Just as Yan Qiushu was excitedly and nervously experimenting with what she had in mind.

On the other side, they were discussing her.

Mrs. Xiao has been staying at home since her son, son-in-law and daughter had accidents one after another. Her health has not been very good. She woke up as usual in the morning and felt a tightness in her chest before she had even taken two bites of breakfast. She asked someone to take away her breakfast and took a walk in the yard.

Over the years, she knew every blade of grass and every tree in this huge yard, but she had no intention of leaving.

The young lady of the Xiao family came over specially. Seeing her mother wandering around in the yard again, she smiled helplessly and went forward to support her: "Mother, I heard that you didn't eat a bite this morning?"

Madam Xiao's serious expression eased a lot when she faced her daughter-in-law, and she said softly, "I have no appetite."

"That's not possible!" Xie Qingyun said unhappily.

Madam Xiao begged for mercy: "Okay, I will eat more tomorrow."

"You are coaxing me again. Madam Huang, bring the tonic soup over and I will feed it to my mother myself." Xie Qingyun said directly.

Waiting for her to say tomorrow, I will never get there.

Mrs. Xiao has had a poor appetite for many years. If it weren't for the tonic soup, she would have collapsed long ago.

However, due to her status as the eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Xiao would lose some resistance when facing her. Therefore, when Xie Qingyun said she wanted to feed her soup, she would not refuse even if she was reluctant.

Resigned to her fate, she drank half a bowl. When she drank more, Madam Xiao felt uncomfortable and her face changed. She hurriedly said, "Enough, enough!"

"Okay, but you have to finish this bowl in half an hour." Xie Qingyun instructed Madam Huang with a firm attitude.

Madam Xiao glared at her angrily, but did not say a word of objection.

Madam Huang, who was specifically serving Madam Xiao, smiled and nodded, taking note: "Madam, you heard it, it's not me who is torturing you." Madam Xiao rolled her eyes, but she was not afraid. She turned around and praised: "Young Madam still has a way."

"What else can I do? My mother still loves me." Xie Qingyun said with a smile.

Nanny Huang went down to continue simmering the soup. Madam Xiao was afraid that she would remember something and force herself to eat, so she changed the subject and asked, "What are you doing here? Aren't you busy?"

"I'm done." Xie Qingyun said with a smile, "My daughter-in-law came here to tell mother about Miss Yan who moved in yesterday. She said she wanted to visit you. If it's not convenient for you, she can just bring some food over."

Madam Xiao pursed her lips tightly, as if she was a little reluctant: "I haven't seen guests for many years, so I'd better not see them."

Xie Qingyun said, "But my daughter-in-law hopes to meet her mother."

Madam Xiao was surprised: "Why?"

"This Miss Qiu is different." Xie Qingyun smiled mysteriously. "This was the first time my sixth brother had contact with a girl, and he brought her back, saying she was his adopted sister. But when I came back yesterday after he came, I specifically suggested that he hold a family recognition banquet, but he refused. What do you think he meant by that? Not only is the girl beautiful, but Aunt Xu also said that she can cook for herself. Sixth brother, apart from anything else, loved to eat when he was a child. I estimate that soon, we will have a second-level relationship. Naturally, you must attend this banquet and pay attention to your appearance."

Madam Xiao had been in a state of isolation for many years, and had long since stopped interacting with the outside world. Her mind wasn't as quick as it had been when she was young, so she hadn't even considered this. But when her daughter-in-law reminded her, her eyes lit up, and she became more energetic, her distant and serious expression breaking. "Really?"

Xie Qingyun raised an eyebrow, her dignified face becoming a little more nervous. "Then what do you think he meant by this? If he didn't mean this, who would be willing to let him take their pampered daughter back home?"

The people of the Zhou Dynasty were open-minded, and this was especially true for families of military generals. Although the Xie family was also a noble family, they also had military generals, so such pre-marital contact was within the permitted range.

When Xie's father returned to Beijing to report on his work, Xie Qingyun followed him. Because she had no mother to take care of her, she was taken in by Mrs. Xiao to live with her for a long time. It was also in this way that she became acquainted with the eldest young master of the Xiao family, and their later engagement came about.

So both Xie Qingyun and Madam Xiao felt that what she said was correct, especially since she had seen the girl yesterday. She didn't seem like someone who could be raised by an ordinary farming family.

It was just that the sixth brother kept it a secret, and as the eldest sister-in-law, she didn't expose it, but she still had to do what she had to do.

Madam Xiao's tightly pursed lips unfolded into a faint smile, and then she nodded and relaxed: "Okay, then I'll get ready."

Xie Qingyun scolded, "What else does Mother need to prepare? It would be best if you could just eat one more bite."

Mrs. Xiao suddenly felt embarrassed and didn't dare to reply.

When she didn't want to eat, she couldn't eat a single bite, but she forced herself to eat. She felt uncomfortable all over and would vomit it out afterwards.

Yan Qiushu soon received a notice that Mrs. Xiao invited her over.

She actually didn't know what was going on inside the Xiao family. She just heard that when Xiao Huaiting returned to the court yesterday, Madam Xiao didn't come out to greet him. She might be really seriously ill.

