Chapter 698: Fantasies and Mysteries
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Soon, Su Wenzhe and Liu Yinyin brought the dishes to the table. Rich aromas spread throughout the hall. The Su family had grown accustomed to it. They smiled as they smelled the fragrance.
However, Shen Qiuhui felt his eyes were playing tricks on him as he looked at the table full of food. He had never seen such dishes before, and they all smelled good.
Just the smell was enough to whet his appet.i.te. He only wanted to see his sister when he came. He did not think about eating because he did not feel hungry on the way. However, he was hungry now.
Shen Qiuhua handed him a pair of chopsticks and said, “Hurry up and eat. I remember you weren’t picky about food when we were children.”
Although she did not want to restore her ident.i.ty as the young lady of the Shen family, she was thrilled to see her step-brother. She also wanted him to taste her daughter’s homemade food.
Shen Qiuhui looked at his step-sister and said, “Those don’t look like farm-to-table dishes. These can compare to the signature dishes of a restaurant in the capital.”
Shen Qiuhua replied, “These are homemade dishes. Eat as much as you want and make yourself at home. Don’t be an outsider.”
“All right.” Shen Qiuhui felt a warmth in his heart when he heard his sister’s words.
Although unfamiliar with this place and the dishes, he felt like he had returned to his childhood with Shen Qiuhua beside him. He felt a sense of security. Shen Qiuhua and Shen Mohen were the closest to him without his parents.
Shen Qiuhui was genuinely happy now that he finally met his niece and nephews.
‘These are my relatives.’
Shen Mohen became emotional when he looked at his father’s expression. Shen Qiuhui used to be reserved, but he was like a child in front of Shen Qiuhua.
As everyone sat around the table, Shen Qihua first picked up some food for
Shen Qiuhui, saying, “Try this and see how it tastes.”
Shen Qiuhui felt sad when he looked at the food that Shen Qiuhua had placed in his bowl. He recalled his childhood. He was a child of a concubine, and his mother had died long ago.
The Shen family did not welcome him, and even the servants bullied him. His illegitimate brothers also mocked and hara.s.sed him. Shen Qiuhui often went hungry and cold, but he was young and could not protect himself.
He had also almost died several times, but Shen Qiuhua saved him, gave him food and clothes, and protected him. He constantly trembled in fear.
Shen Qiuhua always put food in his bowl for him to eat more. Shen Qiuhui felt warm when he recalled those memories.
“Sister…” Shen Qiuhui choked with sobs as tears welled in his eyes.
Shen Mohen had never seen his father so emotional. He was stunned. His father had always been stern and indifferent, and Shen Mohen was always in awe of his father.
However, Shen Mohen realized his father also had a fragile side when he looked at the older man. Still, Shen Qiuhui might only reveal his fragile side to Shen Qiuhua.
She looked at her crying step-brother and remembered how he would cry when others bullied him. Shen Qiuhua felt terrible, and her eyes reddened. She said, “Eat as much as you want. I’ll make you whatever you want to eat.
“I’ve learned to cook many dishes. I remember you liked eating pastries when you were young. You can stay here, you know?”
Shen Qiuhui suppressed his emotions and said, “I’ve made a fool of myself before you. I can’t bear to trouble you.”
“That’s okay. 1 1 m always happy to cook for my family.” Shen Qiuhua kept putting food in his bowl as she spoke, urging him to eat.
Shen Qiuhui wiped his tears and began to eat. His eyes lit up after just a few bites. “Sister, this dish is incredibly delicious, and the porridge is delicious, too!”
At that moment, he no longer thought about his childhood. His attention was solely on the food. Initially, he ate very slowly. He did not need Shen Qiuhua to put food in his bowl anymore.
He picked the food himself and ate quickly because the food was so tasty. He had tried many dishes in the capital but never had anything like the ones Su Binglan made.
Shen Mohen looked at his father and wondered if he was like this when he first came to his aunt’s house for dinner. It seemed he was even more exaggerated than his father.
Shen Mohen remembered overeating that day because of how delicious Su Binglan’s food was. He did not like eating cabbage in the past, but for some reason, he thought the ones his cousin made were delicious.
He felt that even the rice was fragrant. That was because Su Binglan had used her spiritual spring water when cooking the rice. Naturally, the food she cooked with spiritual spring water would taste different.
Even if it were just rice, the family would find it fragrant. Moreover, spiritual spring water was easy to digest and could improve one’s health.
Not only did Shen Qiuhui enjoy the dishes, but Su Wenzhe and the others thought so. They had never tried such dishes, so they felt they tasted different from what they had grown accustomed to eating.
Meanwhile, Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai ate obediently.
Su Wenwu even forgot about his uncle’s presence and said with satisfaction, “Ah, these are so tasty!’
He constantly picked up more of the dishes and ate them with the rice, his mouth bulging.
Shen Qiuhua could not help but laugh when she saw her children stuffing their faces. She picked up more food for her step-brother, like when they were children.
Su Fengmao looked at Shen Qiuhua and felt a little left out. She did not even offer him food or put any in his bowl. Still, he was delighted to see how happy his wife was.
Shen Qiuhui stuffed his mouth with food, saying, “Sister, these dishes are even more delicious than those I’ve eaten in the capital.”
There was one more thing he did not tell them. He thought the dishes in the imperial kitchen might not be as good as Su Binglan’s.
Su Fengmao even took his hidden wine and said, “This is the wine my daughter brewed herself. It’s especially delicious. Here, try some, Brother-in-law.”
Shen Qiuhui was stunned when he smelled the wine’s fragrance. He felt he must be hallucinating again.
‘My niece brewed this herself? Qiuhua’s life is different from anything I could’ve imagined. She lives a better life here than the n.o.ble ladies in the capital. Still, I’m happy she’s doing well. Everything before me seems mystical and mysterious.’
“Your daughter brewed her own wine?”
“Yes, she did. If you like it, we’ll give you a few more jars to bring home.” Shen Qiuhua was generous toward her younger step-brother.
When Su Fengmao toasted Shen Qiuhui, the latter did not overthink it and drank the wine. He was so shocked at its taste that he almost stood up..