Chapter 2021

Chapter 2021: A Warm Family

Yan Aohan glanced at Zhu Yanyi, then turned to Xie Xinlian. "Mother, when you have time, could you teach me how to make scrambled century eggs?"

Xie Xinlian paused, surprised. "If you want to eat scrambled century eggs, just come home. Mother will make them for you."

Yan Aohan shook his head slightly. "Ani’s work takes her everywhere. She will remain busy in the future. It is unlikely she will have time to return home for a meal every day. So, I thought if you taught me, I could make it for her daily."

It turned out the Venerable Yanluo wanted to cook himself. However, this was no big deal for the Zhu family. They were used to seeing Yan Aohan handle matters concerning Zhu Yanyi personally.

But Si Kong Xuran and the other two were different. For the first time, they learned that the great Lord Yanjun they revered was, in the Zhu household, an ordinary man who loved his family and his wife, and was willing to cook for her.

The three of them forgot to eat, staring at Yan Aohan.

Yan Aohan noticed their gaze and said calmly, "Are you surprised that I am cooking?"

"Not really. Cooking is not a big deal; I am a culinary cultivator too," Ouyang Tianyun spoke first. "I am just surprised that you would cook for Shiwu."

"Ani is my wife. As her husband, it is only right for me to cook for her. There is no need to be surprised." Yan Aohan looked seriously at the three of them.

"Since you have come to this world, the first thing you must accept is gender equality here. Although there were female students in the Sage Academy, due to certain doctrines and the perceived weaknesses of female cultivators, you likely believed men and women had different statuses. I want to tell you: do not underestimate women. In this world, women can often do things men cannot."

"Are there things men cannot do?" Si Kong Xuran clearly did not believe this.

Yan Aohan looked at Si Kong Xuran. "It does not matter if you do not believe it. But there is one thing I will say now, and you must admit men cannot do it."

"What thing?" Si Kong Xuran asked curiously.

Yan Aohan raised an eyebrow, smiling but silent. Zhu Yanyi laughed loudly. "Women can give birth to children. Men cannot."

Si Kong Xuran was instantly speechless.

"Do not think I am joking about this," Yan Aohan said seriously to Si Kong Xuran. "I see the truth of all things more clearly than you. I have witnessed more life and death than you. Do you think I would joke about such a matter?"

Yan Aohan ladled a bowl of mushroom soup for Zhu Yanyi and placed it beside her before continuing. "Let us not speak of this world, but of your Sage Plane. Men and women differ. Women can bear children; men cannot. This is undeniable, yes?"

Si Kong Xuran nodded, agreeing. "I have no other meaning. I do not think you are wrong. I just did not expect you to say it this way."

Yan Aohan smiled softly. "There is nothing wrong with speaking of this. Men are indeed stronger than women in some aspects, such as strength and temperament. This is determined by innate talent. But in some areas, men are inferior to women. For example, in observation and handling certain matters, women are more careful, while men are not. Of course, men’s decisiveness and execution are very strong, which women cannot deny."

Yan Aohan looked at Si Kong Xuran. "In this plane, there is a saying: 'Men and women working together makes the work less tiring.' This is because men look at the big picture, while women look at the details. The big picture and details complement each other, making every task perfect. There is another saying: 'Women hold up half the sky.' This means women are half the moon, and men are the other half. When the two halves combine, they form a complete circle. Men and women exist like Yin and Yang. When Yin and Yang are balanced, the world is naturally peaceful."

Si Kong Xuran and the others were stunned. They had never thought about such topics. Or rather, they had not thought deeply enough. Perhaps daily life and their survival environment had made them forget women’s characteristics and strengths.

Actually, after Zhu Yanyi led them to victory in the Forest of Light, they had already had to admit that women’s abilities were no less than men’s. Some women’s abilities even exceeded men’s. But they had ultimately ignored this issue.

If Yan Aohan had not brought up this topic today, they would not have realized this point, nor felt their own narrow-mindedness.

Men and women are both creatures of this world. Why does the world distinguish between male and female? It is for balance. They had never thought of this. Now that they had, they felt their minds relax, achieving a sudden enlightenment.

Zhu Yanyi saw this and looked at Yan Aohan. "Your words are too powerful. They actually achieved enlightenment."

Yan Aohan did not expect this result either. He smiled helplessly. "I did not expect this result either."

Zhu Yanyi giggled and said nothing more. She simply picked up a large piece of braised pork elbow for Yan Aohan. "I know you like meat. I asked Mother to make this specially for you."

"I like braised pork elbow too," Zhu Shunyao said, looking at Zhu Yanyi with dissatisfaction. She felt this daughter was raised in vain, a total ungrateful child, otherwise things would not have turned out this way.

"Father, you eat it," Yan Aohan said, quickly offering it to Zhu Shunyao.

"Little Yan, do not mind your father. Just eat yours. This was made for you. Your father ate braised pork elbow yesterday. He does not fear high blood pressure or high cholesterol from eating it every day." Xie Xinlian scolded Zhu Shunyao. "You are almost sixty years old. Are you not ashamed to compete with your daughter and son-in-law for food?"

Zhu Shunyao looked at Xie Xinlian with dissatisfaction. "But this braised pork elbow is my favorite."

"Should I give it to you just because you like it?" Xie Xinlian looked at Zhu Shunyao disapprovingly. "Besides, you are old. Do you know about health preservation? If you do not take care of your health, is that proper?"

"What do you mean 'old'? I am only fifty-seven. I am still young," Zhu Shunyao protested.

"Heh. You are almost showing a beer belly. Are you not ashamed to say you are young? Young people do not have bellies like yours," Xie Xinlian said with absolute disdain.

Zhu Shunyao was speechless. In recent years, the family’s living conditions had improved. Although Zhu Shunyao often worked in the fields, he did not know why he had developed a beer belly.