Confidence
Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying, husband and wife, boarded the southbound train. They were accompanied by two young comrades, Zhang Li, the security guard, and Bai Qian, who also served as a communication officer.
“It’s been a long time since I took a train,” Qin Ying remarked as she looked out the window, feeling the cool breeze blowing in, dispelling the summer heat.
The weather made people lose their appetites, and long-distance travel was even more unbearable.
Gu Ze’an, on the other hand, remained calm, resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing Qin Ying’s comment, he opened one eye, then closed it again, and finally glanced briefly at his wife.
Bai Qian brought over several boxed meals, steaming hot and fragrant.
Zhang Li commented, “It smells delicious.”
“Leader, please have a taste,” he urged.
The two young men were already hungry by this time. Gu Ze’an urged them to eat while it was still hot. He and Qin Ying didn’t have much appetite, but he habitually took a few bites of the food.
“This does indeed smell delicious,” Gu Ze’an commented to Qin Ying.
Qin Ying took a few bites but couldn’t discern much flavour. She had fallen ill a few years ago, and after recovering, her sense of taste hadn’t fully returned. Sometimes she couldn’t taste anything at all. She had seen doctors and taken medicine for a long time, but with no improvement, she had given up.
“Getting old means losing your sense of taste,” she sighed.
Eating in such hot weather was torture for her. The food looked appetizing, but it lacked flavour once in her mouth.
In recent years, Qin Ying had taken to cooking herself, but she couldn’t taste her own dishes. She just added oil, salt, and spices randomly, eating just for the sake of it. Adding more chili pepper made it a bit more flavourful, at least.
Their younger daughter loved her cooking and wished she could eat it every day.
Gu Ze’an’s sense of taste wasn’t much better. He couldn’t taste saltiness very well and preferred heavy oil and salt. He loved fatty meat, but eating like that was a big taboo. Having bland soups every day wasn’t enjoyable either.
When they were young, Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying were big eaters; they could eat anything when they were hungry, experiencing all kinds of flavours. But now that they were old, their tongues weren’t as good as before. Ironically, now that their conditions had improved and they could afford better food, they couldn’t taste it anymore.
Gu Ze’an joked with Qin Ying, “We’re a couple of big-tongued people.”
Qin Ying shook her head and replied, “Being able to eat is a blessing. As long as we’re not starving, that’s good enough.”
Their taste buds weren’t great, but they didn’t tell their children about it, fearing they would worry. They had endured hardships in their youth, becoming accustomed to life and death struggles. They thought this minor ailment wouldn’t affect much.
As long as they were alive, it was enough.
Zhang Li and Bai Qian sat opposite the couple, enjoying their meal wholeheartedly. They couldn’t stop eating; they found the food on this train exceptionally delicious, much better than what the cafeteria cooks could make. They heard that the head chef used to work at a famous restaurant and was even a disciple of a renowned chef. Now, he was employed by the state and in charge of cooking on this train.
—The food on the train is really delicious!
Seeing the two young men enjoying their meal, Gu Ze’an felt a bit uneasy. He glanced at Qin Ying, who ate with little enthusiasm.
Adhering to the principle of not wasting food, the couple finished their meal.
After Zhang Li finished one serving, he went to get another. Bai Qian did the same. The two young men, hearty eaters, felt a bit embarrassed after finishing their meals.
Gu Ze’an chuckled and remarked, “Just like my sons, they can really eat.”
The two men grinned foolishly.
“Leader, the food is indeed delicious,” Zhang Li said.
Gu Ze’an waved his hand. “Keep eating. If it’s not enough, go get some more.”
After finishing their meal, Gu Ze’an sat there and said to Qin Ying, “As I’ve gotten older, I don’t have much of an appetite for heavy meals.”
Qin Ying replied, “You were a big eater when you were young.”
Gu Ze’an smiled and said, “And you gave birth to six little big eaters. I wonder how our fifth son and his wife are doing now?”
“Wait a few more months, Ping Ping is about to give birth, we’re going to have grandchildren.”
The couple arrived, but did not tell Gu Sheng and his wife the exact time of arrival. Gu Ze’an said, “We shouldn’t give them time to prepare, it should be a sudden attack. Let’s see how this young couple usually behaves.”
“We can’t let them put on a show in front of us like they’re welcoming an inspection.”
Qin Ying shook her head. “You, you’re just causing trouble.” Troubling the child, and troubling oneself.
