Before anyone could ask, Han Shen came straight to the point: “I’m Little Ru’s older brother. I came this time to acknowledge our family ties.”
Jiang Da visibly tensed. His palms stuck to the sides of his pants as he wiped them back and forth.
He thought the action was subtle, but everyone in the room saw it.
Old Master Han snorted again, practically wearing his displeasure on his face.
Just then, Han Yunru suddenly stood up, walked to Jiang Da’s side, and gently took the bag of groceries from his hands. “You’re back so early. Can the shop manage without you?”
Jiang Da shifted aside, not letting her take the bag. “Watch your hand! The doctor said you need to take good care of it…”
Then he turned to Old Master Han and Han Shen. “Have you two had breakfast? I was just about to make porridge for Ah Ru. Why not join us?”
Han Shen instinctively looked at Han Yunru. Seeing that she didn’t object, he relaxed a little. “Then we’ll trouble you.”
Jiang Da: “Not a problem! Not a problem at all!”
Old Master Han had intended to refuse—he wasn’t someone so easily won over—but the temptation to eat breakfast with his daughter was just too great.
He simply couldn’t say no.
“Well… I’ll just have a small bowl, then.”
Jiang Da readily agreed and dashed off into the kitchen with his groceries.
“Little Ru, you should come back with us—”
Seeing the old man about to bring up the past again, Han Shen, already getting a headache, quickly changed the subject.
“Little Ru, I heard brother-in-law’s cooking is so popular there’s a line to eat at his place. Thanks to you, I finally get to taste it myself today.”
Han Yunru smiled lightly. “He enjoys cooking. The taste is… not bad.”
Han Shen laughed as well. In that moment, the siblings looked strikingly alike.
Old Master Han froze slightly as he looked at them.
Why did it seem like Little Ru was closer to Han Shen than she was to him?
Jiang Fuyue remained the audience. There was no room for her to get involved.
Still, watching the show was pretty entertaining.
Soon, a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen. Han Yunru stood up. “It’s probably done. I’ll go check.”
Han Shen sniffed. Just from the smell alone, he was ready to give Jiang Da a 90 out of 100.
Gurgle~
Han Qishan’s stomach growled.
“Ahem…” He awkwardly rubbed his nose. “Normal bodily function… perfectly normal.”
Han Shen: “…”
Han Yunru: “…”
Old Master Han insisted, “It is what it is!”
He might fool others, but not Han Shen.
They had eaten breakfast at the hotel not even two hours ago—and Han Qishan had eaten a lot.
Now he was hungry again? Yeah right. Just greedy.
Tsk…
Inside the kitchen, Han Yunru and Jiang Da shared a few whispered words, probably explaining the whole “family reunion” situation.
Jiang Da didn’t press for details. In fact, the honest and simple man looked… a little happy.
His wife had finally found her family.
From now on, she wasn’t alone anymore.
No one could mock her again!
“The porridge is done. Don’t carry it, it’s heavy and hot.”
Han Yunru glared at him. “It’s just a small cut on my palm, not like I’m disabled.”
“Don’t say that! No more talk of disabilities, not even jokingly!”
“If you don’t let me do anything, then what does that make me—”
Jiang Da looked around, then offered, “Okay, okay, how about you get the chopsticks? That’s safe, right?”
Han Yunru had no choice but to go fetch them.
“Hey—”
“What now?” she sighed.
“I said chopsticks, not bowls. Leave those. I’ll bring them out later.”
“…”
The porridge, cooked in an old clay pot, was thick and fragrant, served in a large basin at the center of the table. The rice grains were plump, mixed with fresh green vegetables, topped with thin slices of scallion and ginger.
Soft, tender slices of basa fish lay hidden beneath the rice and broth, with occasional peeks of silvery-gray fish skin.
Gulp—
Han Qishan swallowed audibly.
The sound was so loud Han Shen kept giving him side glances.
Jiang Da served everyone a bowl. Out of habit, he first pushed a bowl toward Han Yunru, a movement clearly ingrained from daily routine.
