As Chen Meijuan was looking around, she noticed a chubby little cat rubbing against her pant leg and brushing against her with its tail, like a child begging to be held.
She remembered her son mentioning it in a social media post before. He had picked up a stray cat from the greenbelt in the neighborhood and kept it in the store as a fortune cat. At that time, she had reminded her son not to let the cat enter the kitchen or get on the dining table, as some customers might dislike it. After all, for everyone who likes cats, there’s someone who doesn’t. You can’t impose your own preferences on others.
That little stray he picked up must be this cutie, right? she thought. He really is adorable.
Seeing that he was clean, Chen Meijuan bent down and picked up the chubby little fellow, expecting him to resist. To her surprise, he seemed to enjoy being held, even rubbing his large head against her arm.
Wow! This little guy is really something else!
The noise at the door startled Lin Xu. He hadn’t expected his mother to arrive at this hour. Even if she took the earliest high-speed train, she wouldn’t have arrived in Beijing until after eight, right? Did Mom arrive yesterday?
He hurriedly put down his chopsticks and went to the door. He saw his mother holding Dundun like a baby, and the little guy was curled up comfortably in her arms.
TSK... Are you treating Dundun like your own grandson now?
"How can such a beautiful cat be a stray?" Chen Meijuan’s heart ached at the thought of such an adorable little fellow wandering the neighborhood as a stray, scrounging through trash cans for food. Luckily, he met my son.
Lin Xu picked up the various bags from the floor and placed them on the cashier’s counter, asking curiously, "When did you get here? Are there high-speed trains to Beijing this early in the morning now?"
"I got on the train last night," Chen Meijuan explained. "I bought a sleeper ticket. I woke up just as we were about to arrive, went to the restroom to freshen up, and got off the train feeling refreshed with my things. It’s much more comfortable than taking a high-speed train."
While mother and son were chatting, the Shen family of three came over to greet them.
"Auntie, I’ve missed you so much!" Shen Jiayue clung to Chen Meijuan’s arm, acting cute, which made Han Shuzhen inwardly exasperated.
This daughter of mine, always siding with outsiders! I’m so fed up with her! Now that the other mother-in-law is here, maybe we should just get the wedding arrangements settled today! Han Shuzhen fumed internally.
"Auntie misses you too, Yueyue," Chen Meijuan said warmly. "I brought a lot of wild vegetables and mushrooms from the mountains this time. I’ll cook something delicious for you for lunch today."
"Yay!" Yueyue cheered.
After speaking with her future daughter-in-law, Chen Meijuan turned her attention to the middle-aged couple. So these are the in-laws, huh?
Just as she was about to speak, Han Shuzhen spoke first, "Welcome to Beijing, Meijuan. Your son Lin Xu’s cooking skills are truly amazing. We wish we could eat here three times a day."
So you want to whisk my son away, huh? Chen Meijuan thought with amusement. She smiled and said, "As long as he hasn’t caused you any trouble, that’s all that matters. My boy can be a bit thoughtless and doesn’t always think before he speaks or acts. Please don’t take it to heart if he inadvertently upsets you."
Han Shuzhen was left speechless. Lin Xu is such a well-behaved boy, yet you, his own mother, say he’s thoughtless and impulsive... The more I hear, the more I feel like you’re subtly criticizing my Yueyue, aren’t you?
Just as the two women were about to engage in another round of verbal sparring, Shen Guofu interjected, "You haven’t eaten yet, have you, Meijuan? Come, come, try the Shengjian Buns your son made. The taste is absolutely divine."
Chen Meijuan agreed with a smile, "Okay, okay, I am quite hungry... Where should I put this cat?"
Han Shuzhen reached out to take him. "Give him to me. Dundun is usually very affectionate with me. Looking at him now feels just like looking at my own grandson."
"He’s named Dundun? That really matches his physique," Chen Meijuan remarked.
Dundun treated both his grandmothers the same. Once in Han Shuzhen’s arms, he also struck a posture of pure enjoyment, making Han Shuzhen reluctant to put him down.
While Chen Meijuan exchanged a few pleasantries and went inside to wash her hands, Shen Jiayue, curious, poked at Dundun in her mother’s arms, asking, "It’s so strange. Why does he like you, and my future mother-in-law, and my dad and Lin Xu too, but not me?"
Han Shuzhen shot her daughter an exasperated look. Your future mother-in-law just subtly criticized you, and you’re still here wondering about something ?
She said somewhat irritably, "Maybe Dundun can sense a person’s character. He plays with whoever is a good person."
Shen Jiayue looked even more puzzled. "Hmm... then he really shouldn’t be affectionate with you either!"
Han Shuzhen was utterly stunned. You wretched girl, you’re really asking for a beating, aren’t you? Do I have to give you a good thrashing right before your wedding to be satisfied?
Seeing her mother’s expression change, Shen Jiayue said with a cheeky grin, "Why are you angry, Mom? You started it. Alright, Director Han, I was wrong, okay? You’re the bestest mom in the whole wide world! No one compares to you!"
She certainly knew how to coax someone when she wanted to, but she was also expert at infuriating people.
Han Shuzhen sighed helplessly. What sins did I commit in a past life to end up with a daughter ? Look at other people’s sons – sensible, well-behaved, and so skilled. Simply flawless. Then I look at my own daughter... Ugh, forget it. Just looking at her is annoying!
She placed Dundun on his mat on the cashier’s counter.
The mother and daughter returned to the dining table. By then, Chen Meijuan had also washed her hands, and everyone gathered around the dining table again.
"Oh, these Shengjian Buns look delicious," Chen Meijuan exclaimed. "Lin Xu, do you remember the Shengjian Buns I made for you when you were a sophomore? Mine were nowhere near as good as these."
Chen Meijuan bit into a Shengjian Bun, tasting the savory, rich, and slightly scalding broth inside. Her travel fatigue instantly vanished.