Chapter Ten Help Me Drink It Away

  As the first dish was stir-fried in the pot, a strong fragrance wafted out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and into the living room, where Father, Mother, and Wei Bei were chatting. They couldn't help but wriggle their noses and take deep breaths of the aroma.

  "How fragrant! Is this something our son came up with?" The mother looked at Shangguan Yi in disbelief.

  Shangguan Yi's face was full of surprise, and he stood up: "I'll go take a look."

  Shangguan Yi had just left, and turned to ask Beibei: "Auntie, what's going on here?"

  Her mother's face showed a hint of inexplicable comfort, saying: "Daughter, you don't know, my son can cook, but he's always been average, today is the first time I've smelled such a delicious smell." After a pause, her mother suddenly looked at Weiwei with a meaningful smile and said: "Daughter, it seems that my son has put in a lot of thought for you!"

  He winked at Baby and chuckled: "Then I'm in luck today."

  The reaction of Xiang Beibei made the mother secretly disappointed. In her opinion, if Xiang Beibei really had some thoughts about her son, she would have at least shown a hint of shyness after hearing what she just said. But Xiang Beibei remained calm and composed, without any sign of embarrassment, which meant that he didn't have any such intentions. The last hope was shattered, and the mother could only feel sorrowful and disappointed.

  In the kitchen, Shangguan Yiyi saw Shangguan Yan walking in, stirring the spoon while asking: "Dad, why are you here?"

  Shangguan Yi was surprised to see his son's skilled ladle movements: "Son, when did you learn how to stir-fry? And this dish is also very fragrant, where did you learn it?"

  Shangguan Nengren was delighted: Isn't it impressive? Your son has actually elevated his culinary skills to E-level, which is on par with a head chef at an ordinary restaurant. What's the big deal about just a small dish?!

  These words were just thought in his heart, and Shangguan Naren took out the excuse he had prepared early: "I checked it online, now the network is convenient! Want to do what dish, check online can find the method, I am also trying for the first time today, looks like the effect is not bad."

  Thank you, Duanzi and Gu Ge. Your existence benefits billions of netizens worldwide and provides a solid backing for those who need excuses around the world. I hope good people live forever and troubles disappear in a thousand years.

  Shangguan Yi is a typical semi-illiterate, not very familiar with the internet, and has no reason to doubt Shangguan Neng's words. On the contrary, he is deeply impressed by the power of the internet: "I didn't expect that I could find so many things online, the internet is really a good thing."

  "That's what they all say, isn't it? In the 21st century, if you don't know how to use a computer and go online, you're basically illiterate and will be eliminated by society. Dad, I suggest that you and mom learn more about computers in the future, even if it's not very useful, at least you won't be eliminated by society." Xiang Neng was instructing Xiang Yi, this family is Xiang Yi's domain, as long as Xiang Yi is familiar with and likes going online, then there won't be any more incidents of being disconnected from the internet. For Xiang Neng, not being able to go online is really too painful, even more painful than ** later enduring it silently."

  For my future, Dad, you're going down!

  Shangguan Yi was indeed moved: "So computers are that important, I'll try to learn about them in the future."

  Yes!

  Shangguan Nengren was secretly giving a victory sign in his heart, while on the surface he maintained an air of "it's only natural": "Dad, this is just right, live and learn till old age, keep up with the times!"

  "Hmm." Officer Yi nodded: "You're right, we must keep up with the times. So, your computer has been confiscated. I'll return it to you when I've learned how to use the internet."

  "Ah?!" Officer Nang was stunned.

  "Waaah, Dad, you can't do this! You've confiscated my computer, what am I supposed to do?"

  Shangguan Yili said matter-of-factly: "You're studying so hard now and don't have much time to go online, let's talk about it after the college entrance exam!"

  "But..."

  "There's no buts." Officer Yi turned around and walked out of the kitchen: "It's settled then, cook your meal!"

  Watching Shangguan Yi's figure disappear around the corner, Shangguan Neng slapped himself twice: "You're so garrulous! You're so garrulous!"

  What a pathetic young man!

