In the 1970s, it started with contracting out communal dining.

As they said this, everyone had already sat down at the octagonal table, but Chen Wei had not seen the old man come out for a long time.

Turning to look at Li Yannian, she saw that the other man's face was full of embarrassment.

"Let's eat first! Xiao Chen, pick up your chopsticks!"

Li Yannian was naturally embarrassed to say that his old father was still throwing a tantrum, so Shen Weiping quickly picked up the thread for her husband and took the initiative to reach out her chopsticks to put a piece of beef shank in Chen Wei's bowl.

The Li family's octagonal table was located in the middle of the east and west rooms. It couldn't really be called a living room; it was more like a small passageway. Sitting at the octagonal table, one could see the entire scene in the east and west rooms.

The old man's east room was covered by a curtain, but now a small gap was visible at the edge of the curtain, and a figure could be vaguely seen inside, flashing by.

Chen Wei took in the figure and couldn't help but smile.

The old man is really hard to please; it seems he's going to keep throwing this tantrum for who knows how long.

He sat down at the dining table, immediately winked at Li Yannian and his wife, and then deliberately raised his voice.

"Wow, this beef shank is really good today! It's so refreshing to eat it on a hot summer day! And why did you even buy ice-cold beer, sister-in-law? That's so thoughtful of you!"

Li Yannian was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood and quickly echoed.

"Yes, yes! Comrade Chen, your skills are improving every day! This casserole smells so good! Delicious, delicious!"

As he said this, Li Yannian didn't stand on ceremony. He actually picked up a piece of winter melon stewed with tofu, put it in his bowl to cool it down, and then slowly put it in his mouth to savor.

But as soon as the dish entered his mouth, Li Yannian's expression froze.

Well...

The taste of this dish is not particularly amazing; it's just average, the kind of cooking you can find in any small restaurant.

But for some reason, when Li Yannian tasted Chen Wei's dish, he only felt a rich and delicious flavor that lingered on his tongue, evoking unique memories that had been buried deep in his mind.

The delicate fragrance of winter melon blends with the aroma of tofu, creating a harmonious yet complex flavor. The crispy fried meat slices, after a long stewing process, have become soft, tender, and translucent, sliding into the mouth with a savory aroma of lard.

The best part is the few chopped green onions and a touch of sesame oil when it's done cooking; they perfectly enhance the flavor of the whole dish.

Most importantly, after taking that bite, Li Yannian didn't know why, but he felt tears welling up in his eyes, his nose stinging, and a feeling of wanting to cry.

"Why do I feel like I've eaten this dish somewhere before?"

Li Yannian couldn't help but murmur aloud.

Chen Wei, sitting across the table, merely raised an eyebrow, his attention entirely focused on the curtain that had been swaying several times.

Behind the curtain, Old Master Li quietly lifted it a crack and took a deep breath of the aroma wafting in from outside.

"Winter melon stewed with tofu?! It smells delicious!"

The old man muttered to himself, his lips glistening with tears that seemed uncontrollable, trickling down his stubble.

As people get older, they also develop a sweet tooth. This brat is clearly setting up a trap outside, waiting for me to come out for a meal so he can take the opportunity to be cheeky and flirtatious with me!

The old man pursed his lips, determined to fight to the bitter end.

It's just a meal! Everyone has eaten winter melon stewed with tofu before!

But once the dish came to mind, the memory in my heart became even clearer.

I remember that year was a year of severe drought. Old Master Li was in his early twenties, a time when he could eat a lot. On the day he left to join the army, his mother made this dish for him.

There was no meat back then! The fields were full of nothing but winter melons!

But a mother can't let her son go on an empty stomach, especially since she doesn't know if he'll ever come back.

So his mother walked thirty miles just to buy a piece of tofu in town. She even had to pawn a pair of silver earrings to buy it.

He has remembered that winter melon and tofu stew for so many years.

After liberation, people's lives gradually improved, at least no one starved to death anymore. But after the old lady passed away, he never ate such delicious winter melon stewed with tofu again.

Old Master Li's cloudy tears, along with the drool from the corner of his mouth, dripped onto his collar. He then reluctantly raised his hand and wiped it away fiercely.

I thought to myself, "This little beast, he specially hired someone to mess with me!"

As the old man was thinking, he saw his son and daughter-in-law each carrying a small bowl containing winter melon stewed with tofu, as well as four cold dishes from outside. The two of them walked in with smiles on their faces.

As soon as they entered the door, the daughter-in-law spoke first.

"Dad! Dinner's ready! Look what delicious food we've specially asked someone to make for you!"

As she said this, Shen Weiping quickly handed over the winter melon and tofu stew in her hand. The aroma became even stronger as the small bowl was handed over.

The old man couldn't hold back any longer. He swallowed hard, but still managed to glare at his adopted son.

"I'm not eating! I'd rather starve to death!"

Knowing that the old man was still throwing a tantrum, Shen Weiping quickly gave her husband a meaningful look.

Li Yannian could only scratch his head and chuckle awkwardly as he tried to coax him:

"Dad! I was wrong, okay? Please don't be angry. No matter what, eat your food first! What could be more important than your own health!"

It must be said that the Li family has a truly admirable tradition of respecting and caring for the elderly.

Chen Wei could also tell that the old man didn't not want to eat; he was just still upset.

So he stood up and walked in with a smile. He immediately saw that the white-haired old man, Mr. Li, was leaning against the headboard with a stern face, but his eyes kept glancing at the winter melon stewed tofu in Shen Weiping's hands.

"Grandpa, my name is Chen Wei! I made this dish today, wouldn't you like to try some?"

When the outsiders came in, Old Master Li's face immediately put on a smiling face.

Although he was old, he was not ignorant; he understood perfectly well and said with a smile.

"Oh, Comrade Chen! Please sit down, please sit down. It's such a trouble for you, I'm an old man, and you've gone to all this trouble!"

"It's not tiring at all! It's Director Li who's been so worried about your health! How about... we eat first?"

When people reach Mr. Li's age, their temper becomes like that of a child, and they usually have to be coaxed.

However, Chen Wei was an outsider after all, and once he said that, Old Master Li couldn't make a fuss anymore.

He quickly put on his shoes and got off the kang (heated brick bed), laughing, "Come on, come on! Let's go eat! We can't let Comrade Chen's excellent cooking go to waste! Ignore the two of them, let's eat first, just the two of us!"

As he said this, the old man actually pulled Chen Wei to sit at the head of the table, completely ignoring Li Yannian and his wife.

Chen Wei shook his head with a smile, thinking to himself, "This old man really has his son and daughter-in-law completely under his thumb."

He couldn't possibly sit down before the bureau chief, so he quickly turned around and offered Li Yannian a way out.

"Director Li, you can't just stand there, or I won't feel at ease eating! Please sit down, please sit down, everyone, let's all try my cooking!"