CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE (63) Christmas Gift {II}

The family seemed to have forgotten the hand of time as the older couples told them about their journey and time they spent at the temple.

"It was both fun and cold." Old Madam Katherine voiced out with an exasperated expression.

"You should have just come back then," Chen Mogan Yan postulated. "You wouldn't have gone through all that."

"I agree with my father," Rose uttered. "You two should have really come back."

"Aish," Katherine used her hands to enclose Rose's hands. "You know it's not an easy decision to make, also for the fact that Raymond was with us..."

At the mention of the name Raymond, Rose realized he didn't come with her grandparents.

"Where's uncle Ray by the way? Why didn't he come with you two?"

"He still has some unfinished business in the capital, and promised to return after that." Old Master Chen informed them.

"I'll have to give him a call to buy me lots of present on his way back then," Rose smiled at the thought of that.

"And he will," Old Madam Katherine assured her little girl.

"He kept you two company for such a long time, he must be sad you left him behind." Mogan Yan said.

"Honey," Zheng Yue called out to her husband to stop.

Mogan Yan shrugged. "He stole my parents for such a long time, it's my turn now."

Seeing him acting like that and fighting for his parents attention, Rose burst into laughter. "Dad, don't you think you're too old for this?"

"Old?" Mogan Yan inquired. "You think I'm old? Then wait until me and your mother leave you for five years..."

"It's not five years yet," Old Madam Katherine made a disapproving expression. "Are you forgetting things now?"

"What is the difference between four and five?" Mogan Yan asked.

"One," everyone in the room chanted and it resulted in them laughing out loud seeing his disappointed face.

"Look at your father acting like a child," Katherine pointed at her son while talking to Rose. "Isn't he childish?"

"He is." Rose agreed. Then laughed more with her grandmother.

"The dinner table is set!" Butler Qin announced, drawing their attention.

Rose still had her hand locked with her granny's as they moved to the table.

Zheng Yue made to share the food but Katherine stopped her by saying. "Why are you stressing yourself so much?" The older woman question, caused Mrs Chen to stop. "You're not that strong, why are you still moving about so much? Don't worry, sit down. I'm here now and I'll help you, do you understand?"

Rose was staring at her grandma with admiration in her eyes. Unlike her mother's relatives, her father's relatives were much better, accepting and loving.

Once she excludes her mother's parents and her brother, everyone else was a living nightmare.

Old Madam Katherine treated her mother way better, and these are more reason for her to love the woman.

"Granny, I'll help you." Rose joined Old Madam Katherine in serving the food.

Which was Beiping cuisine, consisting of Peking duck, instant boiled mutton, sautéed meat shreds with soy bean paste, quick fried mutton with scallions, noodles with soy bean paste, quick fried tripe, and steamed bread soaked in fish head soup.

While Zheng Yue was still reluctant to let her mother Inlaw serve her, Mogan Yan pulled her down to seat.

"Mother already said she'd do it, why are you still standing?"

Zheng Yue swallowed not knowing how to answer, she pressed her lips together so she won't argue.

Mogan Yun watched his wife and a smile lit up his face. "Just have fun instead of worrying, okay? Eat till your stomach is overfilled."

"Mogan is right." Old Master Chen chimed in. "We've been family for a long time, stop being so cautious."

"Yes, father." Zheng Yue answered.

They ate in silence.

*~~~*

Inside the Su's apartment.

Su Ranqi lay flat on the rug, watching a cartoon series on her iPad. She would scrunch up her nose a few times as the aroma of her brother's cooking permeated the air.

As she could no longer hold it in, she stood up and took light steps into the kitchen.

"Qi'er," at the mention of her name, the little girl paused, spun around to meet her mother's gaze.

"...mom, I'm so hungry." She clutched her stomach.

Su Qiaofan laughed. "I thought you'd wait..."

"No, no... not anymore." Ranqi shook her head uncountable times.

"You don't have to," Yuanqi said from the kitchen door and saw the little girl's face lit up.

"Really?" She wanted to make sure.

"Yes," Yuanqi carried her and strode back into the kitchen. He picked a plate of egg and bean curd and went back to the sitting room. He set her down on the dining chair, and passed her an egg spoon.

Ranqi took the first spoon, the second and without speaking, continued to eat.

Su Qiaofan watched the two, her heart melting at their sweet relationship. She sure is lucky to have such a son.

Su Yuanqi gave her a reason to continue smiling, she is really thankful to the Almighty for that.

What more could she ask for?

"Should I help you with the serving?" She asked. And without turning his head from Ranqi, he said yes.

Su Qiaofan put the book she held in hand aside and got to work.

Upon getting to the kitchen, she realized her son had cooked for a whole village.

"Yuan," she endearingly called out. And he made a simple Hmm sound. "Human cuisine? Isn't this too much?"

"No, my friends are coming." He informed her and heard her sigh.

Qiaofan placed the bowl of steamed fish head with chopped chili down on the table, followed by steamed preserved meat, chairman's mao's red braised pork, spicy salted duck, fried pork with chili, Hunan rice noodles, Changsha stinky tofu and tasty lobsters.

Everything on the table was enticing.

Ranqi's eyes scanned the whole table before they found their way to her brother's face.

As if he could read her mind, he said. "Don't worry, you will eat with us all."