest after eating. You must be exhausted from carrying all that back from the county town this morning,” Gu Zhi immediately spoke up.

“I’m feeling great now, so I’ll make the medicine,” Gu Zhi added.

Su Niannian wanted to refuse, but Gu Nan subtly shook his head at her.

“Then thank you, Mother,” Su Niannian smiled and responded.

Su Niannian understood what Gu Nan was thinking.

Since marrying into this family, she had always been giving her best for them. It was understandable that Gu Zhi wanted to do something within her abilities. That’s why Gu Nan had insisted that Su Niannian not refuse.

Although her “dog husband” usually spoke little and seemed indifferent, he was actually very considerate.

After the meal, Gu Nan helped Gu Zhi clear the dishes, and Gu Ningning also joined in to help.

Su Niannian wanted to help as well, but all three of them firmly refused.

With a helpless smile, Su Niannian could only go to the yard to play with Tianyang for a while.

In the past few days, Tianyang’s condition had improved quite a bit.

When Tianyang first came back, no matter what he did, he was always extremely cautious. He seemed afraid of making any mistake and being punished.

But now, in just these few days, Tianyang’s face and body had visibly filled out.

Moreover, his mental state had improved tremendously.

He no longer acted so paranoid and had returned to the innocent, carefree look of a child.