My wife is a witch princess

Chapter 92 My Red Envelope is Thicker Than Yours

The results were announced on a gloomy afternoon.

My phone vibrated; the homeroom teacher had sent an Excel spreadsheet containing the total scores for all subjects in the class group chat.

Song Che opened the app, swiped his finger across the screen a few times, and found his name. His ranking had moved up five places compared to the last mock exam, and his total score was in a respectable range—at least he had reached the undergraduate admission line.

The slight relief he felt after the exam finally settled completely.

He sent the screenshot to his parents.

Less than a minute later, Zhang Shushu called.

She seemed to be in a good mood, and she wasn't asking about grades. "Are you on vacation? Are you coming home for dinner tonight? I'll buy a fish and make some soup for you... and Xiaoli to nourish yourselves."

Zhang Shushu is getting more and more used to calling her Xiaoli.

Song Che's heart skipped a beat, and he replied, "Okay. We'll go around five o'clock."

"Okay, tell Xiaoli not to be shy and to make herself at home."

Zhang Shushu gave one more instruction before hanging up the phone.

Song Che's phone vibrated again; it was a screenshot of a chat message from Jiang Shuo. It contained several blurry photos of Jiang Xiaoxiao's report card, along with a bunch of crying emojis saying things like, "Waaah, I didn't do well on my math test again. I didn't simplify the fill-in-the-blank questions, so I only got 145."

Song Che replied with a simple text: "Send it over so I can laugh at you?"

"No, it's not Che-ge, we both did well on the exam, and my mom gave us a lot of money. Want to go out and have some fun?"

"Not today, let's do it another day."

He turned off his phone.

"Mom wants us to go out for dinner tonight," Song Che said.

Xia Li nodded: "Okay."

She paused for a moment, then asked, "Is there anything I need to bring?"

"No need, just go there." Song Che thought for a moment and added, "But... when my mom is cooking, if you want to go to the kitchen to check on things or lend a hand, she'll probably be even happier."

"Give me a hand?" Xia Li repeated the word, her eyes asking.

"It means helping out. Like handing someone something, washing vegetables, or something like that," Song Che explained. "It's a way of showing affection and gratitude."

Xia Li understood.

She looked down at her hands.

"I'm already quite skilled at peeling carrots and breaking broccoli."

Song Che couldn't help but laugh: "Yeah, that's enough."

When the two arrived, Zhang Shushu was already busy in the kitchen. The range hood was humming, and soup was simmering in a pot, steaming gently. Song Jianguo was sitting on the sofa watching the news. Seeing them come in, he smiled and nodded, "You're here. Did you do well on the exam?"

"It's alright," Song Che replied, placing a bag of fruit he was carrying on the coffee table—Xia Li insisted on buying it, saying that bringing a gift is basic etiquette, and she was being very polite.

She even checked the web and finally chose apples and oranges, which seemed to be the safest options.

"Oh, you're here already, why did you buy anything?" Zhang Shushu poked her head out of the kitchen, wearing a floral apron around her waist and holding a spatula in her hand. "Xiao Li, sit down and watch TV, the kitchen is smoky."

Xia Li stood still.

She glanced at Song Che, then turned to Zhang Shushu and said, "Aunt Zhang, I can help."

His tone was the usual calm and steady one.

Zhang Shushu was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Oh dear, this child is really... Alright then, why don't you help Auntie pick the vegetables? Perfect timing, the celery leaves need to be removed."

Xia Li nodded, took off her coat and handed it to Song Che, rolled up her sleeves to reveal her fair and slender wrists, and walked into the kitchen.

Song Che was both amused and conflicted by her serious, almost alarmed expression. He sat down next to Song Jianguo, and the father and son remained silent for a moment, listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen.

First came the sound of a tap being turned on, followed by Zhang Shushu's instructions: "Yes, just pinch off these old leaves... Keep the stems, we'll chop them up and stir-fry them with meat later... Hey, that's it, Xiaoli is so skillful."

Xia Li didn't respond to the compliments, only occasionally offering brief confirmations: "Here? Like this?"

Song Jianguo took a sip of tea, looked away from the TV news, and glanced towards the kitchen. "This girl is quiet, but she's quick to act."

Song Che hummed in response, unsure how to reply.

He thought to himself that Xia Li probably wasn't "eager to help," but rather treating "helping" as a commission from the Adventurers' Guild.

In the kitchen, Zhang Shushu sliced ​​ginger while glancing at Xia Li out of the corner of her eye. The girl's profile was gentle, her eyelashes lowered, and she was focused on the celery in her hands.

Every yellow leaf was removed, and the celery stalks she picked were neatly arranged beside her, all about the same length.

