Chapter 7

Since Lexuan chose to have candied hawthorns, dinner was decided by Ye Xiaoyu.

They went to a small private restaurant.

They ordered a roasted chicken, a plate of osmanthus-scented shark fin, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and the seaweed soup, which was complimentary. The rice was more expensive than the flatbread, costing five cents per bowl, but the portions were generous.

Altogether, the meal cost about seven or eight yuan—definitely not cheap, but not too expensive either, likely because they didn’t order more expensive pork or beef dishes.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to order it, but when they entered and saw the fried pork cracklings next door, served with salted biscuits and crunching with every bite, Ye Xiaoyu fell silent. The restaurant’s pork often had a mix of fatty and lean meat, with more fat, but she preferred leaner cuts.

The dishes were freshly stir-fried and served.

The osmanthus-scented shark fin didn’t actually contain osmanthus; it simply had a light yellow color, resembling clusters of osmanthus flowers. The exquisite presentation made it clear that at least half of the chef’s claim about their family background as imperial chefs was genuine. The flavor was soft, fresh, and light, and it was delicious.

The roasted chicken was simmered in a broth made with spices, and the owner supposedly added a lot of secret ingredients. The roasted chicken had a vibrant color, and the meat was tender and crispy. A gentle bite was enough to separate the meat from the bone, and the flavor seeped deep into the bones.

Ye Xiaoyu had grown up in a poor family in the countryside. Raised by her grandmother as a left-behind child, she relied on national policies to attend school and change the course of her life.

In the past, she rarely dined alone at private restaurants. She had only accompanied clients to a few so-called upscale eateries, which were outrageously expensive. The service and presentation were undoubtedly refined, and the food tasted good, but the atmosphere lacked the warmth of home-cooked meals. She couldn’t help but feel that the dishes here tasted even better.

This might also be a psychological effect. The environment and people you share a meal with could affect your taste. Many people today, eating takeout every day, have dulled their sense of taste.

Back then, Ye Xiaoyu really couldn’t afford to pick out such delicious and nutritious food from a pile of convenient meals, even though expensive restaurants sometimes disappointed.

“Mmm… this is so delicious,” Lexuan said, enjoying the meal.

Ye Xiaoyu, looking at him, felt a wave of emotion. Lexuan tilted his little head, confused by his mother’s grateful expression, and after a gentle pat on his head, he went back to nibbling on his chicken leg.

The stir-fried vegetables sounded simple, like a dish anyone could easily cook, but in reality, such seemingly simple dishes were a true test of a chef’s skill. Different chefs could have their own versions of stir-fried vegetables.

The chef at this restaurant stir-fried the vegetables on high heat, making them bright and glossy, crisp and delicious. Lexuan loved it.

It was the first time Lexuan had tried dry rice, aside from porridge, and he found it a little strange. He fiddled with his rice bowl, and a few grains of rice got stuck to the corner of his mouth, looking especially adorable.

The portions were so generous that they didn’t finish everything. They wrapped half of the roasted chicken in paper to take home. It was late autumn, almost winter, so even without a refrigerator, the chicken would still be fine for breakfast with noodles the next morning.

The restaurant wasn’t far from the staff building—just over half an hour’s walk. Mother and son could stroll back slowly, digesting their meal.

On their way home, they encountered many familiar faces. Lexuan, a little shy, had reverted to the quiet demeanor he usually had when meeting people. Part of the reason was that many uncles and aunts liked to tease him because of his obedient appearance, though not all with ill intentions.

Ye Xiaoyu wanted to pick him up, holding him with his head resting on her shoulder, but Lexuan gently pinched her arm and said softly, “Mom, I’m tired. Don’t carry me.”

Her heart melted.

She did her best to shield him from the attention of others, trying not to make him feel overwhelmed.

After all, she had a slightly shy son.

In truth, Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t particularly outgoing herself; she just had to be for the sake of life.

When they arrived home, the living room was a bit messy, but at least it had been tidied up somewhat. The table was no longer on the floor, and the trash was pushed into the corner. There were no signs of her husband’s return. That was good!

Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t sure what to do with the long evening ahead. Being a night owl was tough in this era.

She bathed Lexuan, and while her hair dried, she gave herself a quick wash too. While waiting, she thought up some simple, fun games for them to play together.

Before they knew it, they had been playing for over an hour. Ye Xiaoyu didn’t notice any signs of genius in Lexuan, like extraordinary memory or math skills.

But she did notice many of his strengths: his sensitivity, his attention to detail, his seriousness in what he did, and his ability to focus for long periods. If he kept this up and found something he was passionate about, the chances of success would be much higher.

That was enough.

Ye Xiaoyu didn’t know how other parents raised their children, but she felt as if raising Lexuan was a way to make up for the childhood she never had, spoiling him and praising him for the things he did well.

As for the future, he could do whatever he wanted, but whether in his career or life, she wanted him to be able to enjoy his own happiness and find true contentment.

