Volume One, Chapter 37: When Will You Two Get Married?

In the living room.

Jiang Yu sat awkwardly, unsure of what to do. He waited for a long time before Su Wenli finally spoke.

“So, you’re Jiang Yu, right?”

“Yes, Uncle, please go ahead.”

“You’re a spirited young man. I’ll just call you Xiao Jiang!” Father Su grinned. “Xiao Jiang, how many people are in your family?”

“Three, my dad and my mom.”

“What do your parents do?”

“We’re just an ordinary family.” Jiang Yu scratched his head, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Su Wenli nodded. “What are your plans after graduation? Have you found a job yet?”

“A company has already sent me a notice. I’m currently participating in a program, and after it ends, I plan to sign with them.”

“Oh, I see.” Su Wenli nodded again. “When do you plan to marry Xiao Yu?”

“Pfft!” Jiang Yu nearly spat out his drink. What a direct question!

“Not yet... I’ve just graduated. I want to focus on my career for a while before considering marriage.”

“Young man, that’s where you’re mistaken. The old saying goes: establish a family before a career. Both are important, but family comes first!” Su Wenli raised his brows. “Forget about that company, just wait until you two get married...”

“Dad, what are you saying?!” Su Mu Yu finally couldn’t take it anymore and rushed out of the kitchen, looking reproachfully at her father.

Hearing his precious daughter speak up, Su Wenli immediately stopped his questioning.

Jiang Yu felt a tremendous sense of relief.

“Is your mother really cooking?” Su Wenli switched topics.

Su Mu Yu’s calm expression instantly collapsed, and she nodded helplessly.

Su Wenli sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Jiang Yu looked at Su Mu Yu in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Su Mu Yu replied, resigned.

“Ah! Help!”

Just then, a piercing scream came from the kitchen.

All three in the living room jumped up and rushed toward the kitchen.

Ning Qingyan was clutching a spatula in one hand and a kettle in the other, cowering to the side in panic, while water was splashed all over the stove, and a bright flame blazed in the frying pan.

Su Mu Yu was startled.

“Hurry, call 120!” Su Wenli shouted instinctively.

Ning Qingyan yelled, “Call 119, not 120!”

As chaos ensued, Jiang Yu dashed forward, covered the pan with its lid, and switched off the gas.

The tension finally eased.

Su Wenli sighed. “I’ll book a hotel now. Let’s eat out.”

“No need. It’s under control now. I’ll keep cooking for you. Go wait outside,” Ning Qingyan refused outright.

Su Mu Yu stepped forward, exasperated. “Mom, please, if you keep cooking, you’ll set the house on fire.”

“But the meat and vegetables are fresh. They won’t be tomorrow!” Ning Qingyan stared sorrowfully at the ingredients on the cutting board.

Jiang Yu scratched his head and suggested tentatively, “How about I cook?”

“You can cook?” Su Mu Yu looked at him in surprise.

In the kitchen.

Jiang Yu efficiently prepared a pot of rice, then boiled a large pot of water with star anise, scallions, and ginger.

Once the water boiled, he took the whole chicken bought by Father Su and immersed it in the pot. After a few seconds, he transferred it to cold water. Repeating the process three times, the chicken was perfectly shaped, its skin a golden yellow, looking irresistibly delicious.

In truth, he hadn’t known how to cook, but before the system left him, it maxed out his skill tree, including cooking.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” Su Mu Yu stepped forward.

“Just help me keep track of the time.” Jiang Yu smiled. “After ten minutes, turn off the heat, let it sit for thirty more, then take the chicken out and soak it in cold water. That’s all. You and Uncle and Aunt can just wait for dinner.”

“Okay!” Su Mu Yu nodded.

Jiang Yu moved on to the next dish.

He blanched chunks of pork belly, added star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, caramelized sugar, boiled several eggs, and scored a few abalones.

Soon, enticing aromas filled the kitchen.

In the living room.

Ning Qingyan watched Jiang Yu busily working in the kitchen, growing more and more pleased with him.

Yet something seemed off. She turned to Su Wenli. “Honey, is this really appropriate?”

Su Wenli considered it. “What’s the problem? A son-in-law cooking for his parents-in-law—isn’t that a good thing?”

“That’s true.”

“Dad, Mom!” Su Mu Yu rolled her eyes.

Luckily, the sound of cooking was loud enough that Jiang Yu didn’t hear.

“This young man is really something, and he can cook, too,” Ning Qingyan said, satisfied.

Su Wenli looked at Su Mu Yu. “Xiao Jiang said he’s participating in a show. What kind of show is it?”

Su Mu Yu explained the situation.

“So, this young man is quite talented,” Liu Qingyan said, smiling.

Su Wenli nodded. “Whether he works or not doesn’t matter; no matter how rich he gets, he’ll never be wealthier than our family!”

“All you ever think about is money!” Ning Qingyan tapped Su Wenli’s forehead.

“It’s the truth!” Su Wenli gazed at Jiang Yu’s figure in the kitchen. “But you only really know someone’s character after spending time together, don’t you think?”

“I really think he’s wonderful,” Liu Qingyan said approvingly. “Just think—our daughter is so cold, relying on her assistant for everything. Besides her looks, she’s hopeless in every way. Without her assistant, she’d starve.”

Su Mu Yu’s eyes widened—truly a mother’s honesty, roasting her own daughter like that.

Ning Qingyan continued, “Now that Xiao Jiang is here to take care of Xiao Yu, I feel much more at ease!”

Where was this conversation heading?

Seeing her daughter still sitting there, Ning Qingyan nudged her and glanced at the kitchen.

Su Mu Yu, embarrassed, walked into the kitchen and carried out the braised pork.

Jiang Yu kept cooking.

Sweet and sour squirrel fish, several vegetarian dishes, all emerged from the kitchen in turn.

His methodical, skillful movements amazed Father Su, Mother Su, and Su Mu Yu.

After nearly an hour in the kitchen, Jiang Yu finally finished the last dish.

Six dishes and a soup—perfect.

He carried the final dish, beef stew, to the table. “Uncle, Aunt, everything’s ready. Please help yourselves.”

“Xiao Jiang, you’ve worked hard, making so many dishes,” Su Wenli said with a smile.

“It’s no trouble, just simple home cooking. Please try it and see if it suits your taste.”

“It absolutely does, Xiao Jiang! I never expected your cooking to be so delicious!” Ning Qingyan exclaimed with delight.

“Auntie, you flatter me.”

As they spoke, Su Mu Yu noticed Jiang Yu blinking constantly and handed him a tissue.

“I just chopped chilies...”

Hearing this, Su Mu Yu pulled Jiang Yu down onto a chair and carefully wiped the sweat from his eyes.

Jiang Yu lowered his head slightly.

Su Wenli and Ning Qingyan couldn’t stop grinning.

This was absolutely perfect!