The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead-Chapter 353 - 343: Aunt Zhou

Lu Jingqiu and Jiang Nanzhou didn’t go back today.

Dad said he would come back at noon to join them for lunch.

Usually, Dad eats alone at the unit’s cafeteria for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The rare times when the family meets, he wants to spend more time with them.

Upon leaving the compound’s gate, the couple bought a head of cabbage, a radish, several potatoes, since vermicelli can be stored, they picked up half a bag, and a bunch of garlic scapes.

The staff at the farmers’ market saw how they bought their vegetables one at a time and kindly reminded them, "You two young spouses really don’t know how to live. Today we got fresh cabbage and radish, and the New Year is approaching fast. You should stock up about ten pounds of it at home. Once we get more stock, you may not be able to get any, and what will you do during the New Year if you don’t have stock?"

Lu Jingqiu replied with a smile, "Auntie, our house is empty these next few days; buying them early would make them spoil. We plan to stock up in a few days."

At this time, it was not like the last few years, where buying vegetables at the farmers’ market required queuing, and even then, not much was available.

Now, there are quite a few stalls outside, and none require tickets.

She used to live in West City, where she could grow green vegetables even in the winter. Being next to Niannian, a close friend who sells grains and oils, she never thought about stocking vegetables for the winter.

In the north, on the other hand, it’s common to see cabbage, radish, and potatoes in the winter, but garlic scapes are a rarity.

After leaving the vegetable stall, Jiang Nanzhou also bought two pounds of pork belly.

He also bought a few large apples.

Lu Jingqiu, carrying the apples, was engulfed by the strong scent of the apples. In later years, she always felt that the scent of fruits wasn’t as strong as before, lacking the previous aroma.

Now she realized it was true, these were neither greenhouse-grown nor fruits sprayed with various pesticides.

"These apples are definitely going to taste good."

Jiang Nanzhou said with a smile, "I’ll heat them up a bit for you when we get home, they’re too cold right now."

Lu Jingqiu wanted to say that warming them would make them less fragrant, but remembering the big temperature difference between the north and the south since she arrived here, she couldn’t afford to get sick over a moment of craving.

On their way, the couple discussed how they would prepare the food, and as they neared their doorstep, a genteel-looking woman in her forties glanced at them in surprise from the side of the road.

Lu Jingqiu glanced at her but didn’t pay much attention.

After taking just a couple of steps forward, the woman from behind asked, "Are you... Comrade Lu’s daughter and son-in-law?"

It was then that Lu Jingqiu and Jiang Nanzhou stopped, and thinking this must be a neighbor from the compound, Lu Jingqiu quickly replied with a smile, "Yes, hello, Auntie."

The woman nodded with a smile and, looking at the vegetables in their hands, said hurriedly, "Comrade Lu actually has a piece of vegetable land just to the south, specially prepared for our compound. But since he hardly eats at home, he let me plant there. I’ve planted cabbage, radish, and garlic scapes there, if you want vegetables you can just go straight to the garden. Do you have time now? I can take you to recognize the plot."

Seeing the vegetables in her hands, Lu Jingqiu hurriedly said, "Auntie, thank you for your kindness. We’ve bought vegetables today, so we won’t be going over. We don’t eat much, and we don’t usually come by often. My dad gave it to you, please feel free to farm it."

The woman said with a smile, "Growing vegetables is for people to eat. I planted two plots myself, and I can’t even finish them all. Don’t be polite with me."

Jiang Nanzhou hurriedly joined in, "Auntie, if we need, we will surely pull a couple of cabbage heads from the field another day."

"That’s more like it. My last name is Zhou, and I’m in the second floor west unit just ahead."

"Goodbye, Aunt Zhou, we’re heading back now."

"Alright, alright."

As Lu Jingqiu and Jiang Nanzhou reached the door and turned back to look, they saw Aunt Zhou glancing back at them several times. Lu Jingqiu remarked, "Aunt Zhou sure is enthusiastic."

