Welcoming

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Today he had bought some pork so he planned to make a scrumptious dinner tonight. The dinner meal for tonight was steamed pork*, braised bok choy and mushrooms, braised potatoes, spicy bamboo shoots, pork and chive dumplings, and of course rice.

He first cooked the rice before moving on to the steamed pork. He first took the pork and cut it into fine pieces, cleaned it, and blanched it. He then started preparing the marinade. It was a fragrant blend of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and salt. The marinade was then poured over the pork, letting it absorb the rich flavors, ready to release them when the time was right. He then prepared the steamer, placed the pork in it, and watched its steam rise, like a curtain unveiling a delicious secret.

As the pork steamed he moved on to the dumplings. He began to knead and work the dough until it was soft. He then rolled out the soft pliable dough with care.  He then went to work on the filling. A fresh cut of pork was finely minced, the knife swiftly slicing through the tender meat. With care, Sun Baohai combined the minced pork with a blend of seasonings, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, ensuring each spice harmonized with the next. He then added chives, cabbage, and some chili. The marinade's savory notes envelop the pork, infusing it with a rich, umami-laden aroma.

He then started wrapping the dumplings. His hands were like practiced dancers, folding the dumplings with speed and precision, sealing the flavorful dumplings with a promise of savory delight. After wrapping the dumplings, he then placed them in the fragrant broth, and let it simmer.  As the dumplings simmered in a fragrant broth, a symphony of flavors wafted through the air, tantalizing the senses, and drawing all who passed by his house, and of course, his family who was just in the living room.

As the dumplings, and pork cooked, he went on to make the rest of the side dishes. The whole dinner took about two hours to make, but the end result was very satisfying. The steamed pork looked very delicious. The colors were a perfect balance of rich, savory brown and caramelized golden, ensuring a mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It made anyone who looked at it entranced. The dumplings were fragrant and appetizing. As he set up the dinner table, the kids couldn't help but gulp, causing him to chuckle.

After he set up the dinner table, everyone sat and started eating. Their taste buds were greeted by an explosion of flavors as soon as they took their first bite of the steamed pork. The tender, succulent meat practically melted in their mouths, releasing a symphony of savory notes. Each bite was a delightful combination of soy sauce and ginger, with a subtle hint of sweetness that left them craving more. The texture was pure perfection, a balance between tenderness and juiciness that was incredibly satisfying.

With a hint of anticipation, they gently lift a plump, steaming dumpling with their chopsticks, eager for the flavor burst to ensue. The thin, slightly translucent wrapper gave way to expose a hot, flavorful filling inside, and the first bite was pure ecstasy. Rich, aromatic juices flowed across their tongues, contrasting beautifully with the dumplings' soft, smooth texture. They felt like they were in a food haven. Even the side dished weren't to be undermined.

Each bite of the braised bok choy and mushrooms was a revelation of earthy, umami goodness. The bok choy, tender and slightly crisp, absorbed the savory essence of the mushrooms and the thick braising sauce, creating a delectable medley of flavors. With each mouthful, the dish provided a delightful contrast in textures and a harmonious balance of tastes, leaving a satisfying warmth in every mouthful.

The spicy bamboo shoots were a delightful surprise. Each bite delivered a fiery kick, perfectly complemented by the tender, crunchy texture of the bamboo. The taste lingered in their mouths, leaving a satisfying warmth and a lingering craving for another bite.

The braised potatoes were a comforting delight, compared to the bamboo shoots. Their tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture was infused with the rich flavors of the braising sauce. Each bite was savory, and as they savored them, a feeling of contentment washed over them.

With such delicious food, it didn't take long for them to finish eating. Tonight might have been just regular dinner for Sun Baohai and the kids, but to Zhang Yingtai and Wang Yuanjun, this was the food they would never dream of having and feeling this full before going to bed was a first in many years. Sun Baohai went and brushed the kid's teeth, and wiped their faces, while Zhang Yingtai did the dishes. After he put the kids to bed, he then called Yingtai into his room to talk.

"I didn't have time to formally introduce myself, but I am Sun Baohai, nineteen this year, and fully educated. I just married your brother like a month ago." Sun Baohai said.

"I am Yingtai, twenty-four, fully educated. I've been married to the Wang family for nine years," Zhang Yingtai responded.

"I know that it's a painful experience that you just went through and I didn't want to bring it up, but I think that you know best just how relentless the Wang family is. You said you had the intention of divorcing, and I fully support you but I need two things from you in order to help you." Sun Baohai explained. He felt bad for her as he was also a victim of abuse, but he now had four kids, he couldn't just be the hero and save her. Going the Yamen with a case was a big deal, especially a divorce one, so he needs to make sure that Wang Yingtai is dead set on divorce.

"Whatever it is," Zhang Yingtai responded rather quickly.

"Well first, you can not feel any lingering attachment to your husband. I heard that in the first two years, he treated you extremely well, and during your tumultuous marriage he would sometimes show you kindness. It's not necessarily your fault if you have lingering attachments but I will not go plead for you if you do not cut them short," Sun Baohai stated, his tone filled with finality.

