"Alright, the dumplings are ready. Don't just stand there, let's eat first. We can talk while we eat," Aunt Wang said, having just finished cooking the dumplings.
Aunt Wang's words immediately lightened the atmosphere, which had been solemn moments before.
"Eat first. After you've eaten, we'll see how I'm going to deal with you. I haven't disciplined you these past few days, so you've forgotten who you are, haven't you? You're undisciplined all day long. If you keep acting like this, I'll send you and your Brother Hao to the countryside for a few years of training," Uncle Sun said with a serious face.
This scared Sun Chaoshu, who had everything he wanted to eat and play with in Beijing, and didn't have to work. He certainly didn't want to go to some troublesome countryside to participate in construction.
Aunt Wang couldn't stand it anymore. "The child just got back, and you're scowling, scaring who? This isn't your office; don't treat everyone like a criminal. Chao Shu, go sit with your Brother Hao. Yue Yue, come sit with Mom."
"A doting mother spoils her child. Look what you've turned Chao Shu into. He's idle all day, doesn't go to the work arranged for him, and just hangs out with his bad friends. Look at Xiao Hao; he started begging to support himself at six years old."
Ye Hao couldn't stand it and quickly interjected, "Uncle Sun, don't be angry. Aunt Wang is kind-hearted. My Aunt Wang is the kindest person in the world. And don't criticize Chao Shu. Chao Shu probably hasn't found something he likes yet. Once he finds something he likes, he won't be like this." As he spoke, he quickly winked at Sun Chaoshu.
"Yes, yes, yes, my Brother Hao is right. I just haven't found something I like to do. I don't like the work you arranged for me at the police station, organizing documents at all," Sun Chaoshu replied, his will to survive exploding.
Ye Hao also said at this point, "Me begging to support myself at six years old, that was out of necessity. I didn't want to beg either. I also wanted to be able to eat as soon as I got home every day, but I had no other choice, did I? I hadn't met a mother as good as Aunt Wang. If I had such a good mother, I definitely wouldn't have gone begging to support myself."
"Alright, everyone, if you don't eat, the dumplings will get cold," Aunt Wang said, unable to watch any longer.
Ye Hao gestured towards the dumplings, then looked at Uncle Sun's bowl. Sun Chaoshu immediately understood.
He picked up a dumpling and put it in Uncle Sun's bowl. "Dad, eat the dumplings. My mom's dumplings are absolutely the best in Beijing. You won't find dumplings this delicious even at the Beijing Grand Hotel."
Watching Sun Chaoshu's flattery skills, Ye Hao thought it was quite impressive, hitting two birds with one stone.
However, Sun Youde still maintained a stern face.
"Aunt Wang, why hasn't the crucian carp soup prepared today been brought out yet?" Ye Hao noticed the atmosphere seemed a bit off and quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Oh dear, look at my memory. I almost forgot the most important fish!" With that, Aunt Wang went to bring out the fish soup and steamed fish.
"Xiao Hao, eat, don't be shy, just treat it like your own home. Come try this fish meat and fish soup. Taste your Aunt Wang's cooking and see if it suits your taste."
"Thank you, Aunt Wang, I can serve myself," Ye Hao said, quickly taking the ladle as Aunt Wang was about to serve him soup.
"Don't be shy, just treat it like your own home."
"These two fish were caught by Xiao Hao this afternoon in the Hucheng River. Others might fish for days and not catch fish this big, but our Xiao Hao caught two in just one afternoon," Aunt Wang said to Uncle Sun and the others.
This made Ye Hao a little embarrassed, as the fish were taken from his spatial dimension, not caught by him.
Hearing this, Sun Chaoshu couldn't sit still. "Brother Hao, how did you catch them? That's amazing! I used to go fishing in the Hucheng River often, but I never caught anything this big. You have to teach me tomorrow; I want to go catch some too."
"I'll go too, I'll go too," Sun Chaoyue also quickly shouted.
"Yue Yue, why are you joining in the fun? You're a girl; you're not allowed to play by the river, and certainly not to go into the river to catch fish," Aunt Wang glared at Sun Chaoyue, who immediately quieted down.
It was clear that in this family, Sun Chaoshu feared Uncle Sun, and Sun Chaoyue feared Aunt Wang.
"Chao Shu, don't ask your Brother Hao to teach you. Neither of you are allowed to go fishing in the Hucheng River; the riverbank is too dangerous," Aunt Wang said worriedly.
"Mom, you haven't seen the Hucheng River lately. It's been dry for the past two years; the Hucheng River is almost out of water. What danger is there? Tomorrow, I'll go fishing in the Hucheng River with my Brother Hao," Sun Chaoshu quickly explained.
"Alright, then you two still need to be careful by the river. Chao Shu, look after your Brother Hao."
"Got it, Mom."
The family enjoyed the meal in harmony.
This was Ye Hao's first time experiencing such a family meal atmosphere, which filled him with longing for kinship.
Half-grown boys can eat their fathers out of house and home.
These two half-grown boys, plus a burly Uncle Sun, managed to completely devour the dumplings Aunt Wang made and a steamed fish.
As for Sun Chaoyue, after two bowls of fish soup and a bowl of dumplings, she was so full she collapsed into her chair, not wanting to move.
Aunt Wang looked at Sun Chaoyue, a smile playing on her lips, and, after flicking her forehead, began clearing the dishes.
Seeing this, Ye Hao also quickly got up to help Aunt Wang clear the table.
"Xiao Hao, sit down, I'll take care of it."
Before Aunt Wang could say more, Ye Hao had already cleared the dishes and chopsticks from the table and was about to wash them, but Aunt Wang stopped him.
"You and Chao Shu are both young; you can chat together. You two go talk, and I'll wash the dishes."
"Brother Hao, come sit. My mom can wash the dishes," Sun Chaoshu also said from the side.
Ye Hao then stopped being modest and sat back down in his chair.
"Alright, Xiao Hao, you talk with Chao Shu for now. There have been a lot of Enemy Spies recently, so I'm going back to the office to check," Uncle Sun said, having some business to attend to, and left first.
"Old Sun, be careful on the road," Aunt Wang reminded him.
"Mom, I'm taking Brother Hao to my room. I'll get to know my Brother Hao better," Sun Chaoshu said, and without waiting for Aunt Wang's reply, he dragged Ye Hao towards his room.
"Aunt Wang, I'll go to Chao Shu's room then."
"Alright, don't play too late, and go to bed early."
"Got it, Mom," Sun Chaoshu replied quickly.
Upon entering Sun Chaoshu's room, Ye Hao found it to be about the same size as his own, with a desk beneath the window.
Against the inner wall was a single bed, next to which was a wardrobe with a full-length mirror on its door.
Then there was a bookshelf by the door.
The room was simple and tidy. Ye Hao wasn't sure if Aunt Wang or Sun Chaoshu himself had tidied it, but he guessed it was ninety percent Aunt Wang.
What Ye Hao didn't know was that after he left the main room, Aunt Wang asked Uncle Sun, "Old Sun, how is it? Any problems?"
"I started investigating after you told me this morning, and I asked many people. For now, I haven't found any problems. Let him stay here; if there's a problem, it's easier to deal with when he's in sight than when he's outside. Pay more attention during this time."