She didn't have much hope. Who would see guests when they were sick? But Yan Qiushu and Xiao Huaiting had a deal here, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask. She didn't expect that she would be invited over.

Success or failure depends on this one!

When Yan Qiushu went to visit the old lady, of course she had to bring some gifts, such as money and jewelry. The old lady must have been used to it. Besides, she didn't have any good things, so the only thing she could bring was her best cooking skills.

What would an elderly person who has been ill for a long time like to eat?

Yan Qiushu could only ask Shui Yu for help: "Do you know what Madam Xiao likes to eat?"

Shui Yu thought about it seriously for a moment and shook her head. "I don't know, but Madam's appetite has been poor in recent years. I heard that the kitchen is racking their brains, but Madam usually only tastes a few bites. That's why Madam's body is weak. A few years ago, when the master and the others were safe, Madam Xiao even went to the battlefield! The doctor said that Madam's lack of appetite is due to her heart disease. Miss, you can just make something casually. Madam usually won't eat it."

After listening to this, Yan Qiushu thought for a while and said with a smile: "I need to go out for a while."

Mrs. Xiao looked like she had anorexia.

But from Shui Yu's description, he can still eat a few bites, which means it hasn't reached its worst stage yet. An old man with anorexia cannot get enough nutrition, so he will definitely be weak and sickly.

No wonder Xiao Huaiting needed her to come and cook.

In her previous life, Yan Qiushu might not have known that being a good cook is not absolute. Many anorexia patients, in the later stages, want to eat but cannot.

But this time she has a golden finger!

The lit position corresponds exactly to the symptoms. If you still can't do this well, then you are really eating in vain!

Xiao Family Main Courtyard

Fresh fruits were already placed on the round table, and servants were busy coming and going. One of the servants accidentally dropped a teacup in his hand, which caused a sudden noise.

The manager was startled and cursed under his breath: "Were you a thief last night?! Be careful!"

The servant who did the wrong thing hurriedly accepted the apology with his head lowered and pleased the steward, and only then the matter was resolved.

"Pay attention!" The steward waved his hand and told the man to get back to his work. But when he really left, he said angrily and amusedly, "Really? How long has the training lasted? You can't even do such a small thing. It would be bad if Miss Qiu thought that no one in our mansion has manners!"

"Well, he didn't mean it." The maidservant in charge said kindly, jokingly saying, "Don't look so fierce all the time. You're obviously very happy inside. I guess the child was just scared by you."

"Is there?" the steward touched his face and asked.

Mammy rolled her eyes at him: "Really?"

The steward was silent for a moment, then smiled: "I'm really happy. Maybe there will be another wedding in our house. Happy events are good! Happy events are good..."

Apart from the birth of the two children, there were no happy events in the mansion in recent years, but only funerals. As a result, the children's full-month banquets were not held in a big way due to the mourning period for their father. The family just had a simple meal together.

The atmosphere at home was so depressing that he had no energy to stay there.

Now things are good, the Sixth Young Master brought back a girl!

Now the lady who never sees guests is willing to see this girl. How could she not know what this signal means?

When Yan Qiushu arrived, she was greeted by Madam Xiao's personal nanny, Madam Huang.

However, not long after they sat down, Xie Qingyun also came. As the eldest sister-in-law and the current hostess of the Xiao family, she looked generous and gentle. She was afraid that Yan Qiushu would feel uncomfortable, so she kept pulling her to talk.

Next came two children, a seven-year-old girl, the daughter of Xiao Huaiyu, the third daughter of the Xiao family, and a five-year-old boy, the posthumous son of Xiao Huaiwu, the fourth daughter of the Xiao family. When she was pregnant, her husband died in the battlefield. She gave birth to the child alone, and after recovering, she joined the military camp, vowing to kill the enemy who had left her child without a father.

But she had not succeeded yet, because in the following years, the emperor did not want to waste money and manpower in a war, so he refused to send troops. This time when Xiao Huaiting went out to fight, the opponent was not the same as before, so she did not go.

Because she left early and returned late, Xiao Huaiwu hadn't returned at noon. The nanny who came with her son Dongdong said with a smile: "I heard that Madam is having a party, so I took the initiative to bring the young master here."

The third young lady spoke little, and the child didn't say much either. They just called out "Mrs. Xiao" and sat aside, as if they were just a mascot.

"Dongdong, come here and let your aunt hug you." Xie Qingyun liked him very much and immediately opened her arms when she saw him.

"Aunt, I miss you so much!" Dongdong is also an enthusiastic child. He immediately rushed over, hugged her and called her affectionately, as if they hadn't seen each other for a long time.

Yan Qiushu was a little confused, but she watched quietly.

The next person to come was Xiao Huaiting.

The young general was not wearing armor today. He changed into a light moon-colored long gown. His fierce aura disappeared and he looked gentle and refined. His handsome features also softened in the company of his family.

This also reminded Yan Qiushu of the original owner's memory, when Xiao Huaiting won the top spot in both civil and military examinations two years ago. At that time, out of curiosity, the original owner coaxed her elder sister to go out and watch the top scholar riding a horse in the parade.

