Chapter 4: Ambrose Makes Tangyuan

 

Margaret's eyes flashed with irritation. "Ambrose isn't qualified to sit with us," she retorted sharply. "He's here to help, not to dine with the family. How many times do I have to say it?”

 

Elizabeth's expression hardened. "He's family too, Mother. He deserves to eat with us. He's not a servant.”

 

Margaret slammed her hand on the table, rattling the dishes. "He may be your son-in-law, but in this house, he follows my rules! If I say he's not sitting with us, then he's not sitting with us!”

 

Ambrose stood silently, not daring to utter a word. 

 

Elizabeth squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. "This is wrong, Mother. Treating him like this is wrong, and you know it.”

 

Margaret's face twisted in anger. "Don't lecture me about right and wrong, Elizabeth. I know what's best for this family, and that boy will never be part of it. He doesn't belong here.”

 

Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond, but Ambrose stepped forward. "It's okay, Mom," he said quietly. "I'll be fine; I'll eat in the kitchen.” He said as he casted a glance at Ava. 

 

Margaret scoffed, turning her attention back to her meal. "Enough of this nonsense. Let's eat."

 

Ambrose moved swiftly, not wanting to draw any more ire. 

 

Immediately after Ambrose left, everyone opened their bowls to see what he had cooked. As they lifted the lids, the aroma of the tangyuan wafted into their noses, filling the dining hall with a delightful scent.

 

Margaret was stunned. The tangyuan looked perfect and inviting, especially for a first-time cook. Even Elizabeth and Ava had shocked expressions on their faces.

 

Ava looked at the food and asked, "Tangyuan? Mom, did you prepare this and let Ambrose take credit?”

 

Elizabeth took a spoonful and tasted it. "No, I didn't. And it tastes really nice too."

 

Ava, her cousins, her dad, and grandma all took a bite, and they had to admit it was delicious.

 

Ava was shocked. "Since when did Ambrose learn how to make this?”

 

Margaret, not wanting to give Ambrose any credit, looked around to ensure he wasn't there. Smiling, she said, 

 

"Relax, my granddaughter. I gave Ambrose my recipe and taught him how to make a perfect tangyuan. I wanted you all to enjoy it. So, he followed the steps I taught him and made this. All credit belongs to me."

 

Ava smiled and said, "You're amazing, grandma."

 

Elizabeth interjected, "Isn't Ambrose the amazing one? Isn't he the one who cooked it?"

 

Ava shook her head. "If grandma didn't have the perfect cooking method, he wouldn't have been able to do it. So, grandma is the star here.”

 

William nodded appreciatively. "Mom, you really do know how to bring out the best in everyone. This tangyuan is fantastic."

 

Lucas, Ava's cousin, chimed in, "Yeah, Grandma, your cooking methods are unmatched. I don't think I've ever had Tangyuan this good.”

 

Lily, the other cousin, added with a smile, "Absolutely, Grandma. You always know how to make everything taste amazing."

 

Margaret beamed with pride as she soaked up the praise from her family. "I'm glad you all enjoy it. It's important that we maintain high standards, especially in our family."

 

Ava nodded in agreement, "Grandma, you truly are the best. We’re lucky to have you guiding us.”

 

Elizabeth sighed inwardly but chose to remain silent, knowing it wasn't the right moment to challenge Margaret's claim. Ambrose's hard work had been overshadowed, but at least the family was pleased with the meal.

 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Ambrose served himself some of the tangyuan. As he took his first bite, his eyes widened in surprise. "Damn, this is nice," he muttered to himself, savoring the flavor.

 

He couldn't help but smile and praise himself quietly. "Not bad, Ambrose. Not bad at all. You've done a good job on your first try."

 

His smile grew broader as he thought, "Yes, I hope Ava enjoys it and sees how capable her husband is.” He didn't know Margaret was taking all his credit. 

 

Half an hour later, the whole family was done eating, so Ambrose walked to the dining center to pick up the dishes.

 

Seeing Ava, he smiled and asked, "Ava, did you enjoy my meal?"

 

He hoped for a response from his wife, but she didn't even look at him, not opening her mouth to say a word.

 

"Pick up the bowls and send them away. Don't disturb her. Do you think she has nothing to do and is as useless as you?" Grandma Margaret fumed.

 

Ambrose picked up the bowls and walked out quietly.

 

Ava stood up, grabbed her bag, and hung it around her shoulder. "Mom, Dad, Grandma, I'm leaving for the office."

 

Grandma Margaret nodded. "Do your best, Ava. You know the family relies on this business. Everything must go well."

 

Ava nodded. "Okay, Grandma."

 

"Big cousin, can you please drop us off at school?" Lucas asked.

 

"Yes, please, or we might be late waiting for a cab," Lily added.

 

Although both were 21-year-old twins, Ava was older, so they addressed her with respect.

 

"I can't always take you two. I have things to attend to at the office. This should be the last time you intentionally wait for me. Understood?"

 

They both nodded. "Thank you," they said, then followed closely behind her.

 

As they passed in front of the kitchen, Ambrose saw them and quickly walked out, following Ava. "Ava, Ava, wife," he called out.

 

Ava stopped with a heavy frown and turned around with Lucas and Lily. "How many times will I warn you not to ever in your life address me as your wife?" She asked coldly.

 

"Big cousin, let me deal with this bastard," Lucas said, gritting his teeth.

 

"How dare you?" Ambrose stepped forward toward Lucas for addressing him as a bastard.

 

"You want to hit him in my presence?" Ava shielded Lucas before stepping aside. "Go on, hit him," she said.

 

Ambrose stopped. "Ava, I'm older than them, but they disrespect me too much. It isn't nice, right?"

 

"You have no respect to gain respect. Now go inside, do your chores, and don't forget, when you're done, go out and find work to do. Understood? You jobless fellow."