Qiao Xiaoni felt that Tao Chunfang had become more talkative after becoming pregnant, and she considered everything in more detail.

"Manli, slow down, don't fall!" Su Chenqiu shouted anxiously, afraid that Qiao Manli would run forward and bump into someone.

Qiao Manli stopped and turned around, making a face: "Uncle, hurry up and come after me!"

"You run so slowly, I wonder where all that rice you ate went."

"Why are you being so cheeky?" Su Chenqiu retorted angrily. He was no longer a child and felt like he was half an adult. He especially hated being stared at by others.

Seeing that he wasn't chasing her, Qiao Manli stopped running. A delicious aroma of fried fish wafted over, and she turned around to see a large fish being scooped out of the pot. It looked golden and delicious.

"fish!"

"We'll be using fried fish at tomorrow's banquet, so you can't even think about taking it," Su Chenqiu instructed as he walked over.

Qiao Manli's mouth watered: "I really want to eat it!"

Su Chenqiu knew this would happen, which is why he took her out to play for an afternoon to keep her from causing trouble. But when they got back, she still had her eye on fried fish.

"Stop fooling around. This fish is for the banquet tomorrow. We'll be able to eat it when we have dinner tomorrow." Su Chenqiu couldn't bear to scold her because she looked so hungry.

If Qiao Manli had gone to steal fish in the morning before, she would have done so. But after these days of discipline, she knows there are some things she can't do. She turned her head and said:

"Then you have to help me catch some fish tomorrow. I want to eat big fish."

Su Chenqiu reached out and patted her head: "Okay, I'll help you get the fish to eat. Don't stare at it now. We'll have dinner later, so eat more and you won't be hungry."

“Okay!” Qiao Manli nodded obediently.

This scene was clearly seen by Qiao Xiaoni and Tao Chunfang.

Tao Chