Su Xiaotian, unaware that someone was plotting to make her and her brothers change their living arrangements, smiled and said she wanted to help too.
“Go ahead!” Grandpa Su waved his granddaughter off.
As for the other Su brothers, they were unsure whether they should leave or stay.
They couldn’t possibly say they were going to help in the kitchen, could they?
Fortunately, Dong Yuanzhong spoke up at this moment.
“You all go and see your Grandma Fan. She’s always talking about you.”
The brothers finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Dong Yuanzhong watched Su Xiaotian run off and said with emotion, “Old brother, your granddaughter is truly wonderful. I wonder when I’ll have a grandson or granddaughter.”
His two children were both in the army and had taken entrance exams for military academies. It was unlikely they would bring back a daughter-in-law within a few years, let alone grandchildren.
“Soon enough. When you get old, time seems to fly!”
Grandpa Su said with a sigh. In just a few years, the children had suddenly grown up, and he himself had gradually grown old.
Su Xiaotian put down her schoolbag and went to the kitchen. As expected, she found Grandma Su and Fan Shufang cooking.
Naturally, Grandma Su was the head chef, and Fan Shufang was assisting.
After greeting Fan Shufang, Su Xiaotian also hurried over to help.
Fan Shufang smiled and said, “Xiaotian, you’re back from school? Don’t interfere. Your grandma and I are enough. Children should be playing.”
Children this young should be playing, not working in the kitchen.
At this moment, Fan Shufang completely forgot that when she was Su Xiaotian’s age, she was already adept at handling household chores.
Su Xiaotian quickly waved her hands, “I want to help. I can’t just wait for Grandma and Grandma Fan to cook. Besides, Grandma Fan, you’re a guest. There’s no reason to make a guest cook.”
Grandma Su had originally intended to ask Su Taohua and Yu Ruiyuan to help today, but considering their guest status, she had abandoned the idea.
Unexpectedly, Fan Shufang was very down-to-earth. Since arriving, she had said she had nothing to talk about sitting with the two men and had come to the kitchen.
However, Grandma Su felt very uncomfortable having such an important figure helping in the kitchen.
“Xiaotian is right. You should sit and rest!” Grandma Su quickly agreed with Su Xiaotian.
Fan Shufang laughed heartily, “Sister-in-law, are you treating me like an outsider?”
People like them found it hard to have someone to confide in. She always wished for someone to talk to, but…
It was only when the Su family moved to the capital that she felt she might have someone to talk to. Little did she know, the Su family quickly opened a restaurant and were said to be extremely busy, so she didn’t want to bother them.
This time, it was only when her husband had some free time that they could visit.
Speaking of which, the Su family was truly remarkable. They could have asked for help, but they never did, always solving everything on their own.
It was only when Xiaotian was bullied at school that their family had a chance to help.
Grandma Su thought to herself, aren’t you outsiders? Your family name is Dong, and ours is Su.
Your family are high officials, and ours are common folk.
But she couldn’t say this to their face, so Grandma Su could only force a smile.
“Grandma Fan, my grandma’s cooking is delicious, and I’ve inherited her skills. My cooking is also delicious.”
Su Xiaotian’s bold claim made Fan Shufang chuckle.
“Little girl, how old are you to know how to cook?”
This was originally just a teasing remark, but Su Xiaotian said earnestly, “Wait until later, and I’ll let you taste my cooking, Grandma Fan.”
As she spoke, Su Xiaotian truly began to busy herself.
Fan Shufang was very surprised. Su Xiaotian was cooking with a proper demeanor.
When chopping pork ribs, her movements were neat and tidy, not like a novice.
Moreover, no matter how she looked at it, the little girl had great strength. The pork ribs in her hands seemed as soft as winter melon.
Su Xiaotian chopped the pork ribs very skillfully, and the pieces were of uniform size.
She had bought small ribs, and the chopped pieces looked very beautiful.
“Grandma Fan, how about we have sweet and sour pork ribs today? Do you like it?” Su Xiaotian asked solicitously.
These small ribs were perfect for making sweet and sour pork ribs.
Fan Shufang nodded, “Sweet and sour pork ribs are good, with a sour and sweet taste.”
It wasn’t that she particularly liked it, but she felt that with so many children in the Su family, they would definitely enjoy a sweet and sour flavor.
Su Xiaotian nodded in agreement and continued her work.
Grandma Su was quick with her hands, and Su Xiaotian was no less so. As the grandmother and granddaughter busied themselves, Fan Shufang had nothing to do.
Just then, the Su family’s sons arrived and greeted Fan Shufang proactively.
Fan Shufang then chatted with the children.
The sons were afraid of Dong Yuanzhong, but they were not afraid of Fan Shufang, who had a kind demeanor and was always smiling. They chatted quite well.
Fan Shufang also liked that the children were poised, well-behaved, and sensible.
Their conversation topics included the children’s studies and other children in the family.
Fan Shufang quickly learned that the Su family’s children were indeed extraordinary.
The eldest, Su Shouwen, could already earn money through his own efforts, and the second, Su Ciliang, could participate in painting competitions.
The third was currently studying under Shen Zizhen and would surely become an agricultural scientist in the future.
The fourth was only in his first year of university, but seeing his elder brothers’ excellence, he was likely not far behind.
She knew about the fifth. He attended the same school as her second son and was reportedly outstanding in every aspect.
The elder ones were accomplished, and the younger ones were also outstanding. She had inquired about these children and found that they all did well in their studies, especially the youngest, Su Xiaotian.
However, she hadn’t expected Su Xiaotian to also know foreign languages and even earn money through translation.
Fan Shufang currently worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and knew how rare people who knew foreign languages were.
She hadn’t expected to find two such people in the Su family today.
She then decided to test Su Xiaotian.
However, she didn’t have very high expectations in her heart. It wasn’t for any other reason than Su Xiaotian’s young age. Even if she was outstanding, how outstanding could she be?
But it didn’t matter; a young age meant better cultivation from childhood!
Soon, Grandma Su and Su Xiaotian prepared a table full of dishes, with both meat and vegetables, fish and meat, making it very sumptuous.
Fan Shufang smiled and praised, “Such excellent cooking. Sister-in-law, Xiaotian really didn’t lie.”
The Su family’s children were academically gifted, sensible, and could help the family with chores. They were truly remarkable.
Many people in the capital looked down on those who came from other regions, especially from impoverished areas.
But who knew that the children raised by a family like the Su family, who came from the northwest, were far more outstanding than the children raised by many families in the capital who claimed to have a deep heritage.
She wondered if those families, upon seeing these outstanding children, would feel envious, jealous, or inadequate.