Chapter 205: Chapter 204 The Rich Like to Snack

Mrs. Zhong and her daughters, accompanied by the maid, returned home in the carriage, where everyone at home was waiting to have dinner, yet they saw them all come back carrying food boxes.

Old Master Zhong spent the afternoon waiting at home, his wife went out with their two daughters, and as a man, he could not follow, which actually made him feel somewhat awkward. Although he could accept his daughters returning, he was still reluctant to let go of a father’s dignity and could only wait at home.

After having an idea in the afternoon, Brother Zhong secretly had the boys with him pack some things.

In order to keep it from the family, he did not pack much, but he made sure to bring enough money. He felt it might not be sufficient, so he went to the tent to take this month’s monthly salary and to advance the next month’s.

After all, being the son of a wealthy family, sometimes he might spend a little more money and it might not be enough, so he would withdraw a bit more from the account room. As long as it wasn’t excessive, the family would usually turn a blind eye.

After all, he was already thirteen or fourteen years old, at the age of studying, and making friends. As long as he wasn’t spending it on prostitutes or gambling, the family would be a bit more lenient.

Brother Zhong also had someone rent a carriage, not using the family’s carriage, and paid a generous rental fee for two months.

He only rented the carriage, but did not let the driver from the rental place drive it, planning to save some money for himself. He’d have the family’s boys drive it so that he could have more fun when he reached a foreign place.

Suddenly going to the account room to withdraw money, and as the eldest son managing the family business, Eldest Young Master Zhong had already taken over from his father, who had retired.

When he learned that his younger brother was up to something, he sent someone to find out what he was doing.

Then, after finding out that he took money and also rented a carriage, he guessed that his little sister was going far away to work and perhaps his brother was tempted to travel far, visit mountains, play in waters, and incidentally see the place where his little sister was going to work.

If he were not now managing the family business and his wife was not about to give birth, he would also follow them. Being the eldest son of the family meant heavy responsibilities, and he had not been to many places.

In the midst of the family’s wait, they welcomed Mrs. Zhong and her young daughter’s return. The maid opened the food boxes, which contained egg pancakes.

Smelling the still warm pancakes aroused their appetites.

The servants had already started to arrange meals, but everyone in the family was attracted to the egg pancakes.

“Mother, did you buy these egg pancakes from outside? They smell so good…” Brother Ye, whose name was Zhong Xingwang, grabbed a piece of pancake without hesitation and started eating.

Seeing his younger brother take a piece, Eldest Young Master Zhong Xinglong also wanted his share and grabbed a piece as well.

Watching his two sons move quickly, as their father how could he lose to them? He also swiftly took a piece and chewed it, savoring the delicious flavor of the pancake.

Mrs. Zhong and Zhong Xiaomei, Zhong Jieqiong, also didn’t let them have all the fun and grabbed the last two pieces to eat.

Zhong Xingwang ate the fastest. Having finished his piece, he noticed there were no more pancakes left, and feeling a bit regretful, he thought about licking his fingers, muttering quietly:

“Mother, Second Sister, you should have bought more pancakes when you got them. You brought them back to share with us, but one piece isn’t enough to eat!”

Old Master Zhong also finished his piece of pancake, with a somewhat lingering expression. As a wealthy Old Master, what delicacies hadn’t he tasted? Yet today, the whole family was fighting over an egg pancake, which he found amusing. He said, “Madam, where did you buy these egg pancakes from? They smell particularly good.”

“Mother, you never buy such cheap pastries, and we have workers to make them at home. Why did you bring back egg pancakes today?” Zhong Xinglong also followed up.

Mrs. Zhong did not immediately answer them. She was eating slower than the men, still chewing the egg pancake in her mouth, watching her sons and husband enjoying the pancakes, she smiled with a twinkle in her eye.

“Father, Eldest Brother, Brother, the egg pancakes you’re eating were not bought from outside.”

Zhong Jieqiong ate the egg pancake bite by bite, smilingly watching everyone, not caring that she was eating and enticing others.

The workers who had already started on their meal looked at the Zhong Family enjoying egg pancakes and found it quite strange. Weren’t these just ordinary food?

Just egg pancakes, when there’s plenty of fish and meat on the table, could the chef’s cooking skills not even compare to egg pancakes?

People from wealthy families really know how to live. Those accustomed to feasts are now fixated on simple fare, which would make those poor families without food think they don’t realize how good they have it.

“Second Sister, quick, tell me where these egg pancakes are from? I’ll have someone buy some to eat for a late-night snack.” Zhong Xingwang actually wanted to buy more to take on the road as provisions for the next day.

He had prepared everything else but hadn’t thought of provisions until he saw the egg pancakes.

All eyes in the household and the workers again turned to Zhong Jieqiong, while Mrs. Zhong, who knew the inside story, just smiled without saying a word.

“Where would we buy these? These were personally made by our brother-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law personally made these egg pancakes? Which brother-in-law?”

The moment Zhong Xingwang’s question left his lips, it clearly hadn’t crossed his mind that a man could make such delicious egg pancakes. So was this man a chef?

His mind began racing, trying to recall if any of their brothers-in-law were chefs.

“Silly…”

“Second Sister, why are you hitting me with your greasy hands? My beautiful hair!”

“Hmph, who told you to be so silly? How many brother-in-laws do you have? Wasn’t Mom out with Eldest Sister today?”

“Second Sister, you’re saying Eldest Sister’s husband made these delicious egg pancakes?”

Zhong Xingwang and the other men of the Zhong Family suddenly realized that this man had such a good point and wasn’t too bad after all.

Old Master Zhong was at a loss for words. He had never expected filial piety from his daughter and son-in-law before, but today, eating this pancake made him feel it was a show of respect from the son-in-law.

So he silently picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, treating the event as a small interlude.

While eating, Zhong Xingwang stealthily chuckled. This time, accompanying them to enjoy the scenic spots meant he would have the opportunity to experience more and even enjoy the delicacies made by his brother-in-law.

A simple egg pancake was enough to satisfy his stomach, and this brother-in-law was quite interesting amid the simplicity.

During the meal, Mrs. Zhong mentioned that she had spent some money that day to prepare luggage for her daughter and son-in-law, who were setting off tomorrow.

Old Master did not comment, semi-approving by default.

Zhong Xinglong had no objections to his mother’s actions, considering it a modest dowry for his sister, since the family hadn’t provided one when she got married.

He glanced at Brother Zhong and, seeing his sneaky smile, came up with an idea: Brother Zhong was going along to see the sights, so he should give him some money, subtly supporting his younger sister.

With Brother Zhong joining the trip, the family could relax a bit. As the eldest brother, Zhong Xinglong didn’t think there would be any danger for his 13- or 14-year-old brother going far away.

After all, he was already 13 or 14 years old and was going with another youngster, quietly following his sister. He probably wouldn’t do anything reckless, given Brother Zhong’s playful but careful nature.

Being an elder brother brings more responsibilities, and he hoped Brother Zhong would broaden his horizons while he was young. As he shouldered the family burden, he wanted his younger brother to see more of the world.