Because they hadn’t been informed in advance, when the couple arrived at the camp, both Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping were not at home. Gu Ze’an and a few others could only wait outside their son’s house for a while.
Qin Ying said, “This is good now, your son and daughter-in-law are not here.”
“You can’t even surprise them with an inspection.”
Gu Ze’an snorted, “They’ll come back sooner or later, just wait for them to come back.”
The four who came together waited until evening, only Gu Sheng returned first. Zhan Aiping said she wouldn’t be coming back. There was an emergency at the hospital with a pregnant woman expecting twins, and she had to stay at the hospital to observe the situation tonight.
Gu Sheng, upon seeing his parents, just looked surprised and calmly said, “Dad, Mom, you’re here already? You didn’t even give a heads up. Your daughter-in-law won’t be able to come back tonight, there’s an emergency.”
“Come inside.”
Gu Ze’an felt a bit numb inside. He mainly came this time to see his daughter-in-law, but now he found himself stuck here with this brat staring at each other. Ping Ping wasn’t even at home.
Qin Ying glanced around their small courtyard. “You’ve tidied up the courtyard nicely, and the vegetables are growing well.”
The small courtyard was very neatly arranged, rows of vegetables and fruits were laid out like soldiers in formation, growing with great vigour, completely different from the messy appearance of other households.
On the shelves, there were cucumbers, eggplants, luffas, and cherry tomatoes, all looking fresh and appealing. The few pepper plants were the same, with their bright red colour.
Gu Sheng handed her a basket. “Pick whatever you want, I’ll cook for you myself tonight.”
“These fruits and vegetables are usually managed by your daughter-in-law. Although she’s not here, this can still be considered our joint effort.”
Gu Ze’an chuckled, “You’re cooking for us? Sounds like a feast at Hongmen.”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “Dare to eat it or not, old man.”
Gu Sheng thought to himself that he would show off his skills tonight and let his parents taste his cooking, shocking them.
“Why wouldn’t we eat?” Gu Ze’an grabbed the basket from him without hesitation, plucked a large eggplant, then turned to Zhang Li and Bai Qian, “What do you two want?”
Zhang Li and Bai Qian shook their heads.
They hadn’t expected to have the leader’s son’s cooking tonight.
Gu Ze’an picked some vegetables and went to Qin Ying, “What do you think our son has in store for us tonight?”
“What else could it be? Just like you, showing off a bit of skill. Probably going to cook a few dishes, impressing this old man of yours.”
Thinking about eating dishes cooked by their own son, Old Gu felt a bit inexplicably moved, “This brat, he really is my brat. Wife, if his cooking is bad, let’s still praise him a bit.”
Qin Ying nodded, “Anyway, we won’t be able to taste much.”
“True.” Gu Ze’an felt relieved. Even if the food was bad, it wouldn’t matter much.
Zhang Li and Bai Qian, one stayed by Gu Ze’an’s side while the other went to help in the kitchen. Gu Sheng didn’t ask Bai Qian to help; he expertly washed and chopped vegetables himself.
Gu Ze’an watched him closely, noticing his son’s cooking skills. Could it be that he had spent some time in the kitchen?
“Fancy stuff. Are your dishes really delicious?”
Gu Sheng was confident, “I guarantee your satisfaction.”
“Your daughter-in-law and your two grandsons all love the dishes I cook.”
“Is that so?” Gu Ze’an scoffed, “I don’t believe it.”
Qin Ying wasn’t interested in her son’s cooking, so she casually looked around the younger son’s room. The room was too small, but fortunately, the two children didn’t have many belongings, making it look empty.
“You guys have too few things in this house. Everything is arranged so neatly, lacking the vitality of life. It doesn’t seem like a home.”
“Zhang Li, it’s just like your dorm.”
Gu Ze’an said, “The youngest and his wife both served in the military, so their home is like this. Not cluttered. I like it.”
Gu Ze’an walked around with his hands behind his back. He carefully observed that the young couple indeed had few belongings in their home. It looked spacious yet simple, with only two photos hanging on the wall.
The photos were of Gu Sheng and Zhan Aiping, both in military uniforms, taken as full-body shots. They stood tall, with Gu Sheng’s arm around Zhan Aiping’s shoulder. The couple looked very intimate. Zhan Aiping’s braided hair hung down on her shoulder, her features were delicate, and she looked even more beautiful when she smiled than the actresses in the movies.
