Thirty-six Reunions (Part 2)

  What Su Dingfang said was reasonable, and Su Ning also understood that Su Dingfang, as a rough and unpolished military man, was not good at handling official matters, let alone having a poor family background, belonging to the "black five categories". Fortunately, Emperor Li II had a broad mind, and the Tang Dynasty was inclusive of all kinds of people, even foreigners could become officials or high-ranking generals, let alone Su Dingfang.

  Although Su Dingfang later became a Duke of Gongguo, it's hard to explain the difficulties in between, and it's not enough for outsiders to know...

  Suning did not refuse, he and Su Dingfang were destined to be together and support each other. Suning had no intention of holding a position with real power in the military, this was something that Suning and Su Dingfang had discussed before. Suning didn't like having the power to command troops, being wary of the emperor's suspicion, he would rather be a civil official, preferably a military civil official or a non-executive military officer without actual authority, at least still a military officer, maintaining good relations with the big shots in the military, using them as a backing to gain the best development.

  Su Dingfang was destined to be a general, Su Ning's ambition was to reform the Tang Dynasty, and Su Dingfang's ambition was to conquer all directions. Great, very powerful... this way, mom doesn't have to worry about the future of the two brothers anymore...

  Originally, Wang and Liu were worried about what this big man could make in the kitchen, but after all the dishes were served, the strong aroma and good color immediately stunned Liu, Wang, and Su Xiaomei. Is this really something that a noble gentleman can cook? At this time, the noble gentlemen are indeed lazy and do not know how to distinguish between different grains.

  Suning, in order to win people's hearts, especially the hearts of his subordinates, specially prepared some food for more than 20 subordinates. In this era, subordinates would easily be moved to tears by a little kindness from their superiors. Haven't you seen those subordinates holding bowls of fried chicken and roasted mutton, constantly wiping away tears? This era is the golden age of the nobility, but for the common people, especially these slave-like subordinates, a poem sums it up best: "When the rulers prosper, the people suffer; when the rulers decline, the people still suffer..."

  The so-called Zhenguan Governance, the so-called Kaiyuan Prosperity, the so-called Kang-Qian Prosperity, and the so-called Tongguang Revival are all just a painted skin, a painted skin covering an ugly face, making this ugly person barely presentable. But lift up this painted skin, haha, isn't it exactly what's in front of Su Ning?

  Outside the courtyard, a noisy sound was faintly transmitted, Su Ning knew that this must be his own personal soldier Niu Ge and four personal soldiers as well as Su Dingfang's personal soldiers engaging in an intense food struggle. The battle was extremely fierce and had already entered a white-hot stage, but Su Ning couldn't judge from the sound who had the upper hand.

  They had some misunderstanding about the fried chicken, maybe it was because of its appearance. The two chefs didn't do a good job, and the fried chicken looked like hedgehogs, with egg and flour mixture sticking out in all directions. As a result, the whole family hesitated and didn't dare to pick up their chopsticks. Su Ning was puzzled and kept urging them to eat, but soon they had eaten several pieces. Although it didn't look good, it tasted absolutely delicious! It's comparable to KFC, and this is locally raised green and pollution-free chicken!

  Su Dingfang, as the oldest man in the house at present, has absolute authority. Seeing Su Ning eating so happily, he looked embarrassed and picked up a piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks, removing the egg and flour mixture on top, made a gesture of resignation, closed his eyes and put the fried chicken into his mouth, biting hard...

  Su Dingfang's eyes turned green, his teeth chattered rapidly, and his face began to contort violently. His hands moved faster and faster, as if sweeping away the clouds, while he shouted: "Mother, Second Aunt, Little Sister, eat quickly, it's incredibly delicious!"

  He said that, and the three women also felt at ease, picking up their chopsticks to learn from Su Dingfang's example and pulling out the fried hair. Although in Su Ning's opinion this was unnecessary, but with a mouth full of fried chicken and beef, Su Ning could no longer speak, his cheeks were swollen like a hamster, and it was extremely difficult for him to move his teeth. Just as he was about to chew these things up and swallow them to continue the fight, tragedy struck!

