At the dining table in the main hall, Qin Tian and his mother were already seated.
The table was laid with four simple dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables.
Spicy stir-fried pork, braised chicken, mapo tofu, and a side of cold bitter melon.
Looking at the four dishes before her, Tang Xiuxia was momentarily stunned.
Putting aside the taste, the presentation alone looked much better than what she usually made.
She looked up at her son, her gaze a little peculiar.
It was obvious she was once again suspecting if this was her real son.
Her son attended a legitimate high school, not a culinary school.
"Mom, try this!"
Qin Tian also noticed the meaning behind his mother's look and could only smile helplessly, placing a piece of chicken into her bowl.
Tang Xiuxia picked up her chopsticks without a word, took a bite of the chicken, and her expression subtly changed.
Not only the presentation, but the taste was no worse than that of restaurant dishes.
Tang Xiuxia quickly tasted the other three dishes.
Without exception, they were all much tastier than what she made.
"How is it?"
Qin Tian smiled with a hint of pride.
Tang Xiuxia glanced at him and said plainly, "You'll be cooking from now on."
"Ah?"
Qin Tian was directly stunned.
"The capable should do more work. You'll be free after your college entrance exams in a couple of days anyway."
Tang Xiuxia stated righteously.
"Alright, I'll cook then!"
Qin Tian nodded in agreement, a mix of amusement and helplessness on his face.
Tang Xiuxia took another bite of bitter melon and said, "There are two bottles of beer left in the fridge, go get them. Today is worth celebrating."
"Okay!"
Qin Tian smiled and got up, going to the kitchen to get two bottles of beer and two glasses.
His mother could drink a little beer, but very rarely, only on special occasions or rare holidays.
Qin Tian opened one bottle and poured two glasses.
"Come, son, congratulations on graduating from high school. You've worked hard with your studies."
Tang Xiuxia raised her glass with a bright smile to congratulate him.
"Thanks, Mom. You've worked hard too."
Qin Tian smiled and clinked glasses with his mother.
...
...
At Xia Nuannuan's home, the family of three was also having dinner.
The table was laden with abundant dishes, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Xia Nuannuan had just been telling her parents about how delicious the food Qin Tian made at the class monitor's house during the May Day holiday study session.
Su Xia was already aware of this; her daughter had mentioned it many times a day when she returned home that holiday.
Xia Zhengping, who had just returned from Jiangcheng, heard about it for the first time.
"He cooks better than your mom? How is that possible? I don't believe it!"
Old Xia expressed his doubt, pursing his lips. "Nuannuan, you're too biased towards that boy, you're talking nonsense with your eyes open."
Su Xia put some food into her daughter's bowl, watching the scene with a gentle smile.
"Dad, I'm not talking nonsense. It was really delicious. Besides, I never said he cooked better than Mom."
Xia Nuannuan said with a slight frown.
"I still don't believe it. It's already rare enough for a grown man to cook a couple of dishes, how could it be as good as you say?"
Old Xia's tone was firm.
"Old Xia, you're wrong there."
Su Xia looked at her husband and asked, "From what you're saying, cooking is a woman's job, right? Don't you know that many hotel chefs are men?"
Xia Nuannuan secretly chuckled with schadenfreude.
"Honey, I didn't mean it like that!"
Old Xia put on a feigned expression of grievance.
"That's what I heard."
Su Xia rolled her eyes, picked up a bowl of sweet and sour pork ribs in front of him, and handed it to her daughter on the opposite side. "You're getting fatter but eating so much, have some vegetables. Nuannuan, you eat this."
"Hehe... Thank you, Mom!"
Xia Nuannuan said with a radiant smile, took a piece of pork rib, and ate it with relish. She even shot a smug glance at Old Xia.
Old Xia, with tears threatening to fall, could only stuff a large mouthful of spinach into his mouth.
"Mom, I really didn't lie to you. Qin Tian is really good at cooking."
Xia Nuannuan earnestly reiterated to her mother with a serious expression.
"I know, I know, you've said it countless times."
Su Xia nodded with amusement, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Mom believes you. It's a good thing. Men who can cook now are good men who can take care of others. Unlike your father, who hasn't entered the kitchen in who knows how many years. Mom is even more satisfied with little Qin."
Cold sweat broke out on Old Xia's forehead. He buried his head in his food, not daring to utter a sound.
The slight good impression he had developed for that pig-headed boy earlier had now vanished.
Indeed, the other person was still his great rival!
Xia Nuannuan's face flushed, and she looked at her mother, pleading, "Mom, can you teach me more about cooking after my college entrance exams, like I asked before?"
"Okay, no problem."
Su Xia nodded with a gentle smile.
After dinner, the family of three watched TV and ate watermelon in the living room.
"By the way, Nuannuan, why don't Mom book a table at a good restaurant for tomorrow or the day after, and we can treat little Qin to a meal?"
Su Xia said, cutting the watermelon with a fruit knife.
Xia Nuannuan looked at her mother with a puzzled expression.
"Mom promised before when little Qin came over for dinner. You said that if you met your goal for the third mock exam, we would take you out for a big meal."
Su Xia picked up a slice of watermelon and handed it to her, continuing, "It's just that your school hasn't had a holiday since the last exam. We have time these two days, so we'll make up for it and also get a good omen for a smooth college entrance exam."
"Okay, okay, I agree!"
Xia Nuannuan took the watermelon and nodded like a pecking chick.
"Then you can call little Qin later, discuss when is good, and ask him what he wants to eat."
Su Xia said with a smile.
"I'll call him now!"
Xia Nuannuan put down the watermelon in her hand, wiped her hands with a tissue, picked up her phone, and was about to make the call.
Old Xia watched his daughter's eagerness and silently took a big bite of watermelon, feeling that the sweet watermelon now tasted a bit sour.
Qin Tian had just finished eating and was tidying up the dishes with his mother.
He took out his phone from his pocket and answered the call. Upon learning that his future mother-in-law wanted to treat him to a meal, Qin Tian looked at his mother, who had come over and was eavesdropping, for confirmation. Seeing his mother nod, he agreed.
They arranged the time for tomorrow evening. As for what to eat, Qin Tian said he had no preferences and that she could choose.
"Okay, okay, so it's settled!"
"Alright."
"What are you doing?"
"Just finished dinner, washing dishes!"
"Hehe... Alright, then you go ahead and be busy. I'm hanging up now!"
After saying that, Xia Nuannuan hung up the phone.
"Done, Mom. Qin Tian agreed. Tomorrow evening is fine."
Xia Nuannuan said to her mother, then picked up the slice of watermelon on the coffee table and took a bite of the sweetest part in the middle.
"Then you think about what you want to eat. Hot pot or barbecue is out. It's best to keep it light before the exams."
"Okay, okay, I got it."