  As dish after dish of fragrant dishes were placed on the dinner table, Shangguan Yi and his mother's stomachs growled loudly, while Beibei kept taking deep breaths to suppress her hunger, afraid of losing face.

  When the golden and crispy fried egg cake pieces were placed on the dinner table, Shang Guan Neng Ren took off his apron: "Dinner is ready, everyone come and eat!"

  "Here!" Shangguan Yi and his mother couldn't help it anymore. Shangguan Yi was reckless, standing up and running out. His mother politely said to Beibei, "Little girl, Auntie will take you to wash your hands."

  She smiled and nodded at Beibei: "Thank you, Auntie."

  "This child of yours is just inviting pity." After chatting for so long, the mother became more and more reluctant to part with Bei Bei. At the same time, she was also a little afraid that if there were a few more times like this, she would really be unable to bear it and use unconventional means to make Bei Bei her daughter-in-law.

  What means are being used? Adult stores sell certain drugs that promote marital feelings, even fierce women have to become wanton, and many pigs who have passed through the white vegetable market haven't used this method a few times.

  After washing his hands in the bathroom, he followed Beibei and his mother to the dining room. At this time, Shangguan Yi poured himself a glass of white wine. Normally, Shangguan Yi didn't drink much at home, but today Shangguan Nian's delicious dishes had triggered his craving for alcohol. Good food paired with wine was even more enjoyable, and since it was Sunday, Shangguan Yi decided to indulge himself.

  Shangguan Nengren took a large bottle of fruit juice from the refrigerator, poured it into three glasses, and saw his mother and Xiang Beibei coming in. He called out: "Mom, Xiang Beibei, come sit down quickly and taste my handiwork."

  The table was set for four people, a rectangular table. Mother sat next to Shangguan Yi, and naturally, BeiBei had to sit next to Shangguan Neng.

  Shangguan Nengren handed the juice to Xiang Beibei and said, "Come try some of my cooking, it's all home-style dishes, don't be picky!"

  Handed a glass of juice to Bebe, said thank you, smiled and said: "You're so hypocritical! It's obviously so delicious, yesterday was intentionally deceiving me!"

  "It's nothing special, I just made some ordinary dishes. Don't be fooled by how similar they look to restaurant food - as long as you have the ingredients, any average housewife can make them, it's not a big deal." Shang Guan explained.

  It's better not to explain, but once explained, her mother suddenly looked disheartened and muttered: "An ordinary housewife can do it, an ordinary housewife can do it..."

  Mom, I'm sorry, I hurt you.

  Seeing his wife's gloomy face, Officer Guo cleared his throat and raised his wine cup: "Niece, this is your first time here, so Uncle won't say anything. Just treat this as your own home, eat if you want to eat, drink if you want to drink, and don't be polite."

  "Uncle, you're too polite. Actually, as soon as I came in and saw you and Auntie, I felt at home and treated this place like my own house. I wasn't being polite just now! You shouldn't be polite to me either, Uncle."

  "Alright, I won't be polite with you either, uncle. Do as you like."

  He downed half a catty of wine in one gulp, and Shangguan Yi launched an attack on the fried peanuts. To say that the simplest and most comfortable dish to go with wine is peanuts, regardless of whether they are fried, five-spiced, or boiled, they are all good matches for wine. Today, Shangguan was able to fry the peanuts until they were bright red and emitted a strong fragrance. He picked one up and put it in his mouth, biting down on it with his teeth, and suddenly his lips and tongue were filled with the aroma. The rich peanut flavor made Shangguan Yi unable to help but exclaim: "Son, your fried peanuts are not bad, the heat is just right."

  Shangguan Neng looked at Shangguan Yi with a gloomy expression, probing: "Dad, it's rare for my son to cook something so delicious, that computer..."

  "Cough, there's progress, but can't be complacent, still need to continue working hard." Shangguan Yi ate a piece of cucumber: "Hmm, quite refreshing, not bad."

  Shangguan Ruo: "......"

