"Please fetch me a pen and paper. I need the Chief to write me a guarantee."
Cheng Qingshan laughed out of sheer exasperation. "Fine, I'll write it."
His health was decent now; he still had a good few years left in him.
This old man could still fulfill Lin Zhilan's request.
Following Lin Zhilan's dictation, Cheng Qingshan wrote a comprehensive and thorough letter of guarantee.
He handed it to her grumpily, "Is this good enough?"
"It is!"
Lin Zhilan's eyes curved into a bright smile as she folded the guarantee and tucked it into her pocket.
After chatting all morning, it was just about time for lunch.
What Lin Zhilan found strange was that today, the second day of the Lunar New Year, Cheng Qingshan had not received a single guest at his home.
Nor had she seen any of his children.
Knowing it would be inappropriate to ask rashly, Lin Zhilan suppressed her curiosity and accompanied the old man to the dining room.
Cheng Qingshan only just remembered, "Why didn't you two bring the kids when you came over?"
He had even specifically asked Xiao Li to make dishes the children loved.
"I was worried they would be too noisy for you."
"I have a problem with my right ear. Not even artillery shells can bother me, let alone children. You're just being stingy, refusing to let me see the kids," Cheng Qingshan said, displeased.
There was indeed a problem with his right ear; he had been deafened by an artillery blast on the battlefield back in the day.
Cheng Qingshan never considered this a defect, but rather a medal of honor.
Every time his ear was mentioned, he would say that he wasn't even afraid of artillery shells.
Tu Jing nodded at Lin Zhilan and her husband, signaling them not to take the Chief's words to heart.
Cheng Qingshan was no longer as serious as when they were discussing business earlier; he was acting exactly like an elder throwing a minor tantrum at his juniors.
Lin Zhilan didn't stand on ceremony either. She served him a bowl of soup first. "How am I being stingy? Even as their own mother, I find them too noisy, let alone other people."
Cheng Qingshan took the soup. "Don't worry, I don't mind the noise. Just bring them over."
Cheng Qingshan still remembered the two little ones.
Early this morning, he had even asked Tu Jing to cut red paper so he could prepare red envelopes for them.
Who knew these two wouldn't even bring the kids.
"When are you heading back to the island?"
Lin Zhilan took the soup Su Lang handed her. "We have to set off on the sixth day of the new year. Su Lang doesn't have much time off."
Today was already the third day.
Which meant there were only a few days left.
Cheng Qingshan said, "If you're free, bring the kids over again in the next couple of days. As you can see, it's very quiet here."
Lin Zhilan and Su Lang exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.
Everyone began to eat.
Cheng Qingshan took a sip of soup and then a bite of flatbread. "The food you make is still the best, and your mixing sauce is absolutely superb."
In truth, Cheng Qingshan hadn't eaten Lin Zhilan's cooking many times.
It was only that time at the train station where he had eaten a bit more.
Later, when he was sick, Lin Zhilan had at most made him some congee and herbal meals.
But Cheng Qingshan still couldn't forget that taste.
Lin Zhilan smiled, "The mixing sauce is easy. I'll make a few more jars when I get home and have them sent over to you."
"That would be wonderful."
Cheng Qingshan didn't decline and immediately agreed.
Lin Zhilan and Su Lang might not have felt it, but Tu Jing, who had followed Cheng Qingshan for so many years, knew his temperament well.
For Cheng Qingshan to interact with Lin Zhilan like this meant he truly treated her as a junior of his own family.
Tu Jing said, "Dr. Lin, could you teach me how to make that congee you cooked for the Chief before? I'd like to make it for him sometimes; he loves it."
Cheng Qingshan's lips moved, but he swallowed his words.
He didn't actually like congee, but his gallbladder was in poor condition. The doctor had advised him to eat more congee to give his gallbladder a rest.
Tu Jing treated this like an imperial decree and constantly supervised him eating congee in the morning.
Cheng Qingshan couldn't even manage to snatch a bite of solid rice.
