Chapter 1241

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Hearing that Wang Dashan put Yakult in his sweet and sour spare ribs, Du Xiaojuan couldn't help but want to complain — always looking for shortcuts in everything, just like with the old renovation project, can't he just do things properly and live life steadily?

But before she could speak, Wang Xiaohua hurriedly chimed in first:

"Big Brother, your method is impressive! It's like solving a math problem — you found the most concise solution path, and the result turned out this perfect!"

Wang Xiaohua has a way with words.

He framed cutting corners and taking shortcuts so tactfully, and slipped in praise while he was at it.

Then again, cutting corners and taking shortcuts isn't inherently bad.

The development of nearly all human technological civilization is inseparable from laziness.

Especially industrial civilization that improves efficiency — its essence is to be lazy.

Hearing Wang Xiaohua's praise, Wang Dashan grew even more pleased with himself:

"Third Brother, I might not be as good as you at taking exams, but in other matters, I'm no worse than you!"

Wang Xiaohua nodded like a chick pecking rice:

"Right, right, right — not to mention I couldn't make this sweet and sour spare ribs, just your steamed egg custard alone — if you hadn't told me to use boiling water, I'd never make it right in my lifetime! I've tried several times before, and they were always full of bubbles! Tough and unpalatable, nowhere near as good as yours!"

Wang Xiaohua's face was full of sincerity; his praise wasn't empty flattery, because he genuinely didn't know this trick.

Tricks like this, especially in daily life — once you know them they're easy, but if you don't, you might never figure them out no matter how much you ponder.

With steaming egg custard, Wang Xiaohua carefully skimmed the foam off the top and even covered it with cling film to steam, yet the result still couldn't match Wang Dashan's.

Watching Wang Xiaohua praise Wang Dashan like this, Du Xiaojuan was momentarily speechless.

It's just steamed egg with water, isn't it?

Is there really a need to praise him over and over like this?

Wang Xiaohua hurriedly gave Du Xiaojuan a meaningful look, signaling her to praise Wang Dashan's cooking a few more times.

But Du Xiaojuan found herself unable to say it.

Aside from dryly complimenting that Wang Dashan's sweet and sour spare ribs were tasty, she rarely offered any more praise after that.

Still, those few words of praise made Wang Dashan very happy.

After all, ever since having a child, Du Xiaojuan had rarely praised him again.

Before, Du Xiaojuan actually praised him quite often — having a child was a turning point.

Now that Du Xiaojuan praised him a few times, it kept him from being so confrontational again.

In a flash the meal was over, and Wang Dashan surprisingly took the initiative to hold the baby, letting Du Xiaojuan rest a while.

Kang Yi then came to the table to eat; after finishing she went to wash the bowls and chopsticks, without anyone needing to tell her.

One could say she has great professional dedication — this is also why Du Xiaojuan has always been reluctant to let her go.

Wang Dashan held the baby and went out to the balcony to look around everywhere.

Coaxing the baby into giggling "gurgle gurgle."

Wang Xiaohua said softly to Du Xiaojuan:

"Eldest Sister-in-law, didn't I just tell you to praise Big Brother a few more times? You're being rather stingy with words."

Du Xiaojuan smacked her lips:

"I couldn't bring myself to say it at the moment."

Wang Xiaohua said:

"Look — just now when I praised Big Brother, how happy he was, how pleased with himself. A few nice words can avoid most conflicts, and even make him willingly help you watch the baby — why not do it?"

Du Xiaojuan said:

"Later I'll go find a few books to read, learn how to praise my own husband."

Wang Xiaohua nodded approvingly:

"That's the right attitude!"

Then he added:

"Once you've praised him enough, bring up the idea of him becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad."

"When is 'enough'?" Du Xiaojuan asked; she wasn't quite sure how to gauge it.

Wang Xiaohua said:

"The best timing, of course, is when his old renovation investment blows up. You don't scold him — you comfort him, and then it follows naturally that he becomes a full-time househusband. But if that doesn't blow up for a long time, then after a year or so, once relations have eased, you'll still have to bring it up."

Du Xiaojuan nodded, then said:

"I think that old renovation investment will blow up before long — those people took the money and definitely want to pull out fast!"

Wang Xiaohua couldn't be sure about that; he didn't know the specifics, so he couldn't make a definitive judgment.

But the general approach had already been given to Du Xiaojuan.

As for whether Du Xiaojuan can actually implement this, that depends on her.

Before long it was past seven in the evening.

Wang Xiaohua and Wang Dashan rested a bit after the meal, then prepared to set off for their hometown.

So they said goodbye to Du Xiaojuan, went down to the underground garage, got in the car and hit the road.

On the way, Wang Dashan couldn't help asking Wang Xiaohua:

"Third Brother, what did you say to my wife? I feel her attitude toward me tonight is much better than before!"

Wang Dashan felt that his Third Brother was truly too amazing!

No matter how he and Du Xiaojuan communicated, it didn't work; his Third Brother came over and in a few words actually made Du Xiaojuan change a bit, and although this change wasn't extremely huge, it was already very impressive!

So he was very curious!

Wang Xiaohua didn't answer this question directly, but said with a smile:

"Big Brother, haven't you also been treating Eldest Sister-in-law much better?"

Wang Dashan was stunned:

"Have I?"

He felt he was still the same.

Wang Xiaohua said with a smile:

"Definitely, it's just that even you yourself haven't noticed."

Then Wang Xiaohua said:

"If you want to get along better with Eldest Sister-in-law, cook more dishes for her to eat. Your cooking skills are so good; if you don't show them off more in front of your own wife, wouldn't that be a waste?"

Wang Dashan always felt something was a bit off; mainly, in his subconscious, similar to Wang Changgen, he also felt that a man cooking at home would lose Face (reputation).

But with Wang Xiaohua saying this to him, he also felt there seemed to be a bit of Principle.

Besides, his own cooking skills — if not displayed for his own wife to see, could it be he should display them for other women Outside to see?

Only for his own wife would he have that Opportunity, right!

He wasn't that kind of very philandering man!

"The problem is, I'm just afraid the dishes I make won't suit her taste. You don't know, ever since she gave birth her personality changed, and her taste became picky too."

Wang Dashan spoke like this.

Wang Xiaohua said:

"Just now didn't Eldest Sister-in-law still praise your Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs for being well-made? Have some confidence! When you have time, come cook more dishes for Eldest Sister-in-law; don't go pondering those so-called business matters. If you coax her happy, maybe in the future she'll tear up the prenuptial agreement, and her money will be your money. Why would you need to work yourself to death, yet not earn much money? Not earning much is one thing, but you still have to bear such huge risks!"

Wang Dashan immediately exclaimed in surprise:

"No, Third Brother, you actually think like this? I'm not that kind of person. I'd never be greedy for your Eldest Sister-in-law's money! Although I earn less than her, I'm not so low as to covet her money!"

Wang Dashan's words could be described as righteous and awe-inspiring.

This was very in line with his character; he indeed didn't want to ask Du Xiaojuan for money.

Especially this time with the old-for-new housing renovation, he asked Du Xiaojuan for money once and got scolded until blood flowed; he secretly vowed in his heart never to beg her for money again!

However Wang Xiaohua countered by asking him:

"She's your wife; you won't be greedy for her money, so you'd let other men Outside be greedy for her money instead!"