"We didn't make porridge for lunch.
Thinking we'd have to leave in the afternoon, I worried it might spoil if we couldn't finish it, so I used the blender to make soy milk.
Hurry over and eat." Wang Xukun called out.
"This is all very good. A good balance of meat and vegetables. It's clear Uncle has good cooking skills," Li Xiaolu praised.
"Your uncle is a great cook. He usually cooks for me," Zhang Jingyi said.
"Alright, stop talking. Sit down and eat," Wang Xukun urged.
The meal was truly enjoyable. Wang Xukun's cooking was indeed as Zhang Jingyi had described.
"Uncle's cooking is about the same as Uncle Guo's. Is it fashionable for men to cook these days?" Li Xiaolu said with a smile.
"Oh? Does Xiao Guo's family also have his father cook?" Wang Xukun asked.
"Yes. We have a chef at home, but it was Yangzi's father who used to cook for everyone. Most of it was semi-prepared, the hotel had it ready, and he just needed to do a little processing," Zhang Jingyi explained.
"Does Xiao Guo's family have many people?" Li Xiaolu realized she had let something slip and quickly added, "He has several security guards at home, plus us caregivers. So, he cooks a lot each time."
"I knew Xiao Guo's family was no ordinary one. The bracelet he gave me last time was of very good quality, my housekeeper recognized it immediately," Zhang Jingyi chimed in.
"We're going to the provincial capital today, so I let the housekeeper go home for a break last night." She seemed to be mentioning her own family's situation, intentionally or unintentionally. It wasn't because she was petty, but rather to let Li Xiaolu and the others know that her family was also well-off, and Xiaohong marrying Guo Xuyang was not a case of her marrying up.
Li Xiaolu didn't pay much attention to what Zhang Jingyi was saying. Whether her family had a housekeeper or not had nothing to do with her. She was just an employee and wasn't interested in such matters.
"Xiao Guo mentioned last time that he has several shops that specialize in selling jade. I wonder if that's true?" Zhang Jingyi asked again.
"We're actually not very clear about that. We're usually just responsible for Xiaohong's daily meals and Xiao Bao's care and feeding. We rarely inquire about other things," Li Xiaolu replied.
"Why are you asking so much? Since Xiaohong is married to Xiao Guo, they are family. What Xiao Guo gives you is a gesture of filial piety, and what he doesn't give is his responsibility. Why have you become so much like a petty citizen?" Wang Xukun retorted.
"I'm just chatting with the young lady. I don't have any other intentions."
"How long has little Li been at your house? How would she know so much? If you really want to know something, you can ask Xiaohong or Xiao Guo. How can you expect little Li to answer you?"
"Alright, alright, it's all my fault," Zhang Jingyi said, placing her bowl on the dining table.
"Uncle, Auntie, I really don't know much about Yangzi's family situation. Please don't be angry."
"Little Li, this has nothing to do with you. I've noticed that ever since Xiao Guo gave your aunt that bracelet last time, she's changed. She's becoming more and more fond of showing off."
"I just told a neighbor that I have a good son-in-law. How is that showing off?"
"I'm not arguing with you. If you're going to be like this, I suggest you don't go to the provincial capital and embarrass yourself."
"Wang Xukun, are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?" Zhang Jingyi said angrily, raising her voice.
"Okay, okay, why did you two get so heated?" Li Xiaolu hadn't expected them to start arguing.
"If little brother wakes up soon, he'll start fussing. If you both say less, it will be fine."
"Little Li, have Xiao Guo and Xiaohong ever argued?" Zhang Jingyi suddenly turned and asked.
"No. I've never heard them argue since I started working there," Li Xiaolu replied.
"With Xiaohong's temper, wouldn't they argue?"
"Xiaohong has a very good temper. Why would she argue?" Zhang Jingyi pressed.
"She argued with me and left."
"Is that so? I really didn't know Xiaohong had such a temper," Li Xiaolu said quickly.
"It was all your fault. If you hadn't forced Xiaohong back then, she wouldn't have run away from home," Wang Xukun said.
"Now you're blaming me again. Didn't you say she was shameless and found a wild man?" Zhang Jingyi retorted relentlessly.
"Xiaohong didn't tell me the specifics of the situation. She didn't tell me that Xiao Guo had saved her. If Xiao Guo hadn't come over, I wouldn't have known that Xiao Guo had rescued Xiaohong. Xiaohong was repaying a debt of gratitude. This girl is stubborn and wouldn't say anything. Wasn't I just scolding her out of frustration?"
Li Xiaolu hadn't realized Wang Lihong had such a side to her. She also didn't know that she had run away from home to find Guo Xuyang in the provincial capital.
"Uncle, Auntie, whether it was Xiaohong's fault or Yangzi's fault in the past, tomorrow is Xiao Bao and little brother's full moon banquet. Shouldn't we set off soon? Let's go there in advance, sit down, and chat. See if there's anything else we need to prepare?" Li Xiaolu stood up, seeing them starting to bicker again.
Wang Xukun nodded upon hearing Li Xiaolu's suggestion. "In that case, let's pack up and go. I haven't prepared much. The dowry money for Xiaohong and the meeting gift for my grandson are all together."
"Yangzi specifically instructed us when he arranged for us to come a few days ago. You just need to bring little brother and the formula and diapers he usually uses. You don't need to prepare anything else; you can buy it there," Li Xiaolu added after a pause.
"Auntie mentioned earlier that little brother doesn't drink formula, so you don't need to bring that. Just bring a few days' worth of diapers for the road, for convenient changes. You don't need to bring anything else."
"Then let's get ready and go quickly?" Hu Jun also stood up.
"Look, I've made a spectacle of myself for you. I wonder if you've eaten well?" Wang Xukun said.
"We're full. If we leave now, we'll reach the provincial capital before five in the afternoon. After a chat, it will be time for dinner," Li Xiaolu said.
"Then you go get ready. I'll clear up the dishes and bowls," Wang Xukun said, glancing at Zhang Jingyi.
"Uncle, I'll do that," Hu Jun quickly offered.
"No need. We can't have guests doing the work. These few plates are easy to wash. It'll be done in a moment." Wang Xukun poured the leftover food from the plates into the trash can, then went to the kitchen to wash them before coming out. He then cleaned up the trash bag and took it outside. By the time he finished, Zhang Jingyi had also tidied herself up.
The tidied-up Zhang Jingyi didn't seem like a sharp-tongued person. Li Xiaolu couldn't help but wonder how she had driven Wang Lihong away from home back then. She fell into a reverie.
"Let's go, why are you spacing out?" Hu Jun nudged her with his arm.
"Are you ready? Let's go now," Li Xiaolu said, and then they walked out the door.