Chapter 632: A Man Who Cooks
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the direction of the kitchen, Su Li pointed and said, “Big brother mentioned that you and father should be returning today. However, the adults are all busy, and Auntie has accompanied Uncle to deliver goods to the pig farm. He is taking care of us and preparing for your arrival. He is currently in the kitchen.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Zi’s gaze instinctively shifted towards the kitchen. There, she saw Su Bing emerging with a tray in his hands. The tray was laden with food he had prepared, and he was clad in his aunt’s floral apron. It was clear that he had spent a considerable amount of time in the kitchen, embodying the image of a domesticated man.
He placed the tray on the table, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His eyes sparkled as they met Gu Zi’s. “Mother, I have prepared afternoon tea. Mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, you’ve returned just in time. Please sit and have some. I’ve set aside some for Uncle and Auntie.”
During his winter break, he had learned a plethora of recipes from his mother. From cooking porridge and making desserts to brewing sweet soups, nothing was too challenging for him anymore.
Preparing a suitable afternoon tea for his family was a minor task. Since the adults were all busy, he could help share some of the burden, making things easier for his mother.
He had no intention of currying favor. He simply wanted to express his gratitude to his mother by doing more.
After his mother had secured a job at the newspaper, he had overheard his grandparents discussing her plans. He learned that his mother had intended to continue her studies but had decided to take a break after getting into university to take care of him and his siblings. She planned to return to university when his younger sister was older.
Although Su Bing had not yet attended high school, let alone university, he understood the value of a university education. Attending university meant having a higher starting point than many others.
Yet, his mother was willing to delay her university education for them. He knew this was a significant sacrifice. He wanted to do better to repay his wonderful mother.
A sense of gratification welled up in Gu Zi’s eyes. Su Bing had been learning culinary skills from her during this period and was now capable of preparing some relatively intricate and complex dishes. She examined the food on the tray carefully, recognizing the mixed grain cakes and almond soup.
The cake was translucent, with each grain clearly visible. The almond soup was milky white and thick, tempting one to take a sip at first glance. The food was aesthetically pleasing.
This reminded Gu Zi of when they first arrived at Daqing Village. Back then, Su Bing could only steam and boil simple dishes. The brothers’ meals were very basic, and even having a properly cooked sweet potato was a matter of luck. Looking at it now, the eldest brother’s culinary skills had improved significantly. He was indeed a good boy.
If Su Bing could gradually overcome his fear of women and be more accepting of them, she could foresee that he would be a considerate husband and father in the future. The girl who married him would be very fortunate!
However, seeing him handle everything so meticulously, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Gu Zi immediately handed Su Le to Su Shen, took a tissue, and walked over to Su Bing. She wiped the sweat from his temples that he had missed and gently ruffled his hair, praising softly, “Our eldest is the best and most attentive. Where can we find such a good boy?”
Mother Lin and her husband had already started their afternoon tea. They first tasted the mixed grain cakes, which had a chewy texture and the original flavor of the grains filled their mouths. They then took a sip of the almond soup, which was fragrant, smooth, and creamy, bringing them a sense of happiness. They put their worries behind them, truly impressed by the young apprentice their daughter had brought up.
Mother Lin echoed Gu Zi’s words, “Of course, it would be hard to find even with a lantern. Not to mention anything else, just based on our eldest grandson’s excellent cooking skills, he won’t have any trouble finding a wife in the future.”
Su Bing was serving almond soup to his parents when he heard these words. His cheeks flushed, his eyes lowered, and his movements became somewhat stiff. A wife?
For some reason, the first person he thought of was his classmate Jiang Nuan, a girl as radiant as the sun. But he was about to transfer schools, and he wouldn’t see Jiang Nuan anymore. He felt a sense of loss.
Gu Zi also had a taste of the almond soup. However, she was unaware that the change she had once hoped for was quietly taking place. Su Bing was no longer as resistant to women as before. In fact, the first girl who had stirred his heart was Jiang Nuan.