Chapter 65.2

She wasn’t a troublesome mother-in-law trying to compete with her daughter-in-law over who was more important to her son. She was genuinely pleased to see the couple’s good relationship and relieved of her hidden concerns.

After a long train ride, she had trouble sleeping and started to worry that the couple might be pretending to be affectionate just to reassure the elders. She had been observing them closely to see if they were putting on an act.

Children don’t lie, and it seemed the couple’s affection was genuine.

Su Ying relaxed, sipping her enamel cup of water, and gazing at the beautiful sunset, thinking how much better it would be if she were sitting on a rocking chair.

Drinking tea, enjoying the evening breeze, watching the beautiful sunset, and gently rocking in a chair—that’s how life should be.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure and turned to look.

“When did you get back? Standing there without saying anything, trying to be all mysterious?”

Xu Zhao frowned, his expression flat. “While you two were discussing what you ‘felt.'”

He found it puzzling how a fifty-something and a seven-year-old could chat so intensely about such topics.

He thought it was necessary to have a private talk with his brother-in-law to avoid having his reputation tarnished by such discussions.

Caught by her son eating melon seeds in secret, Su Ying felt embarrassed. “Um, I’ll go check if dinner is ready.”

Jiang Leyun sensed the atmosphere and shifted nervously. “Brother-in-law.”

He was in trouble!

His brother-in-law seemed upset, and he hoped he wouldn’t get into trouble.

Xu Zhao sat down and said patiently, “Lele, I need to discuss something with you.”

Jiang Leyun eagerly responded, “Brother-in-law, you can tell me. I’ll definitely agree.”

No, kid, don’t be so naive. You agree to something before you even hear what it is about. If it is something difficult, you will cry and say that what you just said doesn’t count.

Xu Zhao didn’t beat around the bush with the kid: “Just the fact that I like your sister, don’t tell anyone, including your Aunt Xu, your sister, remember, anyone.”

Jiang Leyun responded with a long “Oh” sound. “But it’s the truth. Truths should be spoken.”

Xu Zhao didn’t quite know how to respond. “I’m not saying it isn’t the truth. What I mean is that some things are better kept private. Not everything needs to be said out loud. Who told you that the truth has to be spoken?”

“My sister said that facts represent the truth, and the truth is something everyone should know. If you like my sister, that’s a fact,” Jiang Leyun said, tilting his head and looking at Xu Zhao with a thoughtful expression. “I get it now. Brother-in-law, are you embarrassed? It’s no big deal. There are plenty of people who like my sister, and she’s used to it.”

Xu Zhao’s heart sank. “Who likes your sister?”

Besides me, who else is trying to get close to her while I’m away?

Jiang Leyun started counting on his fingers. “A lot of people, like the older brother from our old neighbors, one of Dad’s students, Aunt Zhang’s nephew, and there’s one person I don’t know. When my sister and I moved to that old house, he seemed to live on that street too. He often loiters around our house, peeking at my sister.”

Xu Zhao: “……”

He realized again that his brother-in-law was a huge obstacle between him and Jiang Suihan—an obstacle that couldn’t be removed but was constantly in the way.

Xu Zhao took a deep breath, reminding himself that the people Jiang Leyun mentioned were just passing figures. Now, Jiang Suihan’s name was clearly written in his household register.

He was the ultimate winner.

Jiang Leyun felt he might have said something wrong and shrank his neck. “Did I speak out of turn?”

Xu Zhao clenched his teeth and said, “No, the more you say, the better I understand your sister.”

The child’s intuition was sharp. Sensing the shift in his brother-in-law’s demeanor, Jiang Leyun rubbed his arms and decided to stay quiet.

Xu Zhao was speechless. He had let a seven-year-old kid throw him off track. The conversation had strayed from the original topic.

“Remember what I just said. Don’t tell anyone that I like your sister. Can a man do that?”

Nowadays, he could say the word “like” without blushing or losing his composure, all thanks to his brother-in-law’s pressure.

Jiang Leyun was quick to assure, “Of course I can.”

Even though he was young, a man’s word is his bond.

In the kitchen, the spatula in Jiang Suihan’s hand had long been passed to Su Ying, and the spot at the stove had also been taken over. She stood in the corner, watching her mother-in-law skillfully prepare the food.

Su Ying turned and said to Suihan, “It’s hot and smoky in the kitchen. You should wait outside. There are only two dishes left. I’ll finish them quickly.”

Jiang Suihan glanced around and realized there wasn’t much she could do, so she decided to step outside to avoid being in the way.

Outside, she saw Xu Zhao and Jiang Leyun sitting side by side on a bench, staring blankly at the sky.

“What are you two doing?”

Jiang Leyun replied first, “Enjoying the breeze.”

Xu Zhao followed up, “Contemplating life.”

