Chapter 105

Finally, several dishes were ready. Lu Siyu served the food, and Song Wen helped to set them on the large dining table. The three of them sat down.

Li Luanfang glanced at the white porcelain-like plates in front of her and then at the delicious dishes, but she didn’t immediately pick up her chopsticks. Adopting the demeanor of a chief physician examining a patient, she sat upright and asked, “On the way here, Song Wen didn’t explain clearly. Why exactly are you two living together?”

Having just arrived, Li Luanfang had been looking around curiously, but she had held back from asking questions to save face. Now, as the three of them sat around the table, the question finally surfaced.

Song Wen had prepared his response in advance. He began, “Well, Mom, let me formally introduce you. This is Lu Siyu, an intern officer in our unit.”

Lu Siyu nodded politely. “Hello, Auntie.”

He had taken off his apron by now and was wearing a plain yet expensive white shirt. He had also put on a pair of glasses, giving him a clean and refined appearance.

Li Luanfang looked at Lu Siyu and remarked, “You look very young. Just graduated?”

Song Wen coughed lightly. “He’s actually half a year older than me. He’s my apprentice in the unit.” Continuing with the introduction, he explained, “Our Nancheng City Bureau is implementing a mutual assistance program. In simple terms, to strengthen the mentor-apprentice relationship, promote the mental well-being of officers, and supervise each other’s daily routines, we live together.”

Li Luanfang didn’t hold back her skepticism. “I’ve never heard of such a program from your father’s side.” The expression on her face clearly said, “I don’t believe your story.”

Seeing the meal turning into an interrogation, Song Wen continued, “How can you forget? In the past, didn’t Dad often invite his apprentices over for dinner? And there was that one surnamed Li, Li something, who stayed at our house for quite a while? This is just an evolved version of what happened before.”

Li Luanfang nodded in understanding.

Song Cheng had always been kind to his subordinates and apprentices, often inviting them over for meals. There was even a detective with financial difficulties named Li Yuhong who had just arrived at the City Bureau. He couldn’t afford to rent a place, so Song Cheng let him stay at their house for over two months. However, that situation was clearly different from what was happening now.

Li Luanfang thought to herself, “Your father supports those in need, but what you’re doing looks like cohabitation.”

Lu Siyu also chimed in, “Auntie, it’s true. This is a pilot project of the police station, suggested by Zhou Yining, a specially-appointed psychological consultant. As for me, I have some health issues, so Captain Song came over to take care of me.” His words were half true and half false, shifting the blame to Zhou Yining, who had encouraged this arrangement in the first place.

While they talked, Song Wen served Li Luanfang a bowl of chicken with fish maw, specifically placing a chicken leg in front of her.

Having lived with her son for so many years, Li Luanfang was too familiar with Song Wen and always found his words unreliable. But now that she heard Lu Siyu say the same thing, she nodded, “I remember Song Wen called me once to ask about reducing dependency on painkillers.” 

Lu Siyu hadn’t heard about this incident before, but he quickly caught on. He lowered his head and said, “Captain Song probably asked on my behalf. I have stomach problems, and I got into the habit of taking them. I’ve cut down a lot recently and don’t take them regularly anymore.”

Li Luanfang, being a doctor herself, nodded knowingly. “I’m a doctor, and let me tell you, dear, you should avoid those pills as much as possible. They’re poison, not medicine.”

As the question of why they were living together settled down, Li Luanfang glanced around the villa and asked, “Where is this place you’re living in?”

Lu Siyu took the initiative to explain, “It’s a property my family bought a long time ago. Since I work in Nancheng, I live here.”

Li Luanfang continued, “Is your family from Nancheng?”

Lu Siyu nodded. “Mmh.”

Li Luanfang then asked, “Our hometown is also in Nancheng. Who else is in your family?”

At this question, Lu Siyu paused while drinking his soup. Well… there really weren’t many people left.

Song Wen had already started eating and, raising his head, intervened, “Mom, are you here to do a household registration check? Can’t we just enjoy our meal in peace?”

Lu Siyu also urged her, “Auntie, please eat.”

Only then did Li Luanfang pick up a spoonful of chicken and mushrooms and tasted it.

Just one small bite.

And then Li Luanfang was stunned. It turned out that the dishes in front of her weren’t just for show. Not only did they look and smell good, but they were also incredibly delicious!

In the past, Li Luanfang had watched food review shows where guests talked about layers of flavor and explosive textures. They even said food had a soul. How could eating a dish offer so many different experiences?

But now, as she savored a spoonful of chicken in her mouth, the chicken had melded perfectly with the fish maw, creating a smooth and tender texture with the aroma of chicken combined with the flavors of fish maw and mushrooms. She finished it in one bite, feeling like she had eaten too quickly, like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit, and wanting to have a few more bites.

After that first bite, she couldn’t stop herself. And it wasn’t just this dish that was delicious; every dish on the table was delicious. Despite containing meat, they were all made with chicken, shrimp, fish, and other white meats, completely non-greasy and suitable for the taste of the elderly.