Gu Ze’an nodded, “Aiping looks beautiful with long hair.”
Qin Ying agreed, “Shwe looked handsome in military uniform with short hair, and now with long hair, she’s turned into a beauty.”
Gu Ze’an sighed, “Our youngest son got a good deal.”
To marry such a beautiful daughter-in-law.
He felt a pang of jealousy.
It wasn’t easy for Gu Ze’an to marry Qin Ying in the first place, but his youngest son, it was like winning the jackpot. A beautiful wife landed next door, grew up together, childhood sweethearts.
Qin Ying looked at the photos on the wall and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. A figure appeared in her mind, and she said sentimentally, “So beautiful, just like her mother.”
Gu Ze’an said, “Fortunately, our youngest son looks like his father, handsome enough to deceive such a pretty girl back.”
“What a good strategy, what skill, truly carrying on my style.”
Although the couple didn’t know how Gu Sheng managed to win her over, from the current situation, it seemed like his son had set his sights on this piece of ‘meat’ next door.
It’s only been a few months, and he’s already got two kids.
Gu Ze’an thought to himself, this guy really has luck on his side, enviable luck indeed.
His other brothers weren’t as lucky as him.
“Dad, Mom, tidy up and get ready to eat.” Gu Sheng had prepared a table full of dishes. He clapped his hands, feeling proud. Even though his wife wasn’t at home, he still wanted to impress his parents.
Gu Sheng had cooked several dishes: boiled meat slices, braised eggplant, roasted ham, sour cabbage fish… A table full of dishes, enough for five people, with ten dishes.
Gu Ze’an glanced over, “You’ve done quite well, kid.”
“It looks good indeed.” Qin Ying nodded. The colours of the dishes cooked by her son were bright and attractive, making one’s mouth water. However, when eaten… they still lacked flavour.
“Try it, everyone, try it. Dad, do you want some wine?”
“I don’t drink, I’m health-conscious.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying picked up their chopsticks, Zhang Li and Bai Qian also tasted a few bites. Gu Sheng remained particularly calm on the side, his eyes fixed on Gu Ze’an’s movements, waiting for the astonished expression he expected when his father tasted the food.
But to his surprise, Gu Ze’an slowly finished the fish, took a couple of bites of ham, and didn’t show much reaction.
Gu Sheng was puzzled.
His mother Qin Ying showed a similar demeanour. She graciously tried each dish, praising him, “Son, the dishes taste good.”
Gu Sheng put down his chopsticks. He wasn’t a fool and could easily tell the couple’s insincere compliments. Their praise felt half-hearted.
—Were they just acting?
He couldn’t believe it. Could his cooking really fail to impress them? Did they expect some exotic delicacies?
Fine, he thought, tomorrow he’d go up the mountain and dig up some wild mushrooms.
Zhang Li and Bai Qian were more appreciative: “Commissar Gu, your cooking is really good.”
“We’re lucky to have this meal!”
They quietly ate without saying much.
Gu Sheng felt conflicted, thinking that his parents were indeed trying to put him in his place. They were even acting it out.
He took a few more bites, feeling particularly confident that his cooking was indeed delicious. But his parents’ reactions were no different from when they were at home.
“Have your taste buds gone bad?” Gu Sheng asked.
It would be one thing if it were just one person, but both of them?
Or maybe his parents’ sense of taste was just different from ordinary people?
“Be honest, isn’t my cooking good?” he challenged.
Gu Ze’an clicked his tongue, “Son, don’t get so heated. You’ve only been cooking for a few days. Even our Xiao Bai can cook. You can learn from him tomorrow, exchange some tips.”
“Look at your mother. She’s eating without any enjoyment. When you can cook something that makes her eat with relish, you’ll have mastered it.”
Gu Sheng’s eyes were filled with disbelief. “My cooking? Tasteless? You guys are overacting. My food isn’t good?”
Zhang Li and Bai Qian quickly agreed, “It’s delicious, it’s delicious!”
Gu Ze’an tried to console him, “They’re only flattering you because you’re my son. They don’t dare tell the truth.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Old man, I don’t believe a word you say.”
Gu Ze’an picked up his chopsticks and began to critique while eating, “This dish would be better with more salt.”
“Out of all these dishes, only this one is somewhat decent.”
