C15 A Luxurious Cruise on the Weekend!

At the Tong household, Friday dinners were always a feast, a tradition that had been upheld for many years. This time, Ms. Yang went all out, preparing a lavish spread that included everything imaginable—dishes featuring ingredients from land, sea, and air. The table was laden with dishes like shrimp, five-spice chicken, steamed fish, sour fish, roast duck, and sausages.

"Grandma, what's the occasion? You've made so much delicious food," Miaojie exclaimed as she approached the table, her mouth agape in surprise. While Friday dinners were usually abundant, this was on another level.

Ms. Yang came from a long line of chefs, with ancestors who once cooked for royalty. Her culinary skills were unmatched, and it was her cooking that had won over Miaojie's grandfather years ago. Seeing the spread today, it was clear Ms. Yang had pulled out all the stops. But it was just a regular Friday, and Miaojie couldn't figure out why.

All four members of the Tong family were present, each one stunned by the sheer volume of food. With only four mouths to feed, including Xiaofu, it seemed impossible to finish it all.

"My goodness, did the market give away food for free today? Mom, you've made way too much. One, two, three... ten," Tong's father counted, astonished once more.

"Everyone, sit down and start eating," Ms. Yang said warmly, placing the final dish, sweet rice wine dumplings, on the table. With that, the meal was complete.

"The eleventh dish, my dear mother, what are you doing? There are only four of us, and this is such a waste," Tong's father remarked, even as he salivated over the spread. But before digging in, he couldn't resist a gentle critique of Ms. Yang's extravagant tendencies.

"These aren't for you to eat. Our Miaojie stays up late every night painting, working so hard. I need to make sure she gets the proper nutrition," Ms. Yang said, giving Mr. Tong's hand a playful smack.

Miaojie and Xiaofu burst into laughter. Normally, Mr. Tong was quite strict with them, but in the Tong household, only Ms. Yang could keep him in check.

"You two are just laughing instead of helping your dad and uncle. I treat you both so well, and this is how you repay me," Mr. Tong feigned a pained expression, shaking his hands dramatically.

Miaojie and Xiaofu focused on their meal, the table laden with a feast that kept them silent. These two food lovers couldn't resist a good meal, and annoyingly, they never seemed to gain weight no matter how much they ate.

"Miaojie, Xiaofu, eat up, eat up. Your grandma made all this just for you," Ms. Yang said, piling more food onto their plates, completely ignoring her own son.

Feeling a bit left out, Mr. Tong quietly slipped away to fetch the contract he had signed with a travel agency a few days earlier, then returned to his seat without a word.

"Well, in that case, I guess I won't take everyone on the luxury cruise tomorrow," he announced, waving the contract in the air with a grin. His tactic worked like a charm, as the three ladies immediately gathered around him, restoring his status as the head of the family.

"Dad, are you planning a surprise for us?" Miaojie asked, her heart set on seeing the ocean. She had been too busy with her studies during college to go, and her dad had promised to take her once she graduated. She couldn't believe her luck.

"Let me see, Dad! You're the youngest, most handsome, wealthiest, and most loving dad in the world," Miaojie exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms.

"That's more like it. Be careful with it; our entire trip depends on this contract," Mr. Tong said with a satisfied smile.

"Three-level luxury cruise, two days and one night family package, including two seafood buffets and a sunrise at sea. This is so cool. Dad, you're awesome." Miaojie gave her dad a grateful kiss.

"Uncle Tong, you're so cool, way cooler than my own parents. I love you too, Uncle Tong," Xiaofu exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down.

"I love you too, son," Ms. Yang chimed in, not wanting to be left out, and everyone burst into laughter.

"Alright, let's eat quickly and get to bed early. We leave at 6 a.m. sharp tomorrow," Tong's father, as the head of the family, gave the final order.

"Xiaofu, can you help me decide which outfit to bring? How about this one? Or this one?" Miaojie was rummaging through her closet right after dinner, regretting not stocking up on more decent clothes during the last big sale.

"My dear, you look great in anything. The one you're wearing now looks pretty good," Xiaofu was also lost in the dilemma of picking clothes.

The two girls finally finished packing by 1 a.m., stuffing the suitcase with an array of cosmetics, sunscreen with SPF 30 and 60, sunglasses, and hats. It was just a weekend trip, but they packed as if they were going on a long holiday.

Finally, Ms. Yang issued an ultimatum: they had to go to bed immediately, or they'd lose the privilege of going on the luxury cruise the next day. Hearing this, both girls quickly dove into bed.

At 6 a.m., Miaojie was up and about, more energetic than anyone else in the Tong family, despite the late night. The allure of the luxury cruise was indeed powerful.

After an hour's drive, the Tong family of four finally arrived at the designated meeting point: Star Moon Pier.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, a luxurious yacht came into view, towering 33 feet high, stretching 98 feet long, and spanning 16 feet wide. Calling it a luxury yacht was no exaggeration; it was truly magnificent.

"Dad, is that our yacht?" Miaojie could hardly believe her eyes. She was about to spend a wonderful and unforgettable weekend on this incredibly lavish yacht.

"Your dad really knows how to make a splash, Miaojie. He doesn't do things halfway, and this yacht is just amazing," Xiaofu said, her excitement written all over her face.

"Dad, I love you. I just have to thank you again. You really care about us so much," Miaojie was so touched by her dad's thoughtfulness that she was nearly in tears.

"I love you too, Uncle," added Xiaofu, making Tong's father a bit bashful from the unexpected praise. He quickly changed the subject.

"Alright, ladies, are we ready? Here's to a fantastic weekend. All aboard, let's set sail," he announced with a grand gesture, officially kicking off the Tong family adventure.