The youngsters, too, were bamboozled by her, though not excessively so.
Li Qian, observing the two additional people, voiced his confusion through his glasses, "Who are these two?"
Before Su Mo could respond, Mrs. Su interjected, "I am Su Mo’s mother."
Seeing this... Li Qian couldn’t help but take another look. Glancing back at Su Mo’s nonchalant demeanor, he tenderly said, "Too messy, truly indiscernible as mother and daughter."
"Let’s go, let’s go back and properly host my mother," Su Mo said as she got into the car, her eyes curved in a chilling smile.
She seemed to have overlooked a major issue that had been undetected for over twenty years.
The car sped toward the Inner Ring, and the sight inside took Mrs. Su by surprise. Her mouth almost formed an ’O’: "Is this... where you live?"
Amidst the beautiful scenery and the pleasant environment of the villa complex, Mrs. Su couldn’t help but fantasize about her future luxurious life. Stuttering, she asked Su Mo, "What kind of man have you entangled yourself with?"
In her eyes, her daughter Su Mo was merely a woman who lived by being kept, a life of mere survival. Su Mo cast a glance at her and coolly said, "I’ve snagged someone who could easily throw you out."
Mrs. Su instantly fell silent, receiving a range of malicious glances in the car. She dejectedly bowed her head and sat properly, not daring to look around aimlessly.
Upon reaching the entrance of the villa, Mrs. Su hurriedly entered, feeling around as she went.
Su Niang had just come out of the kitchen and met Mrs. Su head-on. Before she could speak, Mrs. Su had already pushed her way into the kitchen, her eyes locked onto the basket of meat and vegetables:
"Do you eat this... every day?"
Her mouth was nearly drooling. Su Niang stepped out and asked puzzled, "Who is this?"
"A guest," Su Mo replied with a smile.
Jianxiong dropped Su Huaguang, who he had been carrying on his shoulder, to the ground. The frozen palm shattered upon impact with the floor, and a pinky finger fell off. He stared in shock but then cautiously looked to Su Mo, "Sister, I didn’t..."
Jianxiong swallowed back the words: "It’s intentional.."
"Is there still a room available upstairs?" Su Mo asked Li Qian.
"Third floor, there’s still one," Li Qian nodded and gently replied.
"Mom," Su Mo turned and in the blink of an eye was in front of Mrs. Su. She pulled her out of the kitchen and pointed to the dazed Su Huaguang on the floor, "Go upstairs and clean yourself up."
Mrs. Su, thrilled, followed Jianxiong carrying the body upstairs.
"Momo, are these your parents?" Zhao Changsheng immediately sensed that those two were up to no good.
"No need to rush, let them clean up and then we can recognize them," Su Mo replied with a smile.
She looked around curiously, "Where’s Ling Ye?"
"That kid has a bit of a cold and is in bed. I’ve made him some porridge. I’ll get him to eat it in a bit," Su Niang responded.
Su Mo nodded, "I’ll get some cold medicine for him tomorrow."
"No need, no need, the kid doesn’t have a fever. Just keep him warm for a while," Su Niang said, waving her hands worried about causing any trouble.
Lu Chen coldly said from behind, "I’ll go."
Su Mo didn’t object. With Jianxiong already arranging things upstairs, she turned to Lu Chen and asked, "Have you got a rope?"
The man handed over a rope, which Su Mo received and then threw to Jianxiong, "Once the two are washed, tie them up. I’ll go make dinner."
Jianxiong nodded in agreement.
Su Mo approached the kitchen, the ginger in her basket almost used up. The progress bar underneath the panel already had a thousand points. She happily opened the recipe store and found the ginger she needed on the last few pages, priced at a hundred and five points each.
She immediately clicked the buy button, and five ginger-like little figures appeared in Su Mo’s hand. She placed them in the kitchen, disconnected from the store, and opened the fish pond, which had already been upgraded to a capacity of 200.
Sea cucumbers, fifty points each, were bought by Su Mo, who threw ten into the pond. They would mature in 24 hours, so it seemed she could make porridge for Aunt Jiang tomorrow night.
Tonight, she thought, let’s make Crucian Carp and Ginger Soup. To ensure good flavor and taste, Su Mo directly spent five hundred points to buy the recipe.
[Crucian Carp and Ginger Soup Recipe Successful Purchase]
Su Mo opened the recipe, immediately captivated by the Spring Sandalwood. She looked through the seasoning section and didn’t see it, only finding it in the recipe market, a great ingredient for soup and for stimulating the spleen.
After spending ten points to buy it, she fished two Crucian Carps out of the pond. One was for braising and the other for the soup.
With the new ingredients from the market, she had all she needed for the braised Crucian Carp. After stewing the fish in the iron pot, she took out the Flat Pot and started to make the braised fish dish.
Su Niang came to pick up the cooked porridge and took it upstairs to feed Ling Ye.
With all ingredients now complete, the aroma of the braised fish filled nearly the entire villa.
[Name]: Braised Crucian Carp (Recorded)
[Used Materials]: Crucian carp, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, aged vinegar... (fully stocked)
[Flavor Score]: 10 (10 is perfect; the higher the score, the more the bonus points)
[Status Bonus]: Strength Points +6 (no time limit, one-time use per person)
When the fish came out of the pot, as expected, the points were replenished. The dish she had been preparing all the way from the prison did not disappoint.
After setting the fish on the table, she found some Bok Choy and potatoes in the basket sent from the Jiang Residence, stir-fried them as usual, and fearing that Jianxiong might still be hungry, she also boiled a large pot of hot and sour tripe soup in the villa’s kitchen.
The kitchen was bustling, and on the third floor, Mrs. Su, who just finished taking a cold bath and was shivering, was suddenly tied to a chair by Jianxiong with a piece of rope.
She struggled fiercely, "What are you doing! Are you killing someone! Help!"
Jianxiong frowned deeply, bent down, took off his own sock, and stuffed it into Mrs. Su’s mouth, "It’s little sister’s request, you just stay here."
Mrs. Su was almost suffocated by the pungent smell and rolled her eyes.
On the floor, Su Huaguang, his face freshly cleaned, was also tied to a bed. After completing all this, Jianxiong, smelling the enticing aroma of fish in the air, grinning, went downstairs.
The dishes were ready, and the fish stewing in the iron pot was nearly done. Su Mo timed it and turned off the heat.
[Name]: Crucian Carp and Ginger Soup (Recorded)
[Used Materials]: Crucian carp, ginger strips... (collected)
[Flavor Score]: 7 (10 is perfect; the higher the score, the more the bonus points)
[Status Bonus]: Antiabortifacient (duration 48 hours)
Pleased with the resulting status, Su Mo found the effects quite satisfactory. However, always struggling with controlling amounts with the iron pot, she served several small bowls, one per person, keeping the rest warm in the pot to have Su Niang take it over later.
"Dinner’s ready!" Su Mo called out to the outside.
Jianxiong was the first to rush and seated himself at the round table while Lu Chen helped carry several bowls of fish soup out.
Except for Ling Ye, everyone was there, each with a bowl of fragrant, milky-white soup in front of them.