dognovel Chapter 122 Compensation for Losses
Chapter 122 Compensation for Losses
Night fell like a giant black curtain, slowly descending from the sky and gradually obscuring the entire world. At this moment, only the last faint afterglow remained on the horizon, like a golden ribbon gently floating on the distant horizon.
As agreed beforehand, Su Muyang and Princess Wan'er arrived home precisely on time. Upon entering, they were immediately enveloped in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The family gathered happily and joyfully to prepare a sumptuous dinner.
Entering the kitchen, Princess Wan'er and Su Yuning were busily working. Princess Wan'er bent down slightly, carefully picking out the yellow leaves from the vegetables and gently removing them. Then, she gently placed the vegetables in clean water, rubbing them lightly with her hands, as if handling precious treasures, carefully washing each leaf. Su Yuning, equally focused, stared intently at the greens in her hands, meticulously washing away the dirt, instantly transforming the somewhat dull vegetables into an enticing, vibrant green.
Shifting the gaze to the other side, Su Muyang stood before the cutting board, a sharp cleaver in hand. His expression was focused, his movements practiced, each strike precise and powerful. With a series of thuds, pieces of rib were swiftly cut into evenly sized pieces, neatly arranged on the cutting board. Meanwhile, Old Su was also diligently preparing the fresh fish and shrimp. He skillfully scaled and gutted them, and in no time, the fish and shrimp were cleaned thoroughly.
Looking at Ye Beichen, the newly arrived son-in-law was sitting quietly in front of the stove, methodically adding firewood to the firebox. The orange-red flames blazed brightly under his careful tending, leaping merrily and illuminating his handsome face, making it glow like a ripe apple, radiating a captivating brilliance.
The woman tied on her apron and went into the kitchen, where a culinary feast was about to begin. She skillfully picked up a spatula and busied herself at the stove. Soon, the kitchen was filled with an enticing aroma.
The first dish to be served was the braised pork ribs, glistening with a rich red color and irresistible aroma. Each rib was evenly coated with a thick sauce, glistening with oil, making it incredibly tempting. Next, the braised pork belly, a dish bursting with color, aroma, and flavor, was also brought to the table. Each piece of pork belly was perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, each layer distinct, and with a gentle bite, one could experience its wonderfully tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture without being greasy.
Next came the refreshing and delicious shredded potatoes, each strand as thin as silk, exuding a subtle fragrance. The tangy and spicy cold lettuce salad added a touch of fresh green to the table, whetting the appetite. In addition, the succulent steamed hairy crabs and sweet boiled shrimp were also served. The hairy crabs were plump with roe, and the shrimp meat was firm and springy—both were rare delicacies.
Of course, as a classic home-style dish, stir-fried pork with chili peppers is indispensable. The fiery red chili peppers and tender slices of pork complement each other, releasing a rich aroma that stimulates the taste buds. Paired with a bowl of light and nutritious vegetable and tofu soup, it perfectly balances the greasiness of the other dishes.
Once all the dishes were ready, the woman, with a smile, carefully served everyone steaming, fragrant rice. Everyone gathered around the table, eager to savor this sumptuous dinner. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the room, and everyone's face beamed with happiness and contentment.
"Grandma's pork ribs are so delicious! The rich aroma seems to penetrate the soul, making one's mouth water at the mere smell; take a bite, and the sweet flavor instantly bursts in your mouth, the meat is tender and juicy, each piece is stewed to perfection, with a mellow and delicate taste." Princess Wan'er savored the incredibly delicious pork ribs in front of her with a happy expression, and at the same time, she praised her mother-in-law with a beaming smile.
Hearing Princess Wan'er's high praise, the woman was overjoyed. She quickly and warmly replied with a smile, "If you like it, then eat more! As long as my cooking suits your tastes, I'll be satisfied. When you have time, be sure to come home and visit us often. Next time, I'll cook even more of your favorite dishes for you."
"Okay! Thank you, Grandma! You're so kind!" Princess Wan'er nodded readily in agreement, her chopsticks constantly picking up pieces of delicious ribs and putting them into her mouth.
Just then, Old Su, who was sitting to the side, suddenly noticed that his daughter, Su Yuning, hadn't touched her chopsticks. He couldn't help but feel concerned and quickly asked, "Yuning, why aren't you eating? Are you feeling unwell? Did you catch a cold?"
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Su Yuning's eyes gradually reddened, and then tears gushed out like a flood bursting its banks. Large teardrops fell down incessantly, like pearls from a broken string.
"Oh dear, don't cry, little sister! Today, our family is finally able to get together and have a happy meal. What happened that made you so sad? Tell your brother quickly." Su Muyang was very anxious when he saw his sister crying so sadly. He quickly comforted her and asked her what was wrong.
Su Yuning sobbed, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes, and choked out, "I... all the vegetables I painstakingly planted in the vegetable garden have been stolen! Waaah..." At the end, she couldn't help but burst into tears again.
"Is that really the case?" After listening to his sister's tearful complaint, Su Muyang frowned slightly, turned his head thoughtfully, and cast his gaze at Ye Beichen, who was sitting on the other side in silence.
