After washing up and going downstairs, Song Shi'an saw his Mother Song about to leave. "Mom, are you going out?"
"Yes, I'm going to buy some groceries." Mother Song said as she changed her shoes in the entryway.
Song Shi'an, feeling a bit bored, quickly stepped forward and said, "Mom, I'll go. You stay home and rest. I'll be right back."
"Do you know what to buy?" Mother Song looked at her son suspiciously.
"I know, don't worry, Mom." Song Shi'an coughed twice. "Your son's cooking skills have improved this year."
He grabbed the car keys from Mother Song and ran. The little electric scooter was parked next to the pavilion. He got on, twisted the throttle, and sped off into town.
The market was packed with people early in the morning. Fishmongers were cleaning fish by the tank, butchers were cutting up pork belly with cleavers, and vegetable vendors were calling out in their local dialect, "Homegrown Little White!"
Song Shi'an hadn't experienced such a simple and honest market in a long time. He plunged in and felt right at home, using his silver tongue to haggle and get the best deals with ease.
"Auntie, can you give me a two-yuan discount on these ribs? I'll buy two more."
"The young man is handsome and has a sweet tongue. Okay, okay, I'll round it down for you."
The staff who were scouting the area recorded the route and took photos. The camera panned across the bustling crowd in the market, then suddenly stopped.
A boy, wearing a dark gray hoodie and a beige face mask, was picking fish by the pool and stood out among a group of elderly people.
He has a great presence in front of the camera at first glance, and upon closer inspection, this young man is surprisingly stylish.
After selecting the fish, Song Shi'an turned his head and his eyes met directly into the camera lens that was taking pictures.
He glanced behind him instinctively, wondering what was there to photograph; what else was there besides the vegetable vendors?
He took the prepared fish, quickly left the market, hopped on his electric scooter, and hurried home.
Humming a little tune along the way. "Riding my beloved little motorcycle, it'll never get stuck in traffic~"
The staff member didn't think much of it; it was normal for there to be many young people around as the Lunar New Year approached. He packed all the videos and photos from the location scouting trip and sent them to the director.
As soon as Song Shi'an got home, he carried all the groceries into the kitchen, grabbed his Mother Song's floral apron, put it on, rolled up his sleeves, and started preparing the food.
Mother Song was feeding the chickens in the backyard when she heard the noise from the kitchen and came over.
Seeing her son washing vegetables at the sink, wearing her pink floral apron with the strap tied in a crooked bow at the back, she said, "Son, you're back. I'll take care of things here. You go and rest. You finally have a holiday, why don't you relax a bit?"
"No need, no need." Song Shi'an wiped the water from his hands and gently pushed his Mother Song out of the kitchen. "Today, I'll let you taste the chef's cooking."
Unable to resist Song Shi'an's persistent pleading, Mother Song had no choice but to give up.
The sounds of chopping and stir-frying vegetables came from the kitchen, along with the crisp clanging of spatulas against woks, the sizzling of oil, and the aroma wafting out through the cracks in the door.
Voices could be heard coming from outside the courtyard; Song Shi'an knew that his relatives had arrived.
Actually, he mainly didn't want to face a group of relatives he had never met before. He didn't know what to say when they met, so it was safer for him to stay in the kitchen cooking.
Just as he was about to add a spoonful less salt, a loud voice suddenly rang out from outside, startling him so much that he trembled and spilled the entire spoonful of salt into the container.
"That's it," he thought, glancing down at the dish and silently adding half a bowl of water.
Song Qiaoyun walked into the courtyard carrying her bag, and looked her up and down at her Mother Song came out to greet her, " Xiao Hui, it's been so long, why are you still dressed like this? You should dress up properly even at home."
"There's no need to be at home, just do whatever makes you comfortable," Mother Song said softly. "Didn't my brother-in-law and Xiao Nuo come today?"
Song Qiaoyun glanced around and waved, "They'll be here soon. It's been a while since they've come. They brought you some gifts from abroad."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a car stopped outside.
As soon as Sun Sinuo got out of the car, she complained, "What a terrible road! It was so bumpy, it was killing me!"
"Say less, what will people think if they hear you?" Sun Weiguo clicked his tongue. "Come and carry the things."
Sun Sinuo reluctantly walked to the trunk and took out the gift box.
She had made plans with her friends to see the aurora during the Chinese New Year, but because her uncle, whom she hadn't contacted in ages, had built a house, she rushed back from afar, only to find that the area didn't even have a decent shopping mall.
Father Song Mother Song Sun Sinuo, their faces lit up with joy. " Sinuo, you've grown so much since we last saw you!"
Sun Sinuo smiled sweetly, "Uncle and Aunt, it's been a long time!"
" Sinuo has grown into a beautiful young woman. The last time I saw you was when you were five or six years old," Mother Song said with a smile as she looked her over.
Sun Sinuo gave a perfunctory "uh-huh" twice, when suddenly she smelled the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, past her nose, and instantly tantalizing all her taste buds.
What smells so good?! She glanced instinctively toward the kitchen.
The kitchen door opened, Song Shi'an came out carrying two plates of food; the steam blurred the outline of his profile.
He placed the plate on the table. "There are two more dishes; we can start eating soon."
All of Sun Sinuo's senses instantly focused on that face. Wardfa, what did she see? True love had arrived!
The next second she heard the handsome guy call out to the person in front of her, "Mom."
Her wildly beating heart instantly cooled. Looking at the dazed Sun Sinuo, Mother Song smiled and tugged at her hand, " Sinuo, this is your cousin Shi'an. You haven't seen each other for many years. Young people have a lot in common. You two have fun."
She stopped Song Shi'an and took the apron from his hand. "You chat with your cousin for a while, I'll take care of the rest."
Song Shi'an glanced at the relatives who had come today. He had heard everything clearly in the kitchen just now—it was his loud-voiced, sarcastic mother who was expecting him to give her a friendly look.
" Shi'an, do you still recognize your aunt?" Song Qiaoyun looked him up and down. "You're different from before."
"Hello, Auntie." Song Shi'an smiled, turned around and went into the kitchen. Her smile was so perfect that it looked like it had been copied from an etiquette textbook, with just the right curve at the corners of her mouth, but there was no smile in her eyes at all.
Song Qiaoyun felt a little embarrassed and turned to her Father Song, saying, "You've been admitted to some prestigious university, is this how you talk to your elders?"
"Sister, it's rare for you to come back, it's normal that the child isn't familiar with you yet." Father Song rubbed his hands awkwardly. "Calm down."
When Mother Song saw Song Shi'an return to the kitchen, she lowered her voice and said, "You silly child, why are you here again? Go and rest."
"Mom, why does this aunt seem to have a strained relationship with you?" Song Shi'an frowned as she took the spatula from her hand.
Mother Song stirred the food in the pot, remained silent for a while before speaking, "Your aunt has always disliked me. She never gave me a kind look when she first married into the family. If it weren't for your father intervening, this family would have fallen apart. She only calmed down after she got married and lived abroad for a long time."
She turned the heat down and sighed, "They came to offer their congratulations, after they finish this meal they'll leave, there's no point in making a fuss about it."
Song Shi'an didn't say anything more, took the spatula and continued cooking.
The oil in the pan sizzled, and his expression was indistinct in the steam.