Su family members were guests today, and besides bringing a box of medicine, Su Xiaotian also specially prepared a bag of food.
Dong Yuanzhong and Fan Shufang both enjoyed the dishes made by their family, so they brought some along when visiting.
Naturally, the ingredients for these foods were purchased by Su Xiaotian from the system mall and then meticulously prepared.
Although they were not hot dishes like those from Yiming Pavilion, their taste was definitely not inferior.
The cook in the Dong family's kitchen was a girl of seventeen or eighteen named Xiaolian.
Her cooking was not exceptionally good, but it wasn't bad either, and she was usually quite content with it.
After all, Fan Shufang was not a very good cook.
Therefore, Xiaolian did not initially pay much attention to the food brought by the Su family.
However, to her surprise, when she opened the bag, she found it was all good stuff.
It was packed full of meat, and the smell was simply different.
The aroma was so strong it made one's mouth water on the spot.
Xiaolian was young and lacked sophistication. Smelling the rich aroma of meat, she almost drooled.
"Auntie, this meat smells so good," she said after taking a deep breath.
Fan Shufang already knew about Grandma Su's cooking skills.
"You're just smelling it; wait until you eat it, then you'll really praise it!"
"Who is this person? How can they make meat taste so delicious?" Xiaolian asked again.
"Yiming Pavilion, which is very popular in the capital recently, is opened by their family!" Fan Shufang said with considerable pride.
With her expression, anyone who didn't know might have thought she was the head chef of Yiming Pavilion.
Fan Shufang looked carefully and couldn't help but sigh that the Su family had truly put in great effort.
Whether it was the fresh fish, fresh shrimp, or the large pieces of venison, they were all rare delicacies in the capital.
Even the pork was meticulously prepared, with fried meatballs and a jar of braised pork.
It was commendable that they brought so much food all the way from such a distance.
"These fried meatballs are much better than mine!" the young girl exclaimed again.
She usually made fried meatballs too, but every time, they were of uneven size.
She was quite satisfied before, but after the comparison, she instantly felt that her meatballs were not presentable.
It was fortunate that Uncle Dong and Auntie Fan were so easygoing; otherwise, after seeing such good quality, they wouldn't have taken a liking to her cooking.
"Xiaolian, you can tidy these up, and they'll be enough for a table of dishes. We can just add some fresh vegetables from our own garden."
As Fan Shufang said this, she felt a bit embarrassed. How could their own hospitality involve guests bringing their own food?
But with such delicious food before her, she couldn't help herself!
She figured Old Dong would definitely want to eat it too.
When she came out of the kitchen, Tong Xing'an had returned.
Fan Shufang immediately asked him what the doctor at the hospital had said.
"Auntie, Dr. Zhao at the hospital said that these medicines are very suitable for Commander Dong's condition and also have the effect of removing residual medicinal properties from Commander Dong's body," Tong Xing'an said very cautiously.
How did he not know that the Commander's body still had residual medicinal properties?
Where did those properties come from?
But no one told Tong Xing'an, so he could only refrain from asking.
Fan Shufang couldn't help but look at Su Xiaotian more closely upon hearing this.
This child was indeed extraordinary. Had the old Su family's ancestral graves emitted green smoke for them to have such a formidable child?
Dong Yuanzhong was also staring at Su Xiaotian.
Although he didn't say a word, Dong Yuanzhong understood it clearly in his heart.
The last time Su Xiaotian took his pulse, she had likely diagnosed that he had been drugged, which was why she had given him a reminder.
It was fortunate that he had believed Su Xiaotian and had not dismissed her words as idle talk.
Upon returning, he not only investigated the people around him thoroughly but also underwent a comprehensive physical examination at the hospital.
In fact, the Su family had saved him once again.
With the kindness from years ago and the kindness from this time, these life-saving favors were truly impossible to repay.
The main dishes were all inexpensive, and Xiaolian only made a few simple vegetable dishes, doing so quickly.
During the meal, Su Xiaotian made a few remarks, telling Dong Yuanzhong what to eat more of and what to eat less of.
Dong Yuanzhong was no longer stubborn and obediently listened.
Even Fan Shufang found it strange. When did her old man start being so obedient?
Normally, if she told him to eat less meat, he would act as if it were a matter of life and death.
"What are you looking at? I'm just following doctor's orders!" Dong Yuanzhong clearly noticed Fan Shufang's expression and said with a hearty laugh.
Fan Shufang chuckled upon hearing this.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su also couldn't help but laugh.
They hadn't expected the old Dong couple to be so amusing together.
Su Xiaotian ate and drank as usual, feeling very at ease, as if she were at home.
Fan Shufang liked Su Xiaotian more and more the more she looked at her.
Who wouldn't like such a capable and generous child?
She couldn't hold back any longer and said with a smile, "Xiaotian, why don't you and your brothers stay with us for a while?"
She genuinely liked Su Xiaotian and wanted to keep the child around to spend more time together.
Of course, there was a deeper intention behind it, which was to have Su Xiaotian nearby to properly manage Old Dong's health.
Old Dong's body had suffered in his early years and had not been well taken care of over the years.
Finally, a dedicated doctor was assigned to care for him, but who would have thought that doctor harbored ill intentions?
Old Dong's already not-so-good health was further deteriorated, making it like a sieve.
Of course, Fan Shufang not only considered Dong Yuanzhong's health condition but also thought about the children.
The people living in this compound were no ordinary people.
It could be said that they were existences that the children could not reach.
If the children could live in the compound for a period, it would also be beneficial for them!
In the future, this would all become the children's connections and resources.
The feelings of youth were always different from anything else, no matter when.
Secondly, living in the compound and experiencing the center of power early on could also broaden the children's horizons.
Although the Su family's children might not seem like much now, they would surely be extraordinary in the future.
Fan Shufang's thoughts were well-intentioned, but Su Xiaotian's thoughts were clearly different from hers.
In Su Xiaotian's opinion, no place was more comfortable and at ease than her own home.
While the compound might have its benefits, it wasn't necessarily all good.
If they lived here, they might indeed be able to interact with children of the same age in the compound, but ultimately, they did not belong in the compound and would inevitably be looked down upon.
Interacting in an unequal relationship would not benefit her brothers at all.
"Second Grandma, none of us live at school; we live at home, and it's close for our daily commute,"
Su Xiaotian replied with a smile, her answer very tactful.
Fan Shufang listened and thought about it. Their place was indeed quite far from Seventh Middle School, and it was unfortunate that the children were in the gifted program and couldn't transfer schools, so she regretfully gave up.
"Then wait until the winter break. You siblings must come to Second Grandpa and Second Grandma's house as guests then!" Fan Shufang still said, unwilling to give up.
Half a semester had already passed, and with a little more time, it would be time for the winter break.