My Mother Has a System but Won't Use It

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The smell of curry, spices, the sound of an egg being roasted, and the chit-chat of the new mother and daughter pair rang throughout the kitchen for a while before the humble table was filled with tasty-looking dishes.

Other than meat, there was almost everything there. Han Li hadn't bothered to buy meat earlier even though he no longer had any financial issues. But there were some cold fish that Yue Li cut and fried using her very own cooking techniques and spices exclusive to this world.

Looking at the table, Yue Li and Liyue couldn't help but smile.

"You should be the one to call him here this time. Go, I will set the plates," Yue Li said, patting the girl's back.

Liyue nodded. She knew the etiquette. But just as she was about to go and call Han Li, he came into the kitchen with a smile.

Looking at the table, he took a whiff.

"Smells great..." he said with a smile and immediately sat down. Yue Li motioned at Liyue to serve him.

She swallowed and briefly looked at his side profile before taking the rice and serving it to him.

"You guys also sit down," Han Li said and dragged his mother to sit beside him. On his right.

Liyue also served food for Yue Li. "Now, you also sit down." Han Li made her sit to his left.

She was a bit shy but held it back and got comfortable. As comfortable as she could get sitting mere inches away from a man.

Han Li took it by him to serve her food and with a nod, he said, "Let's eat."

Yue Li also nodded and they dug into the dish. Mother was indeed a great cook that once they started eating, even Han Li who had tasted all sorts of delicacy, couldn't help but praise inside. Earth's cooking style was indeed different from theirs.

Even though Yue Li lacked some spices and tools, her intuition as a cook was top-notch.

"Mom, take some eggs from there," Han Li said.

Yue Li paused, took the plate of fried eggs, and passed it to him. Han Li looked at her face and saw a rice stuck on her cheek. He casually took it and put it into his mouth.

Liyue couldn't help but pause in the middle of her eating. 'They are really close...' Yue Li didn't even feel the action to be noticeable. It was such a normal thing for them. But to her, it seemed so amazing.

Han Li got his portion and he passed some to Liyue. "Mom has a knack for any dish with eggs, try it."

She tentatively took a piece and gently placed it into her mouth. It was still warm and immediately after eating, she couldn't help but flinch.

'Spicy...!' It was the spiciest thing she had ever eaten. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But Han Li was already ready with water and gave it to her with a smile. "How is it?" He asked.

She drank the cool water and after a bit, calmed her tastebuds down. "It is spicy but I like it. How did you do it... Mother, I never saw you doing something different from normal."

"She has a knack with spices that even I couldn't really figure out with all the time I spent watching her. It will take time for you to learn," Han Li said, quite proud of his mother's talent.

After that, the three silently ate the rest of the food with occasional small talk in between. And before they knew it, they were full and the plates were about empty.

Han Li satisfactorily drank the cool lemon juice that she had made and with a sigh, said, "Good food, cook meat tomorrow..."

Yue Li wondered whether it was too extravagant. True, they had gotten a small fortune but what about after it was over? But she didn't ask. She had to let her son maintain his face infront of his new wife-to-be.

They washed their hands and soon, they were clean. Liyue hesitated but asked, "I am going back for now... Can I take the rest of the food for my mother?"

Yue Li nodded. "I will pack it for you, and he will take you home."

"Is there enough left for her mother?" Han Li asked. He hadn't even thought of that.

"There is plenty left, even for her father." Yue Li said, rolling her eyes at him. Of course she would cook for them too. But she might have indeed gone a bit overboard though. The budget wasn't considered at all.

...

As Han Li picked his teeth with a small D.I.Y toothpick, Liyue and Yue Li washed the dishes together. Yue Li rejected her help but Liyue didn't listen and just silently kept helping.

After that, they packed the leftovers and Yue Li looked at Han Li and ordered, "Take her home."

"You are not coming?" Han Li asked with curiosity. She was a bit too proactive for the girl, right?

Yue Li looked at Liyue and smiled. "No, you guys should also have some good alone time after all. Speak with each other."

She didn't know why but the more time she spent with the girl, the more she liked her. Her silent but caring attitude somehow touched right on her heart.

She could also see that the girl had a sense of inferiority complex. So, Doctor Yue Li had to fix it. Such a cute girl should immediately become her son's wife. "I guess I will take her home then..." Han Li took her hand. "I guess it is also the better thing for me to do by meeting my Mother-in-law too. Would she be asleep?"

Liyue's eyes lit up and she shook her head. She said with enthusiasm Han Li hadn't seen on her before, "Mom only sleeps after I do. She would be very happy if you could visit her. She also wanted to see me married."

"It's only natural I visit her. Mom, you should also get acquainted with her when you get the chance." "Okay, for now... Tell her that I would like to meet her," She said while looking into Han Li's eyes. She knew they had a way of healing people like Liyue's mother after all.

Han Li held the gaze for a while before smiling. He would have to make some plans.