As the old lady began eating, she finally stopped asking questions left and right. The three of them fell into a sudden silence. Lu Siyu felt a bit uneasy; he wasn’t used to this. He glanced at Song Wen and tentatively asked in a low voice, “Auntie, are you still able to eat?”

Li Luanfang paused with her chopsticks, covered her forehead with her hand, reflected on her eating behavior just now, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “This food is too delicious…”

After saying that, the old lady blushed. She had been cooking at home for so many years and had always prided herself on taking good care of Song Wen. But now, compared to this, what she made was simply pig food.

Then Li Luanfang took a few sips of tofu soup and said, “Song Wen, I’m not criticizing you, but are you here to take care of your subordinates or to enjoy their cooking?”

Upon hearing this, Song Wen thought, “How can I only be here for the food? I’m also here for the people.” But he couldn’t say this to his own mother.

Lu Siyu added, “No, Auntie, Captain Song is always so good to me. He always takes care of me at work, helps me with solving cases, and has saved me several times. He even accompanied me to the hospital in the middle of the night. I’m not used to being an intern officer, and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to endure it.”

Li Luanfang looked at Song Wen and said, “But isn’t that what a captain should do?”

Suddenly, Song Wen realized that his mother was unusually severe when talking to him, but she was becoming increasingly friendly when speaking to Lu Siyu.

They continued eating for a while, and as some dishes emptied out, the meal was coming to an end.

Li Luanfang asked another question, “Song Wen, this time I won’t nag you about finding a partner. I just have one question: Don’t you plan to have children?”

They were all adults, and some things were understood without being explicitly stated. Li Luanfang wasn’t foolish, and she couldn’t be easily fooled.

Some things children didn’t like to hear, and asking for information made them feel like she was checking the household registration. Since everyone knew what was going on, it was best to ask the most critical question directly.

This time, seeing Lu Siyu, Li Luanfang genuinely liked this boy. He looked gentle, polite, and handsome. His cooking was particularly delicious. Apart from his health issues and being a man, there was nothing to fault.

It seemed like they supported each other well at work, and they seemed to get along well. If they really had that kind of relationship, then looking at it from all angles, it was Song Wen who didn’t match up. She didn’t know how he managed to trick his way into it.

But as parents, how well their children lived was one thing, and whether they had successors was another.

But this matter, her urgency was useless; it depended on Song Wen’s attitude.

Lu Siyu lowered his head and remained silent for a moment.

Song Wen said, “Well, I already have children, you know?”

Li Luanfang was startled. “What?” She thought, could this boy have secretly had a child, playing a trick on her?

Song Wen explained further, “I mean, aren’t all the people in the team my children? I’m the kind of old fatherly leader who works tirelessly to take care of them. Where would I find the time for anything else?”

Only then did Li Luanfang realize he was joking and gave him a stern look.

Meanwhile, Lu Siyu quietly kicked Song Wen under the table. How many people in the team needed care? He always found excuses to take advantage of his mother.

After cracking the joke, the atmosphere lightened slightly, and Song Wen spoke seriously, “Now, we have a dog here that we can barely handle every day. Children are more precious than dogs and need someone to spend time taking care of and accompanying them. Mom, don’t you know how troublesome it is to find a girlfriend, get married, and then have to take care of the family and children? Remember how difficult it was for you and Dad back then? Among my classmates, some are married, and some are divorced. Take Wang Siqi, for example, someone you know. The couple doesn’t even want children and is now in a legal battle. So, for now, I’ll live like this. If I have time in the future and want to raise children, there are so many orphans and kidnapped children out there; I could adopt one.”

The old lady understood his meaning and said, “Well, if that’s what you think, I won’t nag you anymore.” After speaking, she served herself a bowl of tofu soup.

Song Wen breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that with his mother, this hurdle was almost over, but the harder part was with Song Cheng.

After dinner, Li Luanfang said to Lu Siyu, “You’ve worked hard cooking, and your health isn’t good. You should rest. Song Wen and I will clean up the kitchen.”

So, they cleaned the kitchen until it sparkled. Song Wen didn’t dare to leave his mother alone and stayed with her the whole time.

It was already late, so Song Wen couldn’t go back. He helped Li Luanfang settle into a guest room on the first floor and even found her blankets. Li Luanfang kept bombarding him with questions, from how to use the automatic curtains to the toilet, and Song Wen patiently explained everything.

By ten o’clock at night, the dog was circling around Song Wen. He suddenly remembered that he had been busy all night and hadn’t walked the dog. So, he took the dog out for a walk. When he returned, he collapsed on the bed like an eggplant beaten by frost.

While Song Wen was busy, Lu Siyu took a shower, changed into pajamas, poured a glass of milk, and drank it while watching him.

Song Wen lay sprawled out, picked up his silent phone, and muttered, “Damn, so tired… Why hasn’t the case come yet?”