  Xiang Beibei didn't consider herself an outsider at all, and when eating, she wasn't polite in the slightest. Whatever she wanted to eat, she'd just pick it up and start eating. Especially those crispy fried egg and rice cake pieces that Shang Guan Neng had specifically mentioned as a staple food yesterday - the fragrant, crunchy, and savory feeling made Xiang Beibei eat with great relish, devouring five pieces all by herself, her mouth overflowing with oil.

  In a traditional family, they would definitely think that Beibei is not well-behaved and lacks manners, but Shangguan's parents like honest people, the more generous and unpretentious Beibei is, the more they like her.

  "Girl, have another piece." Seeing that Beibei stopped after eating the fifth piece, her mother quickly gave her another one.

  "Bebe, I'm full, can't eat anymore."

  "Are you full already? You've only eaten a little! Have some more." The mother continued to persuade him to eat.

  Bai turned to Auntie with a wry smile: "Auntie, I really can't eat anymore. Don't believe me? Look at my belly, it's all swollen up."

  As she spoke, she stood up in front of Beibei, her belly protruding slightly, which was previously flat.

  Her mother saw this and finally let her off, saying regretfully: "You child, everything is fine, it's just that your appetite is too small. You should know that being able to eat is a blessing, so you must practice eating more in the future."

  Bai Bei smiled wryly: "Yes, Auntie, I'll definitely practice eating more from now on."

  "That's right." Mother nodded in satisfaction, saying: "Since you can't eat anymore, drink some juice. Son, what are you still dazing about? Quickly pour some for him."

  Shangguan Nengren and Xiang Beibei exchanged a helpless glance, Shangguan Nengren poured fruit juice for Xiang Beibei and whispered: "My mom is like this, don't mind her."

  Shaking her head gently at Beibei, she smiled and said: "I won't, but my stomach really can't hold anything else. I'll just take a sip later, then you drink the rest of this cup."

  "Hmm... okay!" The school flower's remaining juice was in the same glass, wasn't that an indirect kiss? Shang Guan Nian's face was full of anticipation.

  It seemed that BeiBei had sensed something, her eyes narrowed, and she pulled out her small foot from the sports shoes under the table and kicked gently on Shang Guan's calf.

  "Hmm..." Shang Guan Neng turned his head to look at Bei Bei, seeing her eyes gleaming with a sly smile, and couldn't help but break out in cold sweat. He cleared his throat: "Dad, have some more pickled cucumber, it's great for drinking."

  Shangguan Yi: "Son, have you gone crazy? The cucumber was eaten long ago."

  "Uh... cough!" Shangguan Neng's face turned bright red with shame and anger, he lowered his head to pick at his rice, too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze.

  Thank you 'Chen Bao Bao' for rewarding 100 starting coins, thank you 'Gu Niang Po' for rewarding 400 starting coins, and thank you 'Xuan Ji Feng Han' for rewarding 588 starting coins.

  PS: Last night around 10 o'clock, the author's Achilles tendon became increasingly painful. He thought that going to sleep early would alleviate the pain, but at 3 am, he woke up in agony, with his right Achilles tendon completely unable to bear weight, feeling weak all over, dry mouth and tongue, and a sudden urge to urinate. When he went to the bathroom, his body became even weaker, dizzy, and fainted on the spot, hitting his head and bleeding profusely from his hand and shoulder. He was in shock for several minutes before regaining consciousness, crawling out of the bathroom covered in cold sweat, but feeling slightly better. However, the pain in his Achilles tendon persisted, and the wounds on his head, hand, and shoulder continued to bleed. After finally stopping the bleeding with toilet paper, he called his sister-in-law and brother to wake them up, enduring the pain to go to the hospital. On the way, he called his parents, who were anxious and rushed to the hospital as well. The diagnosis was Achilles tendonitis, which the doctor said was difficult to cure and prone to recurrence. He took medication from the hospital and went to his parents' house at 4 am, then called his wife back home. He stayed at his parents' house until evening, taking three doses of medicine, feeling much better, but still unable to squat or use the bathroom easily. To make matters worse, he had diarrhea, which exhausted him. His wife bought medication for diarrhea, and after taking it, he finally felt better. This was the author's experience today, extremely miserable and unexpected.