CHAPTER 373: BREAKFAST SPILLED AT 358

Ye Binyi was frail and afraid of the cold. This morning, she wrapped herself in a light gray coat and came down the stairs behind Father Jiang. Father Jiang had to go to the municipal office for work, and Ye Binyi had recently taken leave but would return to her university job in a few days. Her work was quite relaxed, as she was a history teacher at Kyoto University.

Aunt Zhang had already warmed up breakfast and laid it out.

Ye Binyi hadn’t been in a good mood since last night, and hearing her son say he would take Tian Sangsang out for a walk made her even more displeased. Now sitting at the table, looking at the array of dishes, exquisite and appetizing, it was quite appealing.

Father Jiang had taken the first bite, "Today’s breakfast is different, this dish is delicious, Binyi, you should try some." He served Ye Binyi a piece of meat.

Ye Binyi took a sip of millet porridge, the light fragrance of the millet lingered in her mouth, warming her heart. She ate slowly, very gracefully.

Having grown accustomed to Aunt Zhang’s cooking, Ye Binyi praised, "Aunt Zhang, today’s meal has a unique flavor." Even the usual sour cabbage stew with noodles tasted better than usual.

Aunt Zhang hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell the truth, "The Young Madam specially prepared it."

Almost as soon as the words were out, Ye Binyi put down her chopsticks, her face indifferent.

"This was made by Tian Sangsang?"

"Yes, she got up early and stayed in the kitchen for quite a while, I watched her myself." Aunt Zhang tried to speak well of Tian Sangsang.

Ye Binyi replied coldly, "Aunt Zhang, throw it all away."

Aunt Zhang was startled but stepped forward.

Father Jiang tried to advise, "Sangsang made it, and I found it quite good. Why throw it away and waste it?"

"You eat yours, I’ll discard mine." Ye Binyi glanced at him.

Father Jiang’s elegant expression almost collapsed, but he obeyed, setting down his chopsticks and nodding to Aunt Zhang, "Then throw it away." In their household, Ye Binyi always had the final say, and he was ever eager to please her.

With this, Ye Binyi was satisfied and instructed, "Aunt Zhang, only the food you cook will be eaten at home. If Tian Sangsang tries to enter the kitchen again, stop her."

"Alright," Aunt Zhang replied.

"Okay, prepare another breakfast," Ye Binyi waved her hand.

When Aunt Zhang entered the kitchen, Ye Binyi sneered, "She’s got some nerve, finding out what I like to eat and even bribing Aunt Zhang. She must have pestered your son to find out, doing her homework to please me, but I’m not buying it."

Father Jiang looked at his wife’s delicate but pale profile, sighing silently to himself. The household was about to become unsettled again.

**

Tian Sangsang strolled around the neighborhood with Jiang Jinghuai, familiarizing herself with the area. Nearing noon, the family returned home together, chatting and laughing.

The house was quite quiet; the living room was empty.

"You guys go upstairs first." Tian Sangsang recalled the breakfast and intended to quietly ask Aunt Zhang. She felt confident in her cooking, and hopefully, they were satisfied. The thought brought her a mix of nervousness and slight delight. While she had few skills, perhaps her culinary abilities could win her mother-in-law’s favor.

As the saying goes, the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

"Mom, I’m done eating." Meng Shuyan wanted to take out the trash.

"I’ll do it." Tian Sangsang took the wooden skewer from the candied hawthorn from his hands and handed Jiang Jinghuai some bags, "Find a paper towel and wipe his mouth when you go up."

"Alright." Jiang Jinghuai’s hands were full, and with the additional bags, he had both hands occupied.

Accompanied by Meng Shuyan to the study, at that moment, Ye Binyi was also in the study.

Tian Sangsang looked around for the trash can, but instead saw Aunt Zhang emerging from the kitchen, apron-clad, carrying none other than the trash can!

"Aunt Zhang." Tian Sangsang called gently, smiling as she approached.

Aunt Zhang’s expression was unnatural, eyeing the trash can in her hands with a desire to retreat. The morning had been spent disposing of the food at the madam’s request, cooking another meal, washing dishes, watering the garden, tidying up the downstairs, and preparing ingredients for the afternoon, only now finding time to take out the trash.

Who would have thought, just about to dump the trash and...

"I’m just taking out the trash." Her actions were slower than Tian Sangsang’s, who had already discarded her items into the trash can and saw its contents.

She froze, blinking blankly.

The array of colors was a visual shock.

Her heart suddenly lurched, as if stabbed by something sharp, a piece carved out.

The mix of cucumber, meat slices, egg, tomato, fish among the discarded contents, unmistakably her breakfast.

Aunt Zhang’s gaze carried sympathy and sorrow; she could clearly see from her angle the Young Madam’s face turning pale from its original rosy hue, the tightly pressed lips, the tears in her eyes.

Wanting to offer comfort but fearing overstepping, as the Young Madam had no real faults, it was the madam that was...

Tian Sangsang took a deep breath, not daring to ask for reasons. She casually pulled a smile, "You go ahead and take out the trash." Saying this, she suppressed her inner turmoil and hurried upstairs.

"Where did you go to play?" Ye Binyi softly asked her son and grandson, her gaze gentle.

"To many places, even XX Gate Square to see the flag raising." Meng Shuyan lifted his bright black eyes, chuckling, "Grandma, mommy bought you clothes too."

Ye Binyi lovingly patted his head, "Then Grandma should thank your mommy properly. Someday Grandma will take you to visit the university, it’s full of smart older students."

Meng Shuyan nodded obediently, showing a strong desire to go.

Jiang Jinghuai suddenly called out, "Mom," looking at her, "Was the breakfast tasty?"

Ye Binyi nodded, "Not bad, Sangsang made it, right? Aunt Zhang told me. The meals were appetizing, I ate quite a bit more. Your dad liked it even more."

Standing dazed at the door, Tian Sangsang happened to hear this. If it were true, then how to explain the trash can full of food? Did mother-in-law really eat a lot?

She mustered the courage to enter, smiling, "Since Mom likes it, I’ll cook more often, or take over daily meals."

After speaking, she closely observed Ye Binyi’s expression.

Indeed, Ye Binyi’s face stiffened slightly, she said, "How could that work, you’re my daughter-in-law, not the housemaid. You shouldn’t spend too much time in the kitchen, Aunt Zhang’s cooking is enough. If all your time is spent cooking, it will delay your work."

Tian Sangsang paused.

"By the way, Sangsang, where did you work before? Did you graduate high school? Our school library happens to be short-staffed, it’s quite a leisurely job, you could stay with me, and I can look after you."

"Mom," Jiang Jinghuai said plainly, "Sangsang is fine at home looking after Yanyan. She has a small business; these things aren’t urgent."

"I hadn’t thought it through." Mother Jiang shook her head, "Yanyan is still young, it’s best to wait until he starts school to discuss work."