Chapter 169 - 159: Chinese New Year

Chapter 169: Chapter 159: Chinese New Year

Looking at the empty fruit plate, Xiao Man had a sudden idea. ’How stupid of me. I can just get another pear, cut it into small pieces for him. Who would know if it was half a pear or a whole one?’

Xiao Man carried the fruit plate downstairs. Tang Qingshan had also returned, saying he’d found someone and finally managed to buy a large wooden basin.

They filled the large wooden basin with water to let it soak. Meanwhile, Xiao Man prepared the herbs and took them to the kitchen to simmer in a large pot, so Grandma Tang could enjoy a comfortable, fragrant herbal bath when she woke up.

Tang Qingshan ate the pear slices Xiao Man had given him, exclaiming how delicious they were. He wanted to share some with his parents, but Mr. Tang said with a smile, "Go ahead and eat them. This is what Niu Niu saved for you. She only brought two from her hometown—one for your mother and me, and one for you two."

Tang Qingshan was deeply touched. "This kid... How big was that pear? And she left so much for me."

Mr. Tang looked at the fruit bowl in front of his son and sighed in admiration. "The girl is so simple and kind. That’s a rare quality! Qingshan, if she’s willing to stay and be your daughter, our family will have really lucked out!"

"Don’t worry, Father. We’re fated to be father and daughter. The girl will listen to me!"

After the three of them finished lunch, Mr. Tang gave the household staff the day off, allowing them to go home and celebrate the holiday with their own families.

Tang Qingshan told Xiao Man, "Granny Gu already informed us that the Gu family is taking care of our New Year’s Eve dinner this year. They’ll deliver it this afternoon, so we don’t have to do a thing."

"It takes at least half an hour to get here from the Gu Mansion, even driving fast, right?" Xiao Man said. "I think it’s better if we cook ourselves. We can make things to our own tastes, it’ll be fresh and hot, and most importantly, it’ll create a real New Year’s atmosphere." ’Actually,’ she thought, ’I’m worried the Northern-style dishes won’t suit my palate. It’s New Year’s, after all. I can’t be uncomfortable during the New Year’s Eve dinner, can I?’

Tang Qingshan watched her with a smile. The moment he saw the look in her eyes, he knew she was up to something. "You ate at the Gu family’s home yesterday. Were you not satisfied with their chef? Tell me what you want to eat. Dad will hire someone to come over and make whatever you like!"

"Do we have ingredients? If we do, let’s cook ourselves. We’ll be self-sufficient!"

"We do have ingredients. The housekeeper didn’t know the Gu Mansion would be sending food, so she’d already bought a lot for the kitchen. But I have to warn you, apart from frying an egg or boiling some noodles, I can’t cook anything else. Neither can your grandfather!"

"But I can!" she said. "I cook all the time at home! I can even make noodle and dough dishes. Even though I’m from the South, my Grandma used to live in the North."

"Really?"

"I’m not kidding."

"Alright then! It’s rare to see you this confident, so let’s make our own New Year’s Eve dinner! You’ll be the head chef, and Dad will be your assistant... Right, I’ll go have your grandfather call the Gu family and tell them not to make the trip!"

When Mr. Tang heard the two of them planned to cook New Year’s Eve dinner themselves, he was quite surprised. He walked into the kitchen and saw Xiao Man handling the ingredients like a professional. "Child, are you sure about this?" he asked. "Your grandma can only manage half a bowl of congee, but the three of us need something substantial. It’s New Year’s, after all. Granny Gu was just taking pity on us. Let’s not go to all this trouble just to end up hungry!"

Xiao Man just smiled. "Don’t worry, Grandpa. I have no intention of letting my own stomach suffer, and I won’t let you go hungry either. I can’t promise more, but I can definitely whip up twelve dishes, with flavors from both the North and the South!"

"Both North and South, you say? Excellent, excellent! HAHAHA! Grandpa will be waiting!"

Mr. Tang went off happily to make the call. In the kitchen, Xiao Man kept an eye on the simmering herbal soup while pulling out seasonings, mushrooms, wood ear fungus, fresh vegetables, and live fish and shrimp from her space. She then placed the local vegetables the housekeeper had bought into her space for storage, keeping them fresh. There was nothing to replace the chicken, duck, and pork with, so she had no choice but to pour out some spiritual spring water to soak them in while they waited.

