yournovel Chapter 467 This debt cannot be left unresolved.
Chapter 467 This debt cannot be left unresolved.
Chapter 467 This debt cannot be left unresolved.
"Clam!?"
Yu Huan was as if she had been frozen in place, her mind filled with countless question marks, completely baffled.
Lin Yourong's almond-shaped eyes widened, like two round black grapes, filled with surprise, clearly also somewhat confused about the situation.
Yu Huan was stunned for several seconds before stammering, "Grandpa, you...you knew Rongrong's identity all along?"
Old Master Yu gave a smug hum.
His smile instantly blossomed into an even brighter one, every wrinkle revealing undisguised pride, and he spoke with great enthusiasm.
"Of course! Once, when Orange went to the city, she came back and poured her heart out to me for two or three hours, telling me all about you guys!"
Old Yu and Teacher Wu exchanged a glance, their surprise almost overflowing.
Old Yu's tone was full of doubt: "Dad, since you knew all along, why did you keep...?"
Teacher Wu's mouth opened slightly, as if frozen in place. After a long while, she exclaimed in surprise, "Dad, you've kept this a secret for a long time! We thought we had kept it from you perfectly. You haven't uttered a single word all this time."
Yu Songnian slapped his forehead, leaned back heavily in his chair, and exclaimed, "This is practically a real-life Mission: Impossible!"
Yu Huan held the remaining half cup of ginger tea, tilted her head back, and gulped it down.
As she got up and placed the empty cup on the stove, she said, "I've been thinking about finding the right time to tell Grandpa the truth—"
As soon as Yu Huan sat back down in his chair, Old Master Yu immediately raised his hand and gently tapped his head.
He raised his voice a few decibels and interrupted loudly, "What do you take me for? Are you afraid I'll gossip outside? Do you think I'm the kind of person who can't control my mouth? I know you young people have your own ideas, and Chengzi has analyzed your concerns for me. I'll say what I should say, and I won't let anything slip by!"
As he spoke, he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
Yu Huan scratched his head, looking helpless yet admiring, and said, "Grandpa, you're really good at keeping your composure. But since you already knew, why did you keep pretending not to know?"
The voice just fell.
Old Master Yu suddenly slapped his thigh, as if he wanted to pour out all the words that had been bottled up in his heart for so long:
"I'm not afraid to tell you, that little brat Yu Chengcheng recorded me on her phone. I even promised that if you didn't confess to me, I wouldn't say a word, otherwise I would use this as proof to quit smoking and drinking! Good grief, and what's more, she charged me 500 yuan per question, but she took 2,000 yuan from me and left!"
The expressions on his face were incredibly varied.
It conveyed both helplessness at Yu Chengcheng's little tricks and a touch of amusement and exasperation at being outmaneuvered.
But the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up, revealing that he was actually in a very good mood.
“You guys don’t know,” Old Master Yu continued, gesturing as he spoke, “that little girl pointed her phone at me like she was interrogating a criminal! These past few days, I’ve actually understood all those riddles you and Xiao Wu have been playing, but I still had to pretend I didn’t understand. It’s been driving me crazy!”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the room instantly erupted in chaos.
With a gentle smile in her eyes, Teacher Wu said, "Dad, I never thought that someone as experienced as you would be outmaneuvered by Chengcheng. But then again, Chengcheng meant well, afraid that you might accidentally let something slip and cause unnecessary trouble for You Rong and Huan Huan."
Old Yu nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, kids these days are all full of clever ideas. But Dad, you really did a great job keeping it a secret; we really didn't notice anything."
Yu Huan looked at him with admiration, gave the old man a thumbs up, and praised him, "Old man, you've really opened my eyes this time! I thought you'd been kept in the dark all along."
Upon hearing this form of address, Old Master Yu feigned anger and gently patted Yu Huan's head.
"You little rascal, you have no manners!" After saying that, he turned to look at Lin Yourong, who was sitting inside with a smile on her face, his tone full of relief, "Alright, now that this matter has been clarified, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I feel so comfortable."
Yu Huan noticed her grandfather's gaze, and took the opportunity to turn to the side and affectionately pat Lin Yourong's shoulder.
With a teasing smile, he said, "Grandpa was ripped off by Chengzi for two thousand yuan because of us. We can't just let this go. When we have time tomorrow, we'll go to town to buy Grandpa some wine. We have to make up for Grandpa's loss a little."
Lin Yourong realized that it was Yu Huan's idea to keep it from the old man, so she didn't say much.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and her smile was exceptionally sweet. She simply replied in a crisp voice, "Okay."
"Brother Huan, we need to get the cigarettes too!" Yu Songnian shouted at the top of his lungs.
