Chapter 66

On the way, Mrs. Shu held Su Zhe's hand, asking questions non-stop, clearly missing Su Zhe very much.

Su Zhe and Mrs. Shu chatted and laughed, while Shu Muyu remained silent all the way, looking somewhat dazed.

After Mrs. Shu got home, her first words were: "It's still more comfortable at home. Staying in the hospital always feels so gloomy and uncomfortable; even if you're not sick, you'll end up getting sick."

Su Zhe smiled; no one likes staying in the hospital.

Mrs. Shu asked Su Zhe to stay at home, saying she would cook for him today and go shopping for the ingredients herself. With no choice, Shu Muyu had to go with Mrs. Shu to buy the groceries.

Su Zhe was not unfamiliar with the Shu family home; he had been there many times before. He poured himself a glass of water.

Su Zhe took out his phone and called An Xin, telling her that he wouldn't be coming home for dinner and that they could eat without him.

Soon, Shu Muyu and Mrs. Shu returned from shopping. The two of them started working in the kitchen. Su Zhe wanted to help, but Mrs. Shu kept him out, telling him to watch TV in the living room and wait for the food.

After about half an hour, Mrs. Shu called Su Zhe to wash his hands, saying it was time to eat.

After washing his hands, Su Zhe saw that three dishes were already on the table, all of which he usually liked. It seemed that even after so long, Mrs. Shu still remembered his taste.

Shu Muyu served a bowl of rice to Su Zhe. As soon as he sat down, Mrs. Shu started piling food onto his plate, saying, "Xiao Zhe must not have been eating well; you've lost so much weight."

Su Zhe didn't argue; whether fat or thin, elders always think you're too thin.

"Xiao Zhe, how long are you planning to stay in Yan Yun City?" Mrs. Shu asked.

"This time, I won't be leaving. I'll be staying in Yan Yun City to work," Su Zhe thought for a moment and decided not to hide it, in case he ran into Mrs. Shu on the way and couldn't explain.

Mrs. Shu's face lit up at the news, and she seemed even more pleased.

"Xiao Zhe, when do you plan to get married to Muyu?"

"Aunt Shu, it's still early. I haven't reached the legal age to get married yet. Even if we were to get married, we'd have to wait until Muyu graduates." Su Zhe almost choked on his food and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Oh, is that so? I thought you could get married at 18. I guess Aunt Shu is getting old."

Su Zhe and Shu Muyu both breathed a sigh of relief; this hurdle was temporarily passed.

The three of them chatted and ate, and halfway through the meal, Mrs. Shu suddenly stood up and said, "The soup in the kitchen should be ready. Xiao Zhe, I'll get you a bowl to nourish your body." Mrs. Shu then hurried off to the kitchen.

Once Mrs. Shu left, Su Zhe and Shu Muyu both fell silent, not knowing what to say, and the room became quiet.

The silence was broken only when Mrs. Shu returned. She placed a large bowl of soup in front of Su Zhe and told him to drink it all.

The soup was Mrs. Shu's specialty, a slow-cooked corn, carrot, and pork bone soup. Her soup-making skills were truly exquisite.

Today, because they returned late, Mrs. Shu chose the corn, carrot, and pork bone soup, which doesn't require simmering for four to five hours like other slow-cooked soups to retain its original flavor.

Mrs. Shu's slow-cooked soup is very particular. She uses a thick clay pot for cooking. To make the corn, carrot, and pork bone soup, the pork bones are first cut into pieces and blanched in boiling water to remove the blood. They are then rinsed with cold water and set aside. The corn is cut into small pieces, and the carrots are peeled and cut into chunks.

Once the ingredients are prepared, the pork bones are placed in the pot, followed by the corn pieces, and then the carrots. The water is added all at once, as adding water during the cooking process would reduce the soup's nutrients. Finally, the lid is placed on and the fire is turned on.

After about an hour, the pork bones should be tender. A little salt and chicken essence are added for seasoning, and the corn, carrot, and pork bone soup is ready. Vegetable soups like this should not be cooked for too long, as the vitamins will evaporate.

Smelling the rich aroma, Su Zhe couldn't wait to drink it. He picked up the bowl and drank it in large gulps, patting his stomach in satisfaction.

Seeing Su Zhe eat and drink to his heart's content, Mrs. Shu smiled. She was very happy that Su Zhe still enjoyed her cooking.

After the meal, Su Zhe accompanied Mrs. Shu in watching TV, while Shu Muyu cleared the table.

After chatting with Mrs. Shu for a while, Su Zhe checked the time and saw that it was getting late, so he said goodbye to Mrs. Shu and planned to go home.

Mrs. Shu asked Shu Muyu to see Su Zhe off. Su Zhe refused a few times, but Mrs. Shu insisted. With no choice, he had to listen to Mrs. Shu.

Su Zhe and Shu Muyu walked in silence, neither of them speaking.

When they reached the stairs, Shu Muyu took out the bank card Su Zhe had given her and returned it to him, saying, "My mother doesn't need this money anymore. Here, take it back."

"I gave it to you, and I won't take it back. I don't want this to happen again. If you still consider me a friend, keep the money," Su Zhe said. Shu Muyu and Mrs. Shu had a hard life, supporting each other. Mrs. Shu worked to earn their living, and her illness was due to overwork. If things were peaceful, they could manage, but any unexpected event could crush them.

Su Zhe continued, "It's getting late. You can stop here. Go back up." Then he walked away.

Shu Muyu stood at the stairwell, watching his back, and silently said, "Are we still friends?"

After a long time, when she could no longer see Su Zhe's back, Shu Muyu came to her senses and turned to go up the stairs.

Not far from there, a man wearing a baseball cap was watching them. He had chosen a well-hidden spot, making it hard to notice anyone was there, and the angle was perfect for seeing the entrance to Shu Muyu's home.

The man took out his phone, checked the photo album, and sent all the photos to someone. He then called this person to report some matters.

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