Jiang Suihan dragged over a bamboo stool and sat next to them. “Contemplating life? What conclusions have you come to?”

Xu Zhao glanced at Jiang Leyun. “During our conversation earlier, I found out I couldn’t argue with your brother, a seven-year-old child. I was a bit shaken.”

Jiang Suihan couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that it? What did you two talk about?”

She had never thought Xu Zhao could be so childish, getting upset over such a minor issue.

Worried that Jiang Leyun might say something inappropriate, Xu Zhao quickly added, “What we talked about isn’t important. Lele is really smart. We need to teach him well so as not to waste his talent.”

Jiang Leyun eagerly said, “I’m already very smart. Everyone in our family is smart.”

Being smart himself isn’t impressive. Having a whole family of smart people is.

Jiang Suihan laughed even more. “Yes, our whole family is smart. You should study hard and become a remarkable person in the future. I’ll be counting on you.”

Jiang Leyun puffed out his chest. “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll work hard to support you in the future.”

Xu Zhao gave Jiang Leyun a thoughtful look. “Did you get a little too full of yourself today, kid?”

Jiang Suihan pinched her brother’s cheek. “Alright, in the future, I’ll be waiting for you to become successful and support me.”

Jiang Leyun grinned widely, revealing his little white teeth, clearly very happy.

Xu Zhao: There are clearly three people here, yet I’m not part of the bond between these siblings.

“Dinner is ready,” Su Ying called out from the kitchen.

Jiang Suihan stood up and took her brother’s hand. “Let’s go wash our hands.”

Xu Zhao followed silently, going to the well to help pump water. Jiang Suihan washed her brother’s hands first and then washed her own.

Su Ying had prepared four dishes: stir-fried dried pork with green beans, steamed pork with rice flour, spicy stir-fried cabbage, and scrambled eggs with wood ear mushrooms, along with a pot of corn and pork rib soup.

Jiang Leyun’s eyes lit up at the fragrant dishes on the table. “Wow, it smells so good!”

He wasn’t hungry at first, but the aroma made him hungry.

Su Ying brought a bowl of rib soup and placed it in front of Jiang Suihan. “These are just some home-cooked dishes. Try my cooking, and if you like it, I’ll make it for you again.”

Jiang Suihan, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “Mom, you’ve worked hard. I can manage on my own.”

Su Ying served a bowl of soup for Jiang Leyun and said, “Xu Zhao, you can serve your own soup.”

Not surprisingly, Xu Zhao quietly stood up to serve himself some soup.

Jiang Suihan tasted a piece of steamed pork and some taro underneath it. It was wonderfully tender and delicious.

Su Ying saw Jiang Suihan eating two pieces of taro and asked, “How is it? Does it taste good?”

Jiang Suihan nodded with a smile. “It’s very good. It’s my first time eating this. The meat is delicious, and the taro is too.”

Su Ying smiled and said, “This is steamed pork with rice flour. I learned it from a neighbor before. You’re too thin. If it’s good, eat more.”

Jiang Suihan thought to herself, no wonder mother and daughter have the same way of urging someone to eat.

Jiang Leyun ate almost nonstop, finishing one and a half bowls of rice and a little over a bowl of soup. He was so full that he lay down on the chair to digest.

“Auntie, the dishes you made are so delicious! My sister also cooks well, but it’s not as good as your cooking.”

Jiang Suihan smiled but remained silent. Her mother-in-law had been cooking for fifty years, while she had only been cooking for a few years—it’s normal that she couldn’t compare.

Seeing the praise, Su Ying was naturally pleased: “Auntie can cook many different dishes. I’ll make you something else next time.”

Jiang Leyun’s mouth curled up into a smile: “Thank you, Auntie. I’m not picky. I like whatever you make. Just don’t overwork yourself.”

Su Ying’s eyes crinkled with her smile: “You’re such a charmer. Auntie isn’t tired.”

Jiang Suihan suddenly said, “I envy you.”

Xu Zhao asked, “What are you envious of?”

Jiang Suihan replied, “I envy that you’ve always had good meals since you were young. My brother and I grew up eating in the school cafeteria.”

Her mother was in poor health and couldn’t cook elaborate meals—only simple dishes like congee and eggs. Her father cooked a bit better but was often busy with work, so they mostly relied on the school cafeteria for their meals throughout the year.

Xu Zhao said, “You think too much. My mom’s cooking wasn’t great either. Her skills improved only in recent years with practice. When I was young, I either ate at other people’s homes or at my grandfather’s place.”

Jiang Suihan looked at him and said, “So you had a tough time too when you were young.”

Xu Zhao did not confirm or deny, but he thought, was it really that tough? He could always get enough to eat and never went to bed hungry, which was better than many other people’s childhoods.