Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A Warm Dinner (Second Update)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
At that moment, Auntie Pang noticed the two young girls following behind Xue An. These two charming and cute little girls instantly won Auntie Pang’s affection.
“What beautiful young ladies! Xiao An, are these your…”
“My two daughters!” Xue An laughed.
“So beautiful! So adorable!” Auntie Pang’s face creased into a smile.
Xue Xiang and her sister sweetly called out, “Grandma!”
That title brought tears to the corners of Auntie Pang’s eyes, and she quickly opened a drawer, grabbing a handful of dried fruit to hand to Xue Xiang and her sister.
“You two, who is the older sister and who is the younger one?”
It seemed like everyone who met them would ask that question.
Xue Xiang giggled, “The one standing next to the older sister is the younger one!”
Her sister added, “The one standing next to the younger sister is the older one!” Auntie Pang laughed so hard tears came out, “Such clever little sprites!”
At this time, the few remaining diners were politely escorted out by Old Xie, who then dashed into the kitchen to start cooking with great fervor.
Meanwhile, Auntie Pang’s attention was drawn to Tang Xuan’er and Fan Mengxue.
The appearance of these two girls also took Auntie Pang’s breath away.
Then Auntie Pang pulled Xue An aside to a quieter spot and asked in a low voice, “Xiao An, which one of them is your wife?”
Xue An was somewhat bemused, “Neither of them!”
“What? What happened between you and your wife An Yan?” Auntie Pang asked, surprised.
Xue An sighed lightly, “Auntie Pang, An Yan is fine, but there are some things going on, so she hasn’t shown up yet. These two are both my friends!” Auntie Pang was somewhat skeptical.
At that moment, seeing that there were no outsiders in the restaurant, Fan Mengxue took off her mask.
Auntie Pang’s eyes widened instantly.
“This… isn’t this…”
Fan Mengxue smiled graciously, “Auntie, I’m Meng Xue!” Auntie Pang was flabbergasted. “Are you really that big star Fan Mengxue from the TV?”
Fan Mengxue nodded with a smile.
Auntie Pang was at a loss for words.
When she first laid eyes on Xue An, she could tell this young man was not ordinary.
Little did she expect that four years later, not only had Xue An returned, but he also brought along two stunning beauties.
One of which was the big star she saw on TV every day.
At that time, Fan Mengxue and Tang Xuan’er rolled up their sleeves, tied their hair back, and went into the kitchen to help.
Then, there was a clang from the kitchen.
Old Xie, who was focused on cooking, panicked and dropped the frying spoon upon seeing Fan Mengxue and Tang Xuan’er enter.
“Uncle Xie, let me do it!” said Fan Mengxue with a smile.
Meanwhile, Tang Xuan’er quickly got to work washing and chopping vegetables.
Old Xie was promptly shooed out of the kitchen.
Once outside, Old Xie still looked dazed.
It wasn’t until Auntie Pang knocked on his head with some exasperation that he finally came to his senses.
“You get dumbstruck by a pretty girl?”
“No, no, it’s just that… that girl just now, she looked so familiar.” “How could she not look familiar? Isn’t she your favorite star, Fan Mengxue?” Old Xie was shocked, “Really? I thought she just looked similar!”
“What did you think? It’s not like you don’t know who our Xiao An is!” Auntie Pang said with quite a bit of pride.
The dishes were quickly ready, filling the table.
Just the appearance and aroma alone were enough to make one’s mouth water.
Old Xie took a bite and immediately gave a thumbs up.
“Great skills!”
Fan Mengxue smiled slightly.
Having lived alone since childhood, she had long perfected her cooking skills.
After becoming a celebrity, she often sought advice from various renowned chefs. Now, her cooking skills were so advanced that even head chefs of regular hotels couldn’t compare.
Meanwhile, Tang Xuan’er carved a radish into two little rabbits and gave them to Xue Xiang and Xue Nian.
Looking at the lifelike little rabbits, Old Xie couldn’t help but exclaim, “Nice knife work! ”
Tang Xuan’er blushed and lowered her head.
Her knife skills came from her love of all sorts of trinkets, which she had figured out on her own.
Especially after An Yan left, she had to take care of the dietary and daily needs of the two little girls, often making little things to sell.
Surprisingly, they sold very well.
Old Xie also let it all out and took out a bottle of aged liquor that he had cherished for many years.
“Come on, Xiao An, today you and I won’t return until we’re plastered!”
Auntie Pang glared at Old Xie, “All you know is drinking; if you get Xiao An drunk, who’s going to take the girls home?”
Old Xie was put in a quite awkward position by Auntie Pang’s retort.
Xue An, however, laughed, “Auntie Pang, it’s okay, I’ll just have a little drink with Uncle Xie, it won’t cause any trouble!”
Xue An’s words were more effective than Old Xie’s, and Auntie Pang nodded, “It’s not that I’m trying to control you, Uncle Xie, but your health is getting worse every day, yet you still insist on drinking!” Xue An’s heart stirred, “Uncle Xie, let me have a look at your hand.” “What’s wrong?” Old Xie stretched out his hand.
Xue An placed his hand on the pulse point, sending a strand of spiritual essence into it.
After a moment, he let go of the hand, “Auntie Pang, Uncle Xie is fine, he’s just exhausted from years of hard work. I’ll prepare some medicine for Uncle Xie and for you later, guaranteeing you’ll live to a hundred!” Old Xie chuckled, “Xiao An, you know how to treat illnesses?”
“It’s passable, I can handle simple ones!”
Xue An decided that he would gather some medicinal herbs later, then concoct some Primordial Essence Elixir for Auntie Pang, Uncle Xie, and Xuan’er.
While it couldn’t grant immortality, living to over two hundred years old wasn’t a problem!
Everyone took their seats, but Xue An felt something was off and couldn’t help asking, “Auntie Pang, where’s Jingjing? Hasn’t she come back yet?”
At the mention of that name, worry appeared on Auntie Pang’s face.
Old Xie sighed in frustration, “Don’t get me started on your disappointing sister!”
“What happened?”
“Ever since she started high school, Jingjing has changed. All day long she’s dolled up like a doll and hangs out with a bunch of no-good boys. Your Uncle Xie has beaten her a few times out of anger, but it was useless,” Auntie Pang said with a troubled face.
“Let’s not talk about her now, during a happy moment,” Old Xie said sternly, cutting off the subject.
Xie Jingjing was Old Xie’s daughter. Because she was born when he was older, Old Xie was exceedingly fond of her.
Xue An still remembered how, when he first came to the restaurant, a junior high school-aged Xie Jingjing used to cling to him all the time.
Back then, Xie Jingjing had a plain student haircut and a smile that revealed lovely crescent moon-shaped eyes.
And Xie Jingjing would often say naively to Xue An, “Xiao An brother, when I grow up, I definitely want to find a boy just like you!”
Even though three thousand years had passed, Xue An had never forgotten these memories.
“Uncle Xie, cheers!” Xue An took the initiative to pick up a cup and offered Old Xie a toast first.
Old Xie drained his cup in one gulp, and his face relaxed slightly.
Just then, someone raised the rolled-down shutter door, and a girl wearing tight shorts, with her hair tied in twin ponytails and fiery red lipstick walked in..