Chapter 2655 - 2630: The Taste of Home

Gao Yang stood at the door with Yelena’s arm in his, and Natalia also took off her apron, standing beside Gao Yang and Yelena.

As the Rolls-Royce stopped at the gate, Gao Yang quickly stepped forward to open the car door, then smiled at Yarebin, saying, "Welcome to my humble abode, my teacher."

Yarebin first reached out with his cane and declined Gao Yang’s support, getting out of the car on his own. After taking a look at Gao Yang’s house, he made a funny face at Gao Yang and laughed, "I thought you’d be living in a palace."

Gao Yang laughed, "Maybe in a few years, I really will live in a palace, but not right now. Teacher, let me introduce you. You’ve already met my fiancée. This is Natalia, Mrs. Glolov, Yelena’s mother, and of course, my future mother-in-law, so to speak."

Yarebin extended his hand toward Natalia and nodded slightly, saying, "Pleased to meet you, madam."

Natalia shook hands with Yarebin, smiling elegantly, "Pleased to meet you, Yarebin. We’ve already prepared borscht and beef at home. Gao said you love braised beef, authentic Russian flavor."

Gao Yang immediately said, "I assure you, my mother-in-law isn’t bragging."

With a hearty laugh, Gao Yang pointed to Glewatov, saying, "This is Glewatov. Unfortunately, many people couldn’t make it today, but please make yourself at home. Come in, and we can talk slowly inside."

Gao Yang welcomed everyone into the house and directly led them to the dining room, as it was already late for dinner because of Yarebin’s exploration after getting off the plane.

Everyone took their seats one after another, but Joseph stayed in the living room, standing at the entrance. Gao Yang impatiently shouted, "Joseph, come and eat with us. There are no outsiders here, so sit down."

After calling Joseph over, Gao Yang turned to Yarebin with a smile, saying, "Try this. I hope you like it."

Borscht, black bread, pickles, and braised beef—quite simple fare, just a few common Russian home dishes, placed in front of Yarebin one after another.

Yarebin smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "I’m actually a bit hungry, so don’t stand on ceremony, everyone, please."

While eating, Gao Yang felt that Yarebin seemed somewhat restrained. Although Yarebin was eating a simple home-cooked meal, his every move was elegant and polite, as if he were attending a state banquet rather than having a meal at home.

Glewatov raised his glass to Natalia with a smile, saying, "The taste is excellent—so familiar, the taste of home. Thank you, madam."

Natalia smiled, "I’m glad you like it."

Yarebin, sitting beside Grewatov, hesitated for a moment, then turned slightly and whispered in Czech, "Is this the taste of home?"

Glewatov felt a bit melancholic and replied softly in Czech, "Yes, the taste of home, Captain. You’ve become a bit too formal."

Yarebin nodded, then raised his glass with a smile, saying, "Ah, how delicious, how comforting. To the taste of home."

Czech is a West Slavic branch of the Slavic languages, the most different from Russian among the Slavic languages. Basically, those who can understand Russian cannot understand Czech.

Yarebin chose a lesser-known language to whisper to Glewatov because he didn’t want others to understand what he was saying.

Yarebin knew everything, understood everything, except he didn’t know what the taste of home was.

After making a somewhat peculiar toast with everyone, Yarebin continued to speak softly in Czech to Glewatov, "But the taste of this soup is different from your home’s taste, so why do you say it’s the taste of home?"

Grewatov whispered, "The taste of home emphasizes the home, not the flavor, Captain. A restaurant can’t reproduce this taste. You should relax a bit, like eating in your own dormitory. You’re being too formal now."

Yarebin instinctively adjusted his shirt collar and said softly, "I’m not wearing a tie. I don’t think I’m too serious and formal, okay? What should I do? This is Gao’s home. I don’t want to... I don’t want to feel like I’m on a mission."

Yarebin can eat like a normal person at home, but it’s just an imitation, a simulation, and Yarebin doesn’t want to do that.

Grewatov whispered, "Just eat however you feel comfortable, really. Eating at Gao’s home doesn’t require much thought. The taste of home, it’s just, it’s just, it’s just... Sorry, it’s hard for me to describe accurately. It’s just eating in the most relaxed way that brings the taste of home—that familiar feeling, familiar taste."

Yarebin whispered, "Stop, the more you explain, the more confused I get. Okay, I think I know what to do now. Let’s just be. We’re being too rude."

Grewatov mumbled softly, "You don’t actually need to care too much about understanding..."

Indeed, the two of them murmuring continuously did appear somewhat unusual. Gao Yang really wanted to know what Yarebin and Glewatov were discussing, but unfortunately, he truly couldn’t understand.

The only thing Gao Yang could sense was that Yarebin was genuinely very restrained, a bit too serious and formal.

Poor Yarebin, he didn’t even know what a real family meal was. Perhaps he tried at Grewatov’s home, but it was clear that Yarebin had not truly understood what the taste of home was during his short time at Grewatov’s home.

Yarebin put down the soup spoon, looked around at the others, and after realizing everyone had fallen silent and was looking at him, Yarebin suddenly pointed to the vodka on the table, laughing, "Give me a shot of vodka, just a small one."

Gao Yang picked up a small vodka glass, poured a shot from the bottle, and placed it in front of Yarebin. After another moment’s hesitation, Yarebin suddenly reached into the pickle dish, took a bite of a pickle, and then downed the vodka in one gulp.

"Sorry, everyone. I just wanted to drink like this. Well, I’m used to it. Yes, I like it this way. Isn’t this the taste of home? Haha, haha."

Watching Yarebin’s somewhat contrived laughter, Gao Yang suddenly felt an ache in his heart. He quickly took a sip of soup because he was afraid he might cry.

After sipping some soup and casually wiping his mouth with his hand, Gao Yang raised his glass, smiling, "Everyone, to Yarebin’s health, cheers."

Everyone drained their drinks in one gulp.

Yarebin raised his glass again, his face flushed with joy, exclaiming, "I’m very happy. Being a guest at Gao’s home makes me extremely happy. Everyone, I wish Gao and his family happiness—cheers!"