Wealthy Beauty in the 60s-Chapter 585 - 587: A Lively Big Family

Gao Guoqiang was getting older, and Zheng Xianghong not only controlled his smoking and drinking but also his diet, fearing that he might develop health issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol, or sugar.

Now that Gao Jiaxing brought back so many seafood dishes, Guoqiang thought to himself that a feast like this deserved some good wine.

Once Guoqiang left, Xia Xiao came over. Gao Jiaxing said, "The dishes are heated. Tell them to wash their hands and come to eat."

Xia Xiao replied, "You bring out the dishes. I’ll prepare a soup."

As she spoke, she picked some fruit and grabbed a salad. Once Gao Jiaxing had taken out the dishes, Xia Xiao produced a bunch of vegetables from the store, washed them quickly, and then threw them in the pot. She also made a fruit salad.

Li Manzi came into the kitchen, "Mom, is there anything I can do to help?"

Xia Xiao originally meant to say no need, but seeing Manzi’s slightly awkward demeanor, she said, "The dishes and utensils are already sterilized in the cabinet, you don’t need to wash them. Just set them on the table."

Relieved, Manzi fetched the dishes and utensils from the sterilization cabinet to help. After all, her in-laws were busy, her sisters-in-law were taking care of the children, and being a newlywed who hadn’t really lived with her in-laws for long, she felt somewhat anxious.

In a short while, Manzi had brought Xia Xiao’s vegetable soup and fruit salad to the table. Xia Xiao took a soup spoon from the sterilizing cabinet and walked toward the dining table.

By this time, the whole family had gathered and were seated. As Xia Xiao approached, Shitou pointed beside him and called, "Grandma."

Xia Xiao walked over, patted Shitou’s head, put down the soup spoon, and sat between Shitou and Gao Jiaxing.

"Let’s eat," Gao Guoqiang, the family patriarch, declared, and everyone began to eat.

The Gao family didn’t adhere to strict rules, but respect for elders was essential. Having an elder in the home was like having a treasure, let alone two.

"The spicy crawfish is in this dish, and this one is not spicy. It’s the same with the crabs; this dish is not spicy, while that one is spicy," Xia Xiao warned, to prevent anyone who didn’t like spicy food from having an unpleasant surprise.

However, everyone seemed to prefer the spicy crawfish and hot-flavored crabs. After having one, Guoqiang wanted another, but Zheng Xianghong wouldn’t allow it, so he had to stick to the non-spicy dish.

"Ever since getting older and being managed by your mom, everything has gotten worse," Gao Guoqiang lamented. He could neither eat heartily nor drink to his satisfaction.

"I’d like you to eat and drink well too, but can your body handle it? One taste each is enough, leave the rest for the younger ones," Zheng Xianghong also expressed concern for Guoqiang’s health. In his old age, he couldn’t be as carefree as before.

Guoqiang knew this, but he still had cravings. He sipped his wine slowly, fearing that drinking too quickly would leave him with none too soon.

Gao Jiaxing and his brothers watched their father and grandfather like this, feeling sympathy. Yet, despite their feelings, for Guoqiang’s health, they too would enforce these restrictions.

Xia Xiao had enhanced Guoqiang’s homemade wine with spring water, but she couldn’t tell Zheng Xianghong that the wine was actually healthy and he could have more.

However, to avoid Guoqiang drinking excessively, Xia Xiao said nothing. After all, his daily sipping was quite beneficial.

Gao Jiaxing, along with Feiyang, Feiyue, and Feiyi, drank a bit more. Guoqiang didn’t mind that; it was just frustrating that he couldn’t enjoy a good drink himself.

Old child, old child, that’s what Guoqiang was like. Previously, Guoqiang and Xianghong seldom had conflicts, but now, the elderly couple often bickered over trivial matters, yet they made up very quickly, much faster than their children and grandchildren’s worries could compare.

Thus, gradually, everyone got used to it, assuming that however much the elderly couple bickered, they still loved each other deeply.

The spicy and numbing dishes were extremely satisfying to eat, and the scallops with garlic vermicelli and salt and pepper shrimp were also very delicious. Xia Xiao also ordered delicacies like shark fin, sea cucumber, and abalone.

However, Xia Xiao didn’t care much for shark fins, sea cucumbers, or abalones; she still preferred to eat scallops, oysters, and crabs.

"Having a big meal of meat and seafood followed by vegetable soup and fruit is just perfect," Feiyi patted his stomach and sighed.

After finishing the seafood feast, the most popular items were the vegetable soup and fruit salad. Shitou and Beibei had crayfish and shrimp today; they could only have a little shark fin, sea cucumber, and abalone, which Xia Xiao minced for them because they couldn’t chew it otherwise. The remaining vegetable soup was just casually drunk.

"This soup can also be drunk by Xiao Shu," Xia Xiao served a bowl of soup to Ye Jia, asking her to feed Xiao Shu. The soup contained vegetables from their space and was boiled with spring water, naturally better than the ordinary kind.

Ye Jia took it over and fed Xiao Shu, who seemed to really enjoy it. Though Ye Jia was holding the bowl, Xiao Shu’s little hands were both clutching the bowl as he slowly gulped it down, amusing everyone.

After a full meal, Li Min, Ye Jia, and Li Manzi volunteered to clear the table and wash the dishes.

Xia Xiao then helped Shitou, Beibei, and Xiao Shu bathe. The children loved playing with water; Beibei and Xiao Shu splashed water around, soaking Xia Xiao in the process.

While Shitou sat in the water not wanting to move, not because he didn’t want to, but because the water was shallow, and he couldn’t swim there.

Shitou didn’t need Xia Xiao’s help to bathe; he scrubbed himself with a small towel, then got out of the tub and wrapped himself in a big towel to dry off.

Beibei and Xiao Shu needed Xia Xiao’s help; she lifted them out of the tub, wrapped them both in a big towel, and carried them to the bed.

Beibei and Xiao Shu giggled joyfully, rolling around on the bed.

Taking his time, Shitou finished drying himself and got dressed. Of course, this was when no one else was around; if others were there, Shitou would have helped.

Maybe he had come to a realization, for Shitou no longer childishly competed for affection with his younger siblings, though he still liked to stick close to Xia Xiao.

Once Xia Xiao had dressed Beibei and Xiao Shu, Gao Jiaxing came to take them out to play. Xia Xiao told Shitou, "Go out and play with your grandfather." She was soaking wet and needed to take a shower.

Shitou nodded and followed right behind Gao Jiaxing.

After closing the door, Xia Xiao smiled, feeling that Shitou was doing well now, also indicating he was willing to blend into this big family.

After Xia Xiao showered, the children were lined up on the couch, watching the news with Guoqiang and Xianghong, all very well-behaved. They focused on the TV with such concentration, laughing with the joyful scenes and keeping a straight face at sad ones. Even Beibei and Xiao Shu seemed to understand, which was amusing.

With children around, the once somewhat-quiet large family had become much livelier.