Chapter 58: Wine and Food |
When Shen Siyuan got off work and returned to his residential complex, he saw Zhu Guangfa's family of three standing at the entrance.
Upon seeing Shen Siyuan, they immediately came forward to greet him.
"How did you know I live here?" Shen Siyuan was a little surprised.
"Because I'm an express delivery worker, I can look up addresses," Zhu Guangfa said.
It turned out that not everything Shen Siyuan bought was sent to the company.
"There are a lot of people coming and going at the company, and I was afraid it would create a bad impression, so I came here to wait for you," Zhu Guangfa said.
As he spoke, he lifted the things in his hand.
"It's nothing much, I hope you don't mind," Zhu Guangfa said.
While Zhu Guangfa was talking, Du Xiuzhi stood smiling behind him, appearing quite virtuous and giving her husband plenty of face.
He then looked at the two bottles of liquor Zhu Guangfa was holding. The boxes were a bit shriveled and warped, looking like they were quite a few years old.
"Nice liquor," Shen Siyuan remarked.
"It's not the best, but I bought it over ten years ago," Zhu Guangfa said.
Hearing this, Shen Siyuan looked up and asked, "Can you cook?"
Before Zhu Guangfa could speak, Du Xiuzhi, who was beside him, had already taken a step forward and said, "Yes, my husband used to be a chef for a while. Although he was a kitchen assistant, his cooking still tastes great."
"In that case, you have the liquor, I have the food.
How about we have a couple of drinks tonight?" Shen Siyuan said with a smile.
"Sure, then we'll be imposing," Zhu Guangfa replied quickly, having caught on.
And so, Shen Siyuan led the group to his home.
"It's not very big, make yourselves at home," Shen Siyuan said, ushering them inside.
All of them curiously sized up the furnishings in the house.
Then a thought arose in their minds, "A Great Master this capable lives here?"
But they had only just met, so he was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
Zhu Tingting looked around the house curiously, but she kept holding Du Xiuzhi's hand, seeming a bit reserved.
Du Xiuzhi, on the other hand, was composed and graceful.
She led her to the sofa to sit down. Shen Siyuan handed her an apple, but she just held it without eating.
After entering the house, Zhu Guangfa started to get busy, and Du Xiuzhi went over to help him.
Shen Siyuan, however, had no intention of helping at all.
He pulled over the computer chair and started chatting with Zhu Tingting.
"How old are you?"
"What grade are you in?"
"Do you have a lot of homework?"
…
At first, Zhu Tingting answered Shen Siyuan mechanically, but gradually she began to talk more and became more relaxed.
"Big brother, thank you for letting me see my mom," she said to Shen Siyuan, clutching the apple tightly.
"You're welcome.
Besides, aren't your dad and the others here to thank me?" Shen Siyuan pointed at Zhu Guangfa, who was busy cooking.
Shen Siyuan's kitchen stove was very simple: an electric rice cooker, an induction cooker, and besides those, a microwave oven.
So, Zhu Guangfa could only stir-fry on the induction cooker, which he wasn't used to, as it made it difficult to control the heat.
But since he was just making a couple of simple dishes, he had to make do.
Hearing this, Zhu Tingting added, "Big brother, my mom says you're amazing."
"I'm alright, I guess. Not as amazing as you think."
"Big brother, can you let my mom stay with us forever?"
Shen Siyuan glanced back at Zhu Guangfa.
He must have been the one who taught her to say that.
The couple had been listening with their ears pricked up.
When they saw Shen Siyuan turn around, Zhu Guangfa's body stiffened slightly.
Du Xiuzhi, after glaring at him, frowned deeply, a hint of disappointment on her face.
Shen Siyuan turned back and replied, "Even without me, your mom has always been with you."
"But… but I want to be able to see Mom all the time," Zhu Tingting pleaded in a small voice.
"Tingting."
Du Xiuzhi looked at her daughter with a displeased expression.
"Mom~" Zhu Tingting cried out, full of grievance.
Du Xiuzhi looked at Shen Siyuan and said, "Mr.
Shen, I'm sorry, she's just a child and doesn't know any better. We definitely didn't teach her to say that."
Shen Siyuan waved his hand dismissively.
"It's understandable that she thinks that way, but Humans and Ghosts Follow Different Paths, so it's not possible."
Shen Siyuan rejected her outright.
Zhu Tingting lowered her head and said sadly in a small voice, "I'm sorry."
Zhu Guangfa, who was in the middle of stir-frying, paused for a moment, but he quickly recovered and brought a finished dish to the table.
"Food's here! You guys eat first, there are still a few more dishes, they'll be ready soon," Zhu Guangfa said.
Since he was usually cooking for one, Shen Siyuan hadn't bought many groceries, so the meal was prepared quickly.
Although Zhu Guangfa said that, neither Shen Siyuan nor Zhu Tingting picked up their chopsticks.
Just then, Zhu Tingting suddenly raised her head and asked Shen Siyuan, "I heard that after people die, they all go through Reincarnation and become children again.
Will my mom also have Reincarnation?"
Shen Siyuan was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Du Xiuzhi.
Du Xiuzhi stroked her daughter's head and said, "Of course, she will."
Zhu Tingting didn't say anything, just looked at Shen Siyuan.
Only after Shen Siyuan nodded did she seem a little happier.
Then she turned to Du Xiuzhi and said, "Mom, in that case, can you not be in a hurry to have Reincarnation and become another family's child?"
"Oh? Why is that?"
"When I grow up, you can have Reincarnation and be my baby.
I'll love you just like you love me," Zhu Tingting said innocently.
Hearing this, Du Xiuzhi pulled her into her arms, her eyes welling with tears, and said, "Okay, Mom will wait for you."
A Tomato Dish, some Braised Pork Ribs, some Braised Pork Belly, and a plate of Stir-fried Shredded Pork with Chili.
Except for the tomatoes, all the other dishes were meat.
It was rare for Shen Siyuan to prepare to cook a meal for himself.
Naturally, he wasn't planning on being a vegetarian, so he had bought more meat dishes.
"Sit."
Shen Siyuan gestured for Zhu Guangfa to sit, then unceremoniously opened one of the bottles of liquor he had brought.
"Oh, Xifeng Liquor."
Shen Siyuan glanced at the bottle.
He had heard of this liquor but had never tried it.
Shen Siyuan poured a glass for Zhu Guangfa first.
Zhu Guangfa hurriedly stood up, repeatedly saying he didn't dare, being extremely respectful.
Du Xiuzhi also stood up and said, "You two drink, I'll pour for you."
Shen Siyuan didn't stand on ceremony with her either and handed her the bottle directly.
During the meal, Zhu Guangfa appeared very reserved, not daring to take food too often. In contrast, his daughter Zhu Tingting was much more at ease.
But after two glasses of liquor, he gradually loosened up and started talking more.
"Mr.
Shen, with your abilities, why are you cooped up in such a small house? Why do you still have to work so hard every day?"
"What else would I do?" Shen Siyuan asked back with a smile.
He continued, "With these meager abilities, do you think I can become a king or a conqueror? At most, I could make some money, and then what? Start enjoying life? But aren't I already enjoying life right now?"
Zhu Guangfa wanted to say more, but he was quietly pulled back by Du Xiuzhi, who gave him a look, stopping him.