Chapter 95: Nothing Beats Giving a Great‑Grandson or Great‑Granddaughter

Seeing the daughter‑in‑law also speak up, Jiang Ran finally droops his head, reluctantly lets out an "oh", shuffles over to Jiang Nainai's wheelchair, pushes her toward the Main Hall, muttering, "Grandma, look at them, they all despise me…".

Jiang Nainai laughs at her grandson's demeanor, extends her deft hand and pats the back of his hand: "You silly boy, they love you and want you to keep Grandma company."

"Come, tell Grandma, what new things have happened outside in the past two months?"

Here, Su Ruan, Li Huijuan, and Jiang Jiaojiao enter the kitchen.

The kitchen is small, but Li Huijuan has kept it tidy and orderly.

Su Ruan ties on an apron and, with brisk movements, begins inspecting the available ingredients.

Li Huijuan goes to help wash vegetables, but Jiang Jiaojiao stops her: "Mom, today you're the director; just talk, and RuanRuan and I will do the work!"

She rolls up her sleeves, full of vigor.

Su Ruan watches the mother and daughter, feeling warm inside.

She quickly plans the menu in her mind: Grandma has just been discharged, so the diet must be light and easy to digest, yet still nutritious and tasty.

She decides to make steamed sea bass, winter melon and shrimp soup, garlic‑sautéed greens, and a steamed bowl of silky egg custard; for staples she will prepare soft, glutinous white rice porridge and several small flower rolls.

"Sister, could you peel some garlic for me and wash the greens?"

Su Ruan, while skillfully gutting and scaling the fish, assigns tasks.

"Got it!"

Jiang Jiaojiao agrees outright; although she is usually carefree, she is no slacker when it comes to work.

Li Huijuan stands nearby, watching Su Ruan's fluid movements—her seasoned technique in scaling and gutting, ginger julienne as fine as hair, egg‑liquid proportions precise… admiration again shines in her eyes.

This daughter‑in‑law is truly a treasure; nothing seems to stump her.

"RuanRuan, where did you learn this Handcraft? It's even better than Mom's," Li Huijuan can't help but praise.

Su Ruan's hands keep moving; she gives a faint smile and vaguely says, "Maybe I just enjoy tinkering."

She couldn't possibly say it was one of the survival skills she maxed out as the Limit-Text Female Protagonist in a past life.

Jiang Jiaojiao, while peeling garlic, interjects, "Exactly! Our RuanRuan is a genius!"

"She can run a shop, draw pictures, and still cook such fragrant meals!"

"Jiang Ran, that boy, really got terrible luck!"

Heat rises in the kitchen, and the aroma gradually spreads.

The three women work while chatting, the atmosphere harmonious and warm.

In the Main Hall, Jiang Ran, though physically kept here to keep Grandma company, has his thoughts already soaring to the kitchen; his nose constantly sniffs the increasingly rich scent drifting through the air, and he can't help but swallow.

He absentmindedly hums along with the opera program on TV, his eyes occasionally glancing toward the kitchen.

Jiang Nainai watches her restless grandson's cat‑like hunger, both amused and tender, and teases him deliberately: "What's wrong? Grandma's old‑person charm can't even match a meal?"

Jiang Ran finally comes to his senses, scratches his head awkwardly: "Grandma, what are you saying! I'm not… I'm just not afraid of RuanRuan getting tired!"

He offers a clumsy excuse.

Jiang Nainai smiles and shakes her head, no longer teasing him.

Listening to the laughter and chatter of daughter‑in‑law, granddaughter, and granddaughter‑in‑law coming from the kitchen, and smelling the long‑missed, home‑scented food, she feels immensely at ease and satisfied.

This serious illness made her deeply appreciate the preciousness of such close family bonds.

Finally, Su Ruan's crisp voice comes from the kitchen: "Meal's ready!"

Jiang Ran, like a husky hearing a command, is the first to spring from his chair, moving swiftly to help carry dishes and set the bowls and chopsticks.

The dishes are placed on the table, complete in color, aroma, and taste.

The steamed sea bass has pristine white flesh, garnished only with scallion and ginger shreds and steaming fish soy sauce, yet its fragrance is intoxicating.

The winter melon and shrimp soup is crystal clear, the shrimp pink and tender, the melon translucent.

The garlic‑sautéed greens are emerald‑green and glossy.

The egg custard is smooth as a mirror, trembling slightly.

The white rice porridge is cooked to a perfectly thick consistency, and the small flower rolls are fluffy and tasty.

"Wow! So lavish!" Jiang Jiaojiao exaggerates, inhaling, "Just looking makes it delicious!"

The family gathers around the table, and Jiang Ran carefully picks the tender, boneless meat from the fish's belly into Grandma's bowl, then nudges the egg custard toward her.

Jiang Nainai tastes a bite of the fish, fresh, sweet, tender, and melts in her mouth.

She sips the winter melon soup, light and fresh, exactly to her current appetite.

She nods repeatedly, eyes shining with satisfaction: "Delicious! RuanRuan's Handcraft is beyond words! A hundred times better than the hospital meals!"

Everyone laughs and reaches for their chopsticks.

After dinner, Jiang Ran voluntarily clears the dishes, then takes Su Ruan's hand and steps out for a stroll to aid digestion.

The evening breeze carries an early‑summer coolness and the fresh scent of foliage, brushing the face, especially pleasant.

The two walk side by side on the familiar bluestone path, the streetlights stretching their shadows long.

Jiang Ran grips Su Ruan's hand tightly, his fingertips unconsciously stroking her delicate back of the hand, his heart filled with a post‑satiation peace and happiness.

Grandma returns home safely, with the daughter‑in‑law by her side; life seems to have returned to its most wonderful track.

As they walk, Su Ruan suddenly remembers something, turns to Jiang Ran and says, "Jiang Ran, I almost forgot—one more week, it's Grandma's birthday."

Jiang Ran freezes for a moment, pats his head: "Oh dear! Of course! I've been so busy I forgot about it!"

"Grandma survived this great calamity, so this birthday must be celebrated properly, to ward off bad luck and add to her longevity!"

"Indeed," Su Ruan nods, her brows and eyes appearing especially gentle in the moonlight, "I'm wondering what birthday gift we should give Grandma—something thoughtful and also practical."

Jiang Ran's eyes flicker, and a mischievous grin spreads across his face.

He leans close to Su Ruan, his warm breath brushing her ear, voice lowered with obvious cheekiness: "If you ask me, giving gold, silver, jewels, or food and drink isn't as good as giving Grandma a truly big gift—"

He deliberately drags the tone, his gaze intentionally fixed on Su Ruan's flat belly, chuckling: "A great‑grandson, or a great‑granddaughter! Grandma will surely love it! Mom and Dad will definitely be overjoyed! It's the baby we're most lacking right now!"

"Jiang Ran!"

Su Ruan was caught off guard, her ears flushed bright red with a "swish", feeling both ashamed and angry, she raised her hand and punched his arm, but the force was light.

"You… what nonsense are you spouting? Have some decency!"

In the moonlight, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes watery, with a reproachful expression, and Jiang Ran felt his heart warm and an unbearable itch of desire.

He laughed heartily, stretched out his long arm, easily scooped the flustered little daughter‑in‑law into his embrace, held her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head, and kept pleading for mercy.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't cause trouble, good daughter‑in‑law, don't be angry…"