It was late at night, and Xue Heng's stomach growled with hunger.
Xue Huan sat on the sofa on the other side, looking sad, holding his legs motionless.
Finally, Mrs. Chen opened the door and walked out.
Xue Huan and Xue Heng stood up quickly, stepped forward and asked, "Mom, are you... feeling better?"
Mrs. Chen's face looked a little sad, and she sighed softly: "I'm still a little dizzy. I'm hungry, so I plan to go out and find something to eat."
Xue Heng said hurriedly: "I...I will go out to find food."
Ms. Chen shook her head and said, "No, I'll see if there's anything else delicious at home, and just fill my stomach with it."
Xue Huan did not dare to speak and followed his brother.
Mrs. Chen asked doubtfully: "By the way, where is your father?"
"Dad, he hasn't come back since he went out." Xue Heng whispered.
Mrs. Chen looked at the clock on the wall and found that it was already past eleven o'clock in the evening.
"He's not back so late?! Where can he go?"
Xue Heng replied: "I should go to sister Lingling's house."
Just then, there was a knock on the outer door.
Xue Heng quickly turned around and opened it - Cheng Tianyuan was standing at the door supporting his father.
"Brother-in-law!"
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and said: "Uncle, my father and I drank some wine and were a little tipsy. I thought the lights were not bright enough at night, so I would be more relieved to send him back."
Xue Zhilan's face turned red and he smiled.
"I told you, I just had a drink, not drunk. A Yuan is just worried and insists on sending me back."
He walked in, staggered, and almost hit the door bolt.
Xue Heng and Cheng Tianyuan were startled and hurriedly supported him.
Chen said angrily: "You shouldn't be careful! Look at you! It's not serious at all! You said you're not drunk, but you're already walking staggeringly!"
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and said: "Auntie, don't be angry. Tonight, my father-in-law and my father had kebabs together. They had a good time and drank a little wine. Uncle Zhilan happened to be there too, so they took him to eat together. Three
When you have company, you will get high as you drink."
Mrs. Chen gave an embarrassed smile and whispered: "Ayuan, thank you! I'm not angry, I'm just... worried about him. It's so late at night. Fortunately, I'm going to your house. You can definitely take good care of him."
"Brother-in-law, thank you!" Xue Heng said.
Cheng Tianyuan stopped and said, "Thank you, we're just a few steps away. Let uncle lie down on the sofa first, and you go get him a cup of tea. If he doesn't vomit or anything, you can help him go to sleep."
"Hey!" Xue Heng nodded.
Mrs. Chen quickly went to the kitchen to make tea.
At this time, Xue Heng's stomach growled. Xue Huan on the side had barely eaten dinner, and his stomach also growled.
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and asked: "Are you hungry? Didn't you go for supper?"
"I...we were just planning to cook some midnight snacks." Xue Heng whispered, "I'm not very full after dinner. Isn't it late at night? I'm really hungry."
Cheng Tianyuan seemed to remember something and couldn't help but ask: "Do you want to eat porridge? I have a pot of porridge at home that I haven't eaten yet. My father and the others only drank wine and ate meat at night. Ling Ling didn't eat dinner at home either. After returning home, she took the children to bed.
There is a pot of porridge warming on the stove at home."
"That's great!" Xue Heng whispered: "There are no ingredients in my kitchen. My parents prepared a lot of dishes in the afternoon and cooked them all. There is nothing left."
Cheng Tianyuan said: "Just wait, I will get it for you."
"No! Why bother brother-in-law again!" Xue Heng said: "I will accompany you to bring it. I can't let you make one more trip."
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and said, "Let's go then!"
Xue Huan waved his hand and smiled: "Thank you, brother-in-law. Brother-in-law, please go slowly."
Cheng Tianyuan nodded slightly, turned around and walked away with Xue Heng.
The lights in the community were relatively bright, and the two of them were walking on the road, chatting quietly.
Cheng Tianyuan couldn't help but ask: "Uncle Zhilan is not in a good mood tonight. Did something happen at home?"
"I had a quarrel with my brother." Xue Heng muttered.
Cheng Tianyuan smiled slightly and said: "It is inevitable that a family will bump into each other and quarrel a few times. It's normal. It's okay. We will be fine after we sleep tomorrow. Please ask Ah Huan to call Dad more often and be more considerate to the old man."
Xue Heng nodded, not knowing what to say.
Everyone in the Cheng family has gone to bed, leaving only a small lamp in the living room.
Xue Heng followed him into the kitchen and found a large casserole warming on the stove. There was indeed a pot of white porridge inside. It was thick and hot, and the aroma of warm rice made him salivate.
Cheng Tianyuan said: "Just wait, I'll get you some pickles. We just got them here to dry them. We ate them a few days ago. They are very crispy and delicious."
"Okay!" Xue Heng nodded quickly.
Cheng Tianyuan took some braised pork and a bowl of pickles that he had not eaten for dinner, wrapped them in clean oil paper, and then covered them with a net bag.
"Okay, it won't fall off easily this way."
Xue Heng took two rags, picked up the casserole, took the net bag and hurried downstairs.
Cheng Tianyuan pressed the elevator button for him and said, "Go carefully."
Xue Heng smiled and nodded: "Brother-in-law, I'm leaving! See you tomorrow!"
After returning home, Xue Heng found that Xue Zhilan was much awake and sitting on the sofa drinking tea.
The mother and son sat down, some were spooning porridge, some were cutting meat, some were setting out bowls, chopsticks and pickles, and they quickly formed a circle to eat.
Xue Zhilan looked at his wife and children eating happily under the light, and smiled unconsciously.
"I suddenly remembered something... That year, A Heng was only seven years old and your brother was four. In order to take care of you, your mother and I had to take turns to work night shifts and go home in the evening. At that time, neither the home nor the hospital were there.
The phone was such an advanced thing, so your mother and I made an appointment in advance before going to work. That evening, the old aunt who was looking after you saw that the time was up, so she hurried back to her home. A Heng and your brother just
Eat a small bowl of soup to fill your stomach, and then sit at the door waiting for me to go back and cook for you. Your mother has to work the night shift that night. I was supposed to get off work early after the afternoon surgery. Who knew that the emergency department would suddenly send someone to you?
A patient who had been in a car accident needed an operation urgently, but unfortunately the attending doctor had an assistant, so he had to ask me to help. I forced myself to finish the operation, but found that it was already past twelve o'clock in the evening."
When Xue Zhilan said this, there were tears in his eyes.
"I suddenly remembered that you two brothers were still waiting for me to come home to cook, so I jumped on my bicycle and rushed home. Unexpectedly, the snow was a bit heavy that night, the car skidded, and I fell. My leg was injured.
My ankle hurt like crazy, but luckily I checked and found no bones. The place happened to be next to your mother's hospital. I jumped into the emergency room of the hospital and asked for some oil to rub the injury. At this time, one of your mother's colleagues recognized
I came and hurried to the back to find your mother. Unexpectedly, your mother happened to be stitching up a patient and couldn't leave. By the time she came out after her work, I had already left."
"I hobbled and hurried home with my bicycle. When I got home, the lights were still on. You two brothers hugged each other and fell asleep on the sofa. I felt guilty and sad at the time, so I quickly opened the door.
Close the door, cover you with a quilt, and go into the kitchen to make rice porridge. Your mother heard that I was injured in the middle of the night, so she was not in the mood to continue working, so she quickly asked her colleagues to help cover her up, and hurried back."