Old Madam Huo glanced sideways at Mu Qingxuan with a look of deep dissatisfaction.
Right from the start, she had disliked this granddaughter-in-law from the countryside, feeling that Mu Qingxuan was simply not good enough for her grandson, Huo Changfeng.
Not only could she contribute nothing to Huo Changfeng's career, but she also possessed such a devastatingly alluring face—anyone could tell at a glance she was a restless sort. Now, hearing that Mu Qingxuan didn't even know how to cook, Old Madam Huo grew even more displeased.
Where on earth was there a wife who couldn't cook?
When a man came home exhausted after a long day's work and couldn't even get a bite of hot food, it was truly unacceptable.
Mu Qianqian swept her gaze back and forth between Mu Qingxuan and Old Madam Huo, then spoke with a troubled air: "Grandmother, please don't be upset. Your health should come first."
"Sister, stop being so stubborn. Cooking is very simple; I can teach you. You're so smart, Sister, I'm sure you'll catch on in no time."
Mu Qianqian chimed in at just the right moment, seemingly trying to smooth things over, but in reality, she was steering the spearhead right back at Mu Qingxuan.
Sensing something amiss, Huo Changfeng frowned slightly and cast a fleeting glance at Mu Qianqian.
Old Madam Huo slammed her chopsticks down onto the table. Her previously slack skin tightened instantly, every wrinkle looking as though it had been pressed flat with an iron.
"Cooking is a woman's natural duty. You're actually unwilling to learn?"
Huo Changfeng spoke up: "Grandmother, I'm often working overtime at the research institute, and I only come back occasionally. Besides, we have a housekeeper at home. It doesn't matter if Xuanxuan doesn't know how to cook."
Mu Qingxuan gave Huo Changfeng an unexpected sideways glance, not anticipating that he would openly speak up to defend her.
Yet Old Madam Huo refused to buy it at all. Instead, she looked at Mu Qingxuan with even greater irritation and nagged: "That's still no excuse for her not knowing how to cook!"
"Changfeng is being so considerate of you. If you really want to make a proper go of this marriage, you should have the self-awareness to go and learn how to cook instead of dumping everything onto others."
Out of regard for Huo Changfeng, Old Madam Huo's tone softened considerably, but the look of disgust deep within her eyes grew only more intense.
Noticing this, Mu Qianqian curved the corners of her lips slightly, her pupils flashing with triumphant delight.
She lifted her chin a fraction and directed a gloating gaze at Mu Qingxuan.
Sitting beside Mu Qianqian, Shi Feihua remembered Huo Changfeng's recent warning and didn't dare stare openly at Mu Qingxuan. Instead, he could only glance at her out of the corner of his eye, finding her more breathtaking the more he looked.
At that moment, everyone's attention was focused on Mu Qingxuan.
They saw her delicately set down her chopsticks, part her full, vibrant red lips slightly, and meet Old Madam Huo's malicious gaze with a hint of puzzlement. "Grandmother," she said, "I do know how to cook."
"You know how to cook?"
Old Madam Huo was momentarily stunned, completely failing to anticipate that Mu Qingxuan would say such a thing.
She looked suspiciously at Mu Qingxuan's slender, delicate fingers resting on the table, which bore the look of someone who had never touched spring water in her life and had been pampered from youth.
"You aren't just making that up to fool me, are you?"
"If someone knows how to cook, they know; if they don't, they don't. Why would I tell a lie that would be exposed immediately?" Mu Qingxuan's attitude was calm and composed as she took the initiative to say, "Grandmother, if you don't mind, I'll cook tonight's meal."
Old Madam Huo's brow remained tightly furrowed, a lingering sense telling her that something wasn't quite right.
Mu Qianqian was utterly shocked. In her memory, let alone cooking, Mu Qingxuan had never even stepped foot in a kitchen.
Ever since they were little, Mu Qingxuan had relied on her innate brilliance in medical studies to never take her younger sister seriously. While the adults in the family went out to work the fields, Mu Qingxuan would only curl up in her room to memorize medical texts, whereas Mu Qianqian was the one who had to prepare meals for the whole family amidst greasy kitchen fumes.