Jiang Nanzhou said, "Neighbors in the compound are all very enthusiastic. Once you start coming here more, you’ll see..." He stopped mid-sentence, thinking that next year they might not have the time to come by.

Jingqiu’s due date should be in the summer vacation; she definitely wouldn’t be able to travel here then, and with the child still small during the New Year.

Though they could potentially pick her up by car, it would be too much trouble.

"Let’s just eat steamed rice today."

"Yeah, make some sweet and sour cabbage, spicy potato shreds, and stir-fried radish with pork slices."

"Okay."

"You must be eating a lot of stewed cabbage with glass noodles around here; Dad must be tired of it. Let’s stir-fry a few dishes today."

Even though it’s still cabbage and radishes.

While the two were busy in the kitchen, Aunt Zhou, the woman who had just visited, came over.

She was carrying a small bundle and said with a smile, "I just went to the field and pulled some garlic shoots for you; your Dad loves stir-fried pork with garlic shoots. I also got you two heads of cabbage. If it’s not enough, I’ll go get you more."

"Aunt Zhou, you’re too kind. We couldn’t possibly finish all these vegetables, and we are leaving tomorrow."

Aunt Zhou was taken aback, "You’re leaving tomorrow? Aren’t you staying here for the New Year?"

"We are celebrating here but I have to go back to my in-laws first."

"Oh... right, right."

"Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"No, I should be heading back, you two carry on. I’ll take my leave first."

"Aunt Zhou, your bundle."

"Just leave it there for now; I’ll come get it another day."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble, Aunt Zhou. Take care on your way home."

Lu Jingqiu watched Aunt Zhou walk away, came in with the vegetables, and said, "Honey, Aunt Zhou is really enthusiastic, she insisted on bringing us so much produce."

Jiang Nanzhou looked at the vegetables and was quite surprised, but didn’t think much of it, and said, "If we can’t finish, we’ll just take them back with us."

"Yeah."

Almost at twelve o’clock, Lu Xianrun came back. As soon as he entered the house, he smelled the aroma of the food and said with a smile, "It’s great to have family at home; today I get to eat my daughter’s cooking."

Lu Jingqiu, carrying out the meal, laughed and said, "Dad, I’m afraid you won’t be able to enjoy that today. Today’s meal was all made by your son-in-law."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xianrun laughed even louder, "That rigid guy focusing on kitchen duties now, if his old brothers saw this, their jaws would drop in shock."

Jiang Nanzhou, bringing out the rice, said, "Dad, they all know I pamper my wife, I learned it from you."

"Haha, it’s good to dote on a daughter-in-law. Our Qiuqiu is so wonderful; she should be spoiled."

"Dad, I’m going to be spoiled rotten by you two."

"Whatever we turned you into by spoiling you before, you only rebelled once, and now you’re doing just fine."

Jiang Nanzhou said, "Even if she is spoiled, she’s our treasure."

Lu Xianrun laughed, "What’s for dinner today?"

"We’re having steamed rice, sweet and sour cabbage, spicy shredded potatoes, and stir-fried pork with radishes. Oh Dad, I ran into Aunt Zhou from the compound today; she was so enthusiastic and brought us these vegetables." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Upon hearing this, the smile on Lu Xianrun’s face momentarily faltered, he paused, and then said, "Hmm, if she brought them, just accept them."

"Yeah, but it’s too much; we won’t be able to finish it all."

"If we can’t finish, we’ll take some back for the old man to try. Homegrown vegetables with no pesticides."

"I was thinking the same thing. Dad, you shouldn’t always eat at the canteen. The food there doesn’t always include meat or fish. You need to get proper nutrition."

"Don’t worry, when I want to improve my meals, I have the mess team cook separately for me. I don’t like to cook for myself when I’m alone at home."

"If you don’t like to cook, then take your time while your daughter and son-in-law are here, and properly replenish over the next few days."

Lu Xianrun laughed and agreed repeatedly.

Many fathers-in-law rarely get to enjoy a meal cooked by their son-in-law. Jingqiu really found herself a good partner. After all, a son-in-law is half a son.