  I'm stuffed! I'm stuffed! This feeling of being stuffed is actually quite wonderful. Suing has always thought that being stuffed was a kind of happiness, because it meant that he had finally eaten extremely delicious food or had eaten after being hungry for three days. At those times, he really felt happy. Currently, it belongs to the first situation. After eating several months' worth of army rations, Suing is about to throw up! He can't wait to prepare a small kitchen for himself to enjoy.

  But at the moment, Su Ning was on the verge of being choked to death and becoming the most tragic and pathetic transmigrator in history. Suddenly, he glanced over and saw that no one had touched the pot of soup yet. Su Ning hastily scooped up a spoonful of soup and drank it down, feeling the solid food that was stuck in his throat slowly being pushed down, bringing with it a warm temperature that moistened his dry esophagus. The blissful sensation caused Su Ning to let out a long sigh of relief, finally coming back to himself. He smacked his lips, and then began to observe how others were eating...

  This doesn't seem serious, but it gave Su Ning a fright...

  Five called flower chickens have been left with only four bones, and the remaining one is just in front of you, white and tender chicken meat, bright color, tempting aroma, can't help it!

  Su Dingfang's cheeks had exceeded the limits of human beings, with a mouthful of food, his mouth moving up and down, his left hand holding a chicken leg called "flower chicken", his right hand holding a piece of roasted mutton, opening his bow left and right, his Adam's apple moving up and down in harmony, making Su Ning amazed as if he was a heavenly being! Wangshi and Liushi, who were holding the posture of being a mother and an elder, felt embarrassed to be compared with Su Dingfang, this big rough man, but the speed of picking up food and chewing was not inferior to Su Dingfang's at all.

  As for Su Xiao Mei, well, at first she still had a bit of a shy and demure look, afraid to lose face in front of her newly acquainted good brother. But from the moment the first piece of fried chicken entered her mouth, Su Xiao Mei's tomboyish nature burst out! With one hand holding a chicken wing and the other holding a drumstick, and another drumstick still clutched between her teeth, her sleeves rolled up high, she looked like a master! This is what it means to be a tomboy! Great, great, my sister Su Ning should be this bold!

  The meal was eaten so cleanly that Su Dingfang, as the founder, brought everything to an end. The last bit of soup was used by him to soak his rice and swallow it down. After that, he let out a long and satisfying burp, only to be slapped by Liu: "You're already being impolite today, how can you make such an impolite move!" Although she said so, the satisfaction on her face couldn't be hidden.

  Su Xiaomei stroked her round belly, looking very satisfied, as if she were pregnant. Wang Shi tapped Su Xiaomei's head and said, "You're a girl, it's not decent to behave like that, and now you've eaten so much! Your mother will deal with you later!" Su Xiaomei lowered her head, not daring to speak, but actually Wang Shi had also eaten almost as much...

  "Daughter, little sister likes to eat then eats, we are not without money now, our family has a title, no shortage of money!" Su Ning smiled and looked at Su Xiaomei, making her blush. But Su Ning suddenly thought of something: "Little sister, what's your name? Always calling you little sister is not good, right?"

  Su Xiaomei blinked her eyes and shook her head, saying: "Little sister doesn't have a name."

  Su Ning was taken aback and looked at Wang Shi, who stroked Su Xiaomei's head and said: "Your father passed away early, before you were born. He didn't even get to name you properly. Luckily, your master gave you a good name. But as for Xiaomei's name, we two women didn't dare to give her one. When Difang returned, he said he wasn't knowledgeable in literature and also didn't give Xiaomei a name. This was put off until now."

  Su Dingfang nodded and said, "Second brother, I'm a rough man who doesn't know literature, it's not suitable for me to name my little sister. How about you, second brother? You've read books, can you help our little sister choose a name? As the elder brother, you're like a father to her."

