Chapter 137

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Smashed the camera?"

Guben focused his thoughts, suddenly realizing: "So it was that day. After we left, so much actually happened. What a pity I didn't get to see it with my own eyes."

"You pity it, I don't."

Grandmother glanced at him with a half-smile: "I not only saw her smash the camera, I also saw another good show."

"What good show?"

Meeting Grandmother's teasing gaze, Guben's heart thumped, and a bad premonition surged up.

"I really hadn't thought of that before."

Grandmother teased him with a smile: "My precious eldest grandson, you really are tender-hearted toward beauty. You can't stand seeing a young lady suffer even a little grievance. Just a tiny bite on her lip and you're heartbroken beyond measure, wanting to press your mouth against hers to heal her wounds..."

"Cough cough."

Guben's ears turned red, and he covered his mouth with his hand, coughing twice.

Lin Xiyu also thought of the scene back then, her cheeks burning hot.

"Hey..."

Grandfather was completely baffled: "Healing wounds with the mouth? What's going on? Why am I the only one who doesn't know? What else are you hiding from me?"

"I only saw it happen that one time."

Grandmother rarely saw her grandson embarrassed, finding it all the more amusing, and felt like teasing him: "As for how the wounds are healed in private, I don't know."

"Cough cough."

Guben really couldn't listen anymore and had to speak up to interrupt: "Grandmother, I'm treating you to lunch today. The Spring Water Banquet at Minghu Building. Order whatever you want..."

"That's what you said."

Grandmother covered her mouth and laughed: "Grandmother wants to try all the famous Lu cuisine dishes. You'd better not feel heartbroken."

"I won't feel heartbroken."

Guben expressed his stance with a serious expression.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Grandmother's eyebrows danced, smiling very contentedly: "It's not early anymore. Let's hurry and go."

"Hey."

Grandfather listened, growing more and more puzzled: "What kind of riddles are you giving me?"

"Old man, quit jabbering."

Grandmother pushed him with a laugh: "It's rare that your grandson is treating us. We should have a good meal. Whatever you want to ask, we can talk about it at the hotel."

"Fine, I'll listen to you..."

Grandfather was used to listening to Grandmother. Without thinking, he nodded in agreement: "I haven't tried the Spring Water Banquet yet. I heard there's an improved version of stir-fried kidney flowers, served cold. This is a good chance to try it."

"Are cold kidney flowers tasty?"

Seeing Grandfather agree, Grandmother was delighted and pulled him out the door.

"Supposedly quite tasty."

Grandfather smacked his lips a few times: "Old Zhang, who plays chess with me at Jiefang Pavilion, held his grandson's wedding banquet at Minghu Building before New Year. That's what he told me. It should be right."

"Fine then..."

Grandmother beamed: "This time we'll order cold kidney flowers. I want to try something new too."

"You like eating kidney flowers. I'll order a portion too."

Grandfather laughed and echoed: "Anyway, it's not our money. Your grandson is treating."

"Sounds good."

Grandmother smiled so broadly she couldn't close her mouth, joking with Grandfather as they walked out the courtyard gate together.

"Hey hey..."

Guben watched the old couple talking to themselves and helplessly rubbed his brow.

"Your grandmother and grandfather have such a good relationship."

Lin Xiyu found it interesting, and her resentment toward Grandmother dissipated somewhat.

"Grandfather is older than Grandmother, and he always lets her have her way."

Guben wholeheartedly agreed: "Since I can remember, they've been like that. They've never had a falling out."

"That's really nice."

Lin Xiyu looked on with envy.

"From now on, I'll let you have your way too."

Guben saw what she was thinking and teased her with a smile: "Our Gu Family's tradition is 'wife first, women superior to men.' Just as Grandfather dotes on Grandmother, I'll dote on you in the future."

Lin Xiyu felt sweet in her heart, but before she could give him a sweet smile in return...

Grandfather suddenly turned back and, smiling, urged them: "You two walk faster. Don't be so lovey-dovey in broad daylight."

Lin Xiyu's heart jumped, and her smile froze on her face.

"Young couples talking—why are you butting in?"

Grandfather's teasing laughter came from ahead.

"When did I butt in?"

Grandmother retorted unhappily: "They were speaking so loudly, not even avoiding people, so why can't I say a word?"

"Fine, fine, fine, you say it's fine, then it's fine."

Grandfather was defeated in speed and fell silent.

Lin Xiyu was both shy and embarrassed, covering her eyes with her hand.

"Grandmother has a fiery temper; just get used to it."

Guben worried she might not see the road and trip, so he reached out and held her arm.

Lin Xiyu, fearing she might be overheard again, turned her head and ignored him.

Guben found it amusing and let out a pleasant laugh from his throat.

—

Minghu Building.