"Xiao Li used to cook at home often, right?" Zhang Shushu asked casually.

Xia Li paused for a moment while picking vegetables.

"No," she replied, her voice flat. "We didn't need to do these things before."

Zhang Shushu's movements as she chopped ginger were a beat slower.

These words sounded a bit strange, but judging from Xia Li's calm expression, they didn't seem like a complaint or a spoiled act; rather, they were stating a fact.

"Will it be troublesome to learn how to do it now?" Zhang Shushu changed her question, her tone becoming gentler.

"It's no trouble." Xia Li shook her head, picked up another stalk of celery, and said, "It's an essential skill. Song Che said that you need to master it to live independently."

Zhang Shushu felt that strange feeling welling up inside her again.

Her way of speaking was too rigid, unlike the carefree spirit a girl her age should have. But combined with Xia Li's expressionless yet unusually serious face, it strangely didn't make her annoying; instead, it was kind of... adorably honest.

"Xiao Che is good at teaching." Zhang Shushu smiled and put the sliced ​​ginger into the bowl. "He's just a worrier. He's still a child himself, but he's always thinking about taking care of others."

Xia Li looked up and glanced at Zhang Shushu.

"He did a great job," she said, her tone one of unquestionable certainty, before lowering her head to continue picking vegetables.

Zhang Shushu was taken aback by these words, but then her heart softened a little.

Regardless of the girl's background or personality, her protection of her son is genuine.

Mothers are most susceptible to this.

"Come on, put the celery in a bowl after you've picked it, and soak it in some water." Zhang Shushu directed, then turned to prepare the scaled sea bass. "Auntie will teach you how to make steamed fish; Xiao Che loves this the most."

Xia Li did as instructed, then washed her hands and stood next to Zhang Shushu, watching her make incisions on the fish and apply salt and cooking wine.

She remembered the disastrous experience of cooking fish before.

"Slice the ginger, put some under the fish and some on top of it," Zhang Shushu demonstrated. "Cut the scallions into long sections and put them on top as well. Drizzle some steamed fish soy sauce... never mind, add that later, just remember the steps for now."

Xia Li watched intently, her eyes barely blinking.

She felt that Zhang Shushu taught her in the same way as Song Che.

After Zhang Shushu put the fish into the steamer and set the timer, she asked, "How long should I steam it?"

"After the water boils, cook for seven or eight minutes. It depends on the size of the fish; this one will take about eight minutes." Zhang Shushu put the lid on the pot. "Don't cook it for too long, or the meat will become tough."

Xia Li nodded and turned to look at the corn and pork rib soup simmering on the stove. The soup had turned white and was bubbling with tiny bubbles.

"Does the soup need to be watched constantly?" she asked again.

"No need, just let it simmer on low heat, and add some salt to taste at the end." Zhang Shushu wiped her hands. "Xiao Li, where are you from before?"

In the living room, Song Che's ears immediately perked up.

He seemed to be talking to Song Jianguo about the winter temperature, but his mind was completely on the kitchen.

Xia Li remained silent for two seconds.

"A very far place," she chose a vague but true answer, "not here."

"From now on, this is home. Come often, don't be shy." Zhang Shushu's tone softened as she patted Xia Li's arm. "Go and rest. The auntie will be ready for the other two dishes soon."

Xia Li shook her head, her gaze falling on the unwashed green peppers and potatoes on the counter: "These need to be dealt with."

Zhang Shushu's heart softened even more, and she felt a little sour.

"Okay, break the green bell pepper in half, remove the seeds, and cut it into chunks. Peel the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Do you know how?"

"Yes." Xia Li had already picked up the green pepper, skillfully breaking it open, removing the white seeds, and rinsing it under the tap. Next was the potato; she used the peeler steadily, peeling the potato cleanly and neatly.

Seeing this, Zhang Shushu was completely relieved.

At least she has good life skills and isn't the kind of person who needs to be waited on all the time. While quickly stir-frying another vegetable, she casually chatted with Xia Li about everyday things.

Xia Li's answers were mostly brief.

"Okay. It's alright. I'm learning."

But he responded to every question seriously, without being perfunctory.

Song Che was in the living room, listening to the gradually natural conversations, the clanging of spatulas, the sound of running water, and the occasional instructions from Zhang Shushu in the kitchen. He felt at ease.

When the food was served, the table was piled high with dishes.

The steamed sea bass was fragrant, the corn and pork rib soup was rich and delicious, the stir-fried green pepper and potato slices were glossy, there was also a dish of garlic greens, and a plate of braised dishes.