Gu Sheng retorted, “You’re lying through your teeth. You’re eating ham and saying it’s not salty enough? Why don’t you just pour the salt shaker into your mouth?”
“Comrade Gu, are you running a fever? Can’t taste the flavours?”
Gu Ze’an replied seriously, “If I can’t taste the flavours, surely your mother can. Ask her. Look at how she’s reacting.”
Qin Ying, always protective of her son, quickly took a few more bites. “It’s good, it’s good. Who said it needs more salt? Just taste this ham. It’s so salty, how can you not taste it?”
Gu Sheng sighed, “You two must have lost your sense of taste.”
He rushed to the kitchen and quickly stir-fried two plates of wild vegetables, then brought them out for his parents. “Taste these wild vegetables and tell me what they taste like.”
Gu Ze’an replied, “Wild vegetables just taste like wild vegetables.”
Qin Ying said, “Exactly, your dad and I have eaten plenty of wild vegetables before. We know what they taste like.”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “Then you two eat, and tell me exactly what they taste like.”
Gu Ze’an picked up some vegetables with his chopsticks, “You little rascal, so persistent. Fine, I’ll eat. This is too salty.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “I didn’t add any salt. How did you taste saltiness?”
Gu Ze’an’s face stiffened, but he quickly responded, “Oh, no wonder I think it’s a little bitter, it turns out you didn’t put salt.”
Qin Ying couldn’t take it anymore, “Alright, alright. Your dad’s getting old and can’t taste salt well. Stop guessing.”
Gu Sheng turned to his mom, “And you?”
Qin Ying, feeling guilty, said, “I’m just like your dad.”
“Then eat some of these wild vegetables and tell me if they’re sweet or sour.”
“Fine, fine.” Qin Ying took a bite, “Son, these wild vegetables are really good, very sweet.”
Gu Sheng’s expression darkened, “They’re bitter.”
“Bitter? Bitter is correct.” Qin Ying smiled, “I was reminiscing about the past. To me, it tastes sweet.”
Gu Sheng shook his head, “Stop fooling me. You can’t taste anything, can you? No wonder little sister says your cooking is awful. How can you cook if you can’t taste?”
“Have you been to the hospital for a check-up?”
Qin Ying replied, “I have, and they found nothing wrong.”
“Maybe you should see some traditional Chinese medicine doctors. When my wife comes back, she can examine you.”
“Your wife? Pingping?” Gu Ze’an shook his head, “What does she know? She’s so young.”
Gu Sheng said, “She knows Chinese medicine and she’s quite good. Let her treat you both.”
“Let Pingping treat me?” Qin Ying’s face tensed. She didn’t want treatment, especially not Chinese medicine, which always made her stomach uncomfortable, “I’ve seen several doctors before. Even famous old doctors couldn’t help. Your wife won’t be able to either. Don’t put pressure on her.”
“Your father also saw doctors, but the medicine was too bitter. After days of taking it, everything tasted numb, worse than not treating at all.”
Gu Sheng insisted, “Still, let my wife check on you both.”
Qin Ying refused, “What’s there to check? Back when you were little and our situation improved, your dad and I enjoyed good food at banquets. We’ve had enough delicious food for a lifetime. Not tasting now doesn’t matter.”
Gu Ze’an agreed, “Exactly. We’re in good health. What’s the big deal about not tasting flavours? We don’t even want to eat your little dishes.”
Gu Sheng muttered, “Stubborn as mules.”
“Tomorrow, let Pingping give you a check-up and some acupuncture. She’s skilled.”
“Pingping? She’s only been studying medicine for a few years,” Gu Ze’an said. “You’re putting too much faith in her. Has she given you acupuncture? Are you sure she’s not a quack?”
Gu Sheng replied firmly, “She’s not a quack. She’s very competent, and I trust her abilities.”
Gu Ze’an found it hard to believe that Zhan Aiping, whom he had watched grow up, had studied medicine and become a doctor. And his youngest son, Gu Sheng, was even stranger, thinking that his surgeon wife was also skilled in traditional Chinese medicine and could switch from a scalpel to acupuncture needles.
“Whether she’s a quack or not, you’ll find out if you let her treat you,” Gu Sheng said.
Concerned about his parents’ health, Gu Sheng wasn’t entirely sure Aiping could treat them effectively, but he wanted her to at least check their health and understand their specific conditions.