"What? Old Fu wants to pay the bride price?"

In the hotel private room, the group of four had barely sat down when a high-pitched loud voice broke the harmonious atmosphere.

Grandfather heard his precious grandson say that the in-laws wanted to pay the bride price; his eyes widened, and he was unhappy again: "You are surnamed Gu, you are my grandson, what right does Old Fu have to compete with me? No, the bride price must be paid by me. My grandson's engagement cannot let outsiders steal the limelight."

"What outsider?"

Grandmother smiled and scolded: "If your grandfather hears you say that, you'll fight again. No matter what, Xiao Bin is also their biological grandson; although he follows our surname Gu, the fact of blood ties cannot be erased."

"Surnamed Gu means he is my grandson."

Grandfather only recognized his own reasoning: "When we moved the household registration, it was agreed that Xiao Bin is our biological grandson, inheriting both of our properties, and that old siheyuan on Wangfu Pool West Street will also be transferred to his name in the future."

"Property is another matter."

Grandmother patiently reasoned with him: "Xiao Bin isn't your grandson just for the property. For his engagement, bypassing the Fu Family and not letting the old couple participate—no matter how you say it, it doesn't make sense."

"If they come, what am I?"

Grandfather was still unhappy: "The grandson I raised—do I have to, in front of the old neighbors, give way to them? Isn't that slapping my face?"

"How about this?"

Grandmother tried to communicate with Guben: "Tell your grandfather that the two families should be separate and hold two banquets."

"Fine..."

Guben had expected this and smiled with a good temper: "Whatever is fine, as long as Grandfather and Grandfather are happy, we juniors are happy to go along."

"Xiao Lin, what do you think?"

Grandmother was happy to hear it and looked at Lin Xiyu with a smile again.

Lin Xiyu was flattered: "I'm the same as Guben; whatever is fine, as long as you are happy."

"Xiao Lin is a sensible good child."

Grandmother was very satisfied with her attitude toward her: "You also know, our family situation is a bit special. This old partner of mine is good in every way, except for one thing: old-fashioned, old feudal, wanting a grandson so badly he's almost obsessed."

"Guben is so excellent; who wouldn't want such a grandson?"

Lin Xiyu reacted quickly and answered very cleverly.

"I love hearing that."

Grandmother was happy to hear it, and her gaze toward her became even kinder: "My little Bin is one of a kind. Not that I'm boasting, but in our entire Old City District, in terms of looks and talent, you can't find a second one."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Xiyu smiled and echoed: "I think so too..."

"Speaking of which, Xiao Bin is so excellent because our old man educated him well."

Grandmother took the opportunity to flatter Grandfather again: "Her grandfather truly cares for him, taking care of him in every detail. His intellectual enlightenment and principles of dealing with the world have never been neglected for a single day. As for those things they talk about—what ranks, Strategies of the Warring States, Thirty-Six Stratagems—I don't understand any of it."

"I don't understand either."

Lin Xiyu pretended to be calm, but inside she was screaming like a groundhog.

When she was a child playing with mud, jumping rope, and hide-and-seek, others were studying ranks, Strategies of the Warring States, and Thirty-Six Stratagems.

With such a huge difference, if she wasn't manipulated by others and led around in circles, it would be strange.

"Then it's settled."

Guben saw Grandmother and Lin Xiyu chatting happily and quietly breathed a sigh of relief: "Tomorrow I'll go and tell Grandfather and them about this. Xiyu, you go home and ask your Grandmother which day is better for both sides' elders to meet."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Xiyu heard that both sides' relatives would meet, and her cheeks felt hot again, as if burning. Uncontrollably, a sense of unreality surged up.

She and the boy she had secretly loved for many years were about to get engaged.

Dreams come true, and it came so fast.

Is it really not her dreaming?

—

"Spring water is the soul of our old Jinan. The clear, trickling springs add much spiritual grace to this ancient northern city."

"The Spring Water Banquet focuses on innovative signature dishes, blending spring charm, water charm, and food charm, combining beautiful scenery, delicious food, and beauty to create exquisite spring water cuisine."

"The exquisite dishes of the Spring Water Banquet not only taste excellent but also have good meanings. The dish now on the table is called Black Tiger Fragrant Reed Plays with Wulong. It is a typical innovative dish that perfectly combines two relatively independent dishes."

"The 'Jinan Quick View' records that in old times, the reed vegetables from Daming Lake were famous throughout the world. Their shape resembles water bamboo, their taste resembles bamboo shoots. They were planted throughout the lake and were a precious vegetable dish among several northern provinces."

"Milk Soup Reed Dish, cooked with milk soup and reed vegetables, has a milky white soup. The reed vegetables are light and delicious when eaten, crisp, tender, fresh, and fragrant. It has long been known as the crown of Jinan soup dishes."