"Xiao Li helped pick the vegetables and peel the potatoes!" Zhang Shushu praised Xia Li with a smile. "She's so skillful and meticulous."

Xia Li sat next to Song Che and only glanced at Zhang Shushu upon hearing this.

She wasn't used to such direct praise, especially when it came with such obvious kindness and intimacy.

Song Jianguo picked up his chopsticks and said cheerfully, "Good, good, you're all good kids. Come on, start eating, eat while it's hot."

He picked up a piece of fish belly and put it in Xia Li's bowl. "Try Aunt Zhang's cooking. This fish is steamed to be the most tender."

Xia Li looked at the snow-white fish in the bowl, then glanced at Song Jianguo's smiling face. "Thank you, Uncle."

"Don't be shy, make yourself at home." Song Jianguo put another piece of food on Song Che's plate. "You should eat more too."

"I know," Song Che replied, ladling a spoonful of soup for Xia Li as well. "Drink some soup, it'll warm you up."

Zhang Shushu watched the natural act of people passing food to each other at the dinner table, her eyes flickered, but she didn't say anything.

She began to ask Song Che about his future career aspirations, whether he wanted to stay in the city or consider going elsewhere.

Song Che answered cautiously, only saying that his score was high enough for some local universities, but he hadn't fully decided on a specific major yet, which might lean towards STEM fields or practical applications.

He didn't mention why he preferred to stay in the local area—there sat a silver-haired girl sipping soup.

"Local is good, it's close to home and the cost of living is lower." Song Jianguo nodded, took a sip of his drink, "But don't just focus on proximity, the key is the school and the future prospects of your major."

The topic then shifted to the economic situation and the employment environment.

Song Jianguo recounted some of the things he had heard and seen, while Song Che echoed him, occasionally raising his own questions. The conversation between father and son was ordinary and down-to-earth, carrying the most basic concern of an ordinary family for the next generation.

Xia Li ate her meal quietly, listening to the conversation.

Many terms were unfamiliar to her: "employment rate," "graduate school entrance exam," "industry prospects"... but she listened attentively. This was the world Song Che lived in, the "future" he needed to consider.

She suddenly remembered the densely packed problems in Song Che's notebook. Identity, orphanage, adoption... those were the "existential" problems she needed to solve. But the topic of discussion at the dinner table was how to "continue" those problems after they were solved.

Between the two lies a vast chasm. And she stands on the edge of that chasm.

"Xiao Li, what do you want to do in the future? Is there anything you particularly like?" Zhang Shushu's gentle voice interrupted Xia Li's thoughts.

All three people at the table turned their gazes toward her.

Xia Li tightened her grip on the chopsticks.

She put down her chopsticks, sat up straighter, and thought seriously for a few seconds, as if answering a question in class.

"My current goal is to achieve independent living, not to be a burden to Song Che, and to save money for Cai..."

Song Che quickly interrupted her, touching Xia Li's hand under the table to signal her not to speak so bluntly.

"Sure, kids who live independently are very strong. Eat, eat." Zhang Shushu waved her hand and put another piece of pork rib on Xia Li's plate. "Eat more, you're so thin, your health is important."

The atmosphere at the next dinner party became relaxed again.

Zhang Shushu recounted amusing anecdotes from the neighborhood, with Song Che occasionally adding a joke. Xia Li mostly listened quietly.

After the meal, Xia Li had to help clear the dishes.

This time, Zhang Shushu didn't stop her; she just smiled and directed her to wipe the table and gather the leftovers.

Song Che and Song Jianguo were ushered to the living room for tea.

The sounds of running water and clinking dishes came from the kitchen, along with Zhang Shushu's voice: "Wring the dishcloth out a bit more... Yes, like that... Xiaoli, come often, Auntie will teach you to cook more dishes..."

Song Che held his teacup, listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen.

Before leaving, Zhang Shushu gave Xia Li a thick red envelope.

"I've given you the New Year's red envelope in advance! Take it, no refusing!" Zhang Shushu said firmly. "Buy something you like, or get a new dress."

Xia Li held the red paper package and looked at Song Che somewhat helplessly.

Song Che nodded to her, because he had already received his father's red envelope.

"...Thank you, Auntie." Xia Li accepted the red envelope, her fingers pinching the edge of the envelope.

"Go to bed early, and remember to turn on the air conditioner," Song Jianguo instructed from the doorway.

On the way back, the night wind grew even colder.

"How was today?" Song Che asked.

Xia Li walked silently for a while before speaking: "Aunt Zhang and Uncle Song are good people. The red envelopes they gave me... were thicker than yours."

Song Che was taken aback.

So you've been silent for so long, you were just showing off that your red envelope was thicker than mine!