Chapter 52: It Can't Be Her Illegitimate Child, Right?

Jiang Ran came to his senses and didn't feel embarrassed at all; instead he grinned, strode into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, looking just like a large hanging ornament.

"My daughter‑in‑law is really beautiful; even cooking looks so pretty."

"Smooth‑talker..." Su Ruan nudged him lightly with her elbow, feeling as sweet as if she'd drunk honey, "Don't cause trouble, go wait outside; the oil fumes are heavy."

"No, I want to stay here watching you." Jiang Ran whined, not only refusing to leave but watching her work curiously, "Daughter‑in‑law, how do you cut the shredded potatoes so thin? Even better than my mother does."

"Practice just makes perfect."

Su Ruan answered while soaking the sliced potatoes in clear water.

Then she began handling the pork, cutting the marbled pork belly into evenly sized pieces.

She heated the pan, added cool oil, tossed in rock sugar until it caramelized, then added the pork belly pieces to stir‑fry until the surfaces turned golden and the fat rendered out.

Next she added cooking wine, soy sauce, scallion and ginger, poured in boiling water, covered the pot and simmered on low heat.

In a short while, the rich meat aroma drifted out in thin threads from the pot's rim, filling the whole kitchen and even wafting into the main hall outside.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Yaya sniffed with her little nose, couldn't help but run to the kitchen doorway, eyes glued to the inside.

Douzi didn't speak, but couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

Jiang Ran was even more enticed by the scent; he inhaled deeply, tightened his arm around Su Ruan, and whispered in her ear.

"Daughter‑in‑law, just smelling this I know it'll be delicious; finally I'll have a feast from now on!"

The braised pork simmered with a gentle gurgle, and Su Ruan began preparing the other dishes.

The hot‑and‑sour shredded potatoes were crisp and appetizing, the garlic greens were light and cut the greasiness, and the egg custard was tender and smooth like pudding.

Finally, she rinsed the cooked noodles in cold water, tossed them with fried, fragrant scallion oil, and the aroma hit the nose.

When all the dishes were placed on the small square table, not only Douzi and Yaya but also Zhou Da Niang and Jiang Ran stared with widened eyes.

The braised pork was glossy red, tremblingly soft, looking instantly melt‑in‑the‑mouth.

The hot‑and‑sour shredded potatoes were distinct, speckled with red pepper strips, greatly whetting the appetite.

The garlic greens were emerald and glossy; the golden egg custard was smooth as a mirror.

The scallion‑oil noodles were oily‑shiny, with a strong scallion fragrance.

"Meal's ready!" Su Ruan untied her apron and announced with a smile.

This meal was especially fragrant and sweet.

Douzi and Yaya ate almost ravenously; they had never had such tasty, abundant dishes before.

Zhou Da Niang kept praising Su Ruan's cooking skill.

Jiang Ran buried his head in the food, wolfed down three huge bowls of scallion‑oil noodles in one go, with most of the braised pork ending up in his stomach, and between bites he slurred, "Delicious! So delicious! Daughter‑in‑law, you have to make more!"

Seeing his starving‑ghost look and the satisfied smiles of Douzi and Yaya, Su Ruan felt an unprecedented sense of steadiness and happiness.

This feeling of creating warmth and deliciousness for the people you care about with your own hands is truly wonderful.

After the meal, Jiang Ran eagerly took the lead in washing the dishes, while Su Ruan chatted with Douzi and Yaya, encouraging them to keep working hard tomorrow and reminding them to look after their health.

As night deepened, Su Ruan and Jiang Ran said goodbye to Zhou Da Niang and the two children, and walked side by side on the road home.

Jiang Ran held Su Ruan's hand, his heart filled with a satiated, warm happiness.

He turned his head, gazing at Su Ruan's increasingly graceful profile in the moonlight, then stopped abruptly and said earnestly, "RuanRuan, thank you."

Su Ruan looked at him, puzzled.

"Thank you for coming into my life," Jiang Ran's gaze looked especially deep and sincere in the moonlight, "You make me feel these days finally have direction, this life... really damn flavorful!"

Hearing his rough yet sincere confession, Su Ruan couldn't help but laugh, her heart melting completely. She squeezed his hand again and whispered, "Fool."

The next morning, Jiang Ran and Shi Tou went out, and Su Ruan slung a vegetable basket, preparing to go to the nearby market for fresh vegetables.

Passing a newly opened "Xiang Man Yuan" pastry shop, she saw a long queue at the door.

"Pass by, don't miss it! Grand opening giveaway—buy one jin, get half a liang free!"

Su Ruan thought of Douzi and Yaya growing, having worked hard yesterday, so she joined the line, bought two jin of freshly baked peach crisps and egg cakes, intending to give them a sweet treat and replenish their energy.

Carrying the still‑warm pastries, she didn't go straight home but turned toward the alley leading to Zhou Da Niang's house.

She walked briskly, already planning the surprised faces of the two little ones when she arrived.

Su Ruan didn't notice that not far behind her, a figure was stealthily following.

If she turned around, she'd see the stalker was Su Yanhua!

Su Yanhua had quarreled with Liu Mother at the Liu household over a trivial matter yesterday, her anger simmering, so she ran back to her natal home early to vent to Wang Juhua, and happened to see Su Ruan carrying things out of the Jiang household.

She hadn't thought much at first, but seeing Su Ruan skip the market and turn into an alley she'd never been in, suspicion instantly rose.

That direction was neither Su's home nor a department store or any bustling area; Su Ruan, dressed spotless and beautiful, why would she head into such a poor alley?

A ridiculous and vicious thought instantly flashed through Su Yanhua's mind—

Could it be... stealing a wild man?!

The idea made her so excited she almost shivered.

She knew it!

How could Su Ruan be so docile?

How could Jiang Ran, that Chaos Demon King, truly be good to her?

She must have someone else outside!

Su Yanhua suppressed her excitement, followed silently, hiding all the way, fearing Su Ruan would notice.

She watched Su Ruan walk confidently to the deep end of the alley to a household's door, and gently knocked.

The door opened quickly from inside, and immediately a scene that left Su Yanhua gaping unfolded!

Two half‑grown children burst out of the house like tiny shells, one left, one right, lunging into Su Ruan's arms, shouting joyfully:

"Sister Su! You're here!"

"Sister Su! We missed you so much!"

The girl affectionately hugged Su Ruan's waist, tilted her little face upward, and smiled brightly.

The boy, though a bit restrained, also pressed close to Su Ruan, his eyes full of dependence and joy.

Su Ruan was knocked back a step by their rush, then smiled and squatted, handing over the pastries in her hand, gently patting their heads: "Slowly, slowly, see what Sister Su has brought you to eat?"

"Wow! It's peach crisp!" the little girl cheered.

"Thank you, Sister Su," the little boy also shyly expressed gratitude.

Su Yanhua, hiding in the corner, had eyes as big as copper bells and a mouth open wide enough to fit an egg!

Who... who are these two children?!

Could it be...?

A bold yet self‑justified thought exploded in Su Yanhua's mind.

Great, Su Ruan, that scoundrel, actually has two such big Illegitimate Offspring and illegitimate daughter!

No wonder she's eager to marry Jiang Ran; she's definitely looking to find a cheap dad for these two Illegitimate Children!

The Jiang Family probably still doesn't know; that fool Jiang Ran must be kept in the dark, wearing such a huge green hat and not realizing it!

"Su Ruan, Su Ruan, I see how you'll try to fight me this time!"