I'm back in 1990

Chapter 833: A Dual Relationship

A few days later, another new weekend began. Huang Xiaochuan, with Yu Xiang in tow and a bag in hand, rang Chen Zhe's doorbell.

"Coming, coming!" came a voice from inside the house.

The door was opened quickly, and Cheng Ling opened it. After getting married, she was obviously much more mature than before she got married, and she also looked more virtuous.

"Brother Xiaochuan, sister-in-law, you're here!" Cheng Ling greeted them warmly.

"Don't be so polite. Let's stick to your family's seniority. He might complain behind my back that I'm taking advantage of him." Huang Xiaochuan joked good-naturedly as he handed the tote bag to Cheng Ling. Cheng Ling wasn't an outsider anymore. First, she was the wife of his classmate and friend, and second, she was his niece's aunt—a genuine family relationship.

When Cheng Ling received the bag, she felt a sinking sensation in her hand; the contents inside were quite heavy.

Huang Xiaochuan explained with a smile, "I brought a few bottles of wine, both white and red. There's also a Tiffany pendant in the bag, a gift from my wife for you to wear for fun."

Cheng Ling, holding the bag, didn't know what to say. Refusing seemed inappropriate, but accepting it also seemed a bit inappropriate. She was caught in a dilemma.

Yu Xiang noticed Cheng Ling's predicament and took her arm, saying, "You can't come here empty-handed for a free meal! Come on! Show us around!"

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry to have kept you standing at the door." Cheng Ling quickly helped the two of them change into slippers and go inside.

As Cheng Ling led the two into the house, she called out towards the kitchen, "Old Chen, Old Chen, our guests are here!"

The range hood and stove in the kitchen were roaring, and it seemed that Chen Zhe was busy inside. As soon as Cheng Ling finished speaking, Chen Zhe appeared at the kitchen door. He was holding a strainer, wearing an apron, and his glasses were covered with a layer of oil fumes.

"You're here!" Chen Zhe greeted his old classmate warmly, and didn't forget to take off his glasses with his free hand and wipe them on his apron, otherwise he wouldn't be able to see people clearly.

Huang Xiaochuan approached the kitchen doorway and teased with a smile, "Wow, who knew our Professor Chen was so versatile, being both elegant in public and skilled in the kitchen!"

Cheng Ling overheard this, and her face flushed slightly.

Having known Huang Xiaochuan for many years, Chen Zhe had long expected him to say that. Chen Zhe smiled nonchalantly and said, "I just learned how to make fried meatballs. You must eat a few later. I can't make anything else; my Chengling will have to do that."

Huang Xiaochuan wasn't about to let him off the hook. He peeked into the kitchen and yelled, "Where's the pork hock? I can't see it!"

Chen Zhe knew that this guy was one of the eighteen men who wanted to play matchmaker for him, but of course, that was just a joke.

But this dish is actually available today. It was made by his mother-in-law, who brought it back last night. It's currently being heated in the steamer and will be served soon.

"Of course we have to. How could we not prepare pork hock when we know you're coming?"

Huang Xiaochuan walked towards the living room with satisfaction. Just as he was about to sit down, the doorbell rang. If he wasn't mistaken, it should be Zhang Gaolei and his wife who had arrived.

He immediately stopped Cheng Ling, who was sitting on the sofa talking to Yu Xiang, from getting up to open the door: "I'll go!"

When the door opened, it was indeed Zhang Gaolei and his wife who had arrived.

When Zhang Gaolei saw that Huang Xiaochuan opened the door, he was surprised: "Huh? It's you?"

While greeting Zhang Gaolei's wife, Han Nuo, Huang Xiaochuan couldn't resist teasing Zhang Gaolei: "What, do I have to arrange someone to open the door just for you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaolei gave Huang Xiaochuan a disdainful look, letting him figure it out for himself.

After entering the house, Han Nuo went to find Yu Xiang and Cheng Ling, and handed over the gifts he brought to the hostess. Naturally, they exchanged pleasantries once again.

