"Let’s go."
Shen Lingxing grabbed Mi Jing’s hand and then held it as they stepped off the bus together.
The vegetable market was noisy and had a complex mix of smells. Initially, Mi Jing had suggested going to the supermarket. Although the supermarket’s items were generally less fresh and more expensive compared to the vegetable market, the shopping environment was much more comfortable. Considering Shen Lingxing’s lifestyle habits, Mi Jing hadn’t even considered going to the vegetable market before.
"Let’s go to the vegetable market."
When Shen Lingxing said this, Mi Jing was a bit surprised and couldn’t help but ask, "Have you ever been to a vegetable market?"
"No."
Sure enough, it was exactly as she had expected.
"The market is dirty and messy. Are you sure you want to go?" Mi Jing thought it was necessary to explain the situation to Shen Lingxing, as he probably didn’t know.
"The market is close to my parents’ house," Shen Lingxing said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Mi Jing was silent for two seconds before looking at him and saying, "Lingxing, actually, you don’t have to accommodate me in everything. You don’t have to..."
"Silly, I just want to experience a part of life that I’ve never experienced before with you, that’s all." Shen Lingxing interrupted Mi Jing with a smile. His sincere attitude, which was not forced at all, moved Mi Jing once again.
That’s what a happy life is like, always full of big and small moments of gratitude and joy. Even if there are occasional little troubles, they don’t matter because she always has him to support her.
"Young man, today’s choy sum is very fresh. Do you want some?"
"My tofu is homemade. Would you like to buy a few pieces?"
"..."
Shen Lingxing and Mi Jing walked into the market, with voices constantly calling out to them as they passed. With so many choices, he couldn’t decide at once, so he turned to Mi Jing and asked, "What do your parents like to eat?"
"Sour cabbage beef and fish."
"What about your sister and Xuanxuan?" Shen Lingxing asked again.
"My sister prefers vegetarian food. She likes things like tofu and vegetables. Xuanxuan loves meat, especially chicken. As for my brother-in-law, he probably loves my sister’s braised pork ribs the most," Mi Jing explained her family’s preferences one by one, unhurriedly.
"How about you? What do you want to eat tonight?" Shen Lingxing silently noted all the information as they walked and asked.
"Hehe, I like whatever mom and dad like to eat."
Mi Jing said with a playful smile. With that, she led Shen Lingxing to a fish stall and bought a turbot fish and a kilogram of shrimp.
Although Shen Lingxing wasn’t picky about food and they had just had a seafood feast for lunch, Mi Jing still bought his favorite river shrimp. Ten minutes later, they had bought all the ingredients they needed. As they left the market, Mi Jing offered to help carry the bags. She reached out and took one side of the bag from Shen Lingxing, and they happily walked home together.
Mi Jing’s parents’ house was only a ten-minute walk from the Jinxiu Vegetable Market. Along the way, they garnered a lot of admiring glances. To others, they seemed like a perfect picture, but they themselves were lost in their happiness, chatting leisurely as they walked.
"Auntie, uncle, welcome back. You’ve worked hard."
Just as they reached the front door, Mi Jing hadn’t even had time to press the doorbell when the door suddenly opened. Xuanxuan, dressed in a pink dress, came running out, followed as usual by her fluffy white dog, Kabi.
Hearing Xuanxuan’s sweet voice, Mi Jing was delighted. She looked down at her lovingly and praised, "Xuanxuan is so good."
"And Kabi too." Xuanxuan looked up at Mi Jing and said, "Auntie, Kabi is also very good. It was Kabi who told me you and uncle were back." Although Kabi couldn’t speak, as soon as it heard footsteps, it would run to the door wagging its tail. Seeing Kabi’s reaction, Xuanxuan knew Mi Jing and Shen Lingxing had arrived.
"Yes, Kabi is good too. During dinner, Auntie will reward Kabi with a chicken wing, okay?" Mi Jing said with a smile.
"Okay. Xuanxuan wants one too."
"Sure, our Xuanxuan is so good. You definitely deserve more rewards." Mi Jing handed the bag to Shen Lingxing and then took Xuanxuan’s little hand as they walked into the house.
Mi Wan and Ji Dongquan had returned with Xuanxuan twenty minutes earlier. As Mi Jing and Shen Lingxing walked in, they were chatting with Mi Zhihong and Fang Qingru, and the atmosphere was very pleasant.
"Lingxing, you worked hard. Give me the bags; you go sit down and have some tea," Mi Zhihong said kindly as he approached. As he spoke, he reached out to take the bags from Shen Lingxing, but Shen Lingxing evaded him.
"Dad, you sit down. I’ll cook dinner tonight," Shen Lingxing said with a gentle smile.
As soon as he said this, the room fell silent, and everyone’s eyes turned to Shen Lingxing.
"Uncle, I didn’t know you could cook! That’s amazing," Xuanxuan said, her eyes wide with admiration.
"Your uncle has always been amazing! He’s a great cook. Xuanxuan, you must eat lots of his food tonight," Mi Jing proudly praised her husband.
"Stop bragging." With a professional chef present, Shen Lingxing felt a bit insecure about his cooking skills and added, "Compared to Dad, I’m still far behind. I’ll definitely have to learn more from him in the future."
"Haha, no need to be modest. Jingjing has told me several times that you love to cook and are very good at it." Mi Zhihong had always been very satisfied with his excellent son-in-law and spoke highly of him.
Hearing this, Shen Lingxing looked up at Mi Jing. His face remained calm, but he was secretly pleased.
That evening, Shen Lingxing and Ji Dongquan took over the Mi family’s kitchen. Two equally outstanding men working together in the small kitchen created another picture of sheer joy.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ji and Uncle are so handsome," Xuanxuan said as she watched them from the kitchen door, then ran into the living room to share her admiration.
"Haha."
Her innocent words made everyone laugh heartily.
"Xuanxuan, do you know what handsome means?" Fang Qingru asked, her mood quite good.
"Of course! Handsome means good-looking," Xuanxuan replied seriously.
"Is Auntie handsome?" Mi Jing couldn’t help but ask with a smile.
"Auntie can’t be called handsome," Xuanxuan matter-of-factly said, already having her own standards of beauty. "Auntie is beautiful, just like mom and grandma."
"Haha."
The living room was filled with laughter once again, and everyone’s faces were illuminated with gentle happiness.