Stop at the First Hint of Tipsiness

Okay, I'll sort this out when I get back to Haicheng. You guys stay here for now.

Su Dagang nodded. Right, I suddenly thought of something.

What is it?

You and Xiao Pan... Su Dagang rolled his eyes playfully and blinked with a smile, Do you have any plans on when to get married?

What? Married? Su Yang froze for a second.

The topic had changed too fast, taking a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

What? Don't tell me you don't want to marry her? I won't agree to that! Xiao Pan is such a good girl.

It's not that I don't want to. It's just that we're both still young, so there's no rush right now.

You're almost twenty-five, and there's no rush!

Ah, I'll arrange it when the time comes.

Hmph, anyway, you have to treat her well. A good girl like her doesn't lack excellent suitors. If you don't cherish her, you'll regret it to death later.

Don't worry, Dad, I know. Taking a step back, if she wasn't a girl I liked, would I bring her home for you to meet? Su Yang said, blinking at Su Dagang with a smile. Right, Dad? Think about it.

Su Dagang thought for a moment and said, That's true.

So, you guys shouldn't worry about this.

Alright, alright, our son has grown up, and he doesn't need us to worry about anything anymore, Su Dagang said deliberately.

Su Yang smiled helplessly. Alright, Dad, let's not talk about this. You take your time drinking your tea, I'll go see what delicious food they're making.

Go on, go on. Su Dagang went back to his tea.

Su Yang got up and walked toward the kitchen. Reaching the doorway, he tilted his head to look and saw Chen Liping and Pan Ning chatting and laughing while chopping vegetables together.

The scene looked incredibly harmonious, leaving Su Yang a bit stunned for a moment.

Before coming, he was a little worried that Pan Ning wouldn't get along with his parents.

Who knew Pan Ning would undergo such an earth-shattering personality shift, amusing the two elders so much that they were overjoyed. This was something he never expected in a million years.

As he was watching, Chen Liping in the kitchen noticed Su Yang at the door.

She turned her head and called out, What are you doing standing there like a fool?

Huh? Oh, watching you guys work.

What's there to watch? Go away, go do your own thing.

Pan Ning chimed in with a bright smile, If you want to watch, come over and help.

Exactly, if you want to watch, then help.

Su Yang smiled, walking into the kitchen and saying nonchalantly, I'll help, then. My cooking is better than yours anyway.

Do you think I don't know whether you can cook or not? Chen Liping rolled her eyes at Su Yang.

Pan Ning added, Auntie, he actually isn't lying about that. I can vouch for him.

Really?

Mhm, his food is really delicious. I eat it all the time.

Oh? When did you sneak off to learn how to cook behind my back?

Mom, did you forget I run a restaurant? My restaurant is full of top chefs from home and abroad. I just learned a bit from them when I had free time.

Is that so?

Yeah, so my cooking skills are super good now.

Then we'll let you make a dish later.

Sure.

Pan Ning smiled and pulled Su Yang over. Help prep the vegetables.

Alright.

Su Yang washed his hands and joined in to help. For a while, bursts of cheerful laughter rang out from the kitchen.

In the living room, seeing that Su Yang hadn't returned, Su Dagang also got up and walked to the kitchen to take a look.

Seeing this, a happy smile immediately appeared on his face.

Ah, this is wonderful, Su Dagang muttered to himself at the door.

Hearing his voice, Su Yang, who was prepping vegetables, turned his head and said, Dad, come help.

Chen Liping also called out, That's right, we're all working. Since you want to watch, come over and help together.

You have enough people, you don't need me.

Pan Ning smiled and said, Yes, Auntie, Uncle doesn't need to help. The few of us are enough. Uncle, go drink your tea and watch TV.

Hehe, oh my, Xiao Pan is the best. She knows how to care for people. Su Dagang smiled from ear to ear.

Chen Liping rolled her eyes at Su Dagang. Go, go, go.

Alright then. Xiao Pan, sorry to trouble you. Just do a little bit and then come take a rest.

It's fine, Uncle. I like helping Auntie with things.

Haha, good, good. Then you guys keep at it. Su Dagang turned and left with a smile.

Time passed quickly. At six-thirty in the evening, all the dishes were ready.

There were twelve dishes in total. Chen Liping had cooked eleven of them. Still not entirely reassured, she only let Su Yang make a simple stir-fried beef.

Su Dagang also came over to help serve the dishes. Soon, the dining table was full.

In the middle of the table sat an extra-large round platter filled with several types of seafood: hairy crabs, mantis shrimp, sea cucumbers, abalone, scallops, and more.

The other dishes included a series of home-cooked meals like kidney bean and pig trotter stew, shrimp paste stuffed peppers, braised pork with bamboo shoots, dry pot spare ribs, and steamed basa fish.

Looking at the large table of food that was perfect in color, aroma, and taste, Pan Ning hugged Chen Liping and praised, Auntie, you're amazing!! You casually made so many dishes, my mouth is watering just looking at them.

Haha, then hurry up and sit down. Let's eat!

Wait, with such great food, we need some liquor! I'll go get the alcohol. Yang, tonight the two of us father and son will have a good drink. You ladies can have soft drinks.

Su Yang smiled and said, What soft drinks? Let's drink alcohol. Mom should have a little today too, but mostly it's Pan Pan who drinks.

Oh? Xiao Pan can drink a bit too?

A bit? Dad, let me put it this way: with her tolerance, she could outdrink a hundred of you.

Now you're just talking nonsense! Su Dagang glared at Su Yang and laughed.

Pan Ning also glared at Su Yang. What nonsense are you saying?

But can Xiao Pan really drink? Su Dagang looked at Pan Ning and asked.

Pan Ning nodded and smiled sweetly. Uncle, my alcohol tolerance is actually quite decent.

Oh? That's great! I'll go get the alcohol! Su Dagang smiled and quickly trotted over to the liquor cabinet. He had recently bought quite a few bottles of premium Maotai and Wuliangye.

He turned his head toward the dining room and shouted, Are we drinking baijiu?

Yes, baijiu, Su Yang replied.

Alright, do you want sauce-aroma or strong-aroma?

Sauce-aroma, sauce-aroma.

Okay, then we'll go with Maotai. Su Dagang took out two bottles of Maotai from the cabinet, returned to the dining table, and set them down.

Ah, I'm so happy today, even happier than New Year's. We have to drink a bit more!

Chen Liping smiled. Drinking is fine, but don't get yourself drunk, that'll be uncomfortable.

Don't worry, we'll stop when we're slightly tipsy.

Alright then, hurry up and wash your hands so we can eat.

Soon, the four of them were gathered around the dining table. Su Dagang was just about to pour the liquor when Pan Ning immediately spoke up, Uncle, let me pour it.

Hey, you've already been a huge help today. How could I let you pour the drinks? I'll do it.

Alright.

Su Dagang smiled and poured the liquor. He also poured a small glass for Chen Liping, who usually didn't drink much.

Liping, you have a little bit today too.

Absolutely. I have to have a few drinks with Pan Pan.

Haha, good.

With the glasses filled, the four of them raised their cups, reached into the center of the table, and clinked them together.

Su Dagang looked at Su Yang and Pan Ning, suddenly speaking with deep earnestness, "I won't ramble on, I just want to say one thing."

"I hope the two of you will be happy together. Your lives are just beginning, and you might face many things in the future. You might argue or have conflicts, but no matter what, I sincerely wish that you will love and stay with each other for a lifetime."

As soon as Su Dagang finished speaking, Pan Ning actually began to cry.

A teardrop slipped from her crystal-clear eyes and rolled down her cheek.

"Oh my, what are you saying? You even made Pan Pan cry." Chen Liping hurriedly put down her wine glass, pulled a tissue, and helped wipe away Pan Ning's tears.

Pan Ning took the tissue and smiled faintly, "It's okay, Auntie. I was just touched by Uncle's words, I'm fine."

On the other side, Su Yang reached out to wipe the tears from her cheek and looked at Su Dagang, "Dad, thank you for your blessing."

"You brat! Why are you saying thank you to me?"

"Hehe, come on, let's toast!"

"Alright, enough talking, let's drink and eat."

The group picked up their glasses again, clinked them together, and tilted their heads back to drink.

"By the way, I heard from your mom that you stir-fried a dish?" Su Dagang picked up his chopsticks and looked at the food on the table.

Su Yang smiled, "It's the stir-fried beef right in front of you."

"Oh? Really, you cooked this?"

"Yes, give it a try."

"Alright, let me test your cooking skills." Under the expectant gazes of the other three, Su Dagang picked up a slice of beef and put it into his mouth.

After just two chews, his eyes widened. Looking at Chen Liping with a face full of disbelief, he shouted, "Liping, quick, quick, try this!"

"What's wrong? What kind of reaction is that? Is it good or not?"

"It's so delicious that words can't describe it."

......