Lin Zhilan glanced at Cheng Qingshan. "Normally, when making congee, you should soak the rice in clean water for about half an hour first. Add the rice after the water boils. It's best to add a few drops of sesame oil after it's done cooking; this makes it much smoother."
Tu Jing memorized this and turned to Sister Li. "Sister Li, please remember this too. When I'm not here, you should also cook some congee for the Chief from time to time."
Cheng Qingshan pulled a bitter face. "Eating congee every day makes my mouth taste so bland."
Lin Zhilan smiled, "I learned to pickle dried radishes from my neighbor, which goes perfectly with plain congee. I'll bring you some later. There's also kelp; I can teach Sister Li how to make a cold tossed kelp salad to go with your congee."
"Xiao Lin is still the best," Cheng Qingshan said, glaring at Tu Jing.
Tu Jing lowered his head to eat, pretending not to hear.
Beef causes internal heat, so Tu Jing had specifically bought lamb.
On the table were clear-stewed lamb, braised lamb chops, braised pork belly, and dry-fried green beans—all dishes that children indeed loved.
After the meal, Lin Zhilan checked Cheng Qingshan's pulse.
The old man was recovering decently and was relatively obedient to his doctors.
However, Lin Zhilan didn't praise him. Instead, she frowned and asked, "Have you not been sleeping well lately? Is work too busy?"
Tu Jing looked at Cheng Qingshan.
No matter how carefully he observed normally, he couldn't know how well the Chief was sleeping.
Ever since Cheng Qingshan returned from the island, his workload had been reduced as much as possible, so why couldn't he sleep?
Cheng Qingshan clicked his tongue. "Old people naturally sleep less anyway."
He was still being stubborn.
Lin Zhilan ignored him and spoke directly to Tu Jing, "Since the Chief is eating congee, go buy some sour jujube seeds. Make sure they are roasted. You only need a little bit. Crush them, boil them in water, strain out the residue, and then use that liquid to cook the congee. Have him eat it three or four times a week and see if it helps."
Sour jujube seeds nourish the heart, calm the spirit, and reduce sweating. They can be used to treat difficulty falling asleep, excessive dreaming, and waking up easily.
The key was that it was the mildest and safest dietary remedy for sleep, perfectly suitable for Cheng Qingshan.
"Will do," Tu Jing replied.
Cheng Qingshan smacked his lips.
These kids were ridiculous, daring to manage his affairs.
But he didn't say anything. Instead, his heart felt a bit tender and touched.
It was getting late, so Lin Zhilan and Su Lang took their leave.
Tu Jing hurriedly brought out the prepared medicinal herbs.
Lin Zhilan tried to pay for them, but he refused the money. "You treat the Chief's illnesses; consider this your medical fee."
"Just take them. You're a doctor, so the herbs are useful to you. Keeping them with him would just be a waste," Cheng Qingshan chimed in to help.
Lin Zhilan had no choice but to accept them.
Cheng Qingshan then had the nanny bring out a leg of lamb for Lin Zhilan to take back.
"An old man like me can't finish it all. Take it back for your father-in-law and mother-in-law to try."
Tu Jing was right.
Cheng Qingshan did treat Lin Zhilan like a junior in his own family.
That was why he always wanted her to have a better future.
When he visited the Su family's home yesterday, although he had official business to discuss, it was actually also to back up Lin Zhilan.
In the past, didn't people always emphasize families of equal social status?
In a worldly sense, both of Lin Zhilan's parents had passed away, while Su Lang's parents were retired veteran cadres. This would not be considered an equal match.
By displaying an attitude of valuing Lin Zhilan, Cheng Qingshan wanted to tell the Su family that Lin Zhilan had a powerful "backer."
This leg of lamb had been prepared long in advance for her to take back.
Yet, Cheng Qingshan stubbornly insisted it was just because it would go to waste if he couldn't finish it.
Lin Zhilan had Su Lang take it. "Thank you, Chief. I'll make you a whole jar of mixing sauce later."
"That sounds wonderful. I'm not losing out on this deal."
The less polite Lin Zhilan was, the happier Cheng Qingshan became.
