PFC Chapter 590 - 213: "Escort" Li Yuan, Xia Zhijin’s Shortcomings
Chapter 590 - 213: "Escort" Li Yuan, Xia Zhijin’s Shortcomings
Returning to their home in Jinxiu Villas.
Li Yuan had just walked in the door when he heard Empress Dowager Xia complaining with a frown, "Yuan, what took you so long? It’s almost one in the afternoon. Zhijin has already reheated the dishes twice. Didn’t we agree you’d be back for lunch?"
Li Yuan smiled sheepishly. He had called home before encountering Zhong Tingyue, telling them he would be back soon. But then I ran into her, and I couldn’t just leave without saying hello, could I? After sharing a vegetarian snack with Zhong Tingyue in her car and then having lunch together at the canteen, it was already nearly one.
He looked at the treasured girl, dressed like a little chef in her apron, and gave her an apologetic smile. "The company was busy moving equipment to the school’s maintenance base today, so I was held up," he explained.
Xia Zhijin knew he was saying that for her benefit and quickly replied, "It’s alright, I don’t have much to do at home anyway. Let’s eat. I’ll get you some dumplings."
Li Yuan smiled, walked over to Xia Zhijin, and stroked her head. He leaned in and whispered, "Thank you for all your hard work, my treasure. I love dumplings more than anything."
Xia Zhijin’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Li Zixia brought the dishes out from the kitchen, placed them on the dining table, and pouted, "Brother, we were all waiting for you! I’m so hungry my stomach is caving in. Hurry up and eat!"
Looking at the table laden with dishes—twice-cooked pork, boiled pork slices in chili oil, fish head with chopped chili peppers, and the scrambled eggs with green bell peppers and tomatoes that Li Yuan had taught her to make—Li Yuan asked in surprise, "Zhijin, you made all these Sichuan dishes?"
Xia Zhijin shyly uttered a soft "Mhm."
Before Li Yuan could even begin to praise her, he heard Empress Dowager Xia’s joyful compliments.
"I offered to make lunch, but Zhijin insisted, saying she wanted me to taste real Sichuan cuisine...
"I have to say, Zhijin’s cooking is much better than your old mom’s. Hurry up and try it. The food is absolutely delicious..."
Li Yuan smiled. What Empress Dowager Xia didn’t know was that he had tasted Xia Zhijin’s cooking many times before. After all, the two of them had practically been "living together" for over a month.
...
Li Yuan had deliberately eaten lightly when he was with Zhong Tingyue at noon, saving his appetite for the meal at home.
As she ate, Li Zixia showered Xia Zhijin with praise. "Zhijin, your cooking is super delicious! The boiled pork slices, the twice-cooked pork, the fish head with chopped chili... Hehe, you have to teach me sometime. I can only make basic home-style dishes."
After a few bites, the spicy and sour flavors invigorated Empress Dowager Xia. A light of deep satisfaction shone in her slightly wrinkled eyes as she looked at Xia Zhijin with growing approval, nodding to herself repeatedly.
This poor girl from the Chuanyu region is the perfect daughter-in-law, fitting every one of my fantasies. She’s as beautiful as a flower, like a fairy descended from the heavens. Her temperament is unbelievably gentle, and she speaks so softly it makes me feel inadequate in comparison. On top of that, she’s a fantastic cook, incredibly diligent, and capable... Her only drawbacks are her family’s poor circumstances and that she lives so far away... As someone with more life experience, I consider many factors, subconsciously making comparisons. Of course, her family situation isn’t really a problem. With my scoundrel son’s current earning power, he can completely handle any pressure from her family... It seems that for a girl so perfect, heaven must always intentionally take something away... like her family bonds...
"Yuan, Zhijin worked so hard to make these dishes for you. You should eat more."
"Zhijin, you eat too. Don’t be so formal; make yourself at home..."
Eating the chive dumplings that Xia Zhijin had wrapped by hand and the fragrant, spicy twice-cooked pork, Li Yuan felt a deep sense of contentment.
At moments like this, he felt a sense of "home"—warm and comforting in a way he had never experienced in his past life. Being with Xia Zhijin always calmed the restless soul of this "old man" who had weathered so many storms. It brought him a sense of peace and tranquility, as if he had finally found a safe harbor. Although there were no earth-shattering events, grand vows, or sweet nothings, he truly cherished this feeling.
Alas, beautiful moments are always fleeting.
Sometime after lunch, Xia Zhijin proposed that she should head back to school.
Even though Empress Dowager Xia tried her best to persuade her to stay, Xia Zhijin insisted on leaving.
Li Yuan knew why. It was because of the arrangement they had all agreed to yesterday afternoon. Xia Zhijin had come over last night, which meant tonight was Bai Weixi’s turn.
This treasured girl is so pure and kind it’s almost scary. She doesn’t have a competitive bone in her body...
Empress Dowager Xia held Xia Zhijin’s small hands tightly, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Zhijin, you must come and visit Auntie again when you have time!"
Xia Zhijin nodded earnestly and waved to Empress Dowager Xia. "Okay, Auntie!"
...
Watching Li Yuan and Xia Zhijin leave together, Xia Qin was filled with mixed emotions. She suddenly muttered to herself, "Tingyue and Zhijin are both such good girls. It’s impossible to choose; they’re both dear to me."
Sigh, that scoundrel, Li Yuan. I don’t know why he suddenly became so fickle after starting university, but his taste in women is impeccable. The two girlfriends he’s found are both so outstanding and one more beautiful than the next... And then there’s that Bai Weixi girl, who’s coming tonight. According to Zixia, she must be beautiful too. She’s from our hometown, the high school classmate my little scoundrel chased for three years... If only he could marry all three of them, how wonderful that would be. If each one bore him a big, healthy son, the Old Li family’s bloodline would be secured...