Chapter 299: Chapter 297: The Same Place, Different People

Ling Chengyan took off her cotton clothes and snuggled into the bed, closing her eyes to get ready for sleep.

After a moment, she heard someone next to her say, “I just worry about whether the kids are hungry or cold. I really haven’t paid attention to how their thermals are.”

Pausing for a bit, they continued, “Our sister-in-law has always been thrifty at home, and the kids are raised tough. Even if she saw it, she probably didn’t pay much attention.”

Ling Chengyan heard him mention her sister-in-law, and only then did she turn over, face him, and say, “I don’t blame her. She left her home and business to come help us out, and I’m grateful. How could I blame her? I think you…”

Wang Liansheng was quietly listening, but when he was mentioned, she suddenly stopped speaking.

Wang Liansheng felt a bit troubled, reached out to grab her hand, and softly said, “I haven’t done well as a father; I wasn’t careful enough. However, seeing the kids like this, just keep it in mind. The kids can’t be without a mother!”

As he spoke, he scooted over and squeezed onto her pillow.

Ling Chengyan felt a bit awkward and moved slightly but did not pull away.

The next day, Ling Chengyan rested at home for a day, went to the big bathhouse for a soak, and then to the barber for a haircut.

Although there was a free barbershop at the residence, the skills there were really subpar. The men got near-bald cuts, and as for her, a female soldier, they just trimmed it a bit — it didn’t look good.

Living on the edge of life and death, nobody cared about that.

Back home for a month’s rest, Ling Chengyan wore casual clothes. With her dog-chewed haircut, she felt uncomfortable, so she found an old master for a cut. Although it remained short, after a decent trim, the hair looked much neater and more pleasing.

Ling Chengyan went to Liu San’s place and saw Xiaoxi doing laundry in the courtyard as soon as she entered the door.

“Xiaoxi.” Ling Chengyan greeted her with a smile.

Xiaoxi looked up sharply, dropped her clothes, and ran towards Ling Chengyan.

Like a gust of wind, she stopped abruptly in front of Ling Chengyan, her face filled with unabashed joy, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed to slits, “Yan’er sis, you’re back?”

“Yes.” Ling Chengyan handed over a brocade scarf she bought for Xiaoxi. It was handmade by an old lady on the street at the residence, not as luxurious as Nanjing brocade or Shu brocade, but it had a unique charm.

“Yan’er sis, please sit, please sit.” Xiaoxi took it, placed it on a small side table, and brought a small footstool over for Ling Chengyan.

“Where are your brothers?” Ling Chengyan asked.

Yan’er made tea for Ling Chengyan while answering, “Wasn’t it last year, that thing, my brother and brother-in-law quickly got an individual business license and rented a storefront. My brother and Gou’er brother went to the shop; Third brother is out. He said before he left that he would hurry back to welcome you, Yan’er sis.”

Ling Chengyan took the tea, smilingly said, “We returned smoothly without delay, about a week early.”

Xiaoxi laughed, “Third brother must be regretting with a blue heart for not seeing you first; surely he’s saying he would have stayed home waiting if he had known.”

Early March, the chill of spring lingered, just the time for a change of seasons.

Spring in the Eastern Province is particularly short; it seems to suddenly warm up one day, instantly turning into summer. Spring clothing doesn’t sell for long; those in wholesale, like them, have to act even earlier than retailers, leaving no room for delay.

Ling Chengyan had always paid attention to market trends and dynamics. Before, she hadn’t urged Liu San and the others to get licensed but had also kept a tight rein on them, not making too much fuss.

Over the years, Liu San, Gou’er, and Da Xiong did fairly well, with clients not limited to county cities around Huicheng, even drawing those from provincial cities and further south, with sales more than ten times the initial figures.

Additionally, under Ling Chengyan’s restraint, Liu San kept clear of conspicuous contraband, initially dealing with some watches, electronic watches, and lighters, which weren’t noticeable.

This consistent caution saved the kids once; during last year’s strict crackdown, they weren’t affected.

Hearing that everyone was doing well, Ling Chengyan was relieved. Whether to meet… there’s time for that later.

Xiaoxi stopped doing laundry, wanting to buy groceries and keep Ling Chengyan for a meal, but Ling Chengyan left with her, “Not eating here today, maybe another day.”

Having made rounds and met almost everyone she needed to, she planned to take Father Ling to the provincial city for a medical check-up tomorrow and had to prepare in advance today.

The next day, Ling Chengyan borrowed a car, drove Father Ling to the provincial hospital for a re-examination. After thorough checks, the old man’s health had improved well.

Leaving the hospital, Ling Chengyan took her father to an old restaurant for a meal, one that’s been a legacy for several decades, serving the most authentic Shandong cuisine.

Yellow River carp, nine-turn large intestine, milk soup with cattail, braised sea cucumber… the old man liked the cattail and sea cucumber, reminiscing about the time he came to Jinan and visited this restaurant.

“Back then, it was Chef Liu Qiuyu who presided over the kitchen, a true inheritor of imperial cuisine.”

The waiter serving the dishes looked surprised, couldn’t help but interject, “The chef in our restaurant now is also surnamed Liu, the direct grandson of Master Liu Qiuyu.”

Father Ling was pleasantly surprised, repeatedly saying, “Really, really.”

Unexpectedly, this little episode wasn’t over. About half an hour later, there was a knock on the room door, and in came a middle-aged man in chef’s attire, the very same Chef Liu that the waiter mentioned.

Chef Liu Qiuyu, who Father Ling mentioned, passed away long ago, not long after the founding of the country. Back then, Chef Liu was too young to learn the craft with his grandfather. His skills were learned from his father.

Father Ling objectively commented, “Young man, you’re already quite good, with half of your grandfather’s skills.”

Ling Chengyan slightly raised her eyebrow, looked at Chef Liu, and saw no trace of displeasure. Instead, he beamed as if receiving high praise, face full of Hong Guang, “Thank you, sir, for your kindness. Though I learned from my father since childhood, there was a delay of a dozen years, and my skills fall short, even compared to my father.”

He sincerely sought advice from Father Ling, who wasn’t shy to point out a few minor flaws in today’s dishes. Chef Liu listened intently, bowed deeply in thanks, and left a dish of top-quality tofu before leaving.

“Top-quality tofu, though primarily tofu, is accompanied by more than ten kinds of additional ingredients. It’s mild yet not bland, fragrant but not greasy, a representative dish in Shandong cuisine from Confucius Mansion Cuisine…” Father Ling talked at length about the culinary knowledge, discussing dishes in detail, explaining their origins, ingredients, and even preparation methods.

Ling Chengyan was quite interested in these as well. After all, coming from the Ling Mansion, with her rich family heritage and depth, it wasn’t as if she knew nothing.

After a happy and relaxed lunch, Father Ling, in the role of a tour guide, took Ling Chengyan to see Bright Lake and the famous springs.

“Time flies, and the world changes, yet this lake is still here, and these springs are still flowing…” Father Ling sighed softly.

Ling Chengyan couldn’t help but wonder about the mountains, rivers, and landscapes she had seen, and how much remained?

As she reflected, a seasoned voice reached her ears, “This old brother speaks well, decades have flown by quickly, and though things remain, people have changed!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep