"Grandma, try this braised pork. I added a bit of fermented tofu sauce; it smells great and the meat is tender and flavorful, so it shouldn't be too greasy."

"Hmm, it's good, very tasty!"

"Try this steamed ribs too, they're really nice. Once you pick it up with chopsticks, the meat just falls off the bone; you can definitely eat it easily."

"This one's also good, the fermented bean flavor is strong and aromatic!"

"The boiled fish slices are tasty too, hardly any bones, just a bit spicy. If you're not used to it, just eat a little."

"Silly boy, there anyone from Zhangjiang who doesn't eat spicy?"

"..."

Though there were only two of them at home, Jiang Yu and Grandma were still very happy with their meal. The key was that the food was delicious!

No one could invite a chef like Jiang Yu to cook for New Year, not even in Lu Shuwu's family. During New Year's, his grandfather Lu Jinseng wouldn't be the one cooking.

To be able to hire a disciple of Lu Jinseng to cook would already be quite impressive.

So, if Lu Shuwu knew Jiang Yu made such a big table of dishes for New Year, he probably wouldn't be able to stay home; maybe he'd sneak over a day early to celebrate New Year with Jiang Yu.

The grandparents didn't rush, slowly eating their meal and chatting, making the atmosphere seem very harmonious.

Just then, Jiang Yu suddenly heard the sound of footsteps outside the courtyard, which made him turn his head in confusion.

During New Year, it's rare for people to visit. Most would celebrate at home first, and then neighbors would walk around and chat, maybe team up to play cards or something.

Why would someone come over at this time?

As he wondered, he heard a hearty laugh from outside, followed by a familiar loud voice:

"Old sister-in-law, still celebrating New Year? I've come to wish you a Happy New Year! Xiaoyu is here too, hahaha!"

As the voice spoke, someone walked in from outside.

Jiang Yu took a closer look; oh, wasn't this his granduncle? Did their family finish celebrating New Year so early?

This wasn't a question worth asking, since a guest had come!

Jiang Yu didn't say much more, quickly got up to bring a chair for his granduncle, and said,

"Granduncle, please have a seat, I'll make you some tea!"

"No need, no need!"

Granduncle waved his hands repeatedly, standing still and neither sitting nor leaving, his eyes tightly fixed on the dishes, his throat involuntarily moving up and down, chuckling dryly,

"I'm just here to have a look, just looking around...

Oh, Xiaoyu, your New Year's dinner is quite plentiful, just the two of you making such a big table of food; it would be a waste if you can't finish it!"

"Don't worry, it won't be wasted!"

Grandma knew exactly what the granduncle was thinking, without even glancing at him, she said while picking up food with chopsticks,

"In this cold winter, it won't spoil in a few days. Plus, we have a refrigerator, we can keep it and eat slowly."

Granduncle had a regretful expression, saying,

"Oh dear, such good dishes, the taste will change if left for a few days!"

Seeing his expression, Jiang Yu roughly guessed what was happening. This granduncle might not have finished his New Year's celebration and was thinking of "stealing" it here!

Thinking about it, he tentatively said, "Granduncle, why don't you join us and eat some more?"

"Oh dear, I won't be polite then!"

As soon as Jiang Yu finished speaking, the granduncle, as if waiting for these words, promptly moved forward, dragged a stool, sat down, and shamelessly smiled at Grandma,

"Old sister-in-law, I'm not being greedy, it's Xiaoyu inviting me to eat!"

"Look at you, what a lack of ambition!"

Grandma pursed her lips and said no more.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu quickly returned to the kitchen, bringing back a clean set of bowls and chopsticks.

The granduncle took them right away, not intending to drink, he grabbed the chopsticks and picked up a rib, stuffing it into his mouth, nodding repeatedly while eating:

"These ribs are really delicious, tender and juicy, flavorful and aromatic. My wife can't cook, she wastes such good ingredients!"

Seeing his eating manner, Jiang Yu couldn't help but feel amused. This granduncle was too funny; he had only heard of people mooching food, but here he was, going to someone else's home to "crash" New Year.

This was just absurd!

Jiang Yu was just about to sit down and resume eating when he heard another set of footsteps outside. Before he could turn his head, a group of people came in from outside bustlingly.

"Old sister-in-law, we're here to celebrate New Year with you!"

"Yes, it's just you and Xiaoyu for New Year, not lively at all. So we've all come together!"

"Yeah, yeah, more people make it lively for New Year. We hadn't thought of it before, but this year, we definitely have to keep you company!"

"..."

Although she knew these people were lying, hearing it made Grandma feel warm inside, and she stopped giving them a hard time. She instructed Jiang Yu,

"Xiaoyu, go get the bowls and chopsticks. Today, Grandma is going to have a good drink with your uncle and grandaunt!"

"Okay!"

Jiang Yu replied and ran back to the kitchen to get the bowls and chopsticks.

This New Year was really lively!

...

After the New Year, life started to calm down. With Jiang Yu at home, Grandma didn't go out to pick up trash anymore.

And with Jiang Yu at home, not only was the food good, but it also tasted great. Within less than half a month, Grandma's complexion became rosy, and her health visibly improved.

With that being the case, Jiang Yu was even less willing to let Grandma do any hard work.

To give Grandma something to do and prevent her from going out to pick up trash once he left, Jiang Yu thought for several days and finally came up with a good idea.

He hired some workers to build a wall around their yard and put up a shed in the corner.

After everything was done, Jiang Yu went to the fresh market, bought a large group of chicks and ducklings, and also brought back a little yellow mongrel. Once the gates were closed, these chickens, ducks, and the dog roamed freely in the yard.

When Grandma came back and saw the chicks and ducklings, she was overjoyed. She quickly went to the kitchen, grabbed some rice, and scattered it on the ground to feed them.

While feeding them, she asked, "Xiaoyu, why did you think of buying chickens and ducks?"

"Chickens and ducks raised by ourselves taste much better than those grown with feed. Plus, they can lay eggs for us to eat!"

Jiang Yu didn't tell Grandma the truth but smiled and said,

"You must take good care of these chickens and ducks, Grandma. Next time I come back, we won't need to buy them for food."

"Sure, sure! Don't worry, Grandma may not have other skills but can definitely raise chickens and ducks."

Grandma nodded repeatedly, saying, "Next time you come back, Grandma will kill a chicken and stew a duck for you!"

"I'm looking forward to that."

Jiang Yu chuckled and replied.

With these chickens and ducks keeping her busy, Grandma had no time to pick up trash. She also had to worry about someone sneaking into the yard to steal them.

The winter break didn't end until early February, but Jiang Yu couldn't stay at home for more than a few days.

Because, with Grandma having some free time, she suddenly became obsessed with matchmaking for him.

Every day, she dressed neatly and energetically went visiting neighbors, trying to find a gentle, virtuous, beautiful, and gracious girl for her eldest grandson during the Spring Festival.

Jiang Yu was "forced" to meet a few girls, but he really couldn't stay any longer, so right after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, he packed up and prepared to return to school.

Before leaving, he cooked a meal at home and invited all the aunts and neighbors over for a meal, entrusting Grandma to their care.

His idea was simple. Since Grandma didn't want to come to Jiangzhou with him, she had to stay at home alone. But after all, she was getting older, and her health wasn't great. If something happened to her at home alone, it would be hard for him to know right away.

However, with the aunts and neighbors looking after her, the situation would be much better. If anything happened, someone would inform him, and he could rush back immediately, leaving no regrets.

After finishing all these arrangements, on the morning of the sixteenth of the first lunar month, Jiang Yu made breakfast for Grandma.

After they finished breakfast, Grandma seemed reluctant to part and nagged him for a while, basically telling Jiang Yu to take good care of himself while away.

Finally, seeing that it was getting late, almost noon, Jiang Yu said,

"Grandma, take good care of yourself at home. Don't work as hard as before. Maintain good health; better days are still ahead for our family!"

"Okay, don't worry. Grandma is not foolish; I'll take good care of myself. I'm still waiting to hold great-grandchildren!"

Grandma nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"That's good. I'll be off then. If anything happens at home, just call me!"

Jiang Yu gave Grandma a radiant smile, picked up his luggage, and got into a taxi.

When he returned to Jiangzhou University, it was already afternoon. Jiang Yu didn't go to the Seventh Dining Hall; the second floor of the second dining hall was probably still under renovation and was a mess.

He carried his luggage straight back to his dormitory.

Since the Seventh Dining Hall had opened, Jiang Yu and Lu Shuwu mostly lived in a room separated on the second floor, so this dormitory was mostly vacant.

The room hadn't been inhabited for so long that the tables were covered in a thick layer of dust. The mat on Jiang Yu's bed hadn't been removed, and there was only a thin blanket on it.

After putting his luggage on the chair, Jiang Yu grabbed a broom and dustpan and started cleaning the dorm.

He worked until it was nearly dark, cleaning the dorm thoroughly. He laid a thick mattress and clean sheets on the bed and even replaced the quilt with a thick winter one.

Just as he was about to sit down and finally take a break, his phone on the table began to ring.

Looking at it, he saw it was Hu Zhihai calling.

Nobody knew he had returned to school; did this guy have a nose like a dog to find out so quickly?

As soon as the call connected, Hu Zhihai's laughter came from the other end,

"Lao Jiang, you're finally back? I've missed you!"

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