When Xu Yinchen entered the house, the first thing he noticed was the smell. Something rich and savory drifted from the kitchen.
The second thing he noticed was the children.
All three of them were gathered in the living room, arranged around the wooden table with their notebooks open and pencils in hand.
Xu Shen sat upright, head bent over his homework. Xu Wei was beside him, gripping his pencil with great concentration. Even little Xu Hao had been propped up on his usual spot on the floor, playing with spoons in his hands.
They were, supposedly, studying.
Except that every single one of them was staring directly toward the kitchen, and one was drooling with a spoon in his mouth.
Xu Yinchen stood at the doorway and watched. Then Xu Shen, who noticed him entering, snapped his gaze back to his notebook immediately. Xu Wei followed half a second later. Xu Hao, who had no notebook to pretend with, simply blinked up at Xu Yinchen with wide innocent eyes.
Xu Yinchen was speechless at this scene and let out a low chuckle. He never thought his dark, gloomy house could also look bright with lights and people.
He removed his outer shirt and headed toward the kitchen in just his vest.
…..
Qin Lian had her hair wrapped in a bun with a hairpin; a few loose strands stuck to the side of her neck from the heat of the stove. She was stirring something in the clay pot when she heard his footsteps and turned.
"You're back." Her gaze dropped to the bag in his hand. "Did you bring the pork?"
"Here." He held it out.
She took it and checked inside, turning the pieces over. He had brought the best cuts, thick, well-marbled pork belly. No skimping. She had already noticed this about him; when it came to his family, he didn't cut corners.
She glanced back up. "Why didn't you bring the bones? And the intestines?"
Xu Yinchen frowned. "You don't need those."
"What do you mean, I don't need them?"
"They're the cheap parts. The unwanted parts." He crossed his arms. "Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll bring you the best cuts every time. You don't need to worry about the money."
Qin Lian stared at him for a moment, then let out a short laugh. "I'm not trying to save money. Pork bones make the broth richer. You simmer them long enough and the whole soup changes, and they're nutritious."
She set the bag down on the slab. "And intestines are delicious if you clean and cook them properly."
Xu Yinchen's expression shifted. How could intestines be delicious? They are smelly, and they didn't even taste good. It was the most discarded part at his farm. Restaurants didn't even take it.
Qin Lian caught it immediately. "Don't make that face."
"I didn't make a face."
"You did." She turned back to the stove. "I'm not going to feed you anything strange. I know how to prepare them well. From next time, bring everything, not just the good cuts. All the parts. Understood?"
He was quiet for a moment. Then, reluctantly, "Understood." He wanted to give her only the best, but what could he do when she asked for all the parts?
He moved toward the stove. "You should go outside and sit. I said I would cook tonight."
Qin Lian stepped sideways and blocked him.
He stopped, genuinely confused. "What?"
"You haven't taken a bath yet."
He looked at her with a wronged expression. "I washed my hands. And my legs at the farm—"
"You've been outside working all day." Her tone was patient but firm. "The children are here. If you go near food like this, you're bringing everything from outside straight into the kitchen." She pointed toward the stairs. "Go. Take a bath first. The food isn't going anywhere."
He opened his mouth.
"Go," she said again, already turning back to the pot.
Xu Yinchen stood there for a second longer. In the end, he couldn't say no to her and nodded. "Okay...I'll go. But I will do the dishes."
She smiled and nodded, "Sure thing. Now go."
He looked at her helplessly and left. He wasn't annoyed. Strangely, he wasn't annoyed at all. There was something about the way she ordered him around, direct and without ceremony, as though it were simply the natural thing to do, that felt more like home than anything had in a very long time.
…..
When Xu Yinchen came back downstairs in a faded t-shirt and his checked pajama trousers, the table was almost set.
Qin Lian was bringing dishes out of the kitchen. She turned to the children and said, "Everyone, now wash your hands and wipe them clean with the towel next to the basin. Also, bring your bowl and cutlery as well. Xu Wei, help Xu Hao. Since he is young, he can't do it himself, right?"
Xu Wei's chest immediately puffed out. "Yes! I will help him wash his hands and bring his bowl. As the elder brother, I have to take care of him."
Xu Shen didn't say anything, but he was also making sure both of them washed their hands properly.
Qin Lian chuckled at his big words and noticed the way all three were working together. She smiled and continued bringing dishes from the kitchen while the children scurried around to help.
Xu Yinchen paused on the last step.
The warm overhead light lit the table. Steam rose from the clay pot at the centre. The children moved in and out of the kitchen with small tasks, and Qin Lian moved among them quietly, keeping the whole thing running without fuss.
He suddenly realised how much this place had changed after she arrived. It was as if this dead place had gotten a life in it.
He walked over to where Qin Lian was arranging the table. "Sit in the chair. I'll get a proper one made tomorrow."
He had planned to make it today, but after what happened in the morning, all of his plans shifted.
Qin Lian looked up, a little surprised. She realised there were only 4 chairs and he had promised to make one for her today. In the chaos of the day, she had completely forgotten about the chair.
However, he didn't.
She nodded and sat without argument this time.
Xu Yinchen took the small and uncomfortable stool across from her and finally looked at what was on the table.
Braised pork belly, glossy and deep brown. Egg and tomato soup, bright and steaming. A plate of stir-fried greens. Heaped bowls of white rice.
He was speechless.
The noodles that morning had already been something. This was something else entirely. He had eaten in decent restaurants before, and none of them had produced something that looked and smelled quite like this.
Across the table, Xu Shen and Xu Wei had forgotten entirely about composure. Even Xu Hao, who could barely finish a small bowl on a good day, was staring at the pork belly with total intent.
"What are you all waiting for?" Qin Lian said, picking up her chopsticks. "Eat."
The children needed no further encouragement.
Qin Lian ladled soup into Xu Hao's bowl first, then gently began helping him eat, holding his spoon, guiding his small hand, making sure he actually swallowed before loading another bite.
Xu Yinchen watched her for a moment. "He can eat by himself."
"He's still learning." She didn't look up. "He spills half of it when he eats alone. I'm just making sure he eats enough. He can manage the pork belly himself. It's easier to eat with hands."
"Then I'll feed him the soup. You eat."
"You just came from work. Eat while it's hot. I'll eat after." She said while feeding him.
"I had buns in the evening. I'm not that hungry yet—"
"From next time," Xu Yinchen said quietly, "I'll feed him first. Then we eat together." He looked at her directly. "I don't want you working this hard and ending up with cold food."
Qin Lian went still.
It was such a small thing. The kind of thing that took less than ten seconds to say. But her hand had stopped moving, and for a moment she couldn't quite look at him.
She had spent most of her life doing things alone, managing alone, making do alone. She didn't know how to react to his considerate gestures.
She took a slow breath and smiled. "Whatever you say."
She turned back to Xu Hao and had just loaded another small spoonful when a pair of chopsticks appeared in front of her face.
A piece of braised pork belly, perfectly glazed.
"Eat it before it cools," Xu Yinchen said.
She turned to look at him.
He was already looking somewhere to the left of her face, his ears noticeably red. "I used your chopsticks," he added quickly. "They're clean."
Qin Lian pressed her lips together to keep from smiling too widely. She leaned forward and took the piece.
"Thank you," she said.
"Mm."
Xu Yinchen turned his attention back to his bowl and began eating with great focus, shoveling plain white rice with the energy of a man who had something very important to concentrate on.
At this point, even plain white rice was looking tasty to him.
Qin Lian watched him shovel plain white rice with great concentration, his ears still red, and quietly smiled to herself.