Huang Lina arrived at the ward with her mask on, sneaking around cautiously.
It was so hot on the way there, she didn’t know how she managed to make it.
She truly had all sorts of expectations on the road, looking forward to seeing Huang Man scold Zhao Mei.
What she did not expect was that, apart from making arrangements for them, Huang Man had also made arrangements for Zhao Mei.
Like becoming a Professional Mourner or farming and selling vegetables, she was truly astounded.
Had it been yesterday, she definitely would have said someone must have gone crazy, but now she knew it was not that she had gone crazy, but that she was just unwilling to put up with it anymore.
Huang Lina didn’t know if she could enter at this time, what if she disrupted Huang Man who was busy with important matters.
Turning her head and seeing her, Huang Man waved her in, "Right, you can ask Mom what her favorite dishes are."
"She remembers what you all like to eat, so as a return, you should know what she likes and then go home and cook it."
Then, with a smile on her face, she turned to Zhao Mei, "Mom, if you have any complaints about the food, feel free to give your feedback."
"After all, with your feedback, she can know how to improve and make dishes to your satisfaction."
Huang Lina looked pitifully at Zhao Mei, hoping to be let off the hook.
Zhao Mei was utterly dissatisfied with the breakfast; the taste was genuinely awful.
But to say that Huang Lina’s cooking was terrible in front of Huang Man—wouldn’t that be giving Huang Man something to laugh about?
"It’s alright, I think it’s quite good." Perhaps feeling that this wasn’t enough to one-up Huang Man, "I think it’s tastier than what the eldest daughter cooks."
Hearing this, Huang Lina felt something was dreadfully wrong, knowing that things did not bode well; Zhao Mei thought this would strike at Huang Man, unaware of how pleased she might actually be.
Especially when seeing someone’s smug expression, they had clearly underestimated Huang Man, thinking she would always let them push her around.
They never expected that once she went mad, she could be so unrestrained, beyond anyone’s control.
Want to see her looking embarrassed? Sorry, not having to cook was actually a relief to her.
"Yes, Mom, if you think Huang Lina’s dishes are delicious, then that’s great."
"You heard that, right, Huang Lina? From now on, you will do all the cooking at home; Mom said it, she likes what you cook."
"After all, you are the dutiful daughter she praised herself."
"Perform well, with you looking after Mom by her side, I truly feel relieved."
Ah, Zhao Mei just wanted to squash Huang Man a bit, to provoke her, to make her cook, as Huang Lina’s cooking was really unappetizing.
Not to mention the taste, but at least the ingredients were never even fully cooked; the rice felt underdone, and as for the taste of the other dishes, it was truly hard to describe.
Was she going to have to eat such food from now on? Zhao Mei’s vision darkened as she contemplated the prospect with dread.
"Mom, don’t worry, I believe Huang Lina will definitely work hard to improve her culinary skills, especially under your guidance, her level will surely rise."
Remembering Zhao Mei’s own cooking skills, Huang Man could only think that at this moment, it showed they were mother and daughter; the food they cooked was so unpalatable.
"Does your brother also eat this at home?" Zhao Mei wondered, thinking of Huang Xin still at home, and hoping he wasn’t also eating this same food, which was barely edible.
"I left some food for him, but I don’t know if he ate it." Huang Lina didn’t even want to eat her own cooking; Huang Xin, who was so picky, would he eat it?
Would Huang Xin eat these dishes? Huang Man glanced at it and could only think this slop was not fit for pigs, let alone Huang Xin, and she estimated Huang Lina herself wouldn’t eat it either.
I have to admit, Zhao Mei really is a good mother, she would actually call such hard-to-swallow food delicious.
For someone who mindlessly praises like that, let her bear the consequences of her words. Then she’ll learn what can be said and what can’t be said.
"Mom, since Huang Lina has brought food, you guys eat, I’m going out to eat." She didn’t dare eat this kind of food.
"Have some too." No way, if she wasn’t going to eat, what were they supposed to do? Zhao Mei looked at the pile of food, and the world went dark before her eyes, "We can’t finish it all."
"Let Huang Lina eat with you."
"If you think the two of you can’t finish it, let Huang Lina take it home. She can cook something new in the evening or heat this up and bring it over."
"I’m not going to eat it, I lose my appetite just looking at this food. I’m going out for a bowl of noodles."
Since she had money, she didn’t need to force herself. Of course, just noodles wasn’t enough—she had to add a spare rib.
The original host’s body was quite weak due to poor nutrition for a long time. To live well and go further, she had to have proper nutrition.
Zhao Mei and her daughter just watched as Huang Man went out to eat, without any intention of staying to eat with them, they were truly stunned.
"She, she..." Huang Lina looked at an astonished Zhao Mei, thinking she would call her back, but she didn’t react at all.
They weren’t going to end up under Huang Man’s control, quietly obedient, were they? If that was the case, would they have any fun left at all?
Zhao Mei looked at the food in front of her and thought that what she previously found distasteful actually was not that bad—it at least looked good.
But looking at the food now, it wasn’t just the taste that was off—it also looked unappealing, and what’s worse, it wasn’t even fully cooked.
Taking advantage of Huang Man’s absence, Zhao Mei wanted to offer some advice, but Huang Lina was already fuming—and didn’t expect Zhao Mei would want to lecture her.
Instantly angered, she lashed out at Zhao Mei, who burst into tears.
Watching Zhao Mei cry in front of her, Huang Lina suddenly agreed with what Huang Man had said earlier, "I think my sister is right."
"You’re useless at everything, you might as well become a ’Professional Mourner’. You could make quite a bit of money."
"Dad is gone too, you can earn the money." Huang Lina spoke with confidence and righteousness.
Zhao Mei was shocked; she had never thought that Huang Lina would agree to such a suggestion.
"You, you don’t think it would be embarrassing?" Zhao Mei definitely didn’t want to do it. If word got out, everyone would laugh at her.
Pride, well, that wasn’t her pride anyway, "It’s better than having no money at home. Mom, think about it, what kind of work can you do if you go out to work?"
"As for farming, Dad and my older sister used to do most of it."
"Now that Dad is gone, do you think my oldest sister will farm?" Their relationship was already strained, Huang Lina knew Huang Man wouldn’t be like before.
"Not farm—the land will just sit there unused?" Zhao Mei might not farm, but she couldn’t bear to miss out on the grain.
"Well, there’s you, I definitely won’t farm." Working under the scorching sun would roughen the skin, how would that attract wealthy people? Huang Lina didn’t want to end up like Huang Man.
"Mom, think about it, if we run out of money at home, how will we survive?" Huang Lina knew that Zhao Mei had some money, but that money was surely meant for Huang Xin.
"How are we out of money, didn’t your dad get a pension?"
"Once your sister graduates from college, she’ll earn a salary and can contribute it to the family." Zhao Mei absolutely refused to consider going out to work and earn money.
"I’m the head of the family." Zhao Mei declared with an air of authority.