After the group sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries, Cheng Ling got up and went to the kitchen to bring Chen Zhe out so that he could talk to his two classmates.

After handing the apron to Cheng Ling, Chen Zhe first went to get a glasses cloth to clean his glasses before talking to Huang Xiaochuan and Zhang Gaolei. Han Nuo, on the other hand, pulled Yu Xiang to the balcony, where the two women went to whisper to each other, leaving space for the men to talk.

"Why aren't you drinking tea? Drink tea, drink tea!" Chen Zhe quickly urged them when he saw that the tea in front of the two of them hadn't been touched.

"Come sit down too!" Zhang Gaolei invited Chen Zhe to sit down.

After Chen Zhe sat down, Zhang Gaolei looked towards the kitchen and then said enviously, "Old Chen, you're so lucky! You married a wonderful wife who's equally at home in the living room and the kitchen."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhe smiled and accepted it without hesitation.

Zhang Gaolei continued, "Speaking of which, most women in Shanghai don't do much housework, but you, the new bride, are definitely one of them." He even gave a thumbs up as he spoke.

"Alright, alright, that's enough with the compliments. You're going on and on. It's none of your business no matter how good it is," Huang Xiaochuan interrupted Zhang Gaolei.

His behavior made Zhang Gaolei and Chen Zhe laugh at the same time, and then the conversation between the three of them turned to the recent economic situation and their work.

After chatting with Han Nuo on the balcony for a while, Yu Xiang suggested, "Let's go help out in the kitchen! It's really embarrassing to leave Cheng Ling to do all the work alone."

Han Nuo naturally agreed: "Yes!"

The two entered the kitchen, where Cheng Ling was busy. Three stoves were running at the same time, two of which were simmering clay pots, and another was stir-frying vegetables. The steamer was also steaming, so it seemed that something was being steamed inside.

Seeing Yu Xiang and Han Nuo enter the kitchen, Cheng Ling quickly stopped them, saying, "No, no, no, you are guests. How can we let guests help? Please go outside and sit for a while. The food will be ready soon."

Unfortunately, these words had no effect. Yu Xiang laughed and said, "Look how busy you are all by yourself. Here's what we'll do: you just focus on cooking, serving the dishes, and washing the dishes, and we'll take care of that."

Han Nuo rolled up his sleeves and said, "That's right, there's strength in numbers. If I don't go out, it'll give those three old men some space to chat by themselves."

Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Cheng Ling had no choice but to go along with them. At this moment, Yu Xiang and Han Nuo had already taken out the cold dishes and steamed pork hock that were plated on the counter.

The three women moved back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, and soon the table was full of dishes.

Huang Xiaochuan glanced at the dishes and said to Chen Zhe and Cheng Ling, "It's too kind of you to make so many dishes for just a few of us."

"It's just home-cooked food. I originally wanted to go to a restaurant, but my husband said that eating at home is the most economical and best option," Cheng Ling said while untying her apron.

"I was also thinking of the two of you. Eating out isn't very convenient, so it's more comfortable to eat at home. It's just that the food might not taste as good as in a restaurant."

"Who said that?" Zhang Gaolei pointed to a table full of dishes: "Look at these dishes, they look delicious and smell wonderful."

After everyone sat down, Chen Zhe and Cheng Ling raised their glasses to toast Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang.

"This first toast must be to Xiao Chuan and Yu Xiang. If it weren't for Xiao Chuan, I wouldn't be where I am today. Enough said, everything is in the wine." After saying that, Chen Zhe and Cheng Ling drank the wine in their glasses.

Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang, a married couple, naturally joined in the drinking. However, Huang Xiaochuan still advised Chen Zhe, "I know your alcohol tolerance. Just drink enough. If you get drunk again, who will talk to us?"

Zhang Gaolei agreed, saying, "That's right. We're all old classmates and have known each other for so many years. Don't be so formal. Just a little something is fine. Xiaochuan and I will have a few drinks today."

With Zhang Gaolei stirring things up, the atmosphere at the dinner table immediately became lively.

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