Chapter 146 - 145: Brother-in-law Likes to Drink Milk

Chapter 146: Chapter 145: Brother-in-law Likes to Drink Milk

After Lin Yanwan came out of the bedroom, Lin Xiaoman would occasionally give her sister a strange look. ’Brother-in-law is so big already. Does he still need Big Sis to feed him milk personally?’

"Xiaxia, if you’re not busy, go to the store and buy some drinks," Xia Shanshan’s voice called from outside the door.

"Aunt Xia, I’ll go. He’s a bit busy right now."

"He’s cooped up in his room all day. I have no idea what he’s so busy with."

Xia Shanshan muttered to herself before looking up at her daughter-in-law. Taking a twenty-yuan bill from her bag and handing it over, she smiled. "Alright then. I’ll have to trouble you, Yanwan. The supermarket is about ten meters to the left as you exit the residential complex. Just buy whatever you’d like to drink."

"I have money, Aunt Xia."

"I can’t let you spend your own money."

Xia Shanshan forcefully stuffed the money into her daughter-in-law’s hand.

"Big Sis, I’m going too!" Lin Xiaoman turned off the TV and hopped down from the sofa.

At the supermarket, Lin Yanwan was still hesitating between Coke, Sprite, an orange soda, or a grape drink, when she saw Xiao Man struggling to carry a large bottle of fresh milk from the refrigerated section.

"Xiao Man, you want to drink milk?"

"It’s because Brother-in-law likes to drink it," Xiao Man said with resounding certainty, her voice crisp and clear.

?

Lin Yanwan was full of questions. ’Jiang Xia likes to drink milk? How come I never knew that?’

"Really?"

"Of course!" Lin Xiaoman nodded emphatically, her tone exceptionally certain.

’Brother-in-law likes milk. Even though it’s different from Big Sis’s, cow’s milk is still milk.’

’Big Sis is so silly. She just fed him, but she turned around and forgot.’

"In that case, let’s just buy the milk." Lin Yanwan handed over the twenty-yuan bill, and the cashier gave her eight yuan in change.

’In any case, fresh milk is better than carbonated drinks. It’s nutritious, too.’

Back home, Xia Shanshan had already steamed the rice and was busy in the kitchen. Lin Yanwan put the fresh milk in the fridge and went to the kitchen to help.

"What are you doing in here? Go on, get out. The kitchen is full of cooking fumes. Go to the living room with Xiao Man and watch some TV. Just relax and wait for the meal," Xia Shanshan said.

"Aunt Xia, please let me help. Uncle Jiang will be back soon. If you do the stir-frying and I do the prep work, we’ll finish faster." Lin Yanwan took an apron from a hook on the wall behind the kitchen door and tied it on.

"Hmm... alright then. Can you wash these potatoes, eggplants, and green peppers? Do you know how to roll-cut them?"

"I do."

Lin Yanwan picked up a kitchen knife and expertly cut a potato into irregular chunks. The knife landed on the cutting board with a CHOP CHOP CHOP sound.

Xia Shanshan turned to glance over a few times. The girl wasn’t fumbling around, unsure of where to make her cuts. ’Looks like she cooks quite often at home.’

She remembered Jiang Xia telling her that his wife’s family owned a factory. They were well-off, yet she didn’t act like a spoiled rich girl at all. ’I have to admit,’ she thought, ’that boy of mine really found himself a good wife.’

She smiled knowingly. After the water in the pot came to a boil, she placed the prepared silver carp onto the steamer rack.

The lunch was quite lavish: steamed fish with fermented black beans, braised prawns, and red-braised pork ribs. For vegetable dishes, there was a sautéed mix of potato, eggplant, and green pepper, as well as fish-fragrant eggplant. To top it all off, there was a bowl of tomato and meatball soup. It was a true feast for the senses, perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

The rich aroma of the food filled the air. Lin Xiaoman looked at the feast-laden table and had already gulped several times. She was once again certain: Teacher Xia’s cooking was way better than her mom’s!

"Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law, time to eat~" Lin Xiaoman pushed open the door to his room and ran up to Jiang Xia.

"Oh, is it ready already?"

He glanced at the time. It was already 12:30 PM. He’d been so focused, drawing for an hour without any external distractions, that he’d managed to finish more than ten storyboard panels.

His little sister-in-law held onto the desk, craning her neck on her tiptoes to see what he was drawing. Her eyes were full of confusion. "Brother-in-law, are you drawing Cat and Mouse? It looks... really weirdly drawn."

"This is called a storyboard. It’s used to show the animator how to draw a shot. When countless shots like this are put together, they become the animation we’re familiar with," Jiang Xia explained with a smile. He didn’t expect his sister-in-law to fully understand, but at least she’d get the general idea.

"Ohh!" His sister-in-law nodded, pretending to understand, a look of admiration on her face.

"Come on, let’s go eat."

A few minutes before they ate, Jiang Wende came home, bringing the summer heat in with him. The family gathered around the square table. Just like last time, the older couple each sat on one side, Xiao Man sat on another, and Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan squeezed together on the remaining side.

"Where are the drinks you just bought? Bring them out and fill everyone’s glasses. We have something to celebrate today. Xiao Man got first place in her grade on her final exams! That deserves praise. Keep up the good work! A round of applause!" Xia Shanshan said with a wide smile, clapping her hands.

The others also smiled and applauded, while a blushing Xiao Man looked a bit embarrassed.

"Thank you, Teacher Xia! I’ll definitely keep working hard!"

"Mom, they don’t put scores on the final exams anymore. How do you know Xiao Man was first in her grade?" Jiang Xia asked with a laugh.

"They don’t give scores to spare the feelings of the parents and students. Besides, in the entire first grade, only a few kids got perfect scores in both language and math. Strictly speaking, Xiao Man is tied for first with them."

Xia Shanshan looked at Lin Xiaoman and smiled. "But Teacher Xia can guarantee that Xiao Man is the only one who received an honor certificate and the top-tier scholarship."

"Ehehe?"

The little sister-in-law blinked, a grin stretching nearly from ear to ear.

Lin Yanwan took the fresh milk out of the fridge. She first poured a glass for her father-in-law and mother-in-law, then poured one for her little sister.

"Did you hear that, Xiao Man? You have to study hard and do your best in the future so you don’t disappoint Teacher Xia’s expectations," she said.

"Mhm! Of course I will!" Lin Xiaoman nodded vigorously.

"Uh... why did you buy milk?" Jiang Xia stared at his glass, dumbfounded. ’What happened to the drinks we were supposed to have?’

Xia Shanshan shot her son a glare. "Don’t be a loudmouth! Xiao Man likes it, so that’s what they bought. What’s wrong with milk? Isn’t milk better than those carbonated drinks you like? It’s so nutritious, and it helps you grow taller."

Jiang Xia was speechless. ’Well, milk isn’t terrible,’ he thought, ’it just feels a little weird to drink fresh milk with a family lunch. Of course, if we were having hot pot, I’d definitely go for a peanut milk drink or a yogurt drink.’

"That’s not it, Teacher Xia. I bought it because... because Brother Jiang Xia likes to drink milk. I saw it with my own two eyes~" Lin Xiaoman said with a look of utter conviction.

"Huh?"

Jiang Xia froze for a second. ’It’s true that I like milk, but not *this* kind of milk.’

’Don’t tell me...’

His heart skipped a beat. ’Did this little girl actually see something?’

The couple shared a look of perfect understanding before quickly looking away. A charming, wine-like blush quietly crept up to the tips of her ears.

"Ahem, um, right. Fresh milk is delicious. It’s nutritious, has a great texture, helps you grow taller, and it’s good for your brain."

Saying that, Jiang Xia immediately chugged his glass.

Under the table, a mortified Lin Yanwan gave his leg a hard squeeze.

’What nonsense is this guy spouting now?’

...