Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Father and Son Showdown
"Master Su, you’re so rich," Han Jingyi marveled in a low voice. Xiao Rui, standing beside him, chimed in with agreement.
The Han and Xiao Families were counted among the most prominent clans in the Imperial City. Yet even they didn’t eat rice from the Overseas Chinese Store every single day.
They used to think their master couldn’t compare to the Xiao and Han families, and secretly felt their great-aunt had gotten a raw deal marrying a man with a leg disability.
Now, it seemed it wasn’t such a raw deal after all. Their master was truly rich, on par with a renowned family.
Su Shuochi said humbly, "I wouldn’t say rich. It’s just enough to get by. It’s all money your great-aunt earned treating patients."
Xiao Rui: ...
’It’s all money our great-aunt earned? Then isn’t she getting an even worse deal?’
He gave a subtle nod and said, feigning happiness, "Our great-aunt is just that amazing."
Han Jingyi was much simpler. "Of course our great-aunt is the most amazing! Otherwise, why would our grandpa grin from ear to ear whenever he mentions her?"
Su Shuochi smiled humbly and said no more, but his mind was on something else.
’My wife is too outstanding. I have to step up my game, too. The research institute called again to ask me to come back to work.’
’Maybe I’ll go back to work tomorrow,’ Su Shuochi thought, his hands never ceasing their work.
After tidying the kitchen, he started a fire to boil water. His practiced movements stunned the two young men.
"Looks like our master really knows how to cook," Han Jingyi whispered in Xiao Rui’s ear.
Xiao Rui nodded in agreement, but he was more concerned about something else. "How did our master move so fast just now?"
"You can’t even tell? It’s obviously practice makes perfect," Han Jingyi whispered with a grin.
They thought they were speaking quietly, but Su Shuochi still heard them. He couldn’t help but frown. "What are you two talking about!"
Han Jingyi and Xiao Rui immediately fell silent. They obediently ran to the hand-pump well in the courtyard, pumped water, and then carried it to the water vat.
Su Shuochi boiled water, steeped a pot of tea, and brought it into the lab for his wife. Though he knew she wasn’t thirsty, he just wanted to go in and catch a glimpse of her.
Gu Jiaojiao was engrossed in grinding herbs and making medicine pills and had no time to pay him any mind.
Just then, the phone in the living room rang. Su Shuochi gently closed the door.
"Hello, this is Shuo Ci."
"Shuo Ci, it’s Grandpa. I was just calling to ask if you two are coming back for dinner tonight."
The call was from Grandpa Gu. They were all worried about Gu Jiaojiao and him living out on their own, afraid they would struggle with cooking.
Su Shuochi hadn’t originally planned to invite the Gu Family for dinner today. He had never cooked a full ten-course meal before.
But since Grandpa Gu had called, he might as well take the opportunity to invite them over for a meal.
"Grandpa, in a little while, I’ll have Han Jingyi come pick you all up to have dinner at our place."
"Oh, wonderful! Is Jiaojiao cooking?"
"I’m the one cooking. Jiaojiao is busy making your medicine pills and doesn’t have the time."
"Shuo Ci, that’s a lot of work for you. Should I have your mother-in-law come over early to help?"
"No need. I’ll have Han Jingyi pick you all up later."
How could Su Shuochi cook from a wheelchair? He would definitely have to stand to use the wok, so he couldn’t let his mother-in-law come over to help.
Geng Haoyi knew he could stand. When it was time to cook, having Geng Haoyi there to assist would be enough.
Not long after he hung up, Geng Haoyi returned with the groceries. Su Shuochi then taught the others how to sort, wash, and chop the vegetables.
They were all quick studies. Even though they’d never done it before, after being shown once, their work looked quite professional.
Su Shuochi glanced at them, then turned his attention back to his own tasks.
When it was about time, Su Shuochi said to Han Jingyi, "Go to the Gu Family’s house and pick up Grandpa and the others for dinner."
"Okay, I’ll head over now."
"Xiao Rui, go call Fu Junyuan and ask if he’s coming for dinner. After that, set up the tables and chairs. Don’t come back into the kitchen."
"Got it." Xiao Rui agreed readily and turned to make the call in the living room.
Since there was plenty of time, Su Shuochi prepared to cook a table full of dishes.
Xiao Rui called Fu Junyuan, but it wasn’t him who answered. His sister picked up and said she would pass on the message to her brother.
At that moment, Fu Junyuan was in a standoff with his father, the atmosphere tense enough to cut with a knife.
"You say Ru Yan hired people to beat you. If you have proof, then show it to me," Fu Mingyuan demanded impatiently.
He had just spent a night of passion with Jiang Ruyan, and he couldn’t get enough of her youthful body.
The two of them had slept until lunchtime. He was starving, but to his surprise, his eldest son was refusing to let them eat.
Fu Junyuan scoffed. "Dad, why don’t you have a bowl of soup first, then go call her out here and get the story straight. If she doesn’t admit to it, I will present the evidence myself."
Fu Mingyuan still had some patience for his son. He was truly starving, so he didn’t have the backbone to refuse the soup.
After finishing a bowl of soup and half a bowl of rice, he finally returned to the bedroom to wake Jiang Ruyan.
It was hard to say whether the rooms in the Fu family home were well soundproofed or if Jiang Ruyan was simply exhausted from the previous night, but she was completely unaware that the father and son had been arguing.
"Ming Yuan, I’m hungry..." Jiang Ruyan whined coquettishly, sprawled on the bed.
Normally, Fu Mingyuan would have indulged in a little tenderness with her, but this time his tone was serious.
"Ru Yan, why did you hire people to beat my son? And have them use iron bars on him?"
Jiang Ruyan: ...
’Those useless thugs actually dared to rat me out!’
’I clearly told them my cousin works at the bureau. Did that thug not hear me correctly?’
Fu Mingyuan was fond of Jiang Ruyan’s youth and beauty, but he was no fool.
The moment he saw Jiang Ruyan’s shifting gaze, he knew his eldest son had been telling the truth.
"Tell me why. It’s not like I can just stand by and watch you go to prison, can I?" Fu Mingyuan sighed helplessly.
"Ming Yuan, it’s all my fault. I just want to marry you so badly, and Jun Yuan was doing everything to stop it, so I just wanted to find someone to teach him a little lesson."
Jiang Ruyan gazed at Fu Mingyuan with deep affection, and her pitiful, teary-eyed appearance pleased him.
"You were willing to risk prison just to marry me sooner?" Fu Mingyuan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Get up. Come out with me and apologize to our son. He wasn’t really hurt; he won’t blame you."
"Okay, I’ll get up right now... Ouch! Ming Yuan, my back hurts, I can’t get up~" Jiang Ruyan had no intention of apologizing.
"Then just lie down a bit longer. I’ll go out and talk to my son." Fu Mingyuan didn’t care if Jiang Ruyan was hungry or not; he just left after speaking.
Jiang Ruyan had exerted herself all night and was now genuinely starving, but she didn’t dare go out.
She watched the middle-aged man’s back as he left. Jiang Ruyan’s heart tightened, and she bit down on her red lip, leaving a deep indentation.
She was the only daughter of the Jiang Family. There was a time when everyone in the Jiang Family had doted on her, treating her like a precious treasure.
’And now her uncle abandoned her just like that, washing his hands of her completely. Can’t she even marry an old man if she wants to?’