The small wooden bed was a little cramped for the two of them, but it was alright since it wasn’t summer, and the world hadn’t warmed up too much yet. Being close together kept them warmer.

Ye Xiaoyu poked Lexuan’s little dimple on his right cheek, something she had wanted to do from the start. She softened her voice and asked, “Lexuan, mom is going to separate from dad. Would you like to live with me from now on?”

Lexuan suddenly hugged Ye Xiaoyu tightly, clinging to her as if she were a lifeline: “Mom, don’t leave me. If you divorce, I’ll stay with you.”

Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t surprised that he chose her.

This was because Yang Ligang, her husband, was not only a typical “widowed husband” who rarely spent time with their son, but also a chauvinistic parent. The few times he interacted with Lexuan were marked by scolding or hitting, usually for no reason other than to assert his authority as the head of the family.

Lexuan, being a sensitive child, could feel his father’s indifference and even dislike toward him. Naturally, he was less inclined to seek his father’s affection.

What surprised Ye Xiaoyu, however, was that Lexuan knew the word “divorce.” When she asked him about it, he told her, in his halting way, that he had heard it from his father.

Yang Ligang had said, “Just like your mom, you’re useless. Once I divorce your mom, you’ll go live with your grandparents, and they’ll fix your mute problem.”

Then, there were the grandparents, uncles, and aunts. Aunt, with a less-than-friendly intent, directly asked him, “If your parents divorce, will you stay with your dad or your mom?” He answered “mom.” His grandparents clearly weren’t happy, and his uncle even gave him a few slaps, accusing him of being unfilial, saying that his own son adored his father.

Finally, it was the little children from kindergarten who had heard about it. One small child, full of mischief, responded, “Divorce means mom runs away, and you become a kid nobody wants, getting scolded and beaten by a wicked stepmother.” The source of this came from gossip the child had overheard from the neighbors, suggesting that this little one had a rather complicated home environment.

Ye Xiaoyu tightly hugged her insecure little boy and explained the concept of “divorce” in simple terms: “Mom and Dad weren’t happy living together anymore, so they decided not to live together. They each live their own lives, eating and drinking separately.”

She made a firm promise: “As long as Lexuan chooses to stay with me, I will always, always, always be with my warm-hearted, cutest, and most handsome little treasure, Lexuan.”

“Let’s make a pinky promise!”

“Let’s do it.”

Their pinky fingers intertwined. “Pinky promise, swear, we won’t change for a hundred years. If we do, we’ll turn into Zhu Bajie.”

With that, they sealed the promise.

Lexuan, hearing the familiar name, raised his hand high and said, “I know Sun Wukong!”

There was no TV at home, so Lexuan had never watched the classic “Journey to the West” TV series, but he had heard the kindergarten kids talking about “the havoc Sun Wukong caused in the heavens.” There were also toys of the golden staff being sold at the school gate.

“Yes, yes, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie are characters from the novel Journey to the West.” So, tonight’s bedtime story turned into a simplified version of the tale. “A long, long time ago, there was a mountain called Huaguo Mountain. On top of the mountain was a big rock. Every day, the rock absorbed the essence of the sun and moon for a long time. One day…” ZZZ…

Perhaps because she had slept so poorly the night before, or perhaps because she had been busy all day, Ye Xiaoyu, the storyteller, ended up falling asleep before her listener.

Lexuan wasn’t not tired. In fact, he occasionally lifted his head to check if his mom was still there. After closing his eyes and reopening them, the pinky promise seemed to work well.

After Ye Xiaoyu fell asleep, Lexuan tucked his little head into her arms, listening to her heartbeat. He gently patted himself twice and soon, lulled himself to sleep.

ZZZ…

The next morning, Lexuan woke up earlier than Ye Xiaoyu. His rosy little face popped out from the blanket, and he peeked at his still-sleeping mom, unknowingly smiling and showing his dimples.

Ye Xiaoyu sensed the movement and stretched out her arm, half-dazed, pulling Lexuan back into her embrace, murmuring, “Let’s sleep for five more minutes.”

“…Mom?”

The little one blinked his long eyelashes, trapped in her arms.

After a soft “mm,” she didn’t answer again. Maybe sleep really was contagious. After a while, Lexuan opened his mouth to yawn, then sleepily drifted back to sleep.

They didn’t wake up until 8:30 AM.

At this time, Ye Xiaoyu felt that she wasn’t really waking up late at all. People in this era got up too early. If it weren’t for the sense of insecurity in an unfamiliar environment, where she had to brace the door and secretly tuck scissors under her pillow at night, she could definitely sleep in longer, especially on rest days with no set plans.

“What should we do today?”

“Lexuan?”

“No, mommy, haha.”

“No, Lexuan.”

“No, it’s mommy’s turn…”

Their morning began with a battle of wits between mother and son.