Taking advantage of the time waiting for the food to be served, the maternal grandfather of the Shen family started chatting with the grandparents again.
"You two have raised a pair of wonderful children! Especially Xiao Xia. I've watched her shows over the past two days, and she cooks so well at such a young age! Not to mention anything else, the way she cut that chrysanthemum tofu today was absolutely beautiful!"
"I heard she learned all her cooking skills from her family. You two are truly amazing!"
"One City, One Flavor" broadcasted two episodes a week, airing at noon on Fridays and Saturdays. As one of Xu Yanxia's most loyal fans, Old Master Shen made sure to tune in right on time for the premiere over the past two days, and then watched the replays twice more, not missing a single detail.
Hearing this, Grandpa Xu, who had also just watched his granddaughter's show, spoke the truth, "Old leader, you flatter me. I dare not take the credit. To be honest, it's because the child is highly talented. I started out as a cook in a small town and haven't read many books. I only know how to make some of our local Northern dishes. She studied many of the other dishes from cookbooks by herself since she was young."
"That's right,"
Grandma Xu also said with a smile, "I'm not afraid of you laughing at us, but our girl's culinary skills are actually above her grandfather's!"
"You're being too modest, too modest!"
Old Master Shen said to Grandpa Xu again, "I heard that when you were young, you also worked as a chef at the Jingbei Grand Restaurant, and you were transferred along with the leaders. That's no ordinary feat!"
Saying that, he proposed, "We are getting old and shouldn't drink alcohol, so let's substitute tea for wine. I toast to the two of you!"
The elderly Xu couple agreed, and the younger generation around the table also joined in with a cup of tea.
After they put down their teacups, the dishes were served one by one.
There was crispy roast squab, sea conch in superior broth, eight-treasure tofu, braised abalone with scallions, stir-fried beef cubes with fresh walnuts, fish maw and yellow croaker thick soup, and more. Every single one was a signature dish of the restaurant.
Lu Jingming then invited everyone, "This is the first time the elders have come to eat since our store reopened. These dishes were all personally developed by Xiao Xia and are very popular with the customers. It's the perfect opportunity for the elders to have a taste."
"Wonderful!"
Old Master Shen happily picked up his chopsticks and said, "I've heard Xixi say that the crispy roast squab here is delicious. Today I finally get to treat my taste buds!"
...
Both families were genuine people, and the elders shared common topics. As everyone ate and chatted, the atmosphere at the table grew better and better.
After a while, Mrs. Lu spoke to the elders of the Xu family, "Last time, Jingming's father and I rushed to visit you two elders. Time was too tight, and there were many things we didn't get a chance to say. Today we finally have the time to sit together and have a proper talk."
"Today, firstly, we want to welcome the two elders and Xiao Xia's aunt. Secondly, we also want to discuss the matter concerning the two children."
"To be honest with you all, Xiao Xia is a smart, clever, calm, and elegant child. Jingming's father and I liked her the first time we met her, and we have always treated her as our own child. As for Jingming's feelings for Xiao Xia, I believe we don't need to say it; you all must have seen it for yourselves."
"Our two families had my brother first, and now the two children are together. Going around in circles like this, it must be a destiny arranged by heaven. Jingming is a few years older than Xiao Xia and is quite sensible. We were thinking that if possible, we should arrange their wedding as soon as possible."
"Yes,"
Chairman Lu also quickly smiled and said to Grandpa and Grandma Xu, "Although these two children met in the South, we are from the same hometown. Jingming often went back to live in his hometown when he was a child, so their living habits are quite similar. Xiao Xia is a good child. Whether in terms of character or ability, it can be said that our Jingming is the one marrying up."
"Please rest assured, you two elders. The two of us will definitely love her as our own child in the future. Their future life will be entirely up to them to decide. As parents, we will only help and not interfere."
"If there is anything lacking in our etiquette, Uncle, Aunt, and Xiao Xia's aunt, please feel free to bring it up, and we will definitely improve."
Old Master Shen also quickly said to the Xu family, "His uncle and I will act as guarantors. If they do anything wrong, we definitely won't let them off."
"You are too serious,"
Grandma Xu hurriedly said, "We have also seen Xiaoming's character. Not to mention anything else, if it weren't for him that day, who knows how badly our Xiao Xia would have been hurt by that bad guy. Although we raised this child, their marriage is up to them. Xiao Xia is just like her brother; as long as she likes it, it's fine."
"Yes, it's all up to what she likes."
Grandpa Xu also said with a chuckle, "We don't practice that feudalistic arranged marriage nonsense."