"I might've had some lingering attachments, as I did grow to love my husband in the first two years of our marriage as he had showed me kindness that even my own father never did, but these feelings slowly started dying throughout our marriage. The only reason I stayed was because my son did not get abused and was mostly berated. I thought I should endure for my son, how could he live in society without a father? So I endured and endured, but when I saw my husband's ruthless eyes when his mother proposed drowning my newborn baby girl as I was half dead in bed. The moment I realized the depth of my husband's cruelty, my heart turned stone cold. The warmth of love and trust I once held had withered away, replaced by an emotional void. I felt so much anger, that I couldn't die. My daughter was almost killed and yet I stay reminiscing about the past? How shameful. Losing a husband is fine it can be replaced, but a child you carried for ten months is another matter," Zhang Yingtai explained her eyes cold.

"I am sorry about your experience, I promise you we will make them pay in court!" Sun Baohai responded enraged. Even his cold-blooded parents in his past life showed him minimal care, but to try and drown a child just because of their gender was truly degenerate. 

"Thank you," Zhang Yingtai said emotionally, having someone to talk to and comfort her was truly a blessing.

"What's there to thank? Since you've decided to divorce, then the next thing is evidence. We need a lot of it." Sun Baohai said.

"How do we get them?" Zhang Yingtai asked nervously.

"Your bruises are some evidence. I predict that Old Lady Wang will take us to court either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, since she's impatient and wants Wang Yuanjun, so for now don't treat your bruises, matter a fact make them worse." Sun Baohai explained.

"Is that going to be enough?" Zhang Yingtai asked nervously.

"Of course not, you're a woman. But you do have seven outs, and Widower Wang already violated one. The next three outs were the inability to care, respect, and provide. He has already violated more than three which means that the divorce is more likely. Plus child killing is against the law and he tried to kill your daughter. This means not only will you divorce him, but he will most likely go to jail for about ten years since he didn't actually do it. But how could Old Lady Wang bear to let her only son go to jail? She will go and bail him out, which will probably empty almost all of their savings. Either way, it's a win-win for us." Sun Baohai explained.

"Can we really do that?" Zhang Yingtain asked in doubt.

"Of course, all we need are witnesses. Get people that hate the Wang family and the families that will do it for money and we're set," Sun Baohai explained.

"Your right! Thank you so much!" Zhang Yingtai said before getting up to bow.

"No need to thank me, I am just doing what your brother wanted to do yet couldn't. I noticed that your brother had a third room and it was decorated with many girly yet mature things. He even bought the trendy canopy bed and put it in there. I went in there to clean it and noticed many letters of apology stained with droplets of what I think are tears. I read some of them and the remorse in them is absolutely heart-wrenching. You should read them too, and not blame your brother too much. He really did want to help you, but every time he went to the yamen they denied him. I hope you don't hold it against him," Sun Baohai explained sincerely. Even he cried reading the letters that were filled with self-blame and remorse.

When Zhang Yingtai heard this she couldn't help but burst into tears. She had always blamed her brother. She knew that her stepmother was plotting something, and she wasn't dumb, so she told her brother to stay until they found a way to separate the family, but her brother was stubborn, and enlisted, leaving her alone. So when her stepmother plotted for her to get married to Widowe Zhang, she blamed him and even refused to see him. But she didn't hate him. As time went by she realized that she was a little too childish. If her brother didn't enlist in the army would they both still be alive to this day?

"I know, I never hated him. I was just a little too emotional," Zhang Yingtai responded as she wiped her tears.

"That's good. Other things about living with us, please make yourself at home. This is your brother's house, and the food is bought by his salary so please don't be so polite. Second, in my shop I currently sell jam, and I make them every night. I can only make a small amount each time because I am the only one making it. If you don't mind helping me out until I find some trustworthy employees, I would greatly appreciate it. Third, I normally leave the kids at Aunt Lin's house, which can be inconvenient to them, so if you could stay with them while I go to work, I would once again appreciate it a lot." Sun Baohai said sincerely. 

He didn't mean to put her to work just because she was living with them, but reality is different from expectations. He now had two more mouths to feed, and Zhang Yingtai was still in her confinement period, so he would need to feed her nutritious food, and plus she was heavily injured and bruised from the abuse she suffered from the Wang family. It would take her months of medicine for her to actually heal, which costs money. So he really did need a helping hand around the house.

"No problem Sister-In-Law! I can start tonight!" Zhang Yingtai quickly responded. When she came here, she expected to be either turned away or to an unpaid slave, and if it was the latter she would have no objections. So when she heard of the light chored given to her she agreed without hesitation.

"What are you talking about? You are still in your confinement period. I am talking about a month to two months later. You said it yourself that you almost died, so how could you be in the position to work?" Sun Baohai nagged, looking like the older one.

"But-" Zhang Yingtai tried to argue but was cut off.

"If you really want to help then please also breastfeed Xiao Yu. His mother didn't even properly wean him when she left them behind. So even though he drinks the cow milk I buy him, he still cries for it." Sun Baohai asked, a little awkward. 

"No problem!" Zhang Yingtai readily agreed.

"Ok then sister-in-law, I will go prepare the stuff needed for tomorrow. Good night," Sun Baohai said before getting up.

"Good night sister-in-law!" Zhang Yingtai responded before making her way to her room.




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