Everyone was intrigued by what Great Uncle had just shared, âWho is it? Is it... Susuâs boyfriend? The boy that she brought home?â
âStop talking and start playing,â said Jiang Peiying as she took a tile.
âYouâre not denying it, so is it true then?â Yan Suâs Auntie was invigorated. âIs it the professor that you were going to introduce to Yan Su? You said that he was the son of Yan Lvâs friend...â
âNope,â Jiang Peiying said. âYouâll meet him laterâIâll introduce him to all of you. Heâs still busy cooking in the kitchen now, so donât go swarming in there. We all still have to have lunch after all.â
Great Uncle laughed and said, âWeâd much rather go to your Yan Suâs wedding banquet. By the way, you should be careful with Susuâs boyfriendâweâre all so worried about her. She had a baby out of wedlock after all.â
âDonât worry, everyone will be watching out for her.â Jiang Peiying sighed. âI would never accept anyone lower than our standards.â
The eldersâ conversation had made its way to some of Yan Suâs older cousins. Yan Mi put her arm around Yan Su and asked, âWow, are you back together with Shi Xiang now?â
âOh God, is Shi Xiang in the kitchen?â exclaimed Yan Suâs younger cousin, who was a die-hard of Shi Xiangâs. She shrieked with excitement, âI want to go kiss him and hug him.â
âItâs not Shi Xiang,â Yan Su shook her head.
âWhy isnât it him?â said her younger cousin, disappointed. âShi Xiang is so good looking, he is almost like a god. Second Uncle has no taste at allâhe should never have stopped you from getting together with Shi Xiang in the first place. If he didnât, Shi Xiang might have become my brother-in-law already.â
âYou guys go ahead, Iâm going to the washroom,â Yan Su excused herself and slipped away.
In the kitchen, Mo Liuxi wore an apron around his waist, checking on the steamed pork he had put in the steamer earlier on. The pork was honey-golden brown and it looked tender and delicious. A mouth-watering scent wafted through the entire kitchen.
He sprinkled some fresh spring onions over the dish and the food looked as tantalizing as anything a restaurant would have on its menu.
âDid you really make this?â said Yan Su as she popped over his shoulder.
Mo Liuxi turned and looked at her affectionately, âDo you want to have a taste?â
Yan Su grabbed a pair of chopsticks and tasted the porkâit was fatty but not too rich. The scent of the pork was heavenly. âItâs delicious!â
Auntie Wu who was washing vegetables on the side laughed, âHe really made all of these. Iâve been just helping with the prep work. I was a little worried initially but I didnât expect him to be so experienced in the kitchen. His knife skills are far better than mine. Iâve been in the kitchen for decades but I dare say his culinary skills are comparable to mine.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Yan Su was shocked. She whispered to Mo Liuxi, âI have never seen you cook Jiangxi dishes before.â
Mo Liuxi grinned and whispered into her ear, âI learned it after Christmas. I wouldnât dare to come back home with you if I wasnât well prepared for all this.â
Yan Su whispered back, âDonât you have classes to go to? You have to get ready to shoot a new movie next year as well.â
âThere is always time. I learned these dishes at night,â Mo Liuxi laughed. âI hired a renowned Jiangxi chef to teach me all of this. It took me about two hours every night. Anyway, I already knew how to cook in the first place, so itâs not too difficult for meâthe cuisine isnât too complicated either. The freshness of the ingredients plays a big role in the taste.â
âLiuxi...â Yan Su was moved. She bit on her lower lip. âBut... it must have been so hard on you.â
âIâm willing to work hard for you,â Mo Liuxi said gently. âYou are from Jiangxi and you must enjoy the food from your hometown. Itâs a good investment since I can now cook all of your favorite hometown dishes for you when we get married.â
âThank you.â Yan Su was extremely moved. Ignoring Auntie Wu, who was still in the kitchen with them, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist and tiptoed to give him a peck on the cheeks. She said softly, âI havenât had such an amazing Lunar New Year in years.â