Zhou seemed to have been told in advance that the girl would come today, but she didn't expect that she would arrive before Chu Yu came back, so she seemed a little flustered.

She said awkwardly, "Dalang hasn't returned home yet. Please sit down first. I'll send someone to inform him."

Wei Xiyin brushed off the snowflakes on her body and waved her hand, "It's okay, sir, you're busy, it's okay to wait a while."

Zhou also reacted after hearing this.

Yes, Chu Yu is now helping the new clan leader. If he calls him back casually, wouldn’t he be saying in front of the new clan leader that he is lazy?

The expression on her face became even more panicked.

Wei Xiyin had no intention of embarrassing her, so she said, "Madam, you don't have to be polite. You go ahead and do your work. I'll just sit here and wait for Mr. Chu to come back."

Zhou is indeed very busy. Yesterday, Dalang said that he would host a banquet for the new clan leader at home.

Upon learning that a distinguished guest was coming, Zhou became nervous. She got up before dawn and went out with the food in her home.

Recently, many people went up the mountain to dig bamboo shoots. She exchanged grain for some winter bamboo shoots and went to the farm in Wubao to buy a chicken.

The breeding farm of the fort has begun to take shape. When reclaiming farmland on Yimu Mountain, a group of normal pheasants were caught, and the chicks that were originally hatched grew up and their number became more and more.

Afterwards, Mingjingtang issued a notice that whether it was the clan members or the common people, anyone who wanted to eat could go and buy the food themselves.

Having said that, pheasants are very expensive and ordinary people simply cannot afford them.

Even if they could afford to eat it, they would not be willing to spend it. Only members of the Wei family would occasionally visit to have a bite.

Chu Yu's family has no shortage of food.

His own welfare benefits were among the best in the fortress, and Zhou was a person who could not sit still, so she took some odd jobs from the cloth shop and took them home to do. The two servants in the family also participated in the construction of Ling County outside and received wages.

They had so much food at home that they couldn't even finish it all.

But Zhou was used to being frugal, and she would save as much as she could. There was a kitchen in the guest house, but she never cooked a meal. She always stored the food and took a sign to go to the public kitchen to eat.

Today is the first time in a long time that I have cooked at home, and the chicken is still stewing on the stove.

Seeing her hesitation, wanting to leave but not daring to, Wei Xiyin said kindly, "Sir, I have a deep friendship with you. Madam, you don't have to treat me as an outsider."

Zhou was worried about the things on the stove. After hearing her words, she hesitated for a long time and replied carefully, "Okay, please sit down first. I will accompany you for a while."

Those ingredients were bought with grain money. If they get burnt, we won’t have anything to entertain the new patriarch tonight.

Zhou lowered her head and left the hall.

Wei Xiyin looked at her leaving back and shook her head repeatedly. Zhou was so timid and cowardly, how could she raise someone like Chu Yu?

It's windy outside.

After Zhou left, the servant closed the door and brought hot tea to warm the new patriarch.

Not only that, the two guards and servants who came with Wei Xiyin were also very attentive and brought hot water.

Wei Xiyin drank tea, listened to the sound of wind and snow outside, and spent the time quietly.

It has only been a few days since winter began, and in addition to the heavy snow and the raging evil wind, it is getting dark earlier and earlier.

When Chu Yu came back, it was already pitch black outside.

He was wrapped in thick clothes and his hat was pulled high up, leaving only his eyes exposed.

"Yu said he would send someone to invite her, but he didn't expect the girl to come first."

Chu Yu brushed off the fallen snow on his body, took off his hat and stepped into the hall.

Although she has inherited the position of clan leader, people around her are still more accustomed to calling her "girl".

After all, Chu Yu and others are not members of the Wei clan, so there is nothing wrong with using the old names to address them.

Wei Xiyin: "I just came out of Mingjing Hall and walked here."

"It's Yu's fault for keeping you waiting." Chu Yu nodded slightly and added, "I thought you were leaving tomorrow, so I prepared some things. That's why I came back late."

Wei Xiyin was curious for a moment, "What is it?"

Chu Yu paused, but before he could answer, Zhou's voice was heard outside the house.

"Da Lang, the food is ready. Shall we start eating now?"

Wei Xiyin raised her eyebrows slightly.

The cautious voice of inquiry really didn't sound like that of a mother and son.

Chu Yu had an indifferent expression and replied "hello" to the outside of the house.

He turned his head and looked at Wei Xiyin, "It's cold in winter, and the food gets cold quickly. Please eat first, young lady."

Wei Xiyin readily agreed.

The two of them stood up and walked to the dining room.

The food on the table in the dining hall was steaming, but there was no one else to be seen.

Wei Xiyin thought for a moment, then said after some thought: "Why don't you invite the old lady to dine with us?"

"Need not."

Chu Yu did not hide his feelings and sat down. "Would you like to drink, girl?"

Wei Xiyin took a seat opposite and nodded slightly, "Have a drink."

The two guards retreated tactfully.

Soon, the servant came in with warmed wine.

As to why Zhou didn't come to the table, one of them didn't ask again and the other didn't mention it.

There were only two people in the room, so there was no need for excessive formalities.

As the host, Chu Yu didn't even say a word, so Wei Xiyin simply picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

The dinner was very sumptuous, with both meat and vegetables. Zhou used half of the chicken to make soup, and the other half to make a roast chicken, stir-fried winter bamboo shoots, and a plate of delicious crabs.

After having two drinks, Wei Xiyin couldn't help but sigh, "Sir, you're living a really good life."

In today's world, being able to drink a bowl of hot chicken soup on a snowy day, with wine and food, is something that people outside probably can't even imagine.

Chu Yu glanced at him and said, "The chicken in the fort is really too expensive. It is only thanks to the girl that I was able to enjoy this delicious meal."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!