Chapter 36: 036: Grandma Hialun''s 83rd Birthday (2)

    After tidying up in her own room, Yue Xuexia descended to the kitchen in search of food. However, she was shocked to see her parents and younger sister, Yue Ruxia, covered in flour and white, sugary icing, as well as a half-made reddish chiffon cake on the table, where she saw cut strawberries in the hands of her parents and sister, indicating that they were preparing a cake. Yue Xuexia stared in shock for a brief moment, taking in the strange-colored chiffon cake and the wine in her father''s hand.

    "Did you put wine in the cake?" asked Yue Xuexia.

    Mama Yue said, "Well~ by accident. While I was stirring all the ingredients for the chiffon cake, your papa slipped on the floor and poured a bit on the bowl. It''s a waste to throw it away so we still put it in the oven and ended up having this reddish chiffon cake."

    "Hm~ it does not look bad. It looks a bit pretty. But if there''s wine on the bread the icing should be made of more sugar. No, let''s use white chocolate to cover the wine taste or it wouldn''t be sweet," said Yue Xuexia.

    Yue Ruxia''s eyes brightened when she heard what her sister had said, "Wine, White chocolate, and strawberries. Gulps it sounds delicious."

    "By the way, why are you making cakes so early in the morning? Where''s lunch?" asked Yue Xuexia, who was making white chocolate icing on another pot, stirring it slowly until the chocolate melted.

    Papa Yue said, "Your mom hasn''t made lunch yet. We want to practice how to make the cake according to your recipes, but it took a long time to make all those measurements. We made only this one with wine."

    "Practice? You want to make a cake. I can make it for you guys. What do you want to eat?" asked Yue Xuexia.

    Yue Ruxia said, "No, Dajie. It''s for grandma''s birthday tomorrow. Ma promised that our family will bring cakes and desserts for tomorrow''s party."

    "Cakes and desserts for everyone in the Xia Family? If so, then we need to make a lot. There are a lot of children on that side. Let''s make it tonight and put it in the fridge. I have a meeting tomorrow and could only go in the afternoon," said Yue Xuexia.

    Mama Yue asked, "Can''t you postpone it, Xue''er?"

    "I wanted to when I remembered Granny''s birthday, but... The other side is from Japan. They''ve already made preparations. So... I can''t send them away. Don''t worry. I will make sure to arrive in the afternoon. You guys can go ahead and wait for me there," said Yue Xuexia.

    Papa Yue said, "If it''s like that then there is no need to postpone your meeting, just come as soon as you finish it. Your grandmother will definitely look for you tomorrow."

    "I know, Pa. While I''m at it, I''ll buy some gifts for granny too," said Yue Xuexia.

    Mama Yue said, "Then... I''d make lunch for now. What do you guys want to eat?"

    "Hotpot," Papa Yue, Yue Xuexia, and Yue Ruxia collectively answered.

    Mama Yue said, "Then I''ll make two pots. One for meat and one for seafood."@@@@

    "I will help you prepare the ingredients," said Papa Yue.

    "Ma, give me a non-spicy one. Just a quarter would do," said Yue Xuexia. "Well~ I''ll invite Yangyang to eat lunch with us then and ask him to help us with baking at night. We need to make a lot after all."

    "What should we do for dinner?" asked Yue Ruxia.

    Yue Xuexia said, "Takeouts?"

    "Let''s get some lasagna and pizza," Yue Ruxia said.

    Papa Yue asked, "Are you going tomorrow with Xue''er?"

    After hearing Mama Yue''s remarks about the delicacies of her hometown, Little Taiyang nods his head once more. He knows he cannot possibly miss all the delicious food, and he would ask Xuexue to bring him some. However, when Little Taiyang nodded, Papa Yue could not help but laugh at his amusing appearance. Eventually, he escorted Little Taiyang to the kitchen to clean and eat some snacks, even pulling out a bottle of wine.

    Since Mama and Papa Yue always woke up early, it was not difficult for them to prepare a pair of early meals for Yue Xuexia and Little Taiyang. The following morning, Yue Xuexia left the house with Little Taiyang.

    Little Taiyang was dressed in the spare charcoal gray suit he brought with him last night, while Yue Xuexia was dressed in a white Korean-style casual temperament cape blazer coat and pants set. It was sleeve clothing with an attached cape paired with long white suit pants with a small slit at the front edge. The Yue couple sends the two out. This time, Yue Xiajie decided not to use her Rolls-Royce Dawn and instead chose to travel in her new Bugatti La Voiture Noire, reasoning that she would need speed to follow the rest of the family to the countryside following her meeting.

    While Yue Xuexia was bidding farewell to her parents from the passenger seat of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, Little Taiyang was in the driver''s seat.

    Yue Xuexia said, "We will get going now, Ma, Pa. I promise I will definitely be there before or after lunch."

    "Um, Xiao Yang, be careful on the road," said Papa Yue.

    Little Taiyang said, "I will be, Sir Yue."

    "There is no need to come over in a hurry. Don''t step on the gas just so you can come soon. Drive normally on the road. We will wait for you," said Mama Yue.

    Only then did the two drive away. At this time, the two other daughters of the Yue family are still asleep.

    Papa Yue said, "Shall we go back in? I am actually feeling hungry now. Ma, what''s for breakfast?"

    "Breakfast your ass! Hmp! What do you want to eat?" said Mama Yue as they went back inside the mansion.

    ---

    On the other hand, at the countryside...

    Currently caring for Grandma Xia Hialun, Madam Su Surui, the eldest of all the sisters and the second of the twelve siblings, owns a small mansion. Her husband died in battle, and all of her children are grown and on their own, so Madam Su has all the time necessary to take care of Grandma Hialun. Grandma Hialun was relaxing in the fresh air of the house''s vegetable garden, while Madam Su, her eldest daughter, used to be a professor at a university.

    Madam Su smiled at Grandma Hialun and said, "Mother, are you excited? Your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will all see you today for your 83rd birthday. Suli and her family would be coming over as well."

    Suli. Xia Suli is Mama Yue''s maiden name before she married Papa Yue. She is the youngest of the 12 siblings, and the late Madam Xing Suya is the 8th among the 12 children of Grandma Hialun.

    Grandma Hialun spoke, "Lili? That''s good. I haven''t seen her and her daughters for years. How about Suya?"

    As expected, Madam Su did not know what to say when she was asked about Xing Suya''s death—she just chose to smile and change the subject. Xing Suya passed away from breast cancer two years ago, and none of her siblings dared to tell Grandma about it. Xing Suya was the child who looked after her the most before she decided to go back to her hometown.

    Madam Su said, "Mother, Yaya is not feeling well lately. You know that, right? But her children will be coming, except for the eldest to look after her."

    "Hm~ if she is not feeling... It is better if she... stayed home and rested," said Grandma Hialun, but her eyes were dazed and no one knew what she was thinking about.

    Madam Su said, "It would be a bit too noisy around the house later. I hope Mother will enjoy herself on her birthday."