Free Web NovelChapter 19: Chapter 13: A Man Who Can Cook Scores Major Points
"Why are you back by yourself?"
After a whole morning of shopping—enough to fulfill the mall’s KPI for the entire year—Jiang Li finally headed home, only to have Jing Shiyun complain that she had come back alone.
Jiang Li set her shopping bags on the floor and pulled a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet. "Yan Zhi had some company business to handle," she said as she changed her shoes. "And since I just quit my job, I figured I’d come home first."
Once her shoes were changed, she picked up the shopping bags and headed for the living room.
Jing Shiyun knew that Jiang Li and Zhao Sinian had worked at the same company, so she didn’t say much about her daughter’s resignation.
But when she saw all the bags Jiang Li was carrying, she couldn’t help but frown. "Honestly, you were already a big spender before you got married. How have you become even more extravagant now that you’re married?"
Jiang Li’s eyes darted playfully. She set the shopping bags on the coffee table and grinned. "These are all from your son-in-law, to show his appreciation for you and Dad."
Jing Shiyun looked at Jiang Li suspiciously. "What exactly does he do for a living? These things don’t look cheap. This must have cost a fortune!"
Jiang Li scratched her head and pulled Jing Shiyun down to sit with her. "I think he’s in investments or something. I didn’t really ask for the details."
’Anyway, Shen Yanzhi owns a ton of real estate. Even if he didn’t work, he could pull in an eight or nine-figure income every month just from rent.’
’So it wasn’t a huge stretch to say Shen Yanzhi had bought all these gifts.’
Jing Shiyun pressed her lips together and sighed. "Marriage isn’t like dating, dear. It involves two entire families. Even if he’s wealthy, you need to be more frugal. If your mother-in-law is the calculating type, life could get difficult for you and Xiao Shen."
Jiang Li gently patted the back of her mother’s hand. "Don’t worry, Mom. My mother-in-law is really nice. She won’t care about things like this."
The two of them chatted intimately for a while longer, then had lunch and took an afternoon nap.
When she woke up, it was already nearly five o’clock.
As soon as she was up, Jing Shiyun started trying to hurry her out the door.
Jiang Li pouted. "What, I can’t stay at my own home just because I’m married now?"
Jing Shiyun explained, "It’s not that I don’t want you here. It’s just that you have your own family now. If you come back to your parents’ house all by yourself, people are bound to gossip."
Jiang Li stretched. "Alright, alright. A daughter married is like water thrown out."
She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and saw several missed calls from Shen Yanzhi. She quickly called him back. "I saw you called a few times. Is something wrong?"
Hearing Jiang Li’s voice, Shen Yanzhi finally felt his heart settle. "It’s nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you were done with work and if I should come pick you up."
Jiang Li rubbed her nose, a little embarrassed. "Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you. I quit my job. I’m at my parents’ house right now!"
Shen Yanzhi froze for a second, then asked nervously, "Would it be alright if I came over?"
Jiang Li instinctively glanced at Jing Shiyun, who was leaning in to listen. Cupping her hand over the phone, she asked, "Your son-in-law wants to know if he can come visit. Is he welcome?"
Jing Shiyun broke into a wide grin. "Of course, he’s welcome."
’She was very pleased with her new son-in-law, Shen Yanzhi.’
’Unlike that ungrateful wretch, Zhao Sinian. Jiang Li had been with him for years, but he had rarely ever visited. He never called to send his greetings during the holidays, let alone buy them gifts.’
Jiang Li relayed the message verbatim. "Your mother-in-law says you’re welcome to come over."
Shen Yanzhi breathed a sigh of relief. "Great. I’ll head over now. Send me your location."
After hanging up, Jiang Li sent him her location.
Worried that Shen Yanzhi might buy something, she quickly told him how she had already splurged on gifts for Jiang Bowen and Jing Shiyun, and that he should just come empty-handed.
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Jiang Li dashed to the door and opened it. Sure enough, Shen Yanzhi was standing outside, a fruit gift box in his hand.
As Jiang Li got a pair of disposable slippers from the shoe cabinet, she whispered, "Didn’t I tell you not to buy anything?"
Shen Yanzhi cleared his throat. "It’s my first official visit, after all. I had to bring something."
Afraid she might be upset, he quickly added, "Besides, you bought all those other gifts. It felt right for me to bring something different."
Jing Shiyun’s voice came from the living room, "Is that Xiao Shen?"
Shen Yanzhi, having put on his slippers, immediately called back, "Yes, Mom, I’m here."
With that, he strode into the living room with the fruit basket. Jing Shiyun was watching television, though her eyes were fixed on the entryway.
Seeing the gift box in his hand, Jing Shiyun frowned in polite protest. "You should have just come on your own! Why bring fruit? Jiang Li already brought a mountain of gifts earlier."
Shen Yanzhi smiled faintly. "I was just driving past a shop and this gift box caught my eye, so I picked it up."
Jing Shiyun gestured with her hand. "Have a seat. My husband won’t be back for a little while."
Jiang Li leaned in and whispered an explanation, "My mom can’t cook."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanzhi immediately offered, "Mom, why don’t I make dinner?"
’This was his chance to score some points; he couldn’t drop the ball.’
Jing Shiyun was surprised. "You can cook?"
Shen Yanzhi explained, "When I was studying abroad, it was either learn to cook or live on instant ramen. For my health’s sake, I forced myself to learn."
Jing Shiyun sighed wistfully. "Jiang Li used to pester us about studying abroad, too. It’s a good thing her father and I said no. With how picky an eater she is, she probably would have starved to death over there."
Jiang Li stomped her foot, exasperated. "Mom, I’m not that picky!"
Fearing Jing Shiyun would reveal more of her embarrassing stories, Jiang Li gave Shen Yanzhi a little push. "Didn’t you say you were going to cook? The ingredients are in the fridge. Just see what you can make!"
Shen Yanzhi nodded. "Alright, you chat with Mom for a while. I’ll go get started on dinner."
With that, he stood up and headed for the kitchen without a moment’s hesitation.
Jing Shiyun gave him a thumbs-up. "I have to say, a man who can cook scores major bonus points!"
Jiang Li raised an eyebrow. "And the best part is, he’s actually a pretty good cook."
Jing Shiyun’s curiosity was instantly piqued, and she found herself looking forward to tasting Shen Yanzhi’s cooking.
’For such a picky eater to give him such high praise, his food couldn’t possibly be a disappointment.’
When Jiang Bowen came back, Shen Yanzhi was still cooking in the kitchen.
He could smell the delicious aroma of food from a distance. Setting down his briefcase, he changed into his slippers and strode into the living room.
When he saw Jiang Li with her arm linked through Jing Shiyun’s, sitting on the sofa, he asked with some surprise, "Did you guys order takeout?"
’Whenever he wasn’t home, the two of them almost always ordered takeout.’
Jing Shiyun snorted. "Who do you take us for!"
Seeing Jiang Bowen’s baffled expression, she took pity on him and explained, "That’s your son-in-law in the kitchen!"
Jiang Bowen looked surprised. "Xiao Shen can cook?"
’After all, men who could cook were a rarity these days, especially one who seemed to come from a well-off family like Shen Yanzhi.’
