Chapter 261: The Li's
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Even though the lightings inside the restaurant were not as bright as other places, it was enough for Shao Yan to finally be able to take a closer look at Mother Li.
Her soft, black hair fell on her shoulder; framing her flawless face. She looked to be in her late fifties or maybe early sixties. But for a woman her age, Mother Li had a very healthy looking skin. She had enough glow on her cheek and her eyes were always smiling and warm towards her. Shao Yan who had been without a motherly love for a few years could not help but feel a little sad when she was reminded of her own birth mother.
"Yan Yan," Mother Li scooped another braised sea cucumber and put it on her plate, "have this one. This is very nutritious and good for your body."
The whole night, Mother Li kept putting meat and vegetables on her plate; urging her to eat more. She also paid attention to what Shao Yan liked to eat. She noticed items that Shao Yan would pick up frequently and tried to register them in her memory so she could cook more of her favorite food in the future.
Shao Yan tried to steal glances at Li Xiqing; she was sending him signals and pleading him to save her from his mother.
Li Xiqing returned her glances. He finally picked up his chopsticks and reached forward.
"Ma, you should eat more, too," Li Xiqing scooped some vegetables and placed them on his mother's plate. He also picked up some braised tofu and steamed fish for her.
Mother Li nodded eagerly at her son's filial act towards her and she went back to eat happily.
Shao Yan silently sighed a relief in her heart; luckily Xiqing understood what she meant. But to her surprise, a second later, she saw another pair of chopsticks were placing more food on her plate, "Your favorite ginger chicken."
Shao Yan looked at her plate, and she looked at the person sitting next to her; feeling speechless and surprised. She squinted and sent daggers with her eyes towards him; silently scolding him in her mind, 'Mister! I am about to become a little piggy here!'
Li Xiqing ignored her accusing stare and picked up his own bowl to resume eating. He was hiding his smile as he bit into his food; pretending as if he did not understand anything she was thinking.
Looking at the young woman in front of her eating with a good appetite, Mother Li nodded with satisfaction as she thought in her heart, 'Luckily, Yan Yan is not a picky person. All the grandchildren will be a good eater, then.'
----------
"Daddy, how does retirement life feel for you?" Mandy took another scoop of almond pudding into her mouth after she asked the question.
Father Li was enjoying his mango pudding and smiled, "It is relaxing. I finally have the time to tend to my garden."
"You know, your father has many new babies now," Mother Li chimed in. Looking at the children's questioning gazes, she continued, "We have healthy plants of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces."
"Oohh!" Mandy nodded while feeling amazed. Li Xiqing, who was drinking his tea silently on the side, also had a smile on his face.
Shao Yan was surprised and at the same time, she was also impressed at his skill. When she was still alive, her mother had tried gardening in their small house before. Her mother and grandmother were taking care of some plants diligently. They looked so easy but she kept telling Shao Yan that gardening actually really required patience.
"You don't have to go to the hospital anymore?" Li Xiqing asked another question. Father Li scooped another pudding into his mouth while shaking his head, "Sometimes, Professor Johnson would call me and we talked about some interesting surgeries, but that is only when he needs some input to his cases."
He placed his hand over Mother Li's palm on the table, "Besides, your mother is also there with me to spend time with. Her patients are not many anymore, so now both of us can start gardening and travel whenever we want to."
Mother Li smiled back at him, before she remembered something and quickly turned her head towards Shao Yan, "Oh! That's right," Mother Li suddenly exclaimed, "Yan Yan, come over to our house with Xiqing tomorrow morning."
And then, Mother Li stared at Li Xiqing and Mandy, "Come around eight tomorrow, we will have breakfast together."
"Your father and I have some gifts for all of you, so make sure you come over bright and early!"
"En," Li Xiqing nodded and picked up his tea cup, "We will be there on time, don't worry."
Mother Li nodded in satisfaction, and then turned her attention to Mandy, "Xilin, How is Yufeng doing? Singapore is very hot and humid, always reminding him to drink a lot of water."
----------
"So, dear, what do you think of Yan Yan?"
Father Li had just stepped out of the bathroom from his shower and saw Mother Li was kneeling on the bedroom carpeted floor. An opened suitcase was in front of her and Mother Li was taking all the contents out and hung them in the dressing room.
"You don't have to do all of these now, take your time to tidy them up," Father Li did not answer her question and instead he knelt down next to her, and his hand reached inside the suitcase to help her.
