Chapter 268: Fang Zhenzhen’s Jealousy
Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Fang Zhenzhen’s Jealousy
Wu Jianlin raised his glass and toasted to Fu Xiaoxiao, who smiled and stood up.
"Uncle Wu, you’re too kind. I’m not a strong drinker, so I’ll return the favor with this drink." Fu Xiaoxiao smiled, raised her glass, and downed it in one go to toast back to Wu Jianlin.
"Great!!!" Wu Jianlin’s eyes lit up; he liked this straightforwardness, without any airs.
He heavily patted Lu Feng on the shoulder. "Your wife is open-minded and a great cook, you’re a lucky guy."
"Yes." Lu Feng replied with a smile, clinking his glass with Wu Jianlin and, just like Fu Xiaoxiao, downed it in one go.
Wu Jianlin was even happier now.
"Alright, you let them drink as soon as they came; let them eat something first!" Mrs. Wu noticed his enthusiasm and subtly kicked him to get his attention.
"Oh yes, eat, eat, eat! Start eating." Wu Jianlin cleared his throat and signaled everyone to start eating.
As an elder, Wu Jianlin had to pick up his chopsticks first before everyone else could start. Wu Jianlin picked a piece of braised pork and put it in Mrs. Wu’s bowl.
Only then did he pick another piece for himself.
The braised pork was enticingly glossy, with the wobbly meat pieces coated in a layer of bright red sauce, looking very tempting.
Wu Jianlin took a bite, and as soon as it entered his mouth, the soft and sticky skin began to melt on the tip of his tongue; a slight press, and it seemed to dissolve. Then came the tender and juicy lean part, not dry or greasy, with each fiber soaked in the rich flavor of the sauce, a perfect balance of salty and sweet.
The braising was done to perfection, making the flavor of the braised pork extremely rich, with the spices blending perfectly with the meat’s aroma, creating a long-lasting aftertaste.
Wu Jianlin couldn’t help closing his eyes, savoring this wonderful taste.
"Good! Good! Good! This craftsmanship is incredible! The braised pork is rich but not greasy, melts in your mouth, and the balance of salty and sweet is just right!" Wu Jianlin gestured for Mrs. Wu to taste it. "You have to try it, it’s your favorite sweet and salty flavor."
"Mmm! Rich but not greasy! This skill is no worse than a professional chef’s!" Mrs. Wu already loved braised pork; it was a dish from her hometown. "It’s that authentic taste."
"See, see! Now you know why I asked Xiaoxiao to cook, right?" Wu Yingying looked proud, as if she had discovered a treasure.
"Yes, yes, yes, you have the best taste. It’s Fu Xiaoxiao who’s amazing, and you’re taking pride in it." Wu Yuxuan tapped her head with his chopsticks playfully, confused as to why she was acting so smug when it wasn’t her cooking.
"Mom! Brother hit my head with chopsticks!" Wu Yingying immediately tattled.
Mrs. Wu glared at both of them. "Unbelievable, those chopsticks are dirty, and you use them to hit her! Don’t get my food dirty! I’m not done with you."
"Misstep...I’ll go change the chopsticks." Wu Yuxuan hurried to the kitchen to change them.
While he went to change the chopsticks, Wu Yingying stood up and gave pieces of braised pork to her parents, Fu Xiaoxiao, and Lu Feng. By the time Wu Yuxuan returned, the braised pork was nearly gone.
Wu Yuxuan glared at Wu Yingying and gave a piece to Fang Zhenzhen; the last piece couldn’t be moved.
"Hehe." Wu Yingying giggled smugly.
Fang Zhenzhen sat beside Mrs. Wu, listening to everyone’s cheerful chatter and feeling out of place.
Looking at the braised pork in her bowl, Fang Zhenzhen felt no appetite at all.
"Sister-in-law, what’s wrong? Don’t you like braised pork?" Wu Yingying asked, looking at Fang Zhenzhen.
"I’ve been gaining weight recently, so I don’t really like greasy food." Fang Zhenzhen awkwardly smiled and replied.