"That's good,"
Mrs. Lu hurriedly smiled and said, "Both our families respect etiquette, so the necessary ceremonies should still be held. Taking advantage of your visit, let's find a good day to hold the engagement ceremony first."
"What do you all think? Where would it be more convenient to hold it? We will cover the travel expenses and such, or we could also hold one on each side."
"There's no need for so much trouble,"
Grandma Xu waved her hand cheerfully and said, "We don't have many relatives on our side. If there are a lot on your side, it's perfectly fine to hold the ceremony here. An engagement is just a formality; what matters most is that the two of them live a good life together."
"Yes, let's just do whatever is most convenient."
Grandpa Xu added with a smile.
"What open-minded parents. No wonder you've raised such a wonderful child!"
Old Master Shen smiled and raised his teacup again, substituting tea for wine. "A toast to you both."
...
Dinner ended amidst the pleasant conversation between the parents of both families.
The elderly needed to rest earlier, so Mrs. Lu specially arranged for Uncle Li, a familiar face, to drive Grandpa and Grandma Xu, along with the aunt, back to their residence at Dongpan Gardens first.
Afterward, she pulled Xu Yanxia aside for a private chat.
"Xiao Xia, I have a question. Although it might be a bit inappropriate, I feel like I still need to ask."
Mrs. Lu looked at her seriously and said, "Has there really been no news from your mother all these years? Marriage is a major event; shouldn't we let her know?"
She then added gently, "Don't misunderstand. I'm a mother too, and I just don't want you and your mother to have any regrets in the future."
Xu Yanxia paused.
She couldn't help but recall the past she was so reluctant to look back on.
Back then, her mother hadn't left right away.
After her father died, her young mother had cried inconsolably for two months. During that time, relatives from her maternal grandmother's family in the southwest heard the news and came looking for her, wanting to take her away, but she hadn't agreed.
But one day, using the excuse of going out to make a living, she still left her and her brother behind.
She was gone for over a year.
At first, she would call back every week to ask how she and her brother were doing. Gradually, it became once a month, once every two months, and eventually once every three months.
Her grandparents, worried that she wasn't doing well out there, even asked her aunt to go to Shencheng to look for her. But the aunt only brought back the money her mother had given her.
She said she was doing very well and had even met a new boyfriend.
The last time Xu Yanxia saw her biological mother was when she was two years old.
That time, her aunt took her alone to a park in the city. Her biological mother appeared wearing a very fashionable dress and beautiful makeup.
She indeed looked radiant.
She bought her delicious candies, hugged her, and told her that she was getting married.
She also said that once she had a good life, she would come back to pick up her and her brother.
Before parting, she gave her aunt another sum of money.
But from then on, she never appeared again.
Perhaps in her mother's mind, she was just a two-year-old toddler who wouldn't remember the words her mother had said as the years went by.
But in fact, Xu Yanxia had always remembered, and she had always been waiting.
Unfortunately, the other party broke her promise.
...
"Actually, it's not like there's been absolutely no news of her,"
Xu Yanxia suppressed the complex emotions in her heart and said to Mrs. Lu, "When my brother and I grew up, we both went to my grandmother's house to look for her, and we left our contact information, but she never contacted us."
"She probably has her own new life and doesn't want to contact us anymore."
"Thank you for thinking of me, Auntie. I'll just send a letter to my grandmother's family later, but I doubt they will come."
After all, when they wanted to take her biological mother away back then, they never thought about taking the two siblings along.
"Alright then,"
Mrs. Lu hugged her and said softly, "I spoke out of turn. Don't be sad. From now on, Jingming's father and I will love and care for you."
Saying that, she instructed Lu Jingming, who had come out looking for her, "Such a good girl, you must cherish her properly."
"Of course."
Not knowing what had just happened, Lu Jingming immediately held her hand.
Once he had seen his parents off, he immediately asked Xu Yanxia, "You don't look too well. Did something happen? Did my mom say something that put you in a difficult position?"
"No,"
Xu Yanxia smiled and said, "Auntie just asked about my mother. She meant well."
"That's good."
He then asked her, "It's still early, want to go see a movie?"
Even though today was Saturday, he had worked overtime at the company all day due to work matters. This was a hard-earned moment for just the two of them after quite a while.
"Sure."
Xu Yanxia nodded, and just as she was about to follow him out, her phone suddenly rang.
Taking it out to look, she couldn't help but feel a bit surprised. It was actually Mrs. He from Jingbei calling her.
