Chapter 38: Recognize it, Destroy It.

Chapter 38

Oh my god, please let her be destroyed.

He actually recognized her.

In novels and TV dramas, misunderstandings lead to eventual truth, yet for her this trope is useless.

Is it because she doesn't live in fiction but in reality?

This is so awkward it's cringe worthy. The awkwardness is off the charts.

If only she hadn't come to grandpa's in a huff, she wouldn't have run into Pei Jing.

Xia had no idea that the reason Pei Jing was there was to look for her.

It also meant that even if she wanted to hide, there was no escape.

The chopped meat on the cutting board was ready. Pei Jing looked deeply at Xia again.

He wanted to say more but Mrs. Zhou came in with washed vegetables so he had to abandon the thought.

The awkwardness wasn't only for Xia but for Pei Jing too.

After all the generational divide between them was a big issue.

Although they weren't related by blood, the two families had been close for decades, since the days when grandfather An was still alive.

Once the two of them got together, it would mean the hierarchy of the two families would be disrupted.

Old Pei and An had addressed each other as brothers for decades. Their hierarchy would suddenly be elevated. How would they address each other going forward? Truly a headache.

But Pei Jing felt that because of the bond between the families and what happened between him and Xia, he should take responsibility.

If he avoided it, never mind if that was unmanly, could he face the care Grandpa An had shown the Pei family over the years?

When Mrs. Zhou came in, Xia was already mixing the filling.

Making dumpling filling is key, the same ingredients can taste different based on technique, mixing time and steps. It decides the ultimate flavor.

Sensing his thoughts growing improper, Pei Jing hurriedly steadied his attitude.

Despite an intimate encounter, their current relationship didn't permit disrespect even in thought.

"I don't think you can help." Xia said directly.

Mrs. Zhou started rolling out skins. She had just finished one when Xia took it, added filling, and with thumbs and index fingers on both hands, pinched out a plump dumpling.

Mrs. Zhou rolled one, Xia wrapped one. Only then did Pei Jing understand what Xia meant about him not helping.

Indeed, Xia was very fast. It wasn't traditional wrapping with inner and outer pleats. There was no room for him to cut in.

Realizing Xia was intent on avoiding him, Pei Jing helplessly left the kitchen.

An ZhiAng rode in on his bike carrying wine, chattering nonstop as soon as he entered.

Xia and Mrs. Zhou worked efficiently together. In just over half an hour, all dumplings were wrapped.

Mrs. Zhou busied herself preparing snacks while the two old masters put away the chess set outside.

In the dining room, the two old masters sat together. Xia sat beside Old Madam. After Old Master poured wine for Old Pei, An ZhiAng enthusiastically brought out two bottles of beer from the cabinet. "Uncle, Uncle, forget the white wine with the old masters. Too harsh on the throat. Let's crack open some beer?"

Seeing the bottles, Old Master smiled at Old Madam. "This rascal's done his research again. I bet he used up our beer ration tickets again?"

An ZhiAng was shameless. "You and Pei drink white wine. The tickets would just expire unused. I'm helping grandfather out here."

"Glib tongue!" Old Madam laughed at him, then said to Xia, "Have some beer too, Xia. The alcohol content is low, a bit won't get you drunk."

Xia nodded and nudged her glass forward for An ZhiAng to pour her some.

A common saying she'd heard about in the future, barbecue, beer and crawfish. No barbecue or crawfish here but beer was still good.

Xia took a small sip. The flavor was strong but tasty.

Mrs. Zhou served the dishes, all vegetarian since there was already meat in the dumplings.

Peanuts and snap peas, the drinking snacks, were placed before the two old masters. Xia had laughed when grandma said the two could drink a whole afternoon with one plate of peanuts.