Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan disappeared the next day, without even returning for lunch. In the afternoon, the two of them, covered in mud and with their faces red from the sun, returned laughing and joking, carrying a basket woven from willow branches.

The basket contained fish caught from the Miao River. Xu Bai said that after they went there in the morning, Zheng Boyuan took them on a boat to fish in the river. The boat was rowed by a fisherman who had been fishing for many years. He could tell where the fish were at a glance. After a few casts, the boat was full.

They were all common fish, like carp, crucian carp, bighead carp, and silver carp, but these fish were huge, some weighing over ten pounds. At noon, the person in charge of cooking made a big pot of fish soup and also put flatbread in the pot. Xu Bai said that he and Chen Yuyuan each ate two big flatbreads.

Xu Zhi instructed that several fish be sent to the Feng family and two to the Chu family. As for the Wan family, Wan Jingchen had already returned to the capital, leaving only two servants to guard the courtyard. Xu Zhi did not send any fish to them. Of the large basket of fish, only a few remained in the end.

The weather was too hot, so the fish couldn't be kept for too long. After the cook had done a few simple preparations, she chose a large silver carp weighing about ten pounds. She stewed the fish head with tofu, sliced ​​the fish meat into thin slices, coated them with flour, dipped them in batter, fried them in oil, and then fried them again. Then she added tofu skin and bean sprouts to make a fish hot pot.

Because it's close to the riverbank, it's convenient to eat fish, so many restaurants along the Miao River serve fish. Basically, every restaurant has its own specialty dish. The cook had worked in a large restaurant before, so she could tell how the dishes were made just by watching a few times. Therefore, the fish hot pot was surprisingly delicious, and even Wu Muyue ate a small bowl of fish.

Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan ate without looking up. Xu Zhi kept telling them not to eat too much. Xu Bai looked up and said with a smile, "Good sister, we are at the age when we are growing. No matter how much we eat at dinner, we still need to have a midnight snack before we can go to sleep. Otherwise, our stomachs will be too empty, and we won't be able to sleep. Haven't you heard that a half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home?"

Xu Zhi looked at Xu Bai, who had become much stronger and was indeed fatter than when he was at home. But when Xu Zhi looked at Chen Yuyuan, who didn't look fat at all while wearing clothes, she couldn't help but sigh. Her younger brother had always been a glutton since he was a child. No wonder he was so much fatter than Chen Yuyuan, who was only a few years older than him.

Xu Bai, seeing Xu Zhi's expression, naturally knew what she was thinking, but he didn't care much. The Xu family actually valued appearance, especially when it came to food. They always adhered to the principle of "eating only the finest and most delicate food," emphasizing nutritional balance and preventing their children from overeating. They instilled good eating habits in their children from a young age, all for the sake of their children's good growth and health. Among all the children in the family, whether boys or girls, apart from Xu Bai himself, none of the others were overweight.

Xu Bai was born outside and grew up with his parents. His family felt sorry for him because he didn't eat well outside, so they would let him eat as much as he liked when they made him something delicious. Xu Bai was chubby from a young age, and even when he was around ten years old, he looked rather robust compared to his peers.

While fanning himself, Wu Muyue watched Xu Bai and Chen Yuyuan eating heartily and said to Xu Zhi, "Let them digest their food later. Have A Jin lead them to practice some boxing in the backyard. I see there's a pretty big training ground in the backyard. Since we have it, we can't leave it idle."

Xu Bai paused, looked at Chen Yuyuan, and seeing that Chen Yuyuan was also looking at him, he made a face and said to Wu Muyue, "Uncle, you're always like this. The two of us ride horses back and forth forty or fifty miles during the day. And we're not just playing around on the dike. We also helped move a lot of supplies. I can move those stones and sandbags more easily than the clerks under my brother-in-law."

Wu Muyue nodded and said, "Well, you eat a lot too. Eating more makes you stronger, so it's easier for you than for others."

Xu Bai sighed and said to Chen Yuyuan, "See? That's how adults are. They always add some high-sounding words to their own ideas, trying to use these words to cover up their desire to control us. Unfortunately, I know it all."

Chen Yuyuan covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Wu Muyue, however, was not angry and said with a smile, "The same meaning can have different effects depending on how it's phrased. I have to choose a way that makes you happy but also allows you to do things happily according to my wishes. I don't want you to be unhappy with what I say but still feel awkward doing it. Ultimately, I'm considering things from your perspective."

Xu Bai said to Xu Zhi, "Sister, do you see? I've been oppressed by Uncle for two years now. I'm so stupid, really. I know I can't get anything out of this, but I still stubbornly resist. In the end, I've only ended up with a lot of anger and trouble. What a waste."

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Little brother, you have to learn your lesson. Besides, your uncle is only doing this for your own good. Otherwise, who would consider your feelings first?"

Xu Bai nodded, picked up a bowl of fish soup, looked at the bright moon, sighed, and said, "I have no other way to express my feelings but to drink this fish soup to relieve my worries."

Everyone laughed. Ah Jin had already finished eating and was waiting. Xu Bai saw Ah Jin and said to Xu Zhi, "Sister, see? Ah Jin's already here waiting. Let's go for a walk with Ah Yuan to digest. Tell the kitchen to prepare some late-night snacks for us, like pork wontons. Seaweed and dried shrimp would be even better; they make it taste so fresh. Ah Yuan, what do you want to eat?"

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