"The sea cucumber is taken from the spiny sea cucumbers produced on the Shandong Peninsula. It is of superior quality and rich in nutrition."

"The cooking masters combined the first soup dish and the first nutrition to create this Black Tiger Fragrant Reed Plays with Wulong, highlighting the local characteristic food culture."

—

The dishes were served. Lin Xiyu took the opportunity of serving the dishes to explain the dish names to the two elders using knowledge she learned while filming a documentary.

"Good, well said."

Grandfather listened with interest and gave enthusiastic applause: "Xiao Lin truly deserves to be Quancheng Image Ambassador of our Jinan—the name of this dish alone makes one's mouth water before even eating, leaving an endless aftertaste."

"What Black Tiger Fragrant Reed Plays with Wulong is this."

Grandmother pursed her lips dismissively: "It's actually just milk-soup sea cucumber with reed vegetables..."

"That's called elegance..."

Grandfather happily bantered with his old partner: "As the saying goes, wine doesn't intoxicate people; people intoxicate themselves. Dishes are the same. The same dish, eaten in different places and with different people, brings different moods."

"How's your mood right now?"

Grandmother glanced at him sideways, looking as though she'd slap him dead if he didn't say a single good word.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful."

Grandfather picked up some reed vegetables with his chopsticks and put them in his mouth, chewing with relish: "With such a beautiful wife and such delicious food, how could it not be beautiful? If there were another pot of fine wine, it would be even better."

"Drinking wine at noon?"

Grandmother was happy in her heart, but her mouth remained full of disdain: "If you get drunk, who's going to carry you back?"

"I will."

Guben flattered and fawned: "Grandfather, drink as much as you want. I'm treating for this meal, and I must make sure Grandfather enjoys himself to the fullest."

"Drinking alone is no fun."

Grandfather clicked his tongue a few times, a bit regretful: "If only your father were here, he could drink a couple of cups with me."

"I'll drink with Grandfather."

Lin Xiyu suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's gaze onto herself.

"You, drink alcohol?"

Now not only Grandmother and Grandfather, but even Guben showed expressions of extreme surprise.

"I've drunk before..."

Lin Xiyu met his astonished gaze and nodded: "My alcohol tolerance is decent."

"How much is decent?"

Guben frowned: "One cup or one Heavy?"

"One cup?"

Lin Xiyu pointed with her finger at the teacup in front of her, then added: "Baijiu."

"This cup is at least two liang. Can you handle it?"

Guben, afraid she might force herself to please Grandfather, looked worried: "If you can't drink, don't show off."

"Xiao Bin, you don't understand this."

Grandfather gave him a disdainful glance: "Anyone who dares say they can drink baijiu won't have a poor alcohol tolerance. Looking at this young girl's manner, let alone two liang, even half a jin, she could drink..."

"She can drink, but whether she'll get drunk is another matter."

Guben still wasn't reassured: "If she really gets drunk, I truly won't be able to carry two people."

"Let her drink."

Grandfather had his interest spoiled by him and was unhappy: "You have no tact at all. Xiao Lin wants to drink, and you still insist on pushing back and refusing?"

"I'm afraid she'll get drunk."

Guben laughed helplessly: "It's not like her grandmother ordered it."

"Believe me, I can do it."

Lin Xiyu was full of confidence: "I won't get you into trouble. Grandmother knows my alcohol tolerance. During New Year, when she's happy, Old Man lets me drink a few Heavy with her..."

"Your head..."

Guben, seeing she didn't appreciate it, was terribly depressed: "Could it be you've drunk yourself stupid?"

"You child, how can you talk like that?"

Grandmother patted his shoulder and smiled while scolding: "Xiao Lin is more tactful than you. She knows how to make Grandfather happy, unlike you, a blockhead who only knows how to make us angry."

"Hmph."

Guben snorted and laughed angrily: "Usually you treat me like a treasure, but if I don't let her drink, I'm a blockhead? Fine, I don't care anymore. Drink if you want, but don't blame me if you get drunk."

"If you get drunk, I'll carry you."

Grandmother glared with both eyes, fully showing her fiery temper: "You little brat, running to people's houses all day, sucking up to her grandmother, letting her eat a meal with us, what's wrong with drinking a little wine?"

"Cough cough."

Guben's ears turned red as he coughed twice, completely defeated.

—

When Lin Xiyu's grandmother was young, she suffered alone for many years in her Shanxi hometown, drinking to drown her sorrows, and unintentionally developed her alcohol tolerance.

Her two daughters and one son all inherited her tolerance. To say less than a thousand cups would be an exaggeration, but with 56-degree sorghum liquor, drinking half a jin was nothing, not getting drunk at all.