And those medical texts were things she wasn't even allowed to touch.
At that thought, extreme resentment welled up inside Mu Qianqian, and she blurted out a retort: "Sister, since you know how to cook, why didn't you say so earlier?"
The implication was clear: Mu Qingxuan had intentionally watched her and Old Madam Huo get worked up into a state of anxiety just to play games with them.
As soon as these words left her mouth, sure enough, Old Madam Huo's expression shifted once again.
Mu Qingxuan gave a breezy glance over. "You had so much to say, Sister, you didn't even give me a chance to speak."
Mu Qianqian was momentarily at a loss for words and could only manage an awkward smile.
Under the table, she gave Shi Feihua's thigh a light touch and signaled with her eyes.
Reluctantly tearing her gaze away from Mu Qingxuan and catching his wife's intent, Shi Feihua curled his right hand into a fist and gave a couple of light coughs near his lips.
"Grandmother, Cousin, Cousin-in-law, let's eat first. If we don't, the food will get cold."
Shi Feihua took the initiative to smooth things over, easing the air, which had grown stiflingly quiet, just a little.
Old Madam Huo rubbed her temples.
Whether it was because she had just lost her temper or not, a sudden, sharp pain flared in her head. Having no energy left to talk, she simply concentrated on eating her meal in silence.
Mu Qingxuan took in Old Madam Huo's every action and fell into a brief contemplation.
Based on her years of clinical experience, she could tell that Old Madam Huo's symptoms were unquestionably those of chronic migraines.
As the saying went, a headache might not be a fatal disease, but when the pain struck, it could kill you.
Migraines were a severe torment even for young people with strong willpower, let alone for an elderly person like Old Madam Huo, for whom it would be far more agonizing.
Mu Qingxuan's original plan had been to propose treating Old Madam Huo right there at the dinner table.
Yet, after Mu Qianqian's instigation, Old Madam Huo's impression of her had clearly plummeted to rock bottom.
Even if Mu Qingxuan were to speak up now and declare her medical skills, Old Madam Huo likely wouldn't believe her anyway.
Mu Qingxuan let out a soft sigh, deciding to cook tonight's meal first to slightly alter Old Madam Huo's perception of her before taking things a step at a time.
After the meal, eager to score brownie points in front of Old Madam Huo, Mu Qianqian took the initiative to stand up and start clearing the bowls and chopsticks.
She even edged Maid Wang, the Huo family's housekeeper, completely to the side.
Holding a dishcloth, Maid Wang stood awkwardly at the kitchen doorway, watching as Mu Qianqian efficiently washed the dishes, wiped the table, and looked ready to wash the family's clothes as well by the time she was done.
Maid Wang offered a few words of persuasion, but Mu Qianqian treated them as wind passing the ear, burying her head and working away on her own.
Standing off to the side, Maid Wang not only failed to feel pleased, but instead wore a bitter expression.
People of this era were generally straightforward and honest. Since Maid Wang was willing to work as a housekeeper, naturally she had no intention of slacking off or cutting corners.
With someone suddenly hijacking her chores, Maid Wang naturally felt her job security was under threat.
Fortunately, Old Madam Huo couldn't bear to watch any longer and took the initiative to call a halt: "Qianqian, I know you're a good child, but you don't need to do these things. Come keep me company and chat for a bit."
Only then did Mu Qianqian put down her work, wipe the moisture from her hands, and walk over to sit on the sofa beside Old Madam Huo.
With a troubled expression, she nervously pinched the fabric of her trousers, her brows furrowed deeply as if she had something she wanted to say but didn't dare.
How could Old Madam Huo, a seasoned veteran who had lived through decades of ups and downs, fail to see through that?
She immediately said: "If you have something to say, just say it. Treat this like your own home, there's no need to be afraid."
Mu Qianqian took a deep breath before speaking up: "Grandmother, after thinking about it this way and that just now, I still feel something isn't right."
"I think Sister might have been lying."