He had been engaged in a battle of wits and strength all evening, dealing with his mother, which required several times more energy and effort than solving a case. He looked at Lu Siyu and said, “Also, you managed to win my mom over with just one meal. Am I her real son, or are you?”

Lu Siyu replied, “But it worked out fine, didn’t it? At least your mom is relieved now.”

Song Wen grunted in agreement. His own mother was at the top of the food chain. Even Song Cheng had to bow down to her.

Fortunately, Li Luanfang was also an educated and open-minded person. The next day, after having lunch again, she packed up and said, “Well, you two seem to be doing well. I can rest assured now. I’m leaving. Thanks for your hospitality, and sorry for the trouble, Xiaolu.”

Lu Siyu smiled sweetly, “Auntie, it’s no trouble at all. It’s the least we can do. Whenever you have time, feel free to come over and visit.”

Song Wen took his mother to the station. Li Luanfang took the high-speed train back to the provincial capital.

The wife of the bureau chief got off the train, carrying a small bag, and walked casually into the family quarters of the Provincial Bureau.

Walking deeper into the area, there were several rows of stacked villas. The previous leaders of the Provincial Bureau had improved the living environment for the officers, and some experts, leaders, and veteran detectives lived here. Even the old man practicing Tai Chi they met on their walk was the former combat champion of the bureau. This was probably the safest yard in the provincial capital.

Today was a rare weekend, and Song Cheng was at home, sitting on a redwood chair in the living room, reading the newspaper. When he saw Li Luanfang return, he folded the newspaper and asked her, “Back already?”

Most people had long abandoned newspapers and relied on the internet for news, but the old man still maintained his old habits. It seemed like he couldn’t communicate with the outside world if he didn’t read the newspaper for a day.

Li Luanfang hummed in response, put down her bag, and walked straight to the electronic scale. After stepping on it, she muttered to herself, “Oh my, I’ve gained two pounds…”

Song Cheng’s head heated up upon hearing this. “Where did you go? How’s that stinky kid doing lately?”

“My son moved to a new place, living with his colleague. I also met his new roommate… had two meals…” Li Luanfang’s tone turned a bit sour here. She realized that she might not have such good food again after coming back, and couldn’t help but sigh, “His colleague cooks so well…”

The old man couldn’t stand this. “Hey, isn’t the food in our bureau’s canteen good enough for you?”

“Can’t even compare.” Li Luanfang shrugged, not bothering to argue with the old man.

Song Cheng asked again, “Is Song Wen doing well? With so many houses in Nancheng, isn’t there enough for him to live in?” Ultimately, despite his stubbornness, the old man still cared about his son. Seeing that Li Luanfang had revealed too little information, he couldn’t resist asking.

“He moved to a mansion, much larger than ours. Oh, let me tell you, his colleague is handsome and cooks exceptionally well… The name sounds nice too, something like Lu Siyu.” Li Luanfang deliberately spoke with a bit of excitement, thinking that perhaps men were not as sensitive as women and decided to throw out a few pieces of information to test the old man.

Song Cheng said, “How did he win you over? I haven’t heard you praise anyone like this before.” He furrowed his brows for a moment and then said, “Wait a minute, this name sounds familiar.”

After saying that, Song Cheng took out his phone, scrolled through his previous WeChat conversations with Xu Changying, and muttered to Li Luanfang, “Earlier, Xu Changying mentioned someone he wanted to transfer to the Provincial Bureau, and there was this Lu Siyu.”

“Well, then he must be doing a good job… Why wasn’t he transferred?” Li Luanfang said, and she already had an answer in her heart: why he wasn’t transferred, most likely because of Song Wen.

“Because the person refused the transfer,” Song Cheng replied. It was rare for Xu Changying to request personnel transfers, and it was even rarer for the person to refuse after the request. Xu Changying felt particularly sorry about this matter.

At that time, Song Cheng found it quite strange. Generally, the conditions at the Provincial Bureau were much better than those at the City Bureau, and this young man had a bright future. Why wouldn’t he want to come over?

Then Song Cheng suddenly remembered something and stood up, saying, “I’ll go busy myself with work for a while.”

Li Luanfang was already used to her husband’s workaholic state, so she went to the kitchen without disturbing him.

After speaking, Song Cheng walked into the study, put on his glasses, and opened his briefcase. Inside were several documents that he hadn’t had time to deal with on Friday; he had just glanced at them and brought them home.

Among them were two appointment applications, both signed by Gu Ju, the head of Nancheng. One was for Song Wen’s promotion to the deputy head of the Nancheng Criminal Investigation Division, with his resume and various achievements listed.

The other was for the assistant detective of the Criminal Investigation Division, and the name on it was Lu Siyu. Some work experience was also listed, but the work period was only six months.

Song Cheng hesitated when faced with the two applications. Should he sign them? Should he sign one or both?

The old man furrowed his brows, as if he had encountered a huge dilemma.

In the end, Song Cheng’s finger tapped on Lu Siyu’s name.