novellhall Chapter 303 My Mother-in-Law is Excellent
Chapter 303 My Mother-in-Law is Excellent
Zhuang Qingxiang and Lu Congyue left in good spirits, their steps light and quick.
"So happy?" Lu Congyue asked with a smile.
"I'm so happy!" Zhuang Qingxiang's eyes crinkled into a smile. "So many people like the braised pork I make. Sister Jin has a job now, and she's so much more energetic. How could I not be happy?"
Seeing her so happy, Lu Congyue's expression relaxed, and his heart softened.
"These pastry recipes and braised pork recipes of yours were all passed down to you by your mother-in-law, weren't they?"
Zhuang Qingxiang nodded.
The thought of her mother made her smile vanish.
My mother was an unlucky woman. She was sold as a child, endured hardship in the kitchen until adulthood, and was then forced to become someone's concubine. Even after giving birth to a daughter, she was kicked out of the house. After remarrying, she died young.
She always felt that her mother was born to suffer and endure hardship.
Just as she was feeling down, she heard Lu Congyue say gently, "My mother-in-law is truly outstanding."
"Huh?" Zhuang Qingxiang had never heard anyone use "excellent" to describe her mother before.
No matter how you look at it, it has nothing to do with mothers.
"Don't you think she's outstanding? Although I haven't spent time with her, I can tell from you that your mother-in-law is extremely intelligent and capable."
Lu Congyue said sincerely, "Your needlework, embroidery and cooking skills were all taught to you by your mother-in-law. You are already so good at them, so you can imagine how much more outstanding she must be."
Zhuang Qingxiang paused for a moment, then broke into a bright smile.
"You're right, my mother is an extremely, extremely, extremely outstanding woman."
Lu Congyue laughed along, "Let's go, there are too many people here, let's go home for dinner."
Zhuang Qingxiang and Lu Congyue still took the children home for lunch. After the afternoon nap, Jin Guilan rushed over and brought them half a jin of braised pig's head, which she had kept privately using her position.
Zhuang Qingxiang was both amused and exasperated: "Sister Jin, have you forgotten that I was the one who gave out the recipe? I know how to make it."
"You're so capable, this is my kind gesture," Jin Guilan said disapprovingly. "I was originally thinking of sending some over for you to try. Perfect, you can try it too, see if it tastes the same as what you make."
Just as Lu Congyue said, Deputy Manager Qian brought in a relative to specialize in braised meat so that he could feel at ease.
Jin Guilan brought over the braised pork that person had made.
Zhuang Qingxiang didn't stand on ceremony and cut off a piece to taste, then frowned slightly.
"The taste is a bit lacking..."
"It doesn't taste as good as what you make at home," Jin Guilan nodded. "However, it's still quite good, and everyone seems to be quite satisfied."
"I'm glad you're satisfied." Zhuang Qingxiang smiled. "Anyway, the recipe is fine; how it tastes depends on your skill."
The two chatted for a while, then Jin Guilan left in a hurry, as she still had to sell a batch during lunchtime.
Although she went out for a stroll today, Zhuang Qingxiang thought that since Lu Congyue was taking care of the children at home, she wanted to go out for a walk again.
I went to the residential area to ask around and see if anyone wanted to sell their house.
Unexpectedly, by sheer coincidence, she actually managed to find out about one.
It is said that the whole family was to be sent to the countryside, and it was uncertain whether they would be able to return. They wanted to take more money with them, so they wanted to sell their ancestral home.
Zhuang Qingxiang went straight home, told Lu Congyue, and asked him to inquire about the specifics.
Lu Congyue didn't expect to encounter such a good thing while she was out, so she didn't delay and rode her bicycle there.
Around dinnertime, Lu Congyue returned and told Zhuang Qingxiang what he had found out.
It's a small, detached house, but not very big. It has three single-story houses, a kitchen, and a storage room. The yard is also small, so you can't grow vegetables or anything like that.
The landlord is asking for 1,200, and is in a hurry to sell, so I think the price can be lowered a bit.
There is a housing shortage in the city right now, and some neighbors have their eyes on this house. Seeing that they are about to be demoted, they keep coming to their door to threaten them, trying to drive down the price and buy it.
The homeowner is unwilling to sell at a low price, so they are holding on, hoping to find a kind buyer.
"The neighbors are keeping a close eye on me. When I went there, someone was watching me," Lu Congyue said, frowning. "After I finished looking at the house, they even blocked my way and threatened me."
Zhuang Qingxiang got angry as soon as she heard that.
She is no longer the ignorant widow from the countryside she once was. Lu Congyue often talks to her about many things, and she knows that not all those who were sent down to the countryside are bad people; many of them were wronged.
"Then let's buy it," Zhuang Qingxiang said immediately, then glanced at Lu Congyue, "Aren't you afraid of being threatened?"
Lu Congyue chuckled: "I've already arranged with the landlord. We'll sign the contract and complete the formalities at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. After signing the contract, we'll hand over the keys. They'll send me a message when they leave, and then we'll clean the house and change the locks ourselves."
Zhuang Qingxiang was overjoyed that he made the decision on his own. If it weren't for Xiao Luyue watching, she would have wanted to hug and kiss him.
"With that unreasonable neighbor around, the homeowner definitely won't be able to find a more suitable buyer. Tomorrow, that little courtyard will be yours," Lu Congyue said with a smile.
Zhuang Qingxiang was overjoyed and immediately went back into the house to take out the money from under the box and count it.
She has enough money; she doesn't even need to use the small yellow croaker.
"Lu Congyue, here's the money, take it." Zhuang Qingxiang called Lu Congyue in and told him to keep the money safe so as not to delay tomorrow's important business.
Lu Congyue didn't stand on ceremony. Anyway, he had already given her all his money, so he couldn't bring himself to pay for it for her.
He said, feigning distress, "I've noticed you earn more money than me, and most of it is yours... Am I really that incompetent compared to you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhuang Qingxiang glared at him and slapped him. "You're so capable, how are you incompetent? Don't talk nonsense."
"I'm not as good as you, so from now on I'll rely on you completely. I'll just be a freeloader." Lu Congyue lowered his voice to act shamelessly, so as not to lose face if the child heard.
As a result, Lu Yue's puzzled voice came from behind.
"Dad, are you a gigolo?"
Lu Congyue's back stiffened, and he quickly turned around and picked up the little girl and put her on the kang (a heated brick bed): "No, you misheard. I was asking your mother if she should steam the rice a little softer tonight. I like soft rice."
Xiao Luyue suddenly realized: "Dad is getting old and his teeth aren't as good anymore, so we'll have to steam the rice softer from now on."
"Pfft..." Zhuang Qingxiang couldn't help but burst out laughing, not even having time to cover her mouth.
Lu Congyue gave her a resentful look and said to Xiao Luyue, "Nonsense, where is Daddy old? Only seventy or eighty years old is considered old. Daddy is only in his thirties now, still young."
"Xiao Fei's dad at our kindergarten seems to be only twenty-six years old..." Xiao Luyue tried hard to recall what her best friend had said, and it seemed to be twenty-six years old.
Lu Congyue: "..."
Little Lu Yue looked at her younger brothers with some sadness, and couldn't help but say, "Dad, you're over thirty, and your brothers aren't even a year old yet..."
"Ahem... Yueyue, you watch over your brothers for Mommy, Daddy's going to cook." Lu Congyue decided not to argue with the kids. What did they know?!