Chapter 334: A Harmonious Family - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 334: A Harmonious Family The Lin household was bustling in the afternoon, with Lin Yingjun and Lin Xiaoli busy preparing a grand meal in the kitchen for their future daughters-in-law. Alongside them, Lin Zhengran and the three younger ones were also lending a hand in the kitchen. Jiang Jingshi and Xiao Heqing, who were skilled in cooking, helped prepare the dishes. Han Wenwen and Jiang Xueli, not as proficient in cooking, focused on picking and preparing ingredients. At one point, Xiao Heqing was surprised by Jiang Jingshi’s adept cooking skills, exclaiming, “Jiang sis, you cook so well! You seem like you cook often!” Holding a spatula, Jiang Jingshi smiled and said, “Yes, don’t be fooled by looks. I’m quite good at cooking. Later, you’ll get to taste my handiwork.” The aroma of the dishes caught Lin Xiaoli’s attention, and she was pleasantly surprised, “With someone like Jingshi, I would have expected you to have a personal chef. How do you find time to cook?” “Auntie, it’s a personal hobby of mine. Whenever I feel the urge, I spend time in my private kitchen. Or sometimes, when Zhengran comes to see me, I cook a special meal for him, and he enjoys it quite a lot.” Xiao Heqing thought to herself that she hadn’t known Jiang had been cooking for Lin Zhengran. Lin Xiaoli remarked, “That’s quite a unique hobby.” Meanwhile, Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen continued their task of picking vegetables. Jiang Xueli noticed the empty wastebasket and complained, “Han Wenwen, why didn’t you remove the celery roots?” The little fox looked puzzled, “Why should I? Aren’t they edible, though not very tasty?” “Celery roots can be eaten? We always remove them since they’re covered in dirt.” The little fox observed Jiang Xueli removing the celery roots and commented, “What a waste! You can wash off the dirt. Though I seldom cook, I always keep them when I do. After all, they’re quite pricey.” Jiang Xueli sighed, “You’re usually so frugal? Yet I see you buying all sorts of random things.” Han Wenwen chuckled, “I save where I can, but I also spend when it’s necessary.” The women in the kitchen chatted and laughed. With no room left inside, Lin Zhengran and his father sat outside, washing carrots and other vegetables. Listening to the cheery sounds from the kitchen, Lin Yingjun shook his head and said, "Zhengran, I never thought our home could be so lively with four daughters-in-law.” Lin Zhengran, scrubbing a carrot, admitted honestly, “To be honest, I never expected it either. I initially thought it was okay not to marry if I never met someone I liked, let alone so many.” At first, Lin Zhengran never imagined having such feelings for Heqing, but over time, he found himself wanting to be with her for life. Lin Yingjun quietly advised, “Let me tell you, son, having many women around isn’t always a blessing. Keeping them happy can be exhausting. Sometimes, even your mom requires quite an effort.” “Dear!” Lin Xiaoli’s warning voice rang from the kitchen. Although she hadn’t overheard the conversation between her husband and son, their secretive manner suggested to her that it wasn’t anything good. Her eyes were filled with disdain. “What are you whispering about?” Lin Yingjun laughed, “Oh, nothing, nothing. Just a casual father-son chat.” He gave his son a knowing look, “Your mom can be quite scary at times.” Lin Zhengran chuckled, thinking how adorably silly his mom could be. At dinner, the family enjoyed a harmonious meal together. Although, as Lin Xiaoli had once said, it’s generally hard for girls to get along with their rivals in love. However, perhaps due to the long acquaintance among everyone and countless shared meals, they mingled like a typical family dinner. And they all served Lin Zhengran food. After the meal, with the mall in the small town still open, Lin Xiaoli went shopping with the four daughters-in-law, holding hands and bonding. This time, Lin Zhengran and his father stayed home watching TV, planning the sleeping arrangements for the evening. Lin Yingjun said, “Zhengran, even though they’re all your girlfriends, you get what I mean, right? Tonight, you’ll bunk with your old man, and let them share a room.” Lin Zhengran didn’t object; his parents allowing him to date four girls was already very open-minded. Spending the night with them all would be quite a shock to the parents. So, that night Lin Zhengran shared a room with his dad. After returning from shopping, the girls and Lin Xiaoli squeezed into Lin Zhengran's bedroom to sleep. That night, as Lin Zhengran lay in bed, he was very peaceful, sleeping comfortably. But he didn’t have to guess that gathered together, the women, along with his mom, would be chattering away until one or two in the morning. And as expected, Lin Xiaoli spent the night recounting tales of Zhengran’s childhood and even baby stories to the fascinated audience. One eager little fox even considered recording the stories during captivating moments. Sunday morning was lively, with everyone washing up and brushing their teeth. During breakfast, Lin Zhengran suddenly remembered Han Wenwen’s request back in high school, wanting to visit all the fun places in the city. However, due to an upset stomach that day, they only managed a trip to the amusement park. And the opportunity hadn’t arisen again since then. So, he suggested, “Mom, Dad, Heqing, Wenwen, Lili, Jingshi, since it’s Sunday and we’re free, why don’t we all go to the city together for some fun?” “The city?” His dad seemed puzzled. Lin Zhengran nodded, “Even though it’s not far from us, we’ve never really had the time to explore. Since we’re free today, let’s go together — my treat.” As he spoke, he glanced at the little fox. Listening to Zhengran’s words and meeting his gaze, the little fox instantly remembered his promise back in high school to show her around the city. She hadn’t expected him to remember, and her face turned red with emotion. With Lin Zhengran’s suggestion, everyone agreed it was a good idea since none of them had properly explored the city before. So, the family set off for a day trip to the city. On the trip, Lin Zhengran and Lin Yingjun lingered behind while the women eagerly checked out various shops, brimming with joy. The bulk of the day vanished before they knew it. In the afternoon, they rested on a bench in a mall. Lin Xiaoli expressed, “We had such a great time today, but aren’t you heading back to school soon? You and your dad can head back, and you girls can drive to school.” Lin Zhengran turned and said, “It’s no trouble to see you off.” With a mysteriously flushed face, Lin Xiaoli waved it off, “It’d be a hassle for such a short time, and your dad and I plan to explore some more. We’re not in a rush to head home.” Realizing his mom had bought a lot of new clothes and other things, and seeing his dad all dressed up, Lin Zhengran figured his parents were planning another date night. So, he didn’t insist. He chuckled, “Alright then, you two can take a cab home, and we’ll head back to school later.” The four girls didn’t quite understand why they couldn’t see the parents off, but they didn’t object as Lin Zhengran had already decided. Lin Xiaoli smiled, looking at her beautiful daughters-in-law, “But... before we wrap up, let me remind you all, even though your uncle and I have accepted your situation, there is still a significant challenge ahead for you all. We wish you all success.” The four girls understood the implications and each nodded firmly, eyes full of determination. (End of Chapter)