Chapter 142: Preparation

In the late afternoon, the Yan family prepared to head home, but Yan Ruhai, stubborn as a mule, insisted on staying behind at the Zhong residence.

On the way back, Song Man grumbled to her husband about their youngest son, "That boy Hai has absolutely no sense of propriety. Look at the kind of son I raised; the young couple is trying to enjoy some time alone, yet he just has to barge in."

Yan Hejun remained silent, thinking to himself, "Isn't he your son too?"

Old Master Yan walked straight ahead, ignoring the squabbles between his wife and son. He had always lived by the principle that a patriarch should play the part of someone who is neither deaf nor dumb, but chooses to hear and see nothing.

Back at the Zhong residence, Yan Ruhai’s enthusiasm for Gou Dan showed no signs of waning. He followed the robot everywhere, unwilling to take a single step away from it. He was fascinated by the rhythmic way Gou Dan walked, and he was even more thrilled whenever he spoke to the robot and received a coherent response.

"Hai, don't get in Gou Dan's way; it's slicing fruit," Yan Rushan said from the kitchen, where he was helping peel a pomelo. "You’re not a child anymore, try to act a bit more composed."

"I know, brother," Yan Ruhai said, curbing his excitement slightly.

Zhong Yuxiu had nothing to do, so she sat in the living room reading a medical text. With her mental powers, she could easily perceive everything happening in the kitchen. She shook her head with a soft smile, thinking that a home with two children was surely much livelier.

In the future, single-child families were the norm, making households far less bustling than in this era. Single-child families meant less pressure on parents, while large families meant more. Each had its own merits, she supposed.

Once the pomelo segments were peeled and placed on a plate, Yan Rushan carried them out of the kitchen and set them beside Yuxiu.

"Xiuer, don't just focus on your book; eat some fruit. It’s dry in the winter, and you should eat fruit regularly."

"Mhm." Zhong Yuxiu looked up at him, resting her chin in her hands. "Since Hai likes Gou Dan so much, why don't we let him move in here? That way he can see Gou Dan every day."

Yan Rushan chuckled, sitting down beside her and sliding the plate toward her. "If he heard that, he’d actually take you up on it."

"Hai is in high school now, right?"

"Second year," Yan Rushan nodded.

Zhong Yuxiu was surprised. "Doesn't that mean he can take the college entrance exam next year?"

"Yes. I’ll make sure he studies hard in the first half of the year; I can't let him just play around." He paused, then added, "I originally planned for him to enroll in a military academy to follow in Father's footsteps, but that doesn't seem right anymore. He could study firearms and mechanical engineering at a military academy, though his career advancement might be slower."

Without tangible results, promotion would be out of the question.

"I see," Zhong Yuxiu said thoughtfully. "Could he enroll in a National Defense program? He could just double-major in his interests."

Yan Rushan’s eyes lit up. "I'll ask him. Hai, come out here, I have something to ask you."

"Coming!" Yan Ruhai hurried over. "Brother, what is it?"

"Your sister-in-law and I were just discussing your future. You want to research firearms and thermal weapons, but Father wants you to follow his career path. Do you think you can handle both?"

Yan Ruhai was momentarily stunned. "Handle both? How?"

"Enroll in a National Defense program and double-major in weapons research."

"Is that even possible?"

Yan Ruhai was intrigued. "If it’s doable, I’m definitely willing. It’ll be harder, but I can handle that much."

"Then go back and talk to Father about it. You can go now." Yan Rushan dismissed him.

"Brother, I am your brother, right?"

"Aren't you?" Yan Rushan looked at him impassively.

Yan Ruhai stood up and walked toward the kitchen, muttering, "You treat me like an inconvenience. I don't think I'm your biological brother. Maybe I was switched at birth."

"Maybe you were picked up from a trash can at the hospital," Yan Rushan replied heartlessly.

"Why don't you say that about yourself?" Yan Ruhai spun around, looking thoroughly displeased.

Yan Rushan scoffed, "Do you have any idea how much I look like Father?"

"Fine, fine. You look like Father, you're the great one."

Zhong Yuxiu pursed her lips to hide a smile. Watching Yan Ruhai head happily into the kitchen, she said, "Brother Yan, can we get some mutton or beef right now? If we can, let’s have Gou Dan stew some up. We should invite Old Master Yan, Father, and Mother over for dinner. It’ll be lively with more people."

"I can do that. It’s almost the end of the year, so there’s plenty of meat on the market. I’ll call Luo San and have him set some aside." Yan Rushan immediately went to the telephone, picked up the receiver, and dialed Luo Lijun’s number. "Hey, Luo San, have we sold all the meat we have on hand?"

Luo San replied, "There’s still some left. Why, do you need some? I can drop it off in a bit."

"No need, just bring some extra beef and mutton. Keep it at your place, and I’ll come pick it up tonight."

"Sure."

Hanging up, Yan Rushan returned to Zhong Yuxiu's side. "It’s settled. I’ll go get it and bring it over for you this evening."

"Thank you, you’re too kind."

"Anything for you is no trouble at all."

Zhong Yuxiu felt a warmth in her heart and smiled brightly. "How about we have hot pot tomorrow? Let Gou Dan prepare the hot pot; we just need to get plenty of meat and vegetables. We can cook as we eat—that way the food won't get cold."

"That sounds perfect," Yan Rushan said. "What do we need for hot pot?"

"A gas canister, two pots, and I’ll write down the seasonings. Let’s go out and buy them together."

Yan Rushan agreed.

Zhong Yuxiu went to the utility room for paper and a pen. She wrote down the gas canister and the pots, then listed the seasonings one by one. She added a long list of meats and vegetables; the house didn't have enough food for that many people, so they needed to stock up. If they were just stir-frying, what they had would be enough, but for hot pot, it wouldn't be nearly enough. Hot pot was delicious, and people tended to eat until they were stuffed, so she needed to prepare plenty to avoid any awkward shortages.

"Alright, Brother Yan, it’s still early, let’s go and return quickly. I’m not sure if the supply and marketing cooperative will have everything we need." It was a last-minute decision, so they were a bit caught off guard.

"If the cooperative doesn't have it, I'll find it elsewhere." They sold such a wide variety of goods that he was sure they could find everything.

Zhong Yuxiu went upstairs to put on a padded jacket and grabbed fifty yuan. Downstairs, Yan Rushan dragged Yan Ruhai along as free labor, and the three of them set out.

They weren't in a rush, so no one thought to drive. The snow had stopped. People were clearing the streets; some areas were clear, while patches of ice and snow still remained. The north wind howled, stinging their faces, and they dared not keep their hands exposed.

The trio first went to the supply and marketing cooperative for seasonings, then to a grocery store for some fresh vegetables. With the end of the year approaching, neither place was fully stocked.

After ordering a gas canister and arranging for delivery, the three of them headed home. By the time they reached the compound, the delivery person had already arrived. After paying for the canister, Zhong Yuxiu breathed a sigh of relief as the sky began to darken.

"Finally finished." She handed everything over to Gou Dan. "Gou Dan, tomorrow, prepare two hot pot bases: one spicy oil and one clear broth. Prep plenty of raw meats and vegetables. We’re having hot pot tomorrow, so no need to stir-fry anything."

It was convenient and quick; as long as the base was good, the taste wouldn't be lacking.

"Beep-beep." Gou Dan acknowledged, updating its schedule: No cooking, prepare for hot pot.

Zhong Yuxiu checked her purse and realized that Yan Rushan had insisted on paying for almost everything today. She had only managed to pay once.