Chapter Twenty: Words Left Unspoken

“Mom, not only does Xiaoyi understand the goodwill you and Dad have, I bet even her colleagues do!” Ning Shuyue answered on her sister’s behalf, “And it’s not just her colleagues—back in our kindergarten, the teachers all understood how much you and Dad cared! You just want your daughter to have more support at work, right? Don’t worry, Xiaoyi gets it! Let her handle it herself!”

“You don’t understand. Your situation is different from your sister’s,” their mother shook her head, perhaps frustrated at having to spell out her intentions. “Your colleagues at the kindergarten get along well, so work is comfortable. But for your sister, the more harmonious her relationships are at work, the more at ease your father and I feel. Given the nature of her job, good relations with colleagues are crucial—at critical moments, it’s a kind of security!”

With her mouth full, Ning Shuyi couldn’t reply, but her mother’s earnest logic made her want to laugh and warmed her heart at the same time. She could only chuckle silently, swallowing her food before joking, “Mom, I never realized you could be so practical!”

Her mother reached out and gave her a playful smack on the head, glaring at her in mock anger.

“Ever since your dad retired, the professional chef has become just another old retiree. He’s got nothing left but his cooking skills, so letting him show off a bit keeps him happy—everyone wins! Just look, the power’s out upstairs, and he’s been up there helping for almost an hour! He’s got all this energy and nowhere to spend it!”

Ning Shuyi and her sister exchanged a look and both laughed.

They’d grown up used to their parents’ temperaments and way of dealing with people.

Their mother was the classic sharp tongue with a soft heart—soft as could be, but always stubborn.

As for their father, he was energetic, kind-hearted, and endlessly patient. As far back as Ning Shuyi could remember, she’d never seen her father truly lose his temper.

“Mom, don’t worry, I’m already well looked after at work! Remember Zhao Dabao from my team? The last time he came over for dinner, he couldn’t stop talking about Dad’s lamb spine stew—he’s mentioned it several times, wants to get the recipe so he can cook it for his wife.”

“Oh, that round-faced Xiao Zhao! I remember him!” her mother brightened. “Didn’t he say his wife was pregnant last time? I’ll have your dad write out the recipe tonight, and you can bring it to him tomorrow! At such an important time for their family, she needs something nutritious and tasty!”

After saying that, she casually asked, “And how old is your new colleague? Married yet?”

“I think Huo Yan is two or three years older than me. Not married, and staying in the company dorm for now,” Ning Shuyi replied offhandedly.

Her mother sighed, “So he’s probably not from around here. It’s tough—new place, demanding job, and all alone! You get home late, but there’s always a warm meal waiting for you, while that kid just has a cold, empty dorm room.”

“Mom, you and Dad really have to stop caring so much about my colleagues! Our house is practically our team’s headquarters for group activities, and if you keep feeding everyone like this, my coworkers will have to work overtime just to keep their waistlines in check!” Ning Shuyi teased.

Her mother could only laugh and wave her off, conceding, “Alright! I won’t worry about anything else. When your dad comes back, I’ll have him write down the recipe, and you can give it to Xiao Zhao tomorrow!”

Just then, her brother-in-law, Nie Guang, pushed open the kitchen door, grinning as he asked Ning Shuyue, “Honey, what are you and Mom chatting about in here, so happy?”

Shuyue’s eyes flickered as she shook her head, “Nothing much, just talking about Xiaoyi’s coworkers.”

Ning Shuyi glanced up at her sister, then lowered her eyes and kept eating.

“Oh.” Nie Guang smiled and turned to Ning Shuyi. “Speaking of which, Xiaoyi, another New Year’s gone by, and your sister and I are already being asked when we’ll have children. But you haven’t even started dating yet! That’s odd—your workplace must have plenty of outstanding single men, right? Even your sister managed to marry out from a kindergarten full of female teachers, and you, working at the police bureau, surrounded by eligible bachelors, are still single at your age? Hard to believe!”

Ning Shuyi just grinned at him, kept her head down, and drank her soup, ignoring the bait.

Her mother, unfazed, patted her eldest daughter’s hand and said, “It’s fine, your father and I aren’t worried. Xiaoyi’s work is demanding, and marriage is a serious matter. When she meets the right person, she’ll get married. If not, we’re perfectly able to look after our own daughter. And Xiaoyue, you two don’t need to care about other people’s pressure. Having a child is no joke—it’s a lifelong responsibility. Only do it when you’re truly ready.”

Shuyue nodded, and Nie Guang gave their mother a thumbs-up, “Mom, you always have the right perspective!”

By the time their father came back from fixing the circuit breaker upstairs, Nie Guang and Shuyue had already left. Shuyi had finished her meal and was back in her room reading.

He knew that his younger daughter liked to unwind with a book in the evening after a long day’s work, so he didn’t disturb her.

The next morning, when Ning Shuyi woke up, her parents had already gone out for their morning exercises. They’d left her breakfast on the table, along with a note.

The note reminded her to eat well, and that the recipe for Zhao Dabao was ready. She should take it to work, along with the side dish for the new colleague staying alone in the dorm.

Shuyi couldn’t help but smile, and after breakfast, she headed out.

When she got to work, Zhao Dabao had just arrived too. Shuyi quickly handed him the recipe, knowing how busy things would get soon.

Zhao beamed, “Wow, Shuyi! Uncle Ning is incredible! Most chefs would never share their signature dishes!”

“It’s nothing—my dad has plenty of specialties,” Shuyi waved him off.

“Last time I took home a box of food from your place for my wife. She was pregnant and couldn’t keep anything down, but your dad’s cooking was the only thing she could eat! I really need to go learn from him again!”

“Why don’t you bring a formal gift and officially become his apprentice? If you ever get tired of being a cop, you can open a restaurant!” Shuyi joked.

“No problem! If I open a restaurant, you eat for free!” Zhao Dabao declared, pounding his chest in mock bravado.