Tang Qingshan returned to his room, changed into some casual clothes, and came into the kitchen wearing an apron to help. Xiao Man tasked him with preparing the fish and shrimp first—the shrimp needed to be deveined, a job that would keep him busy for a good while.

Old Mrs. Tang woke up and, holding the handrail for support, walked downstairs on her own. Xiao Man remained perfectly calm, but Mr. Tang and Tang Qingshan were stunned. This was a woman who had been bedridden for over a year, who hadn’t once come downstairs, and suddenly she was walking. It was an incredible, wonderful surprise!

Xiao Man dried her hands and went over to help the old woman to the living room sofa. Old Mrs. Tang gripped her hand tightly. "I went to your room to check, but you weren’t there. I was afraid you had left..."

Xiao Man said, "I promised I’d stay today, so I won’t leave! Grandma Tang, I’ve prepared the medicinal water. How about we have a nice herbal bath?"

"Yes! I’ve dreamed of taking a comfortable, hot bath. I never thought that wish would ever come true!"

"Grandma, you’ll get well very soon. You’ll be healthy, live a long life, and fulfill many more of your wishes!"

Old Mrs. Tang pressed her lips together and nodded repeatedly. Mr. Tang walked over, holding a bowl of medicinal decoction. "Here, here, this medicine is just too good. Quick, drink another bowl!"

Old Mrs. Tang obediently took the bowl and drank it all in one go.

Tang Qingshan washed his hands and, following Xiao Man’s "doctor’s orders," scrubbed the large wooden basin clean. He strained the herbal water from the large pot into the basin, then added several large kettles of hot water he had boiled earlier until the basin was nearly full. Xiao Man then accompanied Old Mrs. Tang, helped her slowly settle into the basin to soak, and washed her hair for her.

When she emerged half an hour later, Old Mrs. Tang looked refreshed and invigorated, like a completely new person.

The old woman refused to go back to her room to rest, saying she couldn’t bear to lie down anymore. Mr. Tang turned on the television, but she didn’t want to sit still either, so he had no choice but to accompany her on a walk around the courtyard. Afterward, they came back inside, sat in the living room, and finished the large yellow pear. The old couple then began whispering to each other before getting to work. They started rearranging the living room, which the staff had already decorated, redoing it all to Old Mrs. Tang’s liking. Flowerpots were moved, and platters of candy and fruit were emptied and rearranged—they were simply finding things to do to keep busy.

Meanwhile, the kitchen was abuzz with activity and filled with steam. Xiao Man and Tang Qingshan bustled about, busy preparing the New Year’s feast. The sounds of "Master" Xiao Man giving live instructions, the CHOP CHOP CHOP of Tang Qingshan mincing meat, and the lively songs and dances from the television all mingled together. A rich New Year’s atmosphere began to fill the home.

A little after three in the afternoon, Old Mrs. Gu called again to ask if Old Mrs. Tang was awake. She had already called twice before, but Mr. Tang had answered both times.

This time, Old Mrs. Tang answered the phone herself. With a clear, bright laugh, she said, "My dear friend, thank you! I’m... I’m all better now!"

Tears immediately welled in her eyes. She covered her mouth, unable to speak further.

At five o’clock, a delivery from the Gu Mansion arrived—it was the New Year’s Eve dinner, sent over regardless.

However, two cars had come. One was loaded with food, and the other carried Mr. Gu and Old Mrs. Gu.

Tang Shaozhen and Zheng Shaojin had come along as well.

When they saw Mr. Tang helping Old Mrs. Tang walk out the door to greet them, Mr. Gu chuckled—he had expected as much. Old Mrs. Gu, however, couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping.

’After all,’ Old Mrs. Gu thought, ’my husband was only in a coma for a few days, and he was perfectly healthy and full of energy before that. But Old Mrs. Tang... she’s been bedridden for over a year, and now she can just get up and walk around? That girl is simply miraculous!’