Then he caught himself—today wasn’t a regular day—and redirected the bowl toward Han Qishan.
“For you, sir—”
“Ahem!” The old man straightened his expression. “No need. Give it to Little Ru first.”
Jiang Da was a sincere man. “Oh, okay.” He handed the bowl back to his wife.
Han Shen braced himself, expecting another sarcastic remark from the old man.
But this time, nothing came.
Instead, Han Qishan even gave a small approving nod.
Next were Han Qishan and Han Shen.
The latter tried to serve himself but Jiang Da insisted on doing it.
Unexpectedly, Han Yunru spoke up: “Let Jiang Da do it. You sit.”
Han Shen was startled. “Sis…”
Han Yunru’s lashes fluttered as she lowered her head to sip the porridge.
Han Shen wasn’t disappointed. He even smiled and quietly ate as well.
The porridge’s fragrance filled his mouth—perfectly cooked rice, crisp vegetables, tender fish—it was so good he almost swallowed his tongue.
Now Han Shen understood—“not bad” was pure modesty. This could rival a top chef!
But thinking deeper, that humility must be because Jiang Da was her own.
You’re only modest when talking about your own people. You only lavish praise on outsiders.
So, in Little Ru’s eyes, Jiang Da was family.
And they…
Han Shen gave a bitter smile. Maybe not even outsiders.
She probably only let them stay for breakfast out of politeness.
The porridge suddenly didn’t taste quite as good.
As for Han Qishan—who had previously despised Jiang Da—he now clutched an empty bowl, shamelessly asking for seconds.
“Well… just one more bowl, I guess. I can’t eat too much.”
Jiang Da happily obliged and filled it to the brim.
Then he brought out some homemade pickled vegetables, sliced and seasoned, and placed them on the table.
Han Qishan eyed them skeptically: “What’s this?”
“My homemade pickles. Want to try?”
He glanced at his daughter. Fine. For Little Ru’s sake, he reluctantly picked up a piece.
Chewed.
Paused.
Picked up another piece.
And another.
Han Shen: “?”
Soon, the second bowl of porridge was gone too.
The old man pretended to set down his chopsticks—then picked them up again to get more pickles.
Again and again.
Jiang Da was baffled.
Han Yunru pretended not to see.
Jiang Da wanted to ask his wife what was going on, but in the end, could only cautiously ask, “Would you like another bowl? Pickles taste best with porridge.”
Old Master Han paused, then muttered, “…You’re right. Pickles without porridge are too salty. Alright, one more.”
Jiang Da hurried off to serve it.
Han Shen: “…” What happened to “just one more bowl”?
Han Qishan: Slurp, crunch “Marvelous~”
Jiang Fuyue almost burst out laughing. What a character, this old man.
Meanwhile, Jiang Da stayed serious, nervously attentive, worried the old man would find some fault.
Finally: “…Would you like more?”
Han Qishan waved it off. “Enough. Burp—”
By now, he’d eaten three bowls and was stuffed.
Han Yunru finally put down her spoon. She had finished long ago but waited so the last eater wouldn’t feel embarrassed.
Han Shen pouted, making no effort to hide his disdain for his father.
Jiang Da, having nothing to say, quietly cleared the table.
Han Yunru followed him into the kitchen.
“I’ve got this. You go keep them company. You finally found them after so long.”
Han Yunru’s eyes suddenly stung. “Are you stupid?”
Jiang Da blinked, then grinned. “Wife, you’re just now realizing I’m dumb?”
She bit her lip in frustration.
Did he even realize what “acknowledging family” really meant?
Sensing something was off, Jiang Da grew anxious. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Han Yunru said nothing.
The man paced anxiously, then stopped, placing both hands on her shoulders.
With serious eyes and a steady voice: “You know I’m slow. If you don’t tell me, I might never figure it out. But if you do, I’ll do whatever I can to fix it. Right?”
Her tears finally fell. “…They want to take me to the capital.”
