Even though Xu Yan couldn’t see the man, from the man’s breathing, she knew she had hit the sore spot. “Remember this, everything that you have done, you’re doing it for your daughter. She is a good girl, good student and with support, she’ll have a bright future. But all that could go away like a bubble if she was exposed and was left with a criminal record. Do you really want that to happen to your daughter?
“As parents, we only want the best for our children, right?”
After coaxing the man on the phone, Xu Yan put on a kindly expression and exited the bathroom. When she arrived, the food was already served.
Elder Mo took the seat at the head of the table while Old Madam Mo was busy serving the food. Xu Yan though walked over and planted herself at the table proprietorially.
Seeing as Mo Yu was still standing, she waved for her son to sit down. To her surprise, Mo Yu glanced at Mo Li as if waiting for her permission. In the end, he didn’t move to the table. It was not until Old Madam Mo served all the dishes and took her seat beside her husband that the two children joined them.
“Xiao Yu, you have to eat this! It’s your favorite, steamed crucian carp!” Before the elders even touched their chopsticks, Xu Yan was already busy serving her son. One good thing about this place is that they always serve the best food. Dumplings, steamed fish, steamed river molluscs, braised chilies, spiced cabbage. They would have gone wasted if we didn’t come today. Those two antiques won’t finish everything anyway.
Mo Li frowned slightly. This Xu Yan was truly something else. Before the hosts even picked up their chopsticks, she had already begun to eat. Where is her manners?
Mo Li reached out her chopsticks to grip Xu Yan’s chopsticks. “Grandpa, Grandma has made your favorite steamed carp. You should give it a try.” The meaning of Mo Li’s words was clear. She was telling Xu Yan that she was being impolite. Xu Yan’s face darkened like a storm but since the two elders were there, she didn’t dare to say anything.
“Mom!” Mo Yu joined in. “Grandma has made all the dishes today and we’re at Grandpa’s home so we should wait for them before we start.”
Xu Yan looked at her son with disbelief. Why would he say something like that? He never cared about table manners so why today he is trying to be a good grandson?
“Ha ha, Xiao Yu has grown up indeed.” To dissolve the disharmonious atmosphere at the dining table, Elder Mo picked at the fish and took a bite. “Hmm, it is indeed delicious. Sweetie, you should take a bite too.” Only then Mo Li let go of Xu Yan’s chopsticks. “And Xiao Yu, I know you like fish since you’re young. Come and taste your grandmother’s cooking.”
Hearing that, Xu Yan was overjoyed. Elder Mo normally wouldn’t care about his other grandchildren when Mo Li was around. But today he had actively shown good will towards Mo Yu!
Mo Yu sneaked a glance at Mo Li. Only after she took her first bite that he dared to move his chopsticks. Old Madam Mo chuckled, “Look at our Xiao Yu. He is really growing into a fine gentleman. He knows to wait for his little sister first.”
“Oh my God, this crucian carp!” Mo Yu gasped, “The meat is so bouncy, it’s so different from the normal fish I’ve had. When I have crucian carp at the outside restaurant, I always have to pick through the fish bones but Grandma’s cooking…” At this point, Mo Yu became silent. He thought about the meals that he had missed when he came to visit his grandparents… Even though they always invited him to join them, he would turn his head away from his grandparents and insist on ordering take-outs. Now he felt ashamed by guilt.
Mo Li picked at the cabbage and said, “Crucian carp is very good for your body. It is especially good for the spleen and intestines but as an ingredient, it is very hard to deal with. As you said, it has a lot of bones so it is very hard to debone. However, every time Grandma would pick out the bones carefully and patiently so you won’t get any stuck in your throat.”
Old Madam Mo looked at Mo Li with a smile. It was her Sweetie who knew her the best.
“Secondly, crucian carp is easily overdone. If that happens, the meat will become very dry and the meat will lose flavor. Therefore, Grandma will stay beside the stove whenever she makes this dish to ensure that the best is served for us.”
Mo Yu’s face burned with guilt. He had no idea that his grandparents cared about him so much.
Xu Yan glanced at Mo Li. The hell is this girl talking about? My Xiao Yu only deserves the best. It is only natural for that old coot to slave for my Xiao Yu. Or else Xiao Yu will be no different from the other sons of the Mo Family!
At that moment, the phone in the living room rang. Mo Yu raced to pick it up to escape the embarrassment he was feeling. However, the call did not make him feel any better. His face flashed red and white as he was caught in a dilemma. After a while, he said through gritted teeth, “Oh, Mr. Lin? Which Mr. Lin is this?”
Mo Yu cursed internally. Lin Mu, this shameless bastard, he complained to his parents?!
The man on the phone said, “I am Lin Yang, Lin Mu’s father. Please hand the phone to the Young Miss of the Mo Family.”
Mo Yu was nervous and his grip on the phone tightened. It was because he fought with Lin Mu that things spiraled to this state. If not for him, Mo Li wouldn’t have whipped that bastard.
He stood where he was and his chest rose and fell. “Uncle Lin, do you mind if I asking why you’re asking for her? If it’s about Lin Mu, I take full responsibility!”