reignition

Jiang Mian's thank you left Song Wan stunned.

"Thank me?" Song Wan looked incredulous. "I insulted you, and you're thanking me?"

"This isn't really an insult, is it? You're just worried that I'll be bullied in my in-laws' house and end up like your daughter, right?" Jiang Mian said with a smile.

Song Wan's expression stiffened, and she repeated, "I'm not your in-laws, why are you being so submissive!"

“Precisely because you’re not my in-laws,” Jiang Mian said with a smile. “I’m not so easy to talk to my in-laws.”

Song Wan was stunned. "Really?"

She only thought of her own daughter, who had been tormented by Yan Ke in various ways, yet she had only tolerated it.

Every time I think about it, I feel a pang of sadness.

Hearing that Jiang Mian was not tolerant of Yan Ke, Song Wan suddenly felt a surge of energy.

The sharpness in his previous tone had softened considerably as he asked, "Did you two have a fight?"

"It won't escalate to an argument, but if it's unreasonable, I'll definitely stand up for myself."

Jiang Mian said, "She used to..."

Jiang Mian paused, glancing down at Lu Chaochi, "Little Stone, go out and call them in for dinner."

Little Stone could tell that Mianmian was trying to get him away so she could have a private chat with her grandmother.

The child was initially a little worried, but seeing that Mianmian's attitude towards her grandmother was always very good, the grandmother's attitude softened.

Lu Chaochi nodded, "Okay, I'll go right away!"

Lu Chaochi walked briskly out of the restaurant.

Song Wan looked at Jiang Mian, "You sent Xiao Chi away, what did you want to tell me?"

Song Wan's gaze held a hint of suspicion. She even secretly wondered if this woman had deliberately sent the child away.

And then you want to yell at her?

Song Wan's eyes were wary.

But all she saw was a gentle smile on Jiang Mian's face. "If I were to say anything bad about Grandma Xiao Shitou, I'm afraid he would hear it and it wouldn't be good."

"Speaking ill of Yan Ke?"

"Yes. She wanted to arrange other women for Lu Bozhou and even tried to arrest me. Naturally, I couldn't be nice to her."

Hearing Jiang Mian's words, Song Wan paused for a moment, then sighed softly, "If only my Mianmian had a temper like yours."

They wouldn't suffer so much injustice.

Before long, Lu Chaochi called Jiang Shan and Jiang Yu to come in for dinner.

As for Lu Bozhou... he didn't come in.

Perhaps they weren't allowed to sit at the table at the Jiang family's house; how pitiful.

Thinking that this might be her parents' attitude, Jiang Mian couldn't help but want to laugh.

If she dies, she dies. She won't see how her parents treat Lu Bozhou, so it's none of her business.

But now, having been reborn from the dead, he sees his parents' attitude towards Lu Bozhou from the perspective of an outsider.

It was... quite satisfying.

Jiang Mian couldn't help but smile.

"Then you guys enjoy your meal." Jiang Mian looked at Lu Chaochi. "I'll wait for you outside."

After Jiang Mian finished speaking, she turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute," Song Wan called out to her.

Jiang Mian trembled involuntarily upon hearing her mother's voice.

"You brought all the food, so please have some with us. Don't make us sound like we don't know how to treat guests."

Song Wan's voice sounded a little awkward, probably because she felt she shouldn't be so friendly to Jiang Mian.

So he added, "Besides, you're the one who brought all this food. If you don't eat it with us, how will we know if anything has been tampered with?"

This statement was anything but friendly.

Jiang Mian wasn't annoyed at all; instead, she laughed and said, "Alright then."

She knew her mother's personality well; those words were nothing more than a show of bravado masking inner weakness.

Jiang Mian originally planned to make more so that her parents could try it.

So the portions are large and plentiful, laid out on the table, with even desserts and fruits.

After they sat down around the table, it really did feel like... a family eating together.

Jiang Shan and Song Wan remained silent, and Jiang Yu didn't say much either.

Perhaps it's because Jiang Mian looks so much like Jiang Mian that this scene is so striking.

It looks just like when they're having a family meal together.

The three of them even had a feeling.

If Jiang Mian were still alive, this would probably be what their family would look like when they ate together.

Jiang Yu felt a lump in his throat. He was silent for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "Let's eat."

They ate in silence.

The moment Jiang Shan took the first sip of soup, he abruptly stopped moving!

He suddenly looked up at Jiang Mian, his eyes almost red.

"What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?" Jiang Mian asked.

Jiang Shan's lips trembled, and his voice was a little hoarse, "No, it tastes very good."

Jiang Mian knew her father's tastes very well, and this Sichuan lovage fish head soup was made by her for him.

The other soup, lily bulb, jujube, and pork lung soup, was my mother's favorite flavor.

Song Wan stood beside him, drinking silently.

Her face was almost buried in the bowl, I don't know if she was trying to hide her red eyes.

The only one who didn't lose his composure was Jiang Yu.

Perhaps it's because I tasted Jiang Mian's cooking outside Gong Yan's office.

I've now managed to control my emotions.

Jiang Mian served Xiao Shitou vegetables and soup, and also filled another bowl with rice and dishes.

Jiang Mian whispered to Xiao Shitou, "Xiao Shitou, my sweetie."

"Ok?"

“Here, take this bowl to Dad.” Jiang Mian pointed to the bowl of food she had served herself.

It wasn't really anything fancy or delicious.

Lu Bozhou might not even be interested.

But he was already there.

The whole family was eating together inside, but he was excluded.

That's a bit... too pitiful.

Jiang Mian knew that being soft-hearted was pathetic, but she also knew that Lu Bozhou might have psychological or mental health issues.

Because she had suffered a lot since her death, Jiang Mian felt somewhat conflicted. At the very least, she could no longer face him with complete hostility and defensiveness.

In short, as long as she has a clear conscience, that's enough.

As for Lu Bozhou, whether he chooses to take this job or give it up is his own business.

Little Stone is very well-behaved, and probably feels sorry for his stinky dad.

So he obediently took the bowl and chopsticks and went out.

Little Stone had just gone out.

Jiang Mian had just picked up her chopsticks, but hadn't even had a chance to take a single bite.

Then they heard Song Wan's nasal voice, "Do you really need to do this? Are you crazy? You're trying to please Lu Bozhou..."

Song Wan couldn't continue speaking.

Jiang Mian thought her mother was suddenly angry because of her sending the child out to deliver food earlier.

But before Jiang Mian could explain...

Song Wan continued, "...Where did you learn these dishes? These are all dishes my daughter can cook! Where did you learn them from! Why are you doing this!"

Song Wan's voice was urgent, "What's so good about being a stand-in? Huh? What's so good about it! Why can't you be a little more sensible!"

Hearing her mother's words, Jiang Mian wondered whether her mother was speaking directly to her or, through her, to the former Jiang Mian.