“I have plenty of medical staff around me. No need for your wife to check,” Gu Ze’an said. “We came here just to see how you and Aiping are getting along.”
“Dad,” Gu Sheng interrupted him, “You’re not even sixty yet. If you’ve already lost your sense of taste, it’s not because of me, right?”
Gu Ze’an snorted, “As long as you know. Don’t stress me out anymore.”
Gu Sheng smiled and walked behind his father to massage his shoulders, “Let me give you a massage.”
Though Gu Ze’an wasn’t that old, his hair was only slightly greying and still thick, better than former Commander Jiang’s thinning hair.
Gu Sheng, the youngest son, had a close relationship with his father. When he left for military school, his father had been tearful, though he kept insisting he wasn’t crying. Looking back, it had been many years.
“You’re pretty good at this,” Gu Ze’an praised, leaning back, “Press here.”
“Learned it from your daughter-in-law,” Gu Sheng said.
“Is that so? Aiping has this skill too? Let her give me a massage.”
“Massage for what?” Qin Ying’s voice was sharp with jealousy. She looked at the father and son duo with disdain and snorted, “Stop acting all fatherly and filial in front of me.”
Gu Ze’an clicked his tongue, “Your mom’s jealous.”
“It proves my son still sides with his old man.”
“Not exactly,” Gu Sheng said. “I just think I should model filial piety in front of my children in the future. Consider this a rehearsal.”
“You—” Gu Ze’an gasped, realizing his son was teasing him.
Qin Ying smiled, “Yes, that’s a good idea, Gu Sheng.”
Gu Ze’an rolled his eyes, “Tell Aiping to give you two troublesome boys to drive you crazy.”
Gu Sheng retorted, “You think I’m like you? I’ll definitely be better than you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
That night, Gu Ze’an and his group stayed in the camp’s guesthouse, a clean three-story building meant for visiting officials and those on business trips. It was also used for family visits, so it was well-appointed.
After showering, Gu Ze’an lay on the bed and thought about his son living in a small flat. He said to Qin Ying, “Aiping is really putting up with a lot to be with him. She had a good life in Shanghai…”
“He’s about to get promoted. They’ve endured tough times and know how to manage. Don’t worry, our youngest knows to take care of Aiping.”
Lying in bed, Gu Ze’an grew more irritated, “I still feel like my daughter is being wronged.”
Qin Ying asked, “Which daughter?”
“My Aiping,” Gu Ze’an replied.
Qin Ying sighed, “Your ‘son-in-law’ took good care of you today, didn’t he? Cooking for you, massaging your back, treating you almost like a son.”
“But he is my son,” Gu Ze’an replied, even more disgruntled. “Even as his father, I’ve never been treated like this.”
“You’re being so contradictory. One moment you’re the father-in-law, the next moment you’re the doting father. Make up your mind.”
The next day, unable to wait for Zhan Aiping to return, Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying took the camp’s car to the Yanxin Health Clinic to visit her. Since their son had to work, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Upon arriving at the small, rundown clinic, Gu Ze’an frowned. His “father-in-law heart” was about to flare up again.
“This clinic is quite small.”
“It’s more than small; it’s practically dilapidated,” Qin Ying agreed. “But look over there, they’re constructing a new building. It will be better in the future.”
“Let’s first check out the staff housing area and talk to Aiping’s colleagues about how she’s doing.”
“Alright.”
They walked along the side path and arrived at the staff housing area. There, they saw a young man cooking soup early in the morning, and the aroma was quite enticing.
The man making the wild mushroom soup was Zhao Jing. He wasn’t on duty that day and had gone to the mountain early to gather mushrooms. This was peak mushroom season. Usually, Zhao Jing wouldn’t get up before eight or nine, but for mushroom picking, he could rise as early as four or five. He brought back a large basket of fresh mushrooms and quickly made a fragrant pot of mixed mushroom soup to reward himself.
Zhao Jing loved mixed mushroom soup; the more varieties, the better the taste.
The aroma attracted the attention of the newcomers.
When Zhao Jing looked up and saw an elderly couple accompanied by two young men, he immediately recognized the older man’s authoritative bearing. He thought, this man must be a high-ranking official, maybe even from the county or city health bureau, or perhaps even higher.
Nervously, Zhao Jing wondered if it was inappropriate to be caught making mushroom soup at the clinic. But then he saw an opportunity. If he could impress these leaders, perhaps he could get a transfer.
