CHAPTER 301: CHAPTER 296: PHOENIX MAN

"Must be tired from the ride, hurry back to the room and sit down." Granny Liu casually wiped her hands and was about to help Zhang Meng carry the suitcase.

"Auntie, I’m not tired, the suitcase is a bit heavy, I can carry it myself."

"Oh dear, us city girls don’t have the strength that comes from doing farm work every day, I better do it." Without hesitating, she snatched the suitcase away, and though her words seemed to complain, the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile.

Zhang Meng looked helplessly at Ye Qiu and decided to pick up another suitcase. They brought back quite a few things this time, most of which were for Granny Liu.

"Mom, this is a massage foot bath that Mengmeng bought for you. She heard you often suffer from insomnia and leg pain, so this foot bath specifically massages the pressure points on the soles of the feet, and comes with a special medicinal pack, which helps improve sleep and nourish the body."

"And this one, you always say you have neck pain, right? This is for massaging the neck. Mengmeng originally wanted to buy a massage chair, the kind that can massage the whole body, but the chair is too heavy and too complicated, and we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to transport it back, or that you wouldn’t know how to use it, so we bought two items that are easier to carry and have simpler functions."

"Oh my, you young people don’t know how to save, which one of us country folks doesn’t have some minor ailments? Why do I need these fancy things, how much did they cost you!" Although she complained, Liu Sanying’s smile never left her face.

"This is all Mengmeng’s thoughtfulness, you don’t have to worry about the money. We are all graduates from prestigious universities; are we afraid of not making money in the future? Mengmeng said, after you come to live with us in the city, we’ll get a therapy card for you at the hospital, and have the old Chinese doctors give you a treatment once a month, aiming to keep you healthy, living to a ripe old age, and watching your grandchildren grow up into adults."

The more Ye Qiu talked, the broader Granny Liu’s smile became, and her gaze towards Zhang Meng grew more affectionate.

Actually, Zhang Meng felt somewhat guilty, as she had never said those things; it was all made up by Ye Qiu. Moreover, it was Ye Qiu who paid for the gifts, not allowing her any chance to contribute. Initially, she didn’t want to live with her mother-in-law in the future, but seeing the future mother-in-law’s longing look, her heart softened a bit.

It appeared that the future mother-in-law wasn’t unreasonable and was quite easy to please.

"Alright, alright, I understand your intentions, hurry back to your room to wash up. I’ve already heated the water. Once we clean up, we’ll eat. Mom killed an old hen today, it’s been stewing for half a day. You two have also worked hard studying; you should replenish your energy."

"Thank you, Auntie, Ye Qiu has already told me about your excellent cooking skills, I will definitely taste it later." Zhang Meng said, flattering her.

Granny Liu was clearly very pleased: "That’s right, who in these ten miles and eight villages would dare to speak ill of my cooking skills? Look, it’s because I cook delicious and nutritious meals that Ye Qiu has grown up so well."

"That’s only half of it, the other half is thanks to inheriting your good genes, Auntie. You are so beautiful, that’s why Ye Qiu is so handsome."

"Genes or no genes, I don’t know, but back in the day, I was definitely the belle of Liu Village. There were so many suitors at my door, and I don’t know how I ended up choosing Ye Qiu’s dad, that blockhead."

"It’s because you have great vision, Auntie, otherwise how could you have such an outstanding son like Ye Qiu?"

"Indeed, haha..."

Watching the two women entering the house, Ye Qiu smiled helplessly at the pile of things and resignedly went to tidy up. Things were going smoother than he had anticipated; now it seemed Mengmeng had already mastered his mom’s weak points.

"Auntie, this chicken soup you made is just too good, smooth but not greasy, and the chicken meat, fragrant without being dry. I’ve never tasted chicken soup this delicious before." Upon arriving at Granny Liu’s place, Zhang Meng seemingly effortlessly hit the flattery button, even more adept than Ye Qiu.

Granny Liu was thrilled by the praise, feeling that this daughter-in-law was truly wonderful: "If it’s good, drink more. Tomorrow Auntie will stew another one for you. Let me tell you, this chicken is a free-range one I raised myself. The farm chickens from the city don’t taste like this at all."

"Auntie, you are truly kind." Zhang Meng smiled sweetly and picked up another chopstick-full of stir-fried beef, "This beef is so delicious, Auntie, how come it’s so much better than what we get in the cafeteria!"

"Of course, the cafeteria food can’t compare to mine. Try this, the taro has been stewed until it’s very fragrant and soft."

"It’s delicious." Zhang Meng genuinely found it tasty and hadn’t expected Ye Qiu’s mother to have such cooking skills. She smiled obediently, "Following you, I’ll be blessed with good food in the future, but I should learn more too, to avoid tiring you out."

"Not tiring, not tiring, I’m used to it," Granny Liu said with a chuckle, growing fonder of Zhang Meng the more she looked at her.

Her son had told her that his future daughter-in-law came from a rich second generation family, very wealthy. She didn’t expect her future daughter-in-law, far from despising an old woman like her, to actually be very fond of her cooking, even proactively offering to learn. Such a smart, beautiful, and sensible daughter-in-law truly matched their Ye Qiu!

"Auntie, let me do the dishes!" Zhang Meng offered proactively.

Actually, before coming, Li Xin specifically advised her not to voluntarily do any chores the first time she visited her mother-in-law’s house, or else she would have no standing in this family ever again. But Zhang Meng felt that since Ye Qiu’s mother had treated her with such delicious food, she couldn’t just be lazy, right? And neither Ye Qiu nor Ye Qiu’s mother looked like people who would bully her!

"That won’t do, your hands will be holding surgical tools in the future, you can’t be doing something as dangerous as washing dishes! I’ll wash the dishes," Granny Liu hurriedly objected.

"Auntie, it’s just washing dishes, it won’t hurt my hands," Zhang Meng was touched inside.

"Who says it won’t hurt? These are porcelain bowls, you’re not familiar with my kitchen, what if you break them and cut your hands?"

"Alright," Ye Qiuqing laughed lightly, "you all go and rest, I’ll wash the dishes today, I’m familiar with the kitchen and won’t get hurt."

"That won’t do either, I’ll do it."

"Mom, won’t you let me honor you this once?" Ye Qiu gently pushed Granny Liu out of the kitchen and tidied up the table alone.

Granny Liu’s face showed reluctance, but her heart was very comforted. They say one forgets their mother when they have a wife, but Ye Qiu’s behavior really reassured her.

"Well then, Auntie, why don’t you take me to look at the chickens and ducks you raised, and the vegetables you’ve grown? Ye Qiu told me that your livestock and vegetables are better than other households’."

"That’s right, the taro we had today was grown by me, big and floury, was it not tasty?"

"Yes, and the chili was very fragrant too! Unlike the vegetables in the city, all sprayed with pesticides, they’ve lost their flavor."

"Don’t worry, I’ll grow more in the future and send some over to you."

"Auntie, you really are too kind. But don’t grow too much, it’s bad if you tire yourself out."

"It’s fine, we country folks are used to working hard."