The Yan family was so angry at the time that they exclaimed that a mere warrior had won the top spot. No one of our generation could have won!

Afterwards, the original owner's brothers suffered miserably for a month or so.

Mrs. Xiao came out last.

Yan Qiushu really didn't expect that she just came to see Madam Xiao, and everyone came. She was quite flattered, but when she saw Madam Xiao, her heart sank.

She was thinner than she thought.

Madam Xiao is over fifty years old. People of this age are actually considered middle-aged and elderly in modern times. Some who take good care of themselves can look no different from those in their thirties. However, Madam Xiao may have been on the battlefield, and her posture is a little hunched. The consequence of long-term anorexia is that she is extremely thin. She is quite tall, which makes her even thinner. Her face is sallow and her eyes are lifeless.

The clothes were indeed luxurious, but even though they were made according to her size, they felt too big, especially around the waist, which felt empty.

Especially when she looked serious, with her lips tightly pursed and deep lines around them, and was supported by someone, she looked like a stubborn old lady.

When they met for the first time, she glanced around and her eyes fell on Yan Qiushu's face. They were particularly sharp, making her feel uncomfortable.

"Mom!" Xiao Huaiting shouted, interrupting Mrs. Xiao's observation.

The latter seemed a little unhappy, but didn't say anything, just looked at him.

Xiao Huaiting had long been accustomed to his mother's seriousness. He curved his lips into a smile and said flatteringly, "This is my adopted sister, Miss Yan Shuyan. You can call her Ah Shu."

Yan Qiushu followed suit and called out, "Greetings, Madam Xiao."

Madam Xiao looked at her son and then at the little girl. She had big, clear eyes and a chubby face. She looked quite pleasing, though a little thin. She nodded and said, "Call me aunt."

Xie Qingyun, who had been silently waiting for her to speak, immediately smiled and said, "Mother really likes Miss Yan. Miss Yan, although mother looks serious, she is a very kind person. Don't be afraid."

Yan Qiushu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she didn't dislike her, she was glad. She also curved her lips and smiled sweetly, saying crisply, "Hello, Auntie!"

Madam Xiao pulled the corners of her mouth, probably wanting to smile, but she hadn't smiled for so long that the corners of her mouth were stiff. Finally, she forced a weird smile and said, "Please sit down."

Several people nodded when they heard this and took their seats.

Considering that Yan Qiushu was brought back by himself, Xiao Huaiting specially invited her to have lunch together. Madam Xiao said slowly, "I don't eat in the evening, so please don't mind if we have a simple meal together, Ah Shu."

"Of course not." Yan Qiushu stood up, looked at the few people, and said with a smile: "Ashu has nothing, and I thought that you must be used to seeing good things, so I didn't waste my time and made some drinks and food to show my appreciation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere around them, which was quite lively, became slightly tense. Just when Yan Qiushu was puzzled, Xie Qingyun said apologetically, "This is a good thought, but I'm sorry for the trouble."

"It's not tiring, I like doing this." Yan Qiushu said.

Xie Qingyun smiled and said, "Ashu, you don't know that mother has lost her appetite in recent years and rarely eats. I'm afraid I'm going to let you down."

This time, before Yan Qiushu could speak, the young man sitting beside her said, "Sister-in-law, it's okay. Miss Shu won't mind. Besides, since Mother is willing to come out, she will definitely try what Shu cooks. What if she likes it? It would be nice if she can have a few more bites."

The young man spoke in a clear voice and looked at his mother with slightly nervous eyes, as if he was afraid that she would not give him face.

Xie Qingyun shook her head, covered her mouth and smiled as she looked at Madam Xiao, jokingly saying, "Mother, since the Sixth Old Man said so, you have to try them all later, otherwise your son will be angry and your daughter-in-law won't be able to control you."

Madam Xiao nodded calmly: "Yes."

Xie Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Yan Qiushu: "Then let us take a look. I wonder if there is a share for us?"

"Of course there is." Yan Qiushu said hurriedly, signaling the two maids Shui Yu and Shui Lu to bring up the food boxes.

The first thing served was sour plum soup.

The pot was full, and after pouring a cup for each person, there was still a lot left. After the water was poured, he stepped back and stood aside to serve.

Yan Qiushu introduced in a clear voice: "This is sour plum soup, sour and sweet. Drinking a glass before a meal is very appetizing."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Huaiting picked up the cup and said, "Mom, sister-in-law, Ah Shu's cooking skills are amazing. I was amazed when I tasted it for the first time. You should all try it. I will definitely not let you down."

After saying that, he drank it in one gulp, as if to prove that what Yan Qiushu made was excellent.

However, I didn't expect the soup to be so sour!!!

He seldom ate sour food, and had never drunk anything so sour. Because he was caught off guard, the sour taste made his handsome face wrinkle.

Yan Qiushu: "..."

The Xiao family, who were full of anticipation after hearing what he said, said: "..."

The only two children actually liked the smell and were ready to drink it, but Xiao Huaiting was one step faster and showed this expression, which scared the two children so much that their cups were at their lips and they didn't dare to drink it!