So, Zhao Jing warmly invited them, “Leaders, would you like to try some mushroom soup?”
Gu Ze’an, unexpectedly addressed as a leader, blinked and, with Qin Ying, walked over. He sniffed the air, “Smells pretty good.”
Qin Ying agreed, “It does smell nice.”
Zhao Jing ladled out a bowl for him, “Have a bowl.”
Gu Ze’an, holding the bowl, thought this man was overly enthusiastic. Behind him, Zhang Li cautioned, “Leader, wild mushrooms here are often poisonous. It’s better not to eat them casually.”
Zhao Jing reassured them, “Don’t worry, I’ll drink some first to show you. I’m an expert at identifying edible mushrooms.”
Curious, Gu Ze’an asked, “Really? Have you ever been poisoned?”
“Uh…” Zhao Jing hesitated.
“From your hesitation, I can tell you’ve been poisoned a few times,” Gu Ze’an remarked.
Feeling deflated, Zhao Jing took a sip of his mushroom soup.
Gu Ze’an inquired, “How’s the hospital here?”
“Our hospital? It’s alright, I guess,” Zhao Jing replied, sensing that this was some sort of inspection. He straightened up, “But I want to transfer.”
“You want to transfer? Are you a doctor here? Why do you want to transfer?”
Zhao Jing sighed, his expression sorrowful, “It’s far from home. If I could transfer to the neighbouring township, I’d be closer to home and wouldn’t worry my elderly mother. She’s old and misses me. If I were there, I could take care of her every day.”
“You are quite the filial son,” Gu Ze’an patted his shoulder. “Unlike my sons. I have five of them, scattered all over the place. What a waste!”
“Drives me mad!”
Zhao Jing: “?”
Zhao Jing sighed again, “I hope the organization understands my filial piety and allows me to transfer to the neighbouring township hospital.”
Gu Ze’an encouraged him, “The organization will surely recognize your filial piety.”
“Gu—Dad, Mom? What are you doing here?”
Zhan Aiping came out of the pharmacy, intending to return to her quarters to get something. The woman she had helped deliver had given birth, and now Aiping had the day off. She planned to head back to the camp early.
To her surprise, she saw her in-laws, Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying, halfway there.
“Pingping!” Both Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying called out to her, visibly excited.
“Dr. Zhao, these are my in-laws. They’re here to visit me,” Aiping said, pointing to them. “My house is next to Dr. Zhao’s. Dad, Mom, come in and have a seat. I’ll make some tea.”
“Oh, Pingping, my dear Pingping, your belly is so big now. Be careful, don’t rush,” Qin Ying fussed.
The group entered Aiping’s house, leaving Zhao Jing standing there, stunned.
Zhao Jing: “…”
In-laws?
So all his acting was for nothing?
“Pingping, you look so beautiful now. Our youngest must be putting you through a lot.”
Inside, Aiping made tea for everyone and sat down. They started chatting.
Having seen photos of Aiping before, Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying were delighted to see her in person. She wore a light blue dress, and her belly was noticeably large. Her complexion was rosy, and her eyes sparkled, full of vitality and spirit, leaving a memorable impression.
Qin Ying, who had been worried about her, felt relieved seeing her in such good health.
“Dad, Mom, did you arrive yesterday? Did Gu Sheng come home? Did he cook for you? Was it good?”
Gu Ze’an replied, “It was alright, but we couldn’t really taste it.”
“His cooking has improved a lot. The two babies and I love his food.”
Qin Ying said, “Tonight, have him cook for you again.”
“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think our youngest has won your heart through your stomach.”
As they chatted, Zhao Jing came in with a few bowls of mushroom soup. After the misunderstanding earlier, he felt the need to make amends. He had made a big pot of soup and wanted to share it.
“Try some of this hot soup,” he offered.
Gu Ze’an accepted a bowl, sniffed it, and took a sip. “Not bad, quite fragrant.”
Qin Ying followed suit, tasting it and nodding in approval. “It’s very good.”
Aiping, seeing Zhao Jing’s effort, smiled and said, “Thank you, Dr. Zhao. It’s very kind of you to share.”
Zhao Jing, relieved that his soup was well-received, felt a little better about the morning’s confusion.
Zhan Aiping glanced at the soup, “Dad, Mom, why don’t you give it a try? Just a taste, it’s very fresh.”
