By the time he rushed home, lunch at home had already started; they didn't wait for him to come back to eat together.
This was the dining rule in their house: if you can't make it back in time, unless it's a special occasion like New Year's, there's no reason to let the whole family wait for you alone.
Even Chen Feng, the son, was treated this way, and so was Chen Dayong, the father; if he arrived late on a regular day, the family didn't have the habit of waiting for him to start eating.
Fortunately, everyone had just started eating, so Chen Feng wouldn't have to eat leftovers, and he could still enjoy hot food.
"You're really busy, not staying home as soon as you return. Hurry and get some food. Don't say you've already eaten."
His mother, Zhao Xiaolan, made this remark to Chen Feng before not nagging him further.
"Of course, I haven't eaten. Even if I had, with mom's cooking being this delicious, I could eat three more bowls of rice."