Ye Beichen nodded slightly, a hint of solemnity showing on his handsome face. He said slowly, "Indeed, when we went to check the vegetable garden this afternoon, we were shocked to find that many of the lush and thriving vegetables in the garden had disappeared. It was obviously caused by someone picking them indiscriminately."
Upon hearing this, the younger sister, who had been standing quietly to the side, instantly had tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. Then, she could no longer suppress the grief and grievances in her heart, and the sound of sobbing was incessant. The crystal-clear tears rolled down her fair and delicate cheeks like broken pearls.
Seeing this, Su Muyang felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He quickly stepped forward, stretched out his arms and hugged his little sister tightly, gently comforting her, "Little sister, don't cry. I will handle this matter and give you justice!" After saying this, his eyes burned with rage, veins bulged on his forehead, and he turned around angrily like an enraged lion, striding to the carriage parked to the side.
Once he was settled, he raised his long whip without hesitation and lashed it hard across the horse's back. With a sharp crack, the horse, in pain, broke free and galloped towards the town like lightning, leaving behind only a trail of dust and tire tracks.
Watching Su Muyang's figure gradually disappear into the distance, the woman looked puzzled, her brows furrowed, and she couldn't help but ask the others, "It's already this late, and it's getting dark. Where is he rushing off to in such a hurry?"
Princess Wan'er, standing beside him, also shook her head slightly, her eyebrows furrowed, and replied softly, "I am not quite clear about this either."
Just then, Ye Beichen, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward. With a firm expression, he cupped his hands and said to the crowd, "Since that's the case, why don't I follow him to find out what's going on, so as to prevent my second brother from making a rash decision in a moment of impulse?" The woman nodded in agreement.
After speaking, before anyone could respond, he had already flashed away like an arrow, rushing off in the direction Su Muyang had gone.
Su Muyang thought to himself: These petty thieves are so audacious, they certainly won't let this go, and will definitely come back to steal vegetables again. Thinking this, he dared not delay for a moment, and hurriedly went to the government office to gather his men. The group moved with lightning speed, like tigers descending a mountain, quickly arriving at the vegetable garden and carefully setting up an ambush.
Time ticked by, and Su Muyang and his men waited patiently. Not long after, a dark figure stealthily appeared in the vegetable garden. It was the vegetable thief! In the bright moonlight, they could clearly see him tiptoeing into the garden, quickly picking the few remaining vegetables and stuffing them into a large sack he carried with him.
Just as the thief filled the sack and was about to turn and flee, Su Muyang, who had been lurking in the shadows, waved his hand and led his men out like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey, instantly capturing the thief!
Immediately afterwards, the petty thief, looking like a stray dog, was bound hand and foot and escorted to the government office for interrogation. Upon arriving at the courtroom, Su Muyang looked closely and was shocked—the petty thief before him was actually his childhood friend, Gao Qingchen!
"Gao Qingchen, how could it be you stealing vegetables here?" Su Muyang asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Su Muyang?! Oh my! I never expected to meet you here!" Gao Qingchen was also astonished, as if he had been struck by lightning.
The two men stared at each other, completely stunned, speechless for a long time. After a while, Gao Qingchen finally came to his senses, his face showing a pitiful expression. He cried to Su Muyang, "Brother, we've been friends for years! Please, have mercy on me this time! I have an eighty-year-old mother to support, and young children to feed. Life is really tough for me!" As he spoke, he even squeezed out a few tears, trying to gain Su Muyang's sympathy.
"Tsk tsk tsk, I'm telling you, out of all the people in the world, why did you have to provoke my precious little sister, who's as delicate as a golden branch and jade leaf, and upset her?" Su Muyang's brows furrowed, and he shouted angrily, "Don't you know? That lush, green vegetable garden is my sister's hard-earned masterpiece! And now, she's discovered that many of her beloved vegetables have mysteriously disappeared, and she's hiding at home crying her eyes out, looking like a little heartbroken child! You better think about how to properly resolve this matter."
Upon hearing this, Qingchen nodded as if he had just realized something, and quickly put on a smiling face and said, "Oh, I see! Since your sister is also my sister, then I naturally have to take responsibility for it. I will personally go to her right away to sincerely apologize. Do you think this is a good solution?" However, before he could finish speaking, he was met with an even more furious roar from Su Muyang.
"Hmph! You think you can just apologize and get away with this? You must be joking!" Su Muyang's eyes widened as he roared angrily, "According to the laws here, someone like you who steals other people's property should be severely punished with fifty strokes of the cane and then imprisoned for a whole year!"
Faced with such a severe threat of punishment, Qingchen turned pale with fright, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees. He quickly grabbed Su Muyang's leg and pleaded tearfully, "Please don't, brother! We're like brothers, please have mercy and forgive me this time! I promise I'll never make this mistake again, please!"
Seeing Qingchen's pitiful state, Su Muyang, though still angry, softened somewhat. He softened his tone slightly and said with feigned arrogance, "Alright, since you've already begged me so humbly, I can't be completely heartless. As long as you compensate my sister double the market price for all the economic losses caused by this theft, then I'll pretend this never happened and we can drop the matter."