Old Yu immediately raised his hand and flicked his forehead, pretending to be serious as he said, "You just know how to blindly follow the crowd."
Yu Songnian chuckled, "Fourth Uncle, I'm not just stirring things up. Think about it, Grandpa has been keeping everything bottled up for Huan-ge and You-rong-jie, how painful that must have been! He's sacrificed so much, he deserves some recognition!"
"Don't worry, there will definitely be plenty of smoke!" Yu Huan replied with a smile, as he picked up the fire tongs, reached into the warm stove, and pulled out a sweet potato with a charred black skin that was still sizzling with heat.
He then asked, "Sister Li is back for the New Year too, right?"
"She's back. She said she's dating a guy from Chancheng and will bring him over to meet us during the May Day holiday." Grandpa Yu's smile grew even more kind when he mentioned his granddaughter.
Teacher Wu said with a smile, "This child is the most thoughtful. Every time he comes back, he brings gifts for his family. This time he bought me a shawl, which is quite nice."
Yu Huan gently pinched the scalding hot sweet potato between her fingertips, feeling the heat emanating from them. She nodded and said, "Sister Li is indeed very filial. But she's making good progress. She's even planning to bring it back for May Day. Grandpa, you'll have to keep a close eye on things then. This is a lifelong matter, so we can't be careless."
"I definitely need to check their backgrounds, but as long as Xiaoli likes it and is honest and reliable, I have no objections. After all, when it comes to living together, it all comes down to whether the two people get along." Old Master Yu picked up the fire tongs and poked at the firewood in the stove. The flames suddenly leaped up even more, just like his happy mood at that moment.
Yu Huan smiled, her thoughts drifting back to her memories of her cousin-in-law.
If it really is him, this cousin-in-law is actually not down-to-earth or honest at all. He loves to act like a big shot, is concerned about his image, and loves to brag. When he opens his mouth, it's like setting off firecrackers, full of boastful talk.
Strangely enough, this approach worked quite well in social settings, and with the help of family members, the business flourished.
Although Yu Huan couldn't agree with his way of doing things, she had to admit that her cousin had lived a life of comfort and hadn't suffered much hardship with him.
Yu Huan grasped the dark sweet potato, broke it open with a little force, and instantly, a rich and mellow sweet aroma filled her nostrils.
The golden, honey-like flesh inside is fully exposed.
Yu Huan casually and precisely tossed the sweet potato peel into the stove, sparks flying up instantly. He then handed the steaming sweet potato to Lin Yourong with a gentle smile, saying, "Wife, you try it first."
Now that everything was out in the open, Lin Yourong took off her mask without any hesitation, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face.
She lowered her head slightly and took a bite of the sweet potato.
The soft, sweet flavor instantly bloomed on her tongue, and a sweet smile unconsciously curved her lips as she whispered, "Mmm, it's really sweet."
Grandpa Yu leaned back comfortably in his chair, enveloped in the warm and cozy atmosphere.
His gaze fell on Lin Yourong, and looking at his granddaughter-in-law's features, which he knew all too well, his smile grew even more loving. He said, "Yourong, Huanhuan is an only child, and we've spoiled him since he was little. It's inevitable that he's a bit spoiled. You must be more tolerant of him. If he does anything wrong, don't hold back. Just tell Grandpa, and Grandpa will teach him a lesson."
Lin Yourong smiled slightly, swallowed the sweet potato in her mouth, sat up straight and said seriously, "Grandpa, don't worry, Yu Huan is very good to me, both considerate and thoughtful."
Teacher Wu smiled broadly and teased, "That's good. Before, he was always waited on hand and foot at home, like a young master."
Yu Huan was looking down slightly, happily munching on a sweet potato.
Upon hearing this, he immediately looked up, his cheeks still puffed out, and retorted indistinctly, "Mom, don't say that, it's not that exaggerated! I used to do a lot of housework, okay!"
Old Yu was quite accommodating, interjecting, "That's true. Before, Huanhuan would occasionally wash the dishes after meals at home; she wasn't that lazy."
Grandpa Yu looked at the young couple sharing the sweet potato and said with a smile, "That's true, but nowadays most people are only children, and they've been the apple of their parents' eye since they were little. It's inevitable that they'll have a little temper. I just hope that you two can live happily ever after."
Yu Huan and Lin Yourong listened and both nodded seriously.
He swallowed the sweet potato in his mouth and said with a smile, "Grandpa, you can rest assured."
“That’s right! Huan-ge and You-rong-jie have a great relationship!” Yu Songnian chimed in, bending down to grab the fire tongs and then picking up a roasted sweet potato from the stove.
