Cai Meina immediately pulled Zhan Jing to sit on the kang bed, "Why didn't you say earlier? I could have done some preparation work."
"Why don't you eat a bit more."
Pregnant with twins in such a remote rural area, Cai Meina was really worried about all sorts of things. She also bore a grudge against Zhao Gang for not sending them a letter earlier; if he was worried it might not arrive in time, he could have sent a telegram.
Zhan Jing patted Cai Meina's hand, "It's okay, I'm in good health. I just had severe morning sickness in the past few days, so no matter how much I ate, I still threw up."
Hearing that it was due to morning sickness, Cai Meina's face looked much better, "Are you feeling better these days?"
"Much better, but I'll have to trouble you, my sister." Zhan Jing felt quite embarrassed, "These days, I've been feeling very drowsy and haven't been able to properly take care of you all."
As for her husband suggesting that Cai Meina take care of the house, Zhan Jing was too embarrassed to say it outright. What would Cai Meina think? Would she feel that their warm welcome was just to make them do the household chores?
Cai Meina wasn't so suspicious at all. In the Northeast, there were just their two families, so of course, they took care of each other. With a wave of her hand, she said, "It's okay. According to Gangzi, winter is the off-season anyway. I'll take care of you; I'll handle all the housework."
"I'll take care of you during the postpartum confinement." Cai Meina remembered that Zhan Jing's parents had passed away a few years ago, and as for the in-laws, they were quite aged already and wouldn't be coming all the way to the Northeast to take care of a new mother.
Seeing Cai Meina just like she remembered, Zhan Jing stopped being polite. Since they'd be living together in the future, being too polite would just be insincere, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Zhan Jing's lack of politeness made Cai Meina breathe a sigh of relief; she was really worried about formalities.
"Mom, Dad's gone to take a bath first. I've left some for them." Zhao Xuran walked into the room carrying a wooden tray.
Smelling the aroma of the food, Gong Ruini couldn't help but touch her stomach; it smelled so good.
Seeing Zhao Xuran bringing them food, Cai Meina couldn't sit still and was about to get off the kang bed when Gong Ruini jumped down ahead of her, "Brother, let me help you."
Gong Ruini considered herself quite mature and sensible, but compared to Zhao Xuran, she really felt ashamed. This guy was too amazing. What a considerate man; whoever marries him in the future will be lucky.
Zhao Xuran dodged Gong Ruini's hand, "I've got it, Nizi, you just sit on the kang."
Cai Meina used to think her eldest son was quite sensible, but seeing how sensible Zhao Xuran was, she suddenly felt her eldest son had room for improvement.
Seeing Cai Meina's face full of praise, Zhan Jing felt incredibly pleased, "We've been relying on Xuran these days. Without him, the house would have been a mess."
Zhao Xuran didn't feel embarrassed at all by Zhan Jing's praise. He smiled and put the things on the table on the kang, "I'm the eldest son; it's my duty."
What a great thing to say; it's true what they say, "The child is father of the man." Cai Meina felt the eldest son of the Zhao Family was really something special.
The eldest son? This kid takes responsibility so seriously! Gong Ruini tilted her head to look at Zhao Xuran. Although she thought he took himself too seriously, perhaps she could give her own brother some pointers about responsibility.
Zhao Xuran felt the enthusiastic gaze directed at him and really didn't know how to respond, especially since it came from a little kid a few years old, "Time to eat." Did she want him to feed her?
Zhao Xuran picked up a spoon, got a bit of rice and some food, and prepared to feed Gong Ruini.
Oh my god, is the young handsome guy planning to feed me? Gong Ruini was utterly flustered. She wasn't sure when she'd given the impression she wanted to be fed by this handsome young man.
"Why aren't you eating? Doesn't it taste good?" Zhao Xuran didn't understand why Gong Ruini wouldn't open her mouth when the spoon was right there. Whenever he fed his younger brother, the boy's mouth moved fast.
Zhao Xuran moved the spoon a little closer. Gong Ruini, looking at the persistent handsome young man, kept comforting herself that she was just a three-to-five-year-old kid; having a cute guy feed her was okay.
And with an 'ah', she swallowed the food; the taste was quite good. Gong Ruini thought the food was made by Zhan Jing and gave her a thumbs-up to show it was delicious.
This little kid was quite amusing. Looking at the mischievous Gong Ruini, Zhan Jing touched her belly. If it's possible, she hoped this time she'd have a daughter. Having already two sons, she really didn't want more boisterous boys.
Even though her eldest son was very sensible, her youngest was too boisterous. Even if the elder disciplined him, sometimes the noise gave her headaches. A daughter would be better, like a close little cotton-padded jacket for mom.
"These dishes weren't made by you, sister-in-law, right?" Cai Meina tasted a few bites. Although the taste was good, it didn't seem like Zhan Jing's cooking style.
Ah, wasn't it made by the pretty aunt? Could it be? Gong Ruini looked at Zhao Xuran in disbelief. Could it be that he made it? Oh my gosh, thoughtful and a great cook as well. A man like this is highly sought after. If he were rich, Gong Ruini would deeply bow to his future wife; that would be a lot of pressure.
Most importantly, this guy's looks were undeniable; you could already tell from the outline that he was a handsome young lad.
"Xuran made it himself. How does it taste?" Cai Meina was beaming with happiness as she proudly talked about Zhao Xuran's cooking skills.
No way, he can really make so many dishes? Gong Ruini's eyes widened. Goodness, is this person preparing to enter the culinary world?
No matter what this guy plans to do in the future, Gong Ruini felt that even if she had to cry and beg, even if her brother wasn't willing, Gong Ruwen has to follow Zhao Xuran. At least he should learn to cook like him, so she can at least get free meals in the future.
What, learn to cook myself? Gong Ruini looked to the sky, thinking that as a woman, doesn't she know that grease and smoke are the biggest enemies of women's skin?
To avoid becoming an old hag too soon, Gong Ruini decided she must find a man who can cook in the future.
As for herself, she'll work hard to make money. As someone reborn, if she can't live a bit more comfortably, Gong Ruini felt that she'd indeed be wasting her rebirth.
Yes, exactly, it should be like that. People reborn must walk a golden road in life.
She must become the main breadwinner, and as for men, they should handle the household duties well.
Later, Gong Ruini would recall the first time she saw Zhao Xuran and the grand aspirations he expressed, which would make her want to laugh and cry. All her current aspirations added up to just finding a man who can cook; she hadn't managed to achieve any of the rest.
Gong Ruini really couldn't understand how she, supposedly a person reborn, still couldn't surpass the locals. Surely, this was a major tragedy.