The younger sister mistakenly identified her brother when visiting relatives and was kissed by the c

Today she wore a light pink floral short-sleeved shirt that perfectly complemented her skin tone. Her smooth, black hair was casually tied into a low ponytail, swaying slightly with her movements and revealing a fair and slender swan neck.

Because of the high temperature in the kitchen, the heat made her small face, no bigger than a palm, flushed red, and a few glistening beads of sweat clung to her forehead. Her clear, large eyes were sparkling with moisture, making her look exceptionally vibrant and delicate.

It's like a delicate peach blossom, glistening with dew, suddenly blooming in a harsh military camp.

"Brother Lu is here?"

Seeing his cold, stern face, Qiao Xinxin's heart pounded, but she smiled sweeter than honey, revealing a row of white teeth: "Please sit down, please sit down. Have some tea with me first; the last dish will be ready soon!"

After saying that, she turned and disappeared back into the kitchen like a sweet-smelling breeze.

Lu Baizhou's deep eyes darkened slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably along the hard lines of his neck.

He calmly withdrew his gaze and sat down at the dining table.

Hearing the commotion, Bai's mother wiped her hands on her apron and came out. Upon seeing Lu Baizhou, her weathered face crinkled into a wide smile: "Oh my, Comrade Lu is here? You'd better eat a lot today! To thank you, my Xinxin has been busy all afternoon, preparing a huge feast!"

Mr. Bai also brought out his best tea leaves and poured some for Lu Baizhou, a rare sight of him showing a simple, honest smile as he said, "Little Lu, don't be shy, make yourself at home!"

Lu Baizhou immediately accepted the teacup with both hands, nodded slightly, suppressed his murderous aura, and said politely and respectfully, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I'm sorry to have bothered you today."

"No, no, not at all! Why are you being so polite, kid!"

Mrs. Bai smiled even more broadly, looking at Lu Baizhou's upright appearance with increasing fondness: "You've helped Xinxin so much, you're a benefactor to our Bai family! We're too grateful to ask for anything more! From now on, treat this place as your own home, come whenever you want, Auntie will keep the door open for you!"

Just then, the kitchen door curtain was lifted.

"The last dish! Everything's ready!"

With a clear, sweet cry, Qiao Xinxin came out carrying a large red enamel basin, bigger than a washbasin, and placed it on the center of the table with a "bang," letting out a long sigh of relief.

As soon as this large bowl was served, an extremely rich aroma of braised meat exploded out, penetrating straight to the top of one's head!

The braised food in the basin was a bright red and enticing color, glistening with a glistening sheen.

Not only are there tender, boneless pig's trotters, chewy and glossy chicken feet, and plump duck wings, but also neatly arranged in the corners are braised tofu cut into flower shapes, kelp knots soaked in broth, and braised eggs cut in half.

Just looking at that rich, dark brown color makes your mouth water uncontrollably.

Bai Zhengyuan stared at the table overflowing with food, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. He held up his thick, carrot-like fingers and stammered, "Xin Xin, how many dishes did you make? One, two, three, four..."

He counted them one by one, his jaw nearly dropping in shock: "Eight main dishes! And a crucian carp and tofu soup?! My goodness, are you celebrating the New Year here?!"

Qiao Xinxin, hands on her slender waist, proudly raised her delicate chin and said in a crisp voice, "What's the New Year? Our family has double happiness today! First, we're celebrating our family reunion, and second, we're celebrating the upcoming opening of our business! Plus, to thank Brother Lu for his help, of course we have to have a good meal—that's what you call showing off!"

Bai's mother and father were also dumbfounded, standing by the table, not daring to pick up their chopsticks.

Eight dishes and a soup, all with excellent color, aroma and taste! This level of presentation was quite impressive, not to mention in the materially scarce early 1980s, even by today's standards!

Besides the imposing imperial braised dishes in the center, there are also braised pork ribs with a bright red color and sugar syrup strands on the side.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet and sour grass carp drizzled with a thick, sweet and sour sauce.

Golden and crispy fried lotus root sandwiches.

Fresh, vibrant green stir-fried vegetables.

A refreshing and appetizing cold cucumber salad.

There's also a plate of stir-fried pork intestines!

Bai Zhengyuan swallowed hard, feeling like the cravings in his stomach were rebelling.

He turned to look at Lu Baizhou sitting next to him, his face beaming, his tone filled with undisguised pride and boastfulness: "Baizhou! What do you think? My sister's cooking is amazing, isn't it? Didn't it disappoint you!"

Lu Baizhou sat there quietly, his back straight.

His deep gaze fell on the table full of dishes that rivaled a state banquet, then he looked up at the lively and charming young girl who was beaming with delight.

On the surface, this tough officer maintained his calm and aloof demeanor, without even raising an eyebrow.

But in reality, his heart, which was as firm as a rock, was already churning with turbulent waves!

He knew this girl was a good cook, but he never expected that she could magically produce such a delicious and visually appealing Manchu Han Imperial Feast in this simple kitchen!

How many more surprises does this girl have that he doesn't know about?

Each of these eight dishes is absolutely perfect. Whether it's the braised pork ribs that are a deep, glossy red with an enticing caramel color, or the lotus root slices that are fried to a golden brown and crispy perfection, sizzling with hot oil, their presentation and the irresistible aroma that fills your nostrils are in no way inferior to those of the master chefs in state-run restaurants.

Lu Baizhou's gaze slowly swept over the plates of delicious-looking dishes, a rare look of amazement flashing in his deep eyes.

"That's impressive."

He uttered those two words sincerely, his deep, mellow voice carrying an undisguised admiration.

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze unconsciously fell on Qiao Xinxin, who was standing by the table with a smile on her face.

The little girl's cheeks, flushed red from the stove fire, looked just like ripe peaches, and she was looking on with a smug expression, waiting for someone to praise her.

This man, who was always as cold and hard as iron in the military camp, couldn't help but feel a slight ripple in his heart at this moment.

"Oh dear, please sit down, everyone. Don't stand up, the food will get cold!"

While wiping her hands on her apron, Bai's mother warmly greeted them, breaking the subtle silence in the air, "Zhengyuan, hurry up and get a glass to pour your comrade's drink! Xinxin, don't bother, sit down and eat!"

"Alright!" Bai Zhengyuan readily agreed, turned around and took out a simply packaged bottle of Erguotou from the dresser.

The family and Lu Baizhou sat around the not-so-spacious square table, the warm light from the dim incandescent bulbs overhead, the aroma of meat filling the room, the atmosphere warm and lively, full of the most simple and heartwarming human touch of the 1980s.

Bai Zhengyuan unscrewed the bottle cap and poured a full glass of baijiu for his father, Lu Baizhou, and himself.