Chapter 22: The Big Meal

  I'm finally home, just in time for lunch. Mom is busy in the kitchen as usual, and surprisingly Dad is helping out beside her. Wow, this lunch seems quite grand, what's on the menu? I quickly enter the kitchen: "Mom, Dad, I'm back!" "Oh, you're back! Take a rest first, your second brother will be home soon." Mom says while stir-frying vegetables. Oh yeah, my second brother is attending high school in Xingqiao, a neighboring town, and he should be coming home today too. It's called a neighboring town, but it's actually only ten or so kilometers away from home. Since there are no buses, we always have to walk there and back, which is quite tiring.

  So I went back to the room to tidy up, that big bag of classmates' clothes has to be done this afternoon, and there are bed sheets to wash, and... and... Oh my, so busy!

  "Xiao Yun, dinner is ready!" My second brother came back, I rushed out, and indeed, my twenty-year-younger second brother looked really small, clean and refreshing, nothing like the future with a big beer belly. "Second brother, welcome home!" I patted my second brother on the shoulder. "Hey, is this Xiao Yun? How did you become so beautiful in just one week?" My second brother looked me up and down. "Hmph, don't be ridiculous, was I ugly before?" I pouted, unhappy. "People say that there are no ugly women in the world, only lazy ones. Got it?" My second brother smiled and surrendered: "Yes yes, little sister is a beauty, not an ugly woman."

  A table full of dishes, just like a festival, with braised fish in soy sauce, braised pork belly, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs... Wow, and my favorite, the delicious and addictive sweet potato paste that I never get tired of! Mom is so great, knowing we've been eating salty dishes for a week, she's making up for it as soon as we got back! My second brother and I were enjoying our meal so much!

  "Slow down, don't choke." Mom couldn't bear to watch anymore. "Alas, it's hard on you all, growing up and only eating pickled vegetables every day, how can that be okay? What can we do about it? We can't come back every day." Dad said beside her, "It's always been this way, studying is never easy."

  I frowned and said pitifully, "Mom, think of a way, we can't just eat pickled vegetables every day, or we'll never grow tall. Is there something nutritious that I can put in my lunchbox to steam and eat at school? I've heard that steaming is the most nutritious way to cook." Mom thought for a moment: "Steamed food? Soybeans should be okay, but I'm not sure about peanuts... they're both nutritious, and eggs are good too. Alright, this time I'll prepare some steamed food for you, but don't forget to add salt. Xiaoyin, what do you think?"

  Xiao Yin is actually my second brother, Yin Ruoyin. In our family, we all have names that start with the character "Ruo". My older sister is Yin Ruoxia, and it matches well with my name, Ruoyun. However, it seems like a reversal - shouldn't it be Yunxia instead? Why does Xia come before Yun? My older brother is called Yin Ruoming, and I find it strange. Why didn't our dad just name my second brother Ruoan when he was naming us? Names like Ruoming Ruoan or Ruoyin Ruoxian would have been fine too, but they each chose one separately. Still, the names sound pretty good. Of course, these are just my secret doubts in my heart - I wouldn't dare ask them out loud.

  "I don't need to, you guys forgot that in high school we had a cafeteria where we could buy food and eat, no need to steam rice. But of course the dishes were not as delicious as those at home." Second brother said with relish while eating a piece of braised pork.

  "You should also bring some familiar food, Xiaoyun is right, now you need to eat more, otherwise you won't grow tall. Or I'll make some fried peanuts and soybeans for you to take as snacks tomorrow." My mom really treats everyone equally, since my second brother's school doesn't allow bringing steamed food, then bring stir-fried food instead, I admire my mom from the bottom of my heart.

  "Mom, you're the best! I'm so lucky to have you as my mom!" I exclaimed sincerely. "You little girl, when did you become so sweet-tongued?" Mom laughed with her mouth wide open. "By the way, kiddo, those few pictures you gave me last time, I've made them already, but I don't dare wear them yet, let's wait for your opinion." "Really? Hurry up and put it on to show us! As long as it looks like the picture, it must be good-looking!" I urged Mom.

  Mom was a bit embarrassed: "Wait a minute, you guys finish eating first." I put down my bowl and said: "I've finished eating, I ate early. Hurry up and change!"

  Mom had to get up and go into the room to change clothes, after a while, huh? Why hasn't she come yet? Could it be that the clothes aren't done well? I hurriedly went to Mom's room to take a look, wow! Mom put on new clothes and suddenly changed her style, a floral round-neck T-shirt paired with a deep blue seven-eighth pants, amazingly the pant legs also had florals, Mom was so talented, from my simple few strokes of sketching, she actually made such a high-quality outfit.

  I rushed up and pushed my mom out: "Ta-da! The modern housewife is making a stunning appearance!" My dad and second brother were smiling at us, and to my surprise, my mom's face turned red. Haha, it was so much fun. "Mom, you're so talented, yet you didn't dare wear such perfect clothes? If you go out like this today, I guarantee you'll get a 100% head-turning rate!" My mom laughed and hit me: "What head-turning? You're talking nonsense again."

  I turned around and looked at my dad, haha, his eyes were wide with surprise. I deliberately waved my hand in front of him: "Dad, take a good look! Mom has become a beauty too, right?" My dad came back to his senses and nodded: "Indeed, she looks much better now. No wonder people say that 30% is talent and 70% is dressing up. With this new dress, she's got more spirit." "Did you hear? Mom, your new clothes have received Dad's high praise!" I mischievously winked at her, "There are still a few pieces that haven't been worn, why not try them all on and let us give our opinions too?"

  Mom's face turned red and she quickly went back to her room. This time, she came out pretty fast, wearing a floral dress with a black belt, simple yet elegant. I clapped my hands in approval: "Awesome, Mom, come walk the catwalk!" Mom was taken aback: "What walk?" I walked up to her, smiling mischievously: "Watch me, follow my lead." I puffed out my chest, sucked in my stomach, and swiveled my hips as I strutted down the hallway, striking a pose at the door. Then I turned back around: "Got it? That's the model walk, Mom! Come on, give it a try!" I walked up to Mom and extended an inviting hand. Mom chuckled and playfully hit me on the head: "You little scamp, always coming up with crazy ideas. I'd never be able to pull off that walk - all twisted and ugly." Mom carefully sat down, afraid of wrinkling her new clothes. "Mom, are you tired? Why did you sit down?" I asked, puzzled. "Come on, sit down too, let's discuss something," Mom said seriously. "What is it?" I obediently sat down.