Zhang Li had already finished a bowl and found it surprisingly delicious. He couldn’t help but eat another bowl.
“This mixed mushroom soup is amazing!”
“See? It’s good, right? Don’t worry, I’m a gastroenterologist. Even if we get poisoned, I know how to handle it,” Zhao Jing joked.
Bai Qian almost choked on his soup, “Poisoned?”
Zhao Jing quickly added, “Just kidding.”
Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying each took a sip. After finishing, Qin Ying asked Gu Ze’an, “How does it taste?”
“It’s alright, but it could use a bit more salt,” Gu Ze’an replied.
Zhao Jing was puzzled, “More salt?”
Aiping noticed their reaction and sensed something was wrong. The mushroom soup was incredibly flavourful; those who liked it would find it irresistible. Yet, Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying’s reaction was oddly indifferent.
“Mom, let me take a look at your tongue. Are you having trouble tasting things?”
“There’s nothing to see,” Qin Ying resisted. Aiping grabbed her arm and examined her eyes and tongue, quickly understanding the situation.
“Mom, sit down. Let me examine you properly.”
Qin Ying was completely uncooperative, “What’s there to examine? I don’t want to hear you say my spleen or stomach or qi has issues. I’m fine.”
“Mom, you can’t ignore this. It’s not a major problem. If you take a few doses of medicine and get some acupuncture, you can regain your sense of taste. You need to take care of yourself and cut down on fatty and greasy foods.”
Although Qin Ying couldn’t taste, she still craved meat and rich foods, a habit from her younger days. Her husband, Old Gu, was the same.
“Pingping, don’t treat me. Treat Old Gu instead. His sense of taste is also off; everything seems bland to him.”
Aiping insisted, “Both of you need treatment. Dad’s condition can improve too.”
“Don’t make me take bitter medicine. It upsets my stomach.”
“The previous prescriptions you had were too cold and the wrong treatment,” Aiping explained. Some traditional Chinese medicines are effective but can also harm the spleen and stomach if misused. Qin Ying had taken these for two years, which made her wary of traditional medicine.
Even though her illness was cured, she was left with a dulled sense of taste and was unwilling to treat it further.
She just didn’t want to endure the bitterness of the medicine again.
“Mom, trust me. I can cure you.”
Qin Ying shook her head, “No, no, no, Pingping, I don’t trust you. Do you really have medical skills? Do you really know Chinese medicine?”
“I’ve seen many old Chinese medicine doctors. They all say those who guarantee they can cure you are quacks!”
Aiping was speechless.
“Mom, let me try acupuncture first. Just two needles, and you’ll feel a difference in your tongue.”
Qin Ying was terrified, “You want to stick needles in my tongue? Absolutely not, absolutely not… Pingping, you—”
“Mom, trust me. Just two needles. You’ll definitely feel something.”
Qin Ying laughed, exasperated, “If you stick needles in me, of course I’ll feel something. Won’t it hurt?”
“It won’t hurt,” Aiping reassured her. “I’ll give you two needles first, then Dad. You’ll take turns getting treated.”
Aiping thought, if they’re sick, they need treatment. Life is so dull without a sense of taste. Everything tastes like wax.
“Mom, Dad, wait here. The hospital has everything we need. It’s perfect timing to get the medicine. Some of the herbs were prepared by me personally, so you can trust their efficacy…”
Originally planning to head back, Aiping now had the perfect opportunity. The acupuncture room was ready, and the pharmacy was well-stocked. She quickly prepared the herbs, wrote prescriptions, and personally brewed the medicine for Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying.
The hospital had everything necessary.
Gu Ze’an and Qin Ying sat anxiously on the hospital bench. Gu Ze’an complained, “We should have never come to the hospital. I’ve had bad luck with hospitals all my life.”
Qin Ying added, “First we ate our son’s cooking, now we’re about to drink our daughter-in-law’s medicine. It’s one thing after another.”
Gu Ze’an sighed, “These two just won’t let us rest. Why did Pingping have to study medicine? I’ve always hated medicine; it gives me the creeps.”
Qin Ying sighed, “We came for a family visit. Why do we have to take medicine?”
Gu Ze’an muttered, “How can Pingping be so confident? Didn’t she once send Lao Wu to the hospital when she was little?”
Qin Ying suggested, “Maybe we should just go back home and skip the family visit.”
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