Chapter 69: Braised Pork

Facing the man’s intense gaze, Xu Jiaojiao recalled the scene in the room just now.

Her face flushed involuntarily.

Not daring to look at him, she pretended to be nonchalant and averted her gaze.

“Fifth Sister, let’s eat under the tree today. It’s too hot.”

Luo Miaofang said, walking to the water tank.

Just as she was about to scoop up a ladle of water to drink, Xu Jiaojiao stopped her.

“Mom, I boiled some water. Don’t drink raw water, it’s easy to get sick.”

Hearing this, Luo Miaofang looked at her strangely.

Her youngest daughter had returned, and she was like a changed person.

If it weren’t for the red mole, she would have suspected that her own daughter had been switched.

But it was a good thing that she had changed. Her previous appearance had been very worrisome.

“Why are you like your grandpa? Where did you get all these notions?”

“Mom, Grandpa is a doctor. You should listen to what he says.”

As she spoke, Xu Jiaojiao had already brought out the water.

She poured a bowl for Luo Miaofang and another for Xu Zhengfa.

When it was the man’s turn, she hesitated.

He didn’t say anything, just looked straight at her.

The anticipation in his eyes was so obvious.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

Biting her lip, she picked up another bowl and poured a bowl of water.

Xu Jiaojiao held the water in front of him, “Drink some water.”

Looking at the little face in front of him, which was tinged with shyness, Qin Shuo’s eyes shone brightly.

“Take it!”

Seeing that he didn’t take the water, but just kept looking at her, Xu Jiaojiao glared at him in embarrassment.

Those watery eyes, filled with shyness and reproach, shimmered with an indescribable emotion.

They made Qin Shuo’s heart feel like a fire had been lit inside him.

He paused for a moment, then reached out to take the bowl that was held in front of him and brought it to his lips, gulping down the water.

But the sweet and delicious water couldn’t quench his thirst.

After finishing the bowl of water, Qin Shuo felt even thirstier!

And the person who had poured him water had already run away.

“Qin Shuo, come and eat. We’ll have a drink together today, you and I.”

Under the tree, Luo Miaofang had already moved the table out.

Xu Zhengfa also treasured a pot of wine and called out to Qin Shuo.

“Okay, I’m coming.”

Looking at the little woman who was busy going in and out, Qin Shuo’s smile deepened.

He paused for a moment, then walked over.

“I’ll carry this.” He said, reaching out to take the pot from Xu Jiaojiao’s hand.

Xu Jiaojiao looked at the hand that was already on the edge of the pot, paused for a moment, and then handed the pot to him.

“Be careful, it’s hot.” She said softly.

The braised pork had just been cooked, and the pot was still very hot.

“Okay.”

The joy in the man’s voice was unmistakable.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

She had made braised pork today, stir-fried some greens, and boiled an egg soup.

Luo Miaofang looked at the dishes on the table and felt her heart ache.

She couldn’t help but secretly glare at her prodigal daughter.

Was she not going to live a proper life anymore? Two pounds of meat, and she had finished it all in a day.

Feeling the pressure from her mother, Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but shrink her neck.

Then she took her mother’s hand and started to act cute, “Mom, I made this braised pork especially for you and Dad. It’s so delicious, you have to try it.”

Although she had many sisters, none of them were as good at coaxing people as she was.

Luo Miaofang was both angry and amused. She tapped her daughter’s head and said,

“Don’t be so extravagant when you manage your life. Qin Shuo doesn’t earn money easily.”

Xu Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly, pretending to be obedient and agreeing with everything her mother said, which made Luo Miaofang speechless.

“You’re just playing around. Come and sit down and eat!”

“Okay!”

Xu Jiaojiao responded and moved a stool over, intending to sit next to Luo Miaofang.

But before she could put down the stool, she felt the intense gaze from across the table.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

She paused for a moment and still moved the stool over, sitting next to him.

As soon as she sat down, she felt the man’s gaze burning her!

Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed. She shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted.

But feeling the man’s joyful aura, her heart started to beat uncontrollably.

“Let’s eat!”

Xu Zhengfa couldn’t wait any longer. Seeing that everyone was present, he quickly lifted the lid of the pot.

A rich aroma wafted out from the clay pot, making the old couple’s eyes widen.

“This is so fragrant! I think Fifth Sister’s cooking skills are as good as the chefs at the state-owned restaurants.”

Xu Zhengfa complimented her and then poured a bowl of wine for Qin Shuo.

“Come, try the wine your Zhengcai Uncle brewed. It’s strong.”

Qin Shuo respectfully took the wine.

He clinked glasses with Xu Zhengfa and then brought the bowl to his lips, taking a sip.

“It is indeed strong.”

Xu Zhengfa laughed heartily and then urged him to eat the meat.

“This meat is cooked so well!”

He picked up a piece of fatty meat and put it in his mouth, praising it repeatedly.

Xu Jiaojiao, who was sitting next to Qin Shuo, looked at the pot of fatty braised pork with a troubled expression.

The braised pork was made by her, but the meat was bought by Qin Shuo.

Two-thirds of it was fatty meat, and the remaining bit of lean meat was cut by her, but now it had sunk to the bottom of the pot.

Looking at the oily fatty meat on top, she didn’t dare to take a piece.

She only ate the eggs and greens.

Smelling the fragrant aroma, Xu Jiaojiao’s mouth watered.

Suddenly, a piece of red-colored lean meat was clipped into her bowl.

Looking at the fragrant braised pork in her bowl, Xu Jiaojiao was stunned.

She turned her head and saw that the other half of the fatty meat in Qin Shuo’s bowl had been broken off.

“Thank you.” Xu Jiaojiao said softly.

A sweet feeling spread through her heart.

They had only eaten braised pork together at the state-owned restaurant once, and he already knew that she didn’t like fatty meat.

Looking at the little woman beside him with a smile on her face, Qin Shuo’s fingertips twitched involuntarily.

Then he picked up his wine and took a sip.

But his already dry throat felt even hotter.

Xu Jiaojiao, unaware of his feelings, ate the first piece of braised pork she had made in this world.

The rich aroma spread in her mouth, melting in her mouth, tender and not dry.

Xu Jiaojiao ate with satisfaction.

She didn’t know if it was the ingredients that were better in this era, or if she hadn’t eaten braised pork made by herself for too long.

She felt that this dish was even more delicious than what she had made before.

After finishing the meal, it was already dusk.

“Here are some eggs. These are the shrimps your father caught in the river. I made them into shrimp paste. You can put a little bit in your rice when you eat, it’s very fragrant.”

Luo Miaofang said as she put things into her bag.

Xu Jiaojiao quickly stopped her, “Mom, no need. Keep the eggs for yourself.”

But Luo Miaofang was determined, tightly holding the bag and not letting her take it out.

Xu Jiaojiao had never experienced this kind of situation before, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

Thinking for a moment, she took out the twenty yuan and meat ticket and stuffed them into her mother’s pocket, “Here, take this!”

“What is this?”

Luo Miaofang was puzzled. When she felt the money in her pocket, her eyes widened!

“You dead girl! Why are you giving me money? Take it back quickly!”

She said, trying to stuff the money back into her daughter’s pocket.

Xu Jiaojiao dodged her, “This is the money I earned from selling herbs to the pharmacy. You keep it.”

“How can that be? You earned money and you didn’t give it to your mother-in-law, why are you giving it to me?” Luo Miaofang was disapproving.

Especially with her son-in-law present, she was afraid that her daughter would be embarrassed when she went back.

Xu Jiaojiao hid behind Qin Shuo, sticking her head out and saying to her mother, “If you don’t take it, I’ll come back and take care of you in your old age!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt the man’s body tense up!

Xu Jiaojiao: …