"Itās delicious, it really is, but eating it for a month straight would be too much. I hardly ate anyāIām afraid of gaining weight and Iām afraid of getting heaty," said Jane Sampson. "But the most important thing is, because of the high altitude over there, the rice is always half-cooked and hard to eat. So, I ended up eating noodles for a long time while I was in the small town."
After saying that, Jane Sampson confessed with a straightforward manner, "Even then, James Black cooked noodles for me at noon today. I dreamt about rice during my nap."
And James Black, whose chopsticks were already close to Janeās bowl with meat, turned his head directly after her words and put the food into his own mouth.
Jane Sampson looked on, dumbfounded.
"James Black!!" Jane Sampson called out his name through clenched teeth.
Seeing that James Black didnāt respond, Jane thought for a moment and added, "Actually, itās not that the noodles you cooked were too badāitās just that Iām tired of eating noodles for so long."
Afterward, Jane Sampson tentatively said, "James Black, I want some of the green vegetables in front of you."
Jane wondered if perhaps she had been too cocky just now and had offended him again.
Thereās still a whole week left before this weekend is over!
"Jane, you donāt need to explaināI get it. It must be his cooking thatās bad," Old Master Black chuckled as he joined in. "You want green vegetables? Here, your grandfather will get some for you."
No sooner had Elder Black spoken than James Blackās movements were quicker. His chopsticks were already in Janeās bowl and he even asked, "What else would you like?"
His voice was stiff, and his tone was rigid.
"Meat," Jane declared, staring intently at James Black. "The meat you were just eating."
"Iāve already swallowed it," James Black replied.
Uncle Black nearly choked with laughter at James Blackās response, unsure if James had pretended not to understand or genuinely hadnāt. Jane pursed her lips and said, "The lychee meat to your left hand."
Whether James had truly misunderstood her before or had been pretending, he did serve Jane some food, which put her at ease.
She definitely didnāt want to go back to the days of clanging her soup scoop against the plate...
After that, Brooke Black, Uncle Black, and Old Master Black suddenly fell silent, all of them eating while watching the coupleās interaction.
Although most of the talking at the dinner table was done by Jane, with only a few grunts of acknowledgment from James, the three of them felt that Jane and Jamesā relationship was much more natural and close than before.
The meal had made Elder Black so happy that he ate an extra half-bowl of rice, as watching the young coupleās affection made his food go down easier.
While watching them, he was contemplating that it might not be long before his great grandson would arrive.
By the end of the meal, with Jamesā help, Jane had eaten until her stomach was round and bulging; even her usually skinny belly was showing. She reluctantly put down her chopsticks, sighing, "Auntās culinary skills are really good."
"If you like it, come back often when you have time. Call us with whatever you want to eat, and itāll be ready by the time you get here," Aunt said while clearing up the dishes, then cheerfully added, "What would you like for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Weāre heading back in a bit," James Black answered before Jane could, "Weāll stay a little longer and then weāll leave. We wonāt be staying the night here."