Chapter Eleven: Asking Shazhu to Make Braised Pork

“Son, you absolutely cannot marry a foreigner!” Even someone as honest as Chen Dashan could not accept the idea of his second daughter-in-law being a foreigner.

“Dad, what are you talking about? Teacher Xiaoyu is one hundred percent Chinese. How did she become a foreigner in your words?” Chen Liang was a little displeased and rebutted his father.

“That still won’t do! She looks just like a foreigner. If you take her out, how would anyone know otherwise?”

At this time, most people still clung to old traditions, especially the stubborn elders, who simply couldn’t accept new ideas—let alone any unconventional approaches regarding passing down the family line.

Chen Liang, unfazed and stubborn as a pig before boiling water, simply laid it out: “Dad, if you can’t accept it, then so be it. I only have eyes for Teacher Xiaoyu. I don’t want anyone else!”

Chen Dashan was left speechless by his son’s words. Sensing the atmosphere turning awkward, the eldest sister-in-law quietly dragged her husband Chen Jian and their daughter Chen Hong out of the room.

After all, this was the younger brother’s lifelong happiness. Besides the parents and those directly involved, anyone else trying to intervene would only risk offending someone.

Seeing his brother’s family slip away, Chen Liang also returned to his room. Chen Dashan could only wait for his wife to return so they could discuss what to do next.

He waited and waited, smoking three or four cigarettes, before Chen’s mother finally arrived.

Her face was anything but pleasant. She had been delighted to learn from her circle of aunts that Teacher Xiaoyu at Red Star Kindergarten was still unattached. But when one of the aunts mentioned that this teacher looked just like a foreigner, her mood plummeted as if she’d ridden a roller coaster.

Honestly, it would have been better if they’d said Xiaoyu was already promised to someone else!

With a heavy heart, she gave up on any more gossip and hurried home.

When the couple finally met, they simply stared at each other, at a loss for words.

Their son had made his intentions clear: it was her or no one. Were they really supposed to break up a loving couple and let him remain single for life?

That was out of the question.

“Ah! Let it be. If he marries a foreigner, so be it. We can’t just watch our second son become a lifelong bachelor!” said Chen’s mother at last.

“I just don’t understand. Why does our youngest pick a foreigner when there are so many good girls around!” Chen’s father sighed with sorrow.

Ah, they really were getting old, unable to keep pace with the young anymore.

“All right, enough with the sighing. At least our second son can bring a wife home to carry on the family name. What’s there to lament?” Chen’s mother snapped, shooting him a fierce glare. “Go to sleep! Stop fretting over nonsense. I’ll go find Matchmaker Zhao tomorrow!”

The night passed in silence. The next morning, Chen Liang woke early and lay in bed, staring at the beams above.

Who knew if his parents would come around? Was he really supposed to pass up a beauty and settle for mediocrity for the rest of his life?

The thought of the woman he fancied being held by another man filled him with anger. No way! If it came to it, he’d take matters into his own hands—let things happen first and leave his parents no choice.

He completely underestimated how stubborn his old self could be. If he ever declared he’d never marry, it would probably scare his parents out of their wits.

He packed a little shoulder bag full of snacks, and after breakfast, crouched down in front of little Chen Hong with a fawning smile. “Honghong, doesn’t your second uncle treat you well?”

She only snorted, maintaining her aloof demeanor, not even glancing at him.

“Come on, Honghong, help your second uncle out. I’ll take care of all your snacks from now on!”

Another cold snort, and she shot him a sideways glance, as if to remind him of their earlier agreement: whoever gave in first was the little puppy.

Chen Liang immediately barked twice, as if to say, fine, I’ll be a puppy if that’s what it takes. For the sake of winning the beauty, this was nothing!

He handed her the bag. “Honghong, can you take this bag of snacks and share them with Teacher Xiaoyu?”

Patting his chest, he promised, “Don’t worry, when I pick you up this afternoon, I’ll have another bag of treats ready for you!”

With the supermarket as his backing, Chen Liang was brimming with confidence.

“All right! Since you’re my second uncle, I’ll help you this once. But uncle, you’re getting old enough—time to grow up. Don’t act like you did last night again!” Chen Hong put her hands on her hips, swelling with pride like a little adult.

But just as she struck her pose, her mother appeared behind her without a sound. “Time to go to kindergarten.”

Chen Hong, who had been ready to celebrate her triumph, instantly wilted like a chick and meekly followed her mother.

At the door, Chen Hong looked back at Chen Liang with teary eyes, as if to say, Uncle, please pick me up early!

Chen Liang returned her gaze: don’t worry, your uncle will be there on time—but you’d better do your part, or next time your mother will go instead!

How dare he threaten her! But so be it—such is the hard life of a poor child.

After this brief exchange, the family set out on their day.

With nothing much to do, Chen Liang began thinking about making braised pork for his little sister.

As for Chen Rong’s request for her mother’s braised pork, Chen Liang could only admit defeat—maybe he could try it in his dreams someday.

According to the cookbooks he’d found at the supermarket, there was a saying: “If you rely on the mountain, it may crumble, but if you rely on yourself, you’ll never go hungry.”

But following the steps and ending up with a black, dubious-looking dish, Chen Liang was left pondering: Did he really have no talent for cooking? Nonsense! It was the book’s fault, not his!

He flung the book aside in annoyance, then grabbed a slab of belly pork weighing about three pounds from the supermarket space.

Today, he refused to believe he couldn’t have good food without butchering it himself!

Carrying the pork, he hurried next door. Why struggle on his own when there was a chef like Shazhu next door? After all, he’d be eating ready-made dishes once he married anyway.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he saw an old man with glasses wheeling a cart out.

After decades as neighbors, everyone knew each other.

“Well, if it isn’t Chen Liang from next door. What brings you over?” The old man’s eyes lit up when he saw the pork, and he quickly struck up a conversation.

“Oh! Teacher Yan, I’m looking for Shazhu. I want him to make some braised pork for me!” Chen Liang replied, not even looking up as he strode inside.