Chapter 9: You are truly amazing

Huo Jingyuan first called his grandparents to let them know he had arrived safely.

Listening to the elderly couple on the other end asking what the Jiang family’s daughter was like, Huo Jingyuan paused for a moment before saying unhurriedly, "She’s a bit different from what I imagined. Her personality is on the lively side, and she’s quite bold in her speech."

Hearing their grandson talk so freely about his wife, the old couple on the other end of the line couldn't stop smiling.

Huo Jingyuan’s temperament was on the cold side.

They had originally thought he would never marry or have children in this lifetime.

Having married a woman he had never met or known before to fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish, the old couple had been worried that the husband and wife wouldn't get along.

It seemed now, however, that Huo Jingyuan was quite satisfied with this marriage.

When Wen Ci returned to the Huo residence and saw Huo Jingyuan on the phone, he didn't want to disturb him, so he placed the enamel bowl in the kitchen and poked the dough with his finger.

"If you're hungry, should I make it for you now?"

"Let's wait for it to proof."

Wen Ci also knew that the dough would have a better chew after proofing.

"Who were you just calling?" Wen Ci asked.

"My grandparents."

Wen Ci let out an "Oh," then immediately thought that since he was now married to Huo Jingyuan and was their grandson-in-law, shouldn't he go visit them?

"Do you want me to go with you to see them?"

Huo Jingyuan shook his head. "It takes two days to get there by train, and another four or five days to get from there to the Northwest. We don't have enough vacation time."

As he finished speaking, the corners of Huo Jingyuan’s lips curled into a smile. "We’ll go see them when we have time off for the New Year."

Wen Ci calculated in his mind.

There was still half a year until the New Year, which gave him some mental preparation time. As the old saying goes, an ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her parents-in-law.

After waiting half an hour, the dough was proofed. Huo Jingyuan sprinkled some flour on the cutting board. While boiling water, he cut the dough; the process was extremely simple.

In a few quick motions, he had all the dough cut and stretched, setting it aside to wait for the water to boil so he could drop the noodles in.

Huo Jingyuan took two bowls and added some standard seasonings.

Once the water boiled, he dropped the knife-cut noodles in. He used a ladle to scoop some water into the bowls, pouring the boiling water over the lard, which instantly released a rich aroma.

Wen Ci swallowed his saliva.

He couldn't wait to taste this bowl of knife-cut noodles.

Huo Jingyuan used chopsticks to lift the cooked noodles, added the dishes he had brought back from the cafeteria, and stirred them well. The entire room was filled with the scent.

Huo Jingyuan carried the two bowls of noodles, and as he turned around, he saw Wen Ci leaning against the kitchen doorway, smiling as he said, "The knife-cut noodles are ready. Let's eat."

"Mm-hmm!" Wen Ci nodded like a garlic-pounding machine.

At the dining table, Wen Ci held the bowl of knife-cut noodles coated in stir-fried tomato and egg with both hands. He looked at Huo Jingyuan with admiration in his eyes and gave a thumbs up. "You’re really amazing. Just by the smell, I can tell these noodles are delicious."

Not at all.

Huo Jingyuan blushed slightly at the praise.

Wen Ci took a bite of the noodles; they were chewy and enhanced by the fragrance of the lard. He looked up and asked curiously, "Besides pasta, can you make anything else?"

"No."

Huo Jingyuan answered truthfully.

He was always incredibly busy in the Northwest and never had time to learn how to cook. The only reason he could make noodles was because it was simple and convenient—he just had to proof the dough in the morning.

"So you just eat noodles in the Northwest?"

Huo Jingyuan shook his head. "Not exactly, I go to the cafeteria occasionally."

"I see."

Wen Ci felt it was a bit of a pity. A man like Huo Jingyuan, who could make noodles taste this good, would surely make other dishes taste exceptional if he knew how to cook them.

"Are you planning to take a nap this afternoon, or...?"

In the Northwest Military Region, there was a two-hour lunch break, and Huo Jingyuan had developed the habit of napping, but he wanted to see if Wen Ci had other plans.