After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 136: Angering the Mother-in-Law

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Angering the Mother-in-Law

The gentle words seemed to possess magic, instantly soothing Su Yu’s fatigue from the past few days, and a warm current surged in her heart.

Remaining the gracious host as expected, Su Yu smiled and explained, "Today was a bit rushed, the preparations were somewhat hasty, and the dishes are simple. Please, feel free to enjoy."

Meng Yuanyou looked at the dishes before him, full of color, aroma, and taste, especially the bowl of piled high plain noodles, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself, "Is this what they call casual?"

Seeing this, Su Yu quickly reacted, scooped up some of the essence of the pickled fish soup with an ancient wooden spoon, and evenly mixed it into everyone’s noodles, softly asking, "Try it, does it taste right?"

Meng Yuanyou was the first to respond, beginning to devour the noodles vigorously.

Since Su Yu had started cooking, he had struggled to control the saliva secretion in his mouth, and now, under the slight intoxication of alcohol, all etiquette and rules were thrown out the window. He simply followed the host’s invitation, thoroughly enjoying this feast for the taste buds.

The noodles were perfectly chewy, the sour and spicy taste exquisitely balanced, and upon the first bite of the fish slices, it felt like an electric shock to the crown of the head. The tender, boneless fish and the refreshing sourness of the pickled vegetables were perfectly blended, and under Su Yu’s skillful hands, an additional note of spiciness and freshness was added. Meng Yuanyou couldn’t help but exclaim, "This... is incredibly delicious!"

Between his words, he had completely immersed himself in the ocean of gourmet food.

Seeing Meng Yuanyou eating without any concern for image, Qifen felt a bit reproachful, but when she tried the fish meat Su Yu picked for her, her eyes too sparkled with amazement, and she silently joined the ranks of those enjoying their meal.

Witnessing this scene filled Su Yu’s heart with satisfaction and joy.

She carefully selected boneless fish slices for Xixi, gently coaxing, "Sweetheart, eat some more."

To Xixi, the dishes tonight were a bit strong, but she still relished them, her little mouth making "huffing" noises as she enjoyed this unique taste experience.

Jiang Ziling knew well Su Yu’s profound cooking skills, but every new attempt was like opening an unknown gift, always bringing unexpected surprises.

Like today’s fish, interwoven with sourness and spiciness that stimulated the senses and awakened the appetite, the stir-fried lotus leaf eggs with their strange balance of bitterness and freshness, and the candied tomatoes, offering a respite from richness with their sweet-and-sour notes, each bite was a temptation.

Not to mention the innovative crispy spicy fish scales, crispy with an indescribable delight, stimulating the appetite and presenting a whole new adventure for the taste buds.

And this noodle, as if it had a soul, greedily absorbed the essence of the rich fish soup, turning it into an indescribable refreshing sensation on the tip of the tongue, chewy yet tender, irresistibly moreish, endlessly beckoning one to taste again and again, making it impossible to stop.

This feast not only immersed those seated around the table in the ocean of gourmet food, unable to extricate themselves, but the tempting aroma also seemed to grow wings, quietly seeping through walls and homes, enticing the neighbors’ noses to dance along with this magical force, creating an endless longing in their hearts.

"Look, ever since Ziling married that woman into the family, their kitchen has been like magic, bursting with fragrance, never quiet for a day!"

Jiang Xunzhong’s elder sister exclaimed with great emotion, her words tinged with a hint of envy.

Their home was next to Su Yu’s residence, so whenever Su Yu cooked, the first whiff of aroma would always drift into their nostrils first, making them drool and itch inside.

"Indeed," agreed Jiang Jiaji, who was usually as reticent as a mountain, in a rare instance of spoken agreement.

Although linked by blood to Jiang Xunzhong, his quarrelsome and capricious wife, Lady Zhao, often instigated disputes over trivial matters, causing the relationship between the two households to gradually grow distant.

At times, Lady Zhao’s excessive behavior had directly angered the elders of both families, bringing the relationship to the brink of collapse.

The new wife that Ziling had brought back, not only was she highly skilled in medical practices, adept at managing household affairs, but she also possessed the wisdom and courage to rival Lady Zhao, protecting Ziling from the malicious harms of a stepmother. This was undoubtedly a special favor from the heavens toward Ziling, full of blessings.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jiaji felt a rush of relief for his nephew wash over him.

This roomful of the aroma of delicious food, not only stirred deep desires in Jiang Jiaji’s heart but also caused the begrudging Lady Zhao in bed to ripple with emotions, her cravings stirring intensely.

How could that girl manage to keep their home filled with delicious dishes every day?

Looking at the second branch of the family, ever since that outsider stepped into the house, their days had soared successively high like sesame flowers blooming.

In contrast, she herself hadn’t tasted a bit of sweetness, feeling as uncomfortable inside as if a cat had scratched her heart.

Lady Zhao’s ears echoed with the words of Jiang Xunzhong, and upon reflecting, they seemed to hold quite a bit of reason indeed.

Now that Youfu had passed away, the second branch had become an indispensable pillar of the household.

In this period of strategizing and contesting wits, she had to admit that Ziling’s chosen partner indeed possessed exceptional qualities.

Otherwise, where would the daily abundance of fish and meat, the rich life, come from?

Lady Zhao gradually began to calculate her own little plans.

With Dazhuang having lost his father, it was only proper for his uncle Ziling to take extra care of him.

Moreover, the Jiang Family had not formally split; the separation back then was merely a moment of impulse.

Since they were still one family, the good things of the second branch were naturally owned by the clan, with everyone having the right to enjoy them.

If direct confrontation was not workable, then it was time to find another path.

Su Yu could never have imagined that a simple gathering with friends could lead to such covert and turbulent scheming.

As she cleaned up the table, Xie Qifen hurried over to help wash the dishes.

Xie Qifen recalled the scene of the couple devouring their meal as if they had been starved for three days and nights, especially Meng Yuanyou, who would not even spare the soup of the pickled fish, licking it clean to the last drop.

A slight blush of embarrassment appeared on her face.

Initially, she had thought that Su Yu lived a life of luxury and waste,

but upon tasting those dishes herself, she came to understand that true deliciousness required the liberal use of ingredients at any cost.

This was not wastefulness but a love and respect for life.

At this moment, Xie Xinghua had also set up the meal, and following custom, she prepared to return to her room to eat alone, leaving only the fragrance of the meal and her solo conversation in the tranquil space.

Just as she took her light steps forward to continue on, Xie Xinghua felt an undeniable force gently yet firmly blocking her path.

Turning around, she saw the familiar yet imposing figure of Lady Zhao right before her eyes.

"Stand still."

Two words, concise and powerful, like a command, resounding with authority.

Xie Xinghua’s heart involuntarily clenched, and the meal in her hands felt suddenly heavier.

Her gaze dropped, her heart filled with unease, secretly guessing, could it be that she had taken a bit too much food this time, displeasing her mother-in-law?

Before the thought dissipated, she saw a warm smile emerge on Lady Zhao’s face, her tone unusually gentle, "We are all family. Eating together around the stove is proper. Go and call those little ones too, let’s make it lively."

These words, each and every sentence falling into Xie Xinghua’s ears, tightened her heart more than the usual harsh reprimands, leaving her with mixed feelings.