"Itâs just as well theyâre not coming to eat, more for us." Having finished cooking, Zhang Huayao washed his hands and walked out of the kitchen, saying cheerfully as he heard the phone.
With the table set, a group of people sat around it.
The dishes made by the Boss were truly delicious, and the aroma wafting from the large plates of exquisite food on the table had everyoneâs stomachs rumbling.
Li Xiaobing, Xie Wanying, and Song Xueling, upon meeting the Boss, didnât dare to speak casually.
The table was too quiet. Teacher Lu couldnât stand it and tugged at his sonâs sleeve: "Look at you, youâre here, and theyâre all too scared to make a sound."
The old lady wanted him to speak up and lighten the atmosphere. Zhang Huayao raised an eyebrow, looked at the three silent ones, his crafty eyes darting around before he picked up chopsticks, picked a piece of beef, and placed it in his motherâs bowl, saying, "Theyâre not kids, if they want to talk, they can talk; if they donât, they donât have to. Am I supposed to hold a gun to their heads to make them speak?"
The Boss never spoils kids.
Teacher Lu was exasperated and urged the others, "Eat, donât mind him."
The Bossâs mom was even more dominant than the Boss.
The others picked up their chopsticks like well-behaved schoolchildren.
"Eat more, Xiaobing. You now have an extra mouth to feed with the child in your belly." Teacher Lu used her chopsticks as a baton, insisting everyone eat their fill, "If itâs not enough, ask Teacher Zhang to cook a few more dishes for you."
Zhang Huayao was choked by his motherâs words, coughed twice, and changed the subject, saying, "Donât you have something to ask Xie Wanying?"
"Oh, right." Remembering, Teacher Lu turned to ask, "I heard from someone that your mom is planning to visit you."
This was something her mom had planned, but no final date had been set. Xie Wanying wondered where Teacher Lu heard that from.
"Isnât your momâs friend hospitalized at Guo Zhi Hospital?"
It seems Aunt Min asked for her momâs phone number and talked to her, then the news reached Boss Zhangâs ears and finally to Teacher Lu. Xie Wanying figured out the news trail.
"When the time comes, bring your whole family to the north for New Year, experience the atmosphere of a northern New Year." Teacher Lu suggested, while thinking that Cao Yong better start preparing how to win over his future mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Teacher Lu meant well, but having her whole family come to the north was impossible. Her dad disliked the north and northerners. He had driven deliveries to the north before, and Xie Changrong had feuds with some northerners over something. Moreover, her dad had held a grudge against her for coming north to study for many years.
After dinner, Zhang Huayao grabbed his coat to leave with his mother, reminding the two younger ones, "Wash the dishes, wait for her husband to come back before you leave."
It was clear that just a glance at Li Xiaobingâs belly made the boss uneasy, as if it were a ticking time bomb about to explode.
"Why donât we stay here with her." Teacher Lu considered.
"You have to go back and take your medicine on time." Zhang Huayao said sternly to his mother.
Initially, they hadnât planned on visiting unprepared, and the elderly hadnât brought their medication with them.
Li Xiaobing immediately joined in, "Teacher Lu, donât worry about going back; Yingying is here with me. If anything happens, sheâll take me to the hospital. Weâre just a few steps away from the hospital, so Iâm not afraid."
Student Xiao Xie was a very reliable person. Thinking of this, Teacher Lu felt relieved. As she left with her son, she chatted with the expectant mother a bit more: "If you need anything, call us."