"Dad, is the food not to your liking? I'll have the servants make something else."
Gong Chengjun sat at the dining table and, seeing his father hadn't touched his chopsticks, asked.
Gong Weimin said, "Didn't I mention before that today is a family dinner, and your brother will be back too?"
Gong Chengbin is coming back too?
Gong Weimin had indeed said so, but Gong Chengjun, being overwhelmed with his own affairs, had completely forgotten such a trivial matter.
If Gong Weimin didn't still hold the largest shares in Wanhe Group, Gong Chengjun wouldn't bother pretending to be a filial son.
"I had a meeting this afternoon and forgot about my brother coming back for dinner. But my brother is really busy these days, arriving so late even for a meal with Dad."
Gong Chengjun's seemingly casual remark was a hidden stab.
As expected, Gong Weimin's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.
Although he quickly recovered, Gong Chengjun still noticed.
A single sentence was enough. Gong Chengjun remained silent, sitting by the table, waiting with Gong Weimin.
After another ten minutes, just as impatience began to show on Gong Weimin's face, Gong Chengbin finally rushed in.
"Brother, don't blame me for saying this, but Dad asked you to come back for dinner, and you're this late? This is unacceptable!"
Gong Chengjun deliberately put on a stern face and admonished Gong Chengbin.
Gong Weimin's expression was also quite displeased.
As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Chengjun looked as if he was anticipating a good show.
Gong Weimin also felt a bit uncomfortable. He had thought his second son had matured, securing a very important project for the company and becoming one of the co-chairmen of a joint venture.
This had earned Gong Chengbin his admiration, to the point of considering promoting him to a director of Wanhe Group.
However, before any tangible results were produced, he was late for a family dinner by more than ten to twenty minutes. It seemed his second son was still too immature.
Gong Weimin even considered whether promoting Gong Chengbin to director might have been too hasty.
"I apologize, Dad, for being late," Gong Chengbin showed no intention of arguing and immediately admitted fault. Then, he placed a thermos on the table. "Oh, and Dad, I bought this for you on the way back. Please open it and take a look."
"What's there to see? Sit down and eat. The doctor said Dad cannot eat cold food."
Gong Chengjun was puzzled by Gong Chengbin's lack of reaction after his reprimand.
He knew that in the past, even if he couldn't retort when scolded by him, Gong Chengbin would grit his teeth and appear resentful.
"It only takes a minute to look," Gong Chengbin insisted. "Dad, since I brought it back, please just take a look."
Gong Weimin hadn't intended to open it, but with Gong Chengbin's repeated pleas, he reluctantly reached out and opened the thermos, which looked quite ordinary.
"Steamed mung bean cake?"
Upon opening the thermos, Gong Weimin's expression froze.
Clearly, he hadn't expected it to be old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake.
He hadn't eaten this in over a decade.
"Dad, eat some while it's hot. I promise you'll be amazed!"
At that moment, Gong Chengbin spoke again.
Gong Weimin sighed. "Alas, even steamed mung bean cake doesn't taste the same as it used to. Your mother's favorite was the old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake from Master Qi under the overpass. I used to take her every time I got paid."
Looking at the old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake, Gong Weimin's memories drifted back many years, to his deceased wife.
Despite being so wealthy now, Gong Weimin had lived a very difficult life in his youth.
Yet, even though life was hard, his relationship with his wife was very good.
His wife was virtuous and considerate, making him feel relaxed whenever he returned home, no matter how difficult or tiring his day had been.
Back then, Gong Weimin's wife's favorite was the steamed mung bean cake made by Master Qi under the overpass.
But Gong Chengbin had been too poor then. Only when he received his salary each month could he afford to treat his wife to it once.
Decades later, let alone this old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake, he could buy up all the mung bean cakes in the entire city of Rongcheng.
However, his beloved wife had been gone for many years, and he didn't know where Master Qi from under the overpass had gone. He had eaten many mung bean cakes since then, but none tasted like the old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake from back then.
Recalling past events and touched by his son's thoughtfulness, Gong Weimin decided to taste a little as a gesture.
Gong Chengjun, standing by, was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected his previously naive brother to resort to sentimentality.
He had actually gone out of his way to buy this old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake for Gong Weimin.
But could a piece of mung bean cake change his situation?
Gong Chengjun scoffed.
"This! Where did you buy this mung bean cake from?"
To his surprise, after taking one bite, Gong Weimin's eyes widened, staring intently at Gong Chengbin.
"Dad, is it the same flavor as Master Qi made back then?"
Seeing Gong Weimin's astonished expression, Gong Chengbin finally smiled.
His month of hard work had finally paid off.
"Yes, yes, yes! This is Master Qi's flavor. But years ago, I heard Master Qi stopped making steamed mung bean cake and moved away. Where did you get this?"
Although he hadn't eaten it for many years, Gong Weimin could still recognize the taste of Master Qi's steamed mung bean cake with one bite.
So, he forgot about being angry with Gong Chengbin for being late and solely focused on asking where Gong Chengbin had obtained this old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake.
Gong Chengbin told Gong Weimin that he had spent a long time and considerable effort searching for Master Qi.
Finally, his efforts were rewarded when he found him in a shantytown on the west side of the city.
"Master Qi hadn't made old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake for a long time either. I pleaded with him for a long time, and even mentioned that you and Mom used to be his regular customers. Only then did Master Qi reluctantly make a box for me to bring back. However, he's older now, and his hands aren't as nimble as they used to be, so he was a bit slow. That's why I was late..."
Gong Chengbin slowly explained the origin of the old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake on the table.
He also took the opportunity to explain why he was late.
Gong Weimin listened with a look of relief. "It's alright, being late for dinner is not a problem. I'm not going anywhere anyway. But being able to eat this old-fashioned steamed mung bean cake today has put me in a very good mood."
After speaking, Gong Weimin directly moved the thermos to himself. He stopped eating his meal and began to eat the steamed mung bean cake.
After finishing, Gong Weimin even said he would have Gong Chengbin take him to meet Master Qi another day.
Gong Chengbin readily agreed.
Gong Chengjun, watching this scene, had a face as dark as if it were about to drip water.
He truly hadn't expected his brother to know how to please their father now, and so successfully at that.
However, no matter how he tried to please him, Wanhe Group would still be his. Gong Chengjun thought to himself.