The firewood in the stove crackled and popped, occasionally sputtering out a few sparks.
The warm firelight illuminated everyone's faces, making the cozy atmosphere even more intense.
Time flew by as if it had been fast-forwarded amidst the lively and casual conversation.
Before I knew it, the night had deepened.
It was past ten o'clock, and the old man would usually be asleep by then.
But tonight he was full of energy and insisted on having a late-night snack with everyone. He and Yu Songnian sipped some wine and had a great time.
For Lao Yu and Teacher Wu, tonight's meal is the only true family reunion meal.
Teacher Wu took it very seriously and made meticulous preparations, resulting in an exceptionally rich feast.
The group sat around a small round table.
After everyone put down their chopsticks, there was still a lot of food left on the table.
After drinking two glasses of baijiu, Yu Songnian's face turned rosy.
He picked his teeth with a toothpick in one hand and casually rested the other on the edge of the table, saying in a carefree manner, "Fourth Aunt, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart: the food here is so much better than what I had at Third Aunt's place tonight! Look at this stewed pigeon with gastrodia elata, the soup is so fresh and delicious, the aroma just wafts into your nose as soon as it's served. And this braised donkey meat, it's a shame that someone with this skill isn't a chef in a restaurant!"
Upon hearing this, Teacher Wu was about to say a few words of modesty when Grandpa Yu smiled and took over the conversation.
"I specially went to Wang Lao Er to buy these pigeons. I had to beg him to let me get two. They're free-range pigeons from the mountains, so the meat is firm. Your auntie simmered them for several hours. I tried to persuade her to use an electric cooker, but she insisted that it would be more fragrant with firewood. She didn't leave the kitchen all afternoon. Songnian, most of them have ended up in your belly. When you weigh yourself tomorrow morning, you'll probably have gained several pounds!"
As soon as the old man finished speaking, Yu Huan couldn't help but laugh and joke, "In short, this fat didn't grow on an outsider."
Lin Yourong, who was holding a bowl with both hands and sipping pigeon soup, couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard this.
Yu Songnian scratched his head and said with a sheepish smile, "I'm not exaggerating, Auntie's cooking is just perfect for my taste! Take this stewed pigeon with gastrodia elata, for example. After eating it, I feel refreshed and energetic, like I'm walking on air. I swear, this is definitely the best meal I've had all year!"
After speaking, he leaned back comfortably in his chair, the blush on his face becoming even more pronounced under the light.
"You little rascal, all you do is use your smooth talk to make your fourth aunt happy." Although Teacher Wu said this, her face was beaming with joy, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes revealed a gentle smile.
Grandpa Yu reached into the toothpick container, slowly and leisurely shook out a toothpick, his movements relaxed and carefree.
He said calmly, "But speaking of which, Xiao Wu, your cooking skills today are truly exceptional. You can tell that you put your heart and soul into every dish."
Lin Yourong gently put down the bowl, her eyes crinkling as she said, "Thank you, Mom. You've worked so hard."
"Hey! You child, why are you being so polite with your mother!" Teacher Wu quickly waved her hand, her eyes full of affection. "If you enjoy the food and are happy, then even if I work hard, it's all worth it. The whole family is gathered together in a lively and harmonious atmosphere, which is better than anything else."
Yu Songnian patted his round belly, let out a burp, and said, "I'll help clean up. I ate too much tonight, so this is a good opportunity to move around and digest." With that, he started clearing the dishes from the table.
Yu Huan also stood up, rolled up her sleeves and looked very energetic, and jokingly said, "Song Nian, you clean up and I'll do the washing, so you won't criticize me for being waited on hand and foot next time."
Teacher Wu took in the whole scene, and nodded with a smile: "That's good, it's rare to see you two brothers so enthusiastic."
Yu Songnian deftly stacked the rice bowls one by one, while adding a friendly tone: "Today's meal was truly a feast for me. Fourth Aunt, you must pass on the secret recipe for this braised donkey meat to me. If I ever have to make a living, I can open a small restaurant and support myself with this skill."
Old Yu chuckled and teased, "You little rascal, you're always thinking about good things. With your cooking skills, you can't even make a decent scrambled eggs with tomatoes, yet you want to make braised donkey meat? Don't scare all the customers away."
"Completely unpredictable and unreliable," commented Grandpa Yu, his face beaming.
He pulled a pack of white cigarettes from his pocket, turned to Old Yu with a smile, and said, "Want to go outside and have a smoke?"
It was rare for his father to invite him for a smoke, so Old Yu readily agreed, saying, "Yes, it'll be good to get some fresh air."
(End of this chapter)