  Su Ning thought for a moment and then said, "Quiet, how is it? My name is Ning, and my little sister's name will be Quiet, peaceful, what do you think?" Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Wang nodded involuntarily, Su Dingfang also nodded repeatedly, and Su Xiaomei's eyes sparkled with delight, revealing a happy smile, her voice as clear and pleasant as an oriole: "Thank you, brother, for giving me a name."

  "Don't say that, brother. You've been free and away from home for so many years without any news, unable to help with family matters, and yet you still want me, a girl, to work in the fields and do farmwork? Brother feels very sorry for you. From now on, you don't have to do this anymore. Just be the young lady of the Su household with peace of mind. I'll take care of all the big things, whoever dares to bully you just tell me, I'll immediately bring a team of people to cut off their head and kick it around like a ball!" Su Ning said solemnly to Su Xiaomei, patting her chest.

  Su Xiaomei's eyes turned red again at these words, although she didn't understand what a ball was.

  Then Su Ning turned to Wang and Liu: "Mother, aunt, you two elders have suffered for so many years. Now that I and my brother have made great achievements, the court will surely reward us, and our Su family will be prosperous by me and my brother. You two elders only need to enjoy your old age, and don't need to worry about anything else."

  Su Dingfang also patted his chest and said: "Mother, second aunt, little sister, second brother's meaning is my meaning. As long as my two brothers are together, I will not let the Su family suffer any danger! Big things in the sky, I and my second brother will carry them, the sky falls down, I and my second brother will hold it up! Hahaha!"

  Su Dingfang burst out laughing loudly after he finished speaking.

  Everyone burst out laughing, laughing very happily and warmly; the humble Su family of five was warm like this. Su Ning looked at such a smile and also revealed a heartfelt smile from the bottom of his heart. Such a smile is what he wants to protect, such a smile is the biggest protection for him in his lifetime, he must always protect such a smile, let it forever bloom on the faces of every loved one, never withering.

  "Mmm! Delicious beyond compare, delicious beyond compare! Madam, come quick and try this, the chicken is incredibly tender! Delicious beyond compare! Haha! This little Three Bright, I haven't spoiled him for nothing, he's really done a great job with this dish. In the army camp, all he could scrounge up was a piece of bread, yes, bread, and a bowl of noodles, what flavor! Haha!" Old Li Jing took a sip of wine, ate a piece of chicken breast, shook his head and savored the taste.

  "Ah, delicious! Delicious! Master, this young man is quite decent, not unworthy of your patronage! From now on, have him send over a portion every day!"

  Li Jing shook his head and sighed, but he had no way to deal with Hong Fu Nü, his wife was still as stubborn and willful as ever, which really gave Li Jing a headache. Under the circumstances, Li Jing could only cast his loving gaze on his most beloved eldest grandson, 12-year-old Li Bo Yao (the historical records have different opinions about Li Bo Yao's birth and death years, so according to the plot needs, it is taken as 12 years old here), although the eldest son was incompetent, but the eldest grandson still inherited some of his own bravery.

  Li Boyao launched a crazy attack on fried chicken and called flower chicken, with infinite good feelings in his heart for the creator of these delicious foods "Sanming", just wanting to see him again and have another big meal; Li Jing lovingly stroked Li Boyao's head, thinking in her heart that it was time to let Li Boyao and Su Ning get closer.

  Li Shi-ji and his family also received a gift of food from Su Ning, Li Shi-ji was like Li Jing, eating with relish, his 13-year-old son Li Zhen was just like Li Bo-yao, children generally like this kind of fried food and barbecue, that's why KFC and McDonald's are so successful; seeing Li Zhen eat so happily, Li Shi-ji was also very happy.

  He took another sip of wine, and Li Shijie thought to himself that just now when the servant came to deliver the food, he had asked casually and found out that Su Ning had only sent food to Li Jing and himself. Li Shijie had an idea in his mind, Li Jing was indeed a veteran who had lived for over a hundred years, with a keen eye for people. Hmm, after tomorrow's grand court meeting, it would be time to let Zhen'er and Su Xiaozi get closer...