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

Seeing that Chen Wei, an outsider, had already smoothed things over for everyone, Old Master Li naturally couldn't stop him anymore.

Li Yannian and Shen Weiping sat down at the octagonal table, which was laden with dishes. Old Master Li stopped insisting and simply snorted before eagerly picking up his chopsticks. His eyes immediately fell on the steaming bowl of winter melon stewed with tofu.

Although it was a hot dish, it truly touched Mr. Li's heart.

The old man is getting on in years. Although the cold and braised dishes his daughter-in-law buys are delicious, the alternation of hot and cold foods, along with the large amount of meat, makes him feel suffocated and unable to digest them.

Chenwei's casserole dish is particularly suitable for the tastes of the elderly.

Especially after smelling the aroma of the dish from behind the curtain, I had been craving it for a long time. Now, I saw Grandpa Li lean forward slightly, pick up a piece of winter melon stewed with tofu with his chopsticks.

The winter melon chunks in the milky white broth are crystal clear, like the finest jade, while the tofu chunks are pan-fried until golden brown on both sides and soaked in the broth. When you gently pick them up with chopsticks, the broth oozes out from the tofu chunks.

"Plop—"

This time, Old Master Li really couldn't hold back any longer and swallowed hard.

He hurriedly blew on the piece of winter melon and tofu on the tip of his chopsticks and immediately put it in his mouth.

"Ugh—"

The moment the dish entered his mouth, Old Master Li let out a hoarse gasp of surprise.

The winter melon was stewed until it was soft and tender. It melted on the tip of the tongue with a gentle touch, and when you bit into it, the rich and delicious broth burst in your mouth along the texture of the tofu. Although there was no heavy and greasy sauce or spicy seasoning, the taste was a beautiful memory that was deeply hidden in Mr. Li's mind.

After being stewed for a long time, the winter melon loses its original light bitterness, leaving only the purest and freshest aroma of the ingredient.

Add to that the golden-brown fried tofu, and with a light bite, a burst of broth slides right into your mouth.

The crispy pork belly slices sandwiched inside provide a slightly crunchy and chewy texture, which is perfectly balanced between the soft winter melon and the smooth tofu. When you take a bite at the right time, all the oil bursts out, filling your mouth with a simple and unpretentious smoky flavor.

Finally, the touch of chopped scallions and sesame oil in the soup is the perfect finishing touch, bringing a lingering and delightful aroma to the light broth.

With his eyes closed, the look of enjoyment and shock on Old Master Li's face slowly transformed into a complex surge of emotions.

The taste from my memory gradually became clearer.

He thought of the deep love his elderly mother had shown him decades ago when she was still alive, and he remembered that the last bit of sesame oil he added to the tofu soup was borrowed from a neighbor.

"Why……"

As he ate, the old man let out a long sigh, his voice trembling slightly at the end.

This startled Li Yannian and his wife, who were also sitting at the table, and they quickly asked.

"What's wrong, Dad?"

Old Master Li opened his eyes and looked at Li Yannian. He remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh. He pointed to the winter melon and tofu stew in the casserole in the middle of the table and asked with a serious expression.

"Da Nian, what kind of dish is this?"

"This...this is winter melon stewed with tofu!" Li Yannian scratched his head, not quite understanding what his father meant, so he had no choice but to answer truthfully.

"Do you remember this dish?" The old man's expression grew increasingly serious as he asked repeatedly.

"I..." Li Yannian was speechless. He did feel that the dish looked familiar, but after searching his memory, he couldn't remember where he had eaten it before.

After thinking for a long time, he could only honestly shake his head: "I...I don't remember..."

My elderly father rarely shows such a serious expression now that he's gotten older.

But Li Yannian clearly remembered that when he was a child, his father, Mr. Li, was a strict father.

The old man was a veteran of the War of Resistance against Japan, with impeccable revolutionary credentials. During his many years of war, he developed an iron will.

He was extremely strict with his children, and Li Yannian was quite afraid of this father when he was a child.

"snort!"

As soon as Li Yannian finished speaking, Old Master Li slammed his chopsticks on the table in a huff.

"You've forgotten your roots! Li Yannian, you've forgotten your roots!"

"what?"

Li Yannian was startled and subconsciously sat up straight.

His father hadn't called him by his full name in a long time, and upon hearing it now, Li Yannian immediately felt nervous.

"Dad, I didn't..."

He glanced at the dishes in the middle of the table, then turned to look helplessly at Chen Wei, not understanding for a moment what his father meant.

Chen Wei looked at Old Master Li's expression and his heart stirred slightly.

Since he came to the Li family to cook this dish, he must have been well-prepared. Although Li Yannian didn't understand what Old Master Li was saying, Chen Wei did.

This is all thanks to Wu Xiaochun's gossipy big mouth; he can dig up any old secrets that anyone has.

It is said that the Li family was not well-off in their early years. When Mr. Li was injured and recuperating at home, he was once so poor that he could not afford to eat.

Unable to support five children, they had no choice but to give away Li Xiu'e, Li Yannian's younger sister and Zhao Hongfei's wife.

Although she was given away for several years and then brought back, judging from the old man's attitude now, he must feel guilty towards his youngest daughter.

That's why we tend to favor certain groups in daily life.

This time, because Li Yannian directly issued an official document criticizing Zhao Hongfei, it caused a disagreement between Li Xiue and her husband, which is why the old man got angry with Li Yannian.

Chen Wei sat at the other end of the table, and seeing Li Yannian's pleading look, he quickly and discreetly pointed to the room outside.

In addition to the two rooms in the east and west wing of the Li family's house, there was an extra side room. When Chen Wei entered, he noticed some movement inside, and if he wasn't mistaken, it should be Li Xiu'e.

Presumably, seeing that she was an outsider, Li Xiu'e felt embarrassed and didn't want outsiders to know about her family's discord, which is why she didn't show herself.

Li Yannian turned his head, puzzled. His wife, Shen Weiping, nudged him under the table and gestured towards the outer room with her lips.

"Dad means you should go and call your little sister out for dinner!"

Shen Weiping said in a low voice.

Then, Old Master Li snorted coldly, clearly displeased: "You don't even invite your sister to dinner? What is that if not forgetting your roots?"

So that's what made the old man angry. Li Yannian realized this and quickly got up to call Li Xiue over for dinner.

Unexpectedly, his wife Shen Weiping pressed Li Yannian back into his seat and spoke softly.

"I'll go call my aunt, you guys eat! Xiao Chen, eat up, don't be shy!"