"That’s a shame, Xiaoxiao’s braised pork isn’t greasy at all!" Wu Yingying blinked.
Seeing that Fang Zhenzhen didn’t look well, Wu Yuxuan took the braised pork back.
"I’m sorry, I thought you’d like it."
"Mm." Fang Zhenzhen nodded slightly. "I’m feeling a bit unwell; I’ll go to the restroom."
Mrs. Wu gave Fang Zhenzhen a deep look at her retreating back, turned to continue raising her glass with everyone. Besides Fang Zhenzhen, everyone was very pleased with the table full of dishes.
Every dish meticulously prepared by Fu Xiaoxiao was praised endlessly, and Fang Zhenzhen stood in the bathroom, listening to the laughter outside, a sinister look flashing in her eyes.
Fang Zhenzhen walked out of the restroom and ran into Little Linlin washing her hands.
She had just passed by and seen Wu Linlin happily eating in a small room, with Lu Lin and Xiao Chen playing with her.
"Little Linlin, how did you get so messy? Let me wipe it for you." Fang Zhenzhen grabbed Wu Linlin’s shoulder, her fingertips sinking into Little Linlin’s shoulder.
"Auntie, I can wipe it myself." Wu Linlin’s eyes teared up from the grasp, wanting to break free, but Fang Zhenzhen tightened her grip.
"It’s okay, auntie will help you. Look at you, you’re like a little kitten, and how can a little girl be so messy? Who would dare marry you when you grow up!" Fang Zhenzhen said with a sinister look, wiping her mouth hard.
Wu Linlin, frightened by Fang Zhenzhen’s terrifying demeanor, dared not move.
"Let go of little Linlin!" Lu Chen and Lu Lin, worried when Little Linlin didn’t return after washing her hands for so long, came out to find her, only to see Fang Zhenzhen gripping Little Linlin’s shoulder, wiping her mouth forcefully. When Little Linlin tried to struggle, she pressed harder in anger.
Lu Lin stepped forward and pushed Fang Zhenzhen away forcefully, and Lu Chen quickly freed Little Linlin from her grip.
"Waaaa!" In Lu Chen’s arms, Little Linlin felt safe and finally burst into tears.
"What happened?" Wu Yingying and others heard Wu Linlin’s crying and ran over nervously.
"I don’t know either; I was just wiping Little Linlin’s mouth, and suddenly he came and pushed me down." Fang Zhenzhen sat on the ground, pointing to Lu Lin.
Fu Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Lin; Lu Lin stepped forward, showing no panic, and calmly explained what had just happened.
"Mom, Little Linlin accidentally got some oil on her. She said she was going out to wash her hands, but Xiao Chen and I waited for a long time without seeing her come back, so we got worried and went out to find her. We saw that auntie was gripping Little Linlin’s shoulder tightly with one hand and wiping her mouth forcefully with the other; Little Linlin’s mouth was rubbed red."
"Wuu!" Wu Linlin cried in Lu Chen’s arms, gradually calming down under his soothing.
Lu Chen wiped Little Linlin’s tears, letting everyone see her mouth.
Little Linlin’s skin was already fair and tender, and the part where Fang Zhenzhen wiped forcefully was now red and swollen, with some small broken capillaries, bluish-purple in color.
"Little Linlin is just a child! How could you be so heavy-handed?" Wu Yingying felt the pain just looking at it; the child was so young! Fang Zhenzhen really dared to use such force on Little Linlin.
"No, I was just wiping her lightly. I didn’t know her skin was so delicate..." Fang Zhenzhen looked self-reproachful, wanting to step forward but not daring to touch, as if falsely accused.
"Lightly? Looking at the extent of what’s been done, it doesn’t seem light at all." Lu Feng saw the bruising at Little Linlin’s mouth corner, clearly from being pressed hard by someone.
"She even pinched Little Linlin’s shoulder; her shoulder must be bruised too!" Lu Chen shouted, remembering something.