reignition

Song Xun glanced at Jiang Mian, as if he could guess what she was thinking.

He asked with a smile, "Your classmate Zhan?"

“Yes. She happens to be outside too.” Jiang Mian nodded. “She’ll definitely be happy if you come with me to pick her up.”

Jiang Mian didn't know if Song Xun understood what she was trying to say.

She figured that someone as insightful as Song Xun must have understood.

Zhan Meng was quite happy to see Song Xun arrive.

However, Jiang Mian was unable to follow the original plan and cook something delicious for Lu Bozhou when she got home that night.

Lu Bozhou had to go on a business trip due to unforeseen circumstances.

He even called her.

Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised when she received Lu Bozhou's call.

This is the first time I've received this kind of 'treatment'; it's never happened before.

Jiang Mian was a little stunned. "So you mean you're going on a business trip?"

"Hmm," Lu Bozhou said calmly, "I'll be gone for three days."

Jiang Mian thought for a moment, "Going for a few days is fine, but why are you telling me this?"

She was just a contract wife.

Jiang Mian was quite foolish in her past life, but she has a very accurate understanding of herself in this life.

He had absolutely no need to report his work progress to her.

It's not just about work-related matters.

Jiang Mian had long since come to terms with it; even if he went to find other women, she couldn't be bothered to care.

If people leave when they've accumulated enough disappointment, then she must have accumulated enough in her past life.

Lu Bozhou was silent for a few seconds on the other end before whispering, "Isn't it normal for a husband to tell his wife when he's going on a business trip?"

Jiang Mianxin thought it was quite normal, but for him it wasn't so normal.

However, since he has said so, based on Jiang Mian's understanding of this man, it's best not to pour cold water on his enthusiasm.

"Okay, I understand. Be careful on your journey, and eat and sleep well. I will take good care of Little Stone."

Jiang Mian readily agreed.

The man on the other end seemed quite satisfied and hummed in agreement. "I'm not in Los Angeles. If you have fewer classes, you can go back to the mansion. It's safer there."

Jiang Mian thought about it and agreed, finding it made sense.

After picking Xiao Shitou up from school that day, he prepared to say goodbye to Song Wan and Jiang Shan and then return to the mansion.

"He's away on a business trip?" Song Wan said after hearing this. "Then why don't you and Xiao Shitou have dinner here before you leave? I'm making dumplings today."

Jiang Mian originally wanted to politely decline, but when she heard that her mother wanted to make dumplings...

She bit her lip, unable to utter a single word of refusal.

She loved the dumplings her mother made; it was the taste she longed for.

In the past, whenever I suffered injustice at the Lu family's house, it seemed like I could feel better as long as I went home and ate a meal of dumplings made by my mother.

“Then… let me help you,” Jiang Mian said.

Lu Chaochi jumped up with joy, "Oh! Dumplings!"

Wow! Dumplings!

"Yay! Dumplings!"

"Hey! Dumplings!"

He kept cheering, and it was easy to see how much he loved the dumplings his grandmother made.

He happily said to Jiang Mian, "Mianmian, my grandma's dumplings are the best in the world!"

Jiang Mian pinched his little face, "Then you should eat more later."

Song Wan quickly began kneading and resting the dough, and preparing the filling.

A large bone china bowl, with several kinds of fillings prepared.

There are scallion and egg, cabbage and pork, celery and pork, and... fennel and pork.

Because no one in my family likes chive filling, there was no chive filling. Even the filling that was supposed to be chives and eggs was replaced with scallions and eggs.

But... no one in my family actually likes fennel filling.

Only she likes it. Or rather, only Jiang Mian likes it.

But her mother would always prepare one for her.

Even though she's gone, Mom still made preparations.

"What kind of filling do you like?" Song Wan asked.

“Fennel…” Jiang Mian answered hesitantly.

Song Wan's gaze faltered for a moment. "You like fennel filling too?"

Her voice was tinged with emotion, "Then you should eat more later, no one in this family likes fennel."

Jiang Mian really wanted to ask, then why make this filling at all?

But she dared not ask, for fear of upsetting her mother.

We can start wrapping soon.

Lu Chaochi hovered around them like a little bee.

Song Wan casually pinched off a piece of dough and handed it to him, "Go ahead and knead it yourself."

Lu Chaochi happily pinched that small piece of dough and rolled it into a ball or flattened it.

Jiang Mian looked at Lu Chaochi's happy expression and couldn't help but think of how she used to play with dough next to her mother, just as happily.

Plates of dumplings were quickly wrapped.

Song Wan called Jiang Yu, "I made dumplings, come back and eat them. Oh, and remember to bring back the mutton offal soup and chili oil from Lao He Ji on Liaoyuan Road."

It tastes exactly like the flavors I remember. Just imagining it makes Jiang Mian's mouth water.

Despite her efforts to control herself, she still ate more than twenty dumplings that night.

She couldn't compare to Jiang Yu, but considering her appetite, she had already eaten a lot; she felt like she had eaten until her throat was full.

I need to drink some mutton soup to calm myself down, otherwise I feel like I'm about to burst.

Moreover, during dinner.

Jiang Mian always felt that whether it was Jiang Yu or her parents, their eyes were always looking at her.

She felt quite uncomfortable watching this.

Jiang Mian smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, am I... eating too much?"

"With your small appetite, eat more. Anyway, no one in this family eats fennel fillings," Jiang Shan said casually, then looked away.

Song Wan didn't say anything.

On the way back to the mansion, Jiang Yu looked at Lu Chaochi, who had already fallen asleep with his head tilted to the side, in the rearview mirror.

Then he whispered to Jiang Mian, "You don't need to feel uncomfortable. We were staring at you just now because no one in our family has eaten fennel filling in a long time."

“Only my sister used to eat this filling. Ever since she passed away, my mom still habitually makes a portion of fennel dumplings every time she makes dumplings.”

Hearing Jiang Yu's words, Jiang Mian felt a pang in her heart.

Jiang Yu continued, "Then after it's cooked, you leave it there to cool down, and finally throw it away."

"Now that you're here, someone's finally going to eat this filling. And, as you know, you look a lot like my sister. That's why we took a second look at you."

Jiang Yu's voice was apologetic, "To be honest, we were the ones who were very rude."

Jiang Mian listened to these words and remained silent for a moment.

It wasn't some unhappiness about being used as a substitute.

She was just feeling sorry for her family.

After a moment, Jiang Mian smiled and said, "It's okay. If it makes them feel better, I don't mind."

"Thank you," Jiang Yu said.

Then the car fell silent. Jiang Mian thought for a moment and then took the initiative to start a conversation, telling him about her trip to the Lu family banquet.

Jiang Yu laughed after hearing this, "I didn't realize you were so tough. My sister wasn't as tough as you back then..."