380 Family (2/2)
”You're really amazing, Mother,” Jun Hua praised.
Qin Shie smiled, ”This is nothing. You should see the other ladies from the previous Kai Kingdom. They are all highly proficient in cooking.”
Jun Hua hadn't known about it, ”Was the lesson there includes cooking?”
”It was in my time,” Qin Shie answered, ”Many of us tried our best to make the best dishes every year. The one who could cook the best would be chosen to marry some of the talented officials in the court. The Qin Family is a prestigious family, as one of the legitimate daughters, I too joined in.”
That was quite a way to choose a bride. Jun Hua hadn't heard about them because they happened nearly three decades ago and she obviously hadn't born yet.
”Did you win, Mother?”
”No, I didn't,” Qin Shie smiled weakly, ”I lost because of a petty scheme one of my opponent used. The scheme is targeted at my Qin Family, causing us ruins and we no longer had any place in Kai Kingdom.”
”It must be hard,” Jun Hua frowned.
”It was,” Qin Shie still remembered very clearly the moment when she felt despaired all over at the mention of her having to marry someone from another kingdom as part of the treaty. But she was lucky to be married to someone like her husband, ”But in the end, I was quite lucky to meet with my husband and live here.”
Jun Hua could sense the deep sorrow and relief in her mother in law's voice. It was already a long time ago, but the pain still existed in this old lady's heart. Time might have helped her to move on, but the experience was still there.
”Mother…”
”It's fine Hua'er. It was already a long time ago,” Qin Shie sighed. She stirred the pot in front of her while reminiscing of the past and opened her mouth again, ”I still have my new family, so I know that I have to go on.”
Jun Hua smiled. She knew that Qin Shie wanted her to keep moving on and didn't let the sadness permeate deep into her. Although she was not a weak girl that will let her rage affected her judgment, she still felt the warmth from her Mother-in-law care for her.
”I understand Mother.”
”You too have experienced a lot during your time as a general, so I know that you're a strong girl,” Qin Shie smiled. ”All these times, you have to endure them all alone, but now, you can freely share them with us. Soujin will surely accompany you all the time.”
Jun Hua smiled at the thought of Soujin's concern for her. His love and care were something that she would eternally feel grateful to. She was very blessed to have a family that loved and cared for her so much.”Thank you very much.”
Not long after that, Qin Shie finished all the dishes, and the four of them eat together. Although the atmosphere was rather gloomy, they were not entirely depressed. Life was not over and they have to move on because they were still alive. The future is still unknown to them.