"I like her a lot, you know," Mother Li continued while folding her dresses, "Very polite, and when she actually speaks, she is very smart." Her lips curved into a beautiful smile upon remembering when Shao Yan was constantly paying attention to each of her steps at the Chinese garden.
Her eyes turned gentle as she added, "Did you remember when we were walking to the restaurant this evening, and we walked through Mrs. Tong's garden?"
Father Li was folding a shirt in his hand. He nodded at her question, "En, what about it?"
Her head started to nod as she recalled, "The girl kept walking by my side, making sure that my steps on the stones were alright," Mother Li heaved a soft sigh, "She also noticed when my cup was empty, she would refill it with tea."
Mother Li opened her palm and started to count with her fingers, "Very pretty and pleasant to look at. Very smart, too. Her attitude and behavior are also very commendable," She paused to think about other things that she might have missed.
After a while, she closed up her palm, "I don't know what else I can ask for. I am very glad if she is willing to stand side by side with our son."
She grabbed the dress in her hands and held it close to her embrace while glancing to the side, "Dear, I think we have to talk to her Grandmother soon," Mother Li bit her lower lip gently, "we can't let our son to keep taking advantage of innocent, young girl; and also living in one roof with this girl without giving her a proper status."
"En," Father Li shook his head slowly and chuckled, "You take care of it, then." He handed the neatly folded shirt to Mother Li while adding, "Just so you know, our son has thought of every single thing even before you did."
Father Li gently patted her hand, "I will go prepare your bath now," his hands waved over the suitcase, "It's getting late; we will continue all of these tomorrow."
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Even though the lightings inside the restaurant were not as bright as other places, it was enough for Shao Yan to finally be able to take a closer look at Mother Li.
Her soft, black hair fell on her shoulder; framing her flawless face. She looked to be in her late fifties or maybe early sixties. But for a woman her age, Mother Li had a very healthy looking skin. She had enough glow on her cheek and her eyes were always smiling and warm towards her. Shao Yan who had been without a motherly love for a few years could not help but feel a little sad when she was reminded of her own birth mother.
"Yan Yan," Mother Li scooped another braised sea cucumber and put it on her plate, "have this one. This is very nutritious and good for your body."
The whole night, Mother Li kept putting meat and vegetables on her plate; urging her to eat more. She also paid attention to what Shao Yan liked to eat. She noticed items that Shao Yan would pick up frequently and tried to register them in her memory so she could cook more of her favorite food in the future.
Shao Yan tried to steal glances at Li Xiqing; she was sending him signals and pleading him to save her from his mother.
Li Xiqing returned her glances. He finally picked up his chopsticks and reached forward.
"Ma, you should eat more, too," Li Xiqing scooped some vegetables and placed them on his mother's plate. He also picked up some braised tofu and steamed fish for her.
Mother Li nodded eagerly at her son's filial act towards her and she went back to eat happily.
Shao Yan silently sighed a relief in her heart; luckily Xiqing understood what she meant. But to her surprise, a second later, she saw another pair of chopsticks were placing more food on her plate, "Your favorite ginger chicken."
Shao Yan looked at her plate, and she looked at the person sitting next to her; feeling speechless and surprised. She squinted and sent daggers with her eyes towards him; silently scolding him in her mind, 'Mister! I am about to become a little piggy here!'
Li Xiqing ignored her accusing stare and picked up his own bowl to resume eating. He was hiding his smile as he bit into his food; pretending as if he did not understand anything she was thinking.
Looking at the young woman in front of her eating with a good appetite, Mother Li nodded with satisfaction as she thought in her heart, 'Luckily, Yan Yan is not a picky person. All the grandchildren will be a good eater, then.'
----------
"Daddy, how does retirement life feel for you?" Mandy took another scoop of almond pudding into her mouth after she asked the question.
Father Li was enjoying his mango pudding and smiled, "It is relaxing. I finally have the time to tend to my garden."
"You know, your father has many new babies now," Mother Li chimed in. Looking at the children's questioning gazes, she continued, "We have healthy plants of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces."
"Oohh!" Mandy nodded while feeling amazed. Li Xiqing, who was drinking his tea silently on the side, also had a smile on his face.
Shao Yan was surprised and at the same time, she was also impressed at his skill. When she was still alive, her mother had tried gardening in their small house before. Her mother and grandmother were taking care of some plants diligently. They looked so easy but she kept telling Shao Yan that gardening actually really required patience.
"You don't have to go to the hospital anymore?" Li Xiqing asked another question. Father Li scooped another pudding into his mouth while shaking his head, "Sometimes, Professor Johnson would call me and we talked about some interesting surgeries, but that is only when he needs some input to his cases."
He placed his hand over Mother Li's palm on the table, "Besides, your mother is also there with me to spend time with. Her patients are not many anymore, so now both of us can start gardening and travel whenever we want to."
Mother Li smiled back at him, before she remembered something and quickly turned her head towards Shao Yan, "Oh! That's right," Mother Li suddenly exclaimed, "Yan Yan, come over to our house with Xiqing tomorrow morning."
And then, Mother Li stared at Li Xiqing and Mandy, "Come around eight tomorrow, we will have breakfast together."
"Your father and I have some gifts for all of you, so make sure you come over bright and early!"
"En," Li Xiqing nodded and picked up his tea cup, "We will be there on time, don't worry."
Mother Li nodded in satisfaction, and then turned her attention to Mandy, "Xilin, How is Yufeng doing? Singapore is very hot and humid, always reminding him to drink a lot of water."
----------
"So, dear, what do you think of Yan Yan?"
Father Li had just stepped out of the bathroom from his shower and saw Mother Li was kneeling on the bedroom carpeted floor. An opened suitcase was in front of her and Mother Li was taking all the contents out and hung them in the dressing room.
"You don't have to do all of these now, take your time to tidy them up," Father Li did not answer her question and instead he knelt down next to her, and his hand reached inside the suitcase to help her.
"I like her a lot, you know," Mother Li continued while folding her dresses, "Very polite, and when she actually speaks, she is very smart." Her lips curved into a beautiful smile upon remembering when Shao Yan was constantly paying attention to each of her steps at the Chinese garden.
Her eyes turned gentle as she added, "Did you remember when we were walking to the restaurant this evening, and we walked through Mrs. Tong's garden?"
Father Li was folding a shirt in his hand. He nodded at her question, "En, what about it?"
Her head started to nod as she recalled, "The girl kept walking by my side, making sure that my steps on the stones were alright," Mother Li heaved a soft sigh, "She also noticed when my cup was empty, she would refill it with tea."
Mother Li opened her palm and started to count with her fingers, "Very pretty and pleasant to look at. Very smart, too. Her attitude and behavior are also very commendable," She paused to think about other things that she might have missed.
After a while, she closed up her palm, "I don't know what else I can ask for. I am very glad if she is willing to stand side by side with our son."
She grabbed the dress in her hands and held it close to her embrace while glancing to the side, "Dear, I think we have to talk to her Grandmother soon," Mother Li bit her lower lip gently, "we can't let our son to keep taking advantage of innocent, young girl; and also living in one roof with this girl without giving her a proper status."
"En," Father Li shook his head slowly and chuckled, "You take care of it, then." He handed the neatly folded shirt to Mother Li while adding, "Just so you know, our son has thought of every single thing even before you did."
Father Li gently patted her hand, "I will go prepare your bath now," his hands waved over the suitcase, "It's getting late; we will continue all of these tomorrow."
Even though the lightings inside the restaurant were not as bright as other places, it was enough for Shao Yan to finally be able to take a closer look at Mother Li.Her soft, black hair fell on her shoulder; framing her flawless face. She looked to be in her late fifties or maybe early sixties. But for a woman her age, Mother Li had a very healthy looking skin. She had enough glow on her cheek and her eyes were always smiling and warm towards her. Shao Yan who had been without a motherly love for a few years could not help but feel a little sad when she was reminded of her own birth mother."Yan Yan," Mother Li scooped another braised sea cucumber and put it on her plate, "have this one. This is very nutritious and good for your body."The whole night, Mother Li kept putting meat and vegetables on her plate; urging her to eat more. She also paid attention to what Shao Yan liked to eat. She noticed items that Shao Yan would pick up frequently and tried to register them in her memory so she could cook more of her favorite food in the future.Shao Yan tried to steal glances at Li Xiqing; she was sending him signals and pleading him to save her from his mother.Li Xiqing returned her glances. He finally picked up his chopsticks and reached forward."Ma, you should eat more, too," Li Xiqing scooped some vegetables and placed them on his mother's plate. He also picked up some braised tofu and steamed fish for her.Mother Li nodded eagerly at her son's filial act towards her and she went back to eat happily.Shao Yan silently sighed a relief in her heart; luckily Xiqing understood what she meant. But to her surprise, a second later, she saw another pair of chopsticks were placing more food on her plate, "Your favorite ginger chicken."Shao Yan looked at her plate, and she looked at the person sitting next to her; feeling speechless and surprised. She squinted and sent daggers with her eyes towards him; silently scolding him in her mind, 'Mister! I am about to become a little piggy here!'Li Xiqing ignored her accusing stare and picked up his own bowl to resume eating. He was hiding his smile as he bit into his food; pretending as if he did not understand anything she was thinking.Looking at the young woman in front of her eating with a good appetite, Mother Li nodded with satisfaction as she thought in her heart, 'Luckily, Yan Yan is not a picky person. All the grandchildren will be a good eater, then.'----------"Daddy, how does retirement life feel for you?" Mandy took another scoop of almond pudding into her mouth after she asked the question.Father Li was enjoying his mango pudding and smiled, "It is relaxing. I finally have the time to tend to my garden.""You know, your father has many new babies now," Mother Li chimed in. Looking at the children's questioning gazes, she continued, "We have healthy plants of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuces.""Oohh!" Mandy nodded while feeling amazed. Li Xiqing, who was drinking his tea silently on the side, also had a smile on his face.Shao Yan was surprised and at the same time, she was also impressed at his skill. When she was still alive, her mother had tried gardening in their small house before. Her mother and grandmother were taking care of some plants diligently. They looked so easy but she kept telling Shao Yan that gardening actually really required patience."You don't have to go to the hospital anymore?" Li Xiqing asked another question. Father Li scooped another pudding into his mouth while shaking his head, "Sometimes, Professor Johnson would call me and we talked about some interesting surgeries, but that is only when he needs some input to his cases."He placed his hand over Mother Li's palm on the table, "Besides, your mother is also there with me to spend time with. Her patients are not many anymore, so now both of us can start gardening and travel whenever we want to."Mother Li smiled back at him, before she remembered something and quickly turned her head towards Shao Yan, "Oh! That's right," Mother Li suddenly exclaimed, "Yan Yan, come over to our house with Xiqing tomorrow morning."And then, Mother Li stared at Li Xiqing and Mandy, "Come around eight tomorrow, we will have breakfast together.""Your father and I have some gifts for all of you, so make sure you come over bright and early!""En," Li Xiqing nodded and picked up his tea cup, "We will be there on time, don't worry."Mother Li nodded in satisfaction, and then turned her attention to Mandy, "Xilin, How is Yufeng doing? Singapore is very hot and humid, always reminding him to drink a lot of water."----------"So, dear, what do you think of Yan Yan?"Father Li had just stepped out of the bathroom from his shower and saw Mother Li was kneeling on the bedroom carpeted floor. An opened suitcase was in front of her and Mother Li was taking all the contents out and hung them in the dressing room."You don't have to do all of these now, take your time to tidy them up," Father Li did not answer her question and instead he knelt down next to her, and his hand reached inside the suitcase to help her."I like her a lot, you know," Mother Li continued while folding her dresses, "Very polite, and when she actually speaks, she is very smart." Her lips curved into a beautiful smile upon remembering when Shao Yan was constantly paying attention to each of her steps at the Chinese garden.Her eyes turned gentle as she added, "Did you remember when we were walking to the restaurant this evening, and we walked through Mrs. Tong's garden?"Father Li was folding a shirt in his hand. He nodded at her question, "En, what about it?"Her head started to nod as she recalled, "The girl kept walking by my side, making sure that my steps on the stones were alright," Mother Li heaved a soft sigh, "She also noticed when my cup was empty, she would refill it with tea."Mother Li opened her palm and started to count with her fingers, "Very pretty and pleasant to look at. Very smart, too. Her attitude and behavior are also very commendable," She paused to think about other things that she might have missed.After a while, she closed up her palm, "I don't know what else I can ask for. I am very glad if she is willing to stand side by side with our son."She grabbed the dress in her hands and held it close to her embrace while glancing to the side, "Dear, I think we have to talk to her Grandmother soon," Mother Li bit her lower lip gently, "we can't let our son to keep taking advantage of innocent, young girl; and also living in one roof with this girl without giving her a proper status.""En," Father Li shook his head slowly and chuckled, "You take care of it, then." He handed the neatly folded shirt to Mother Li while adding, "Just so you know, our son has thought of every single thing even before you did."Father Li gently patted her hand, "I will go prepare your bath now," his hands waved over the suitcase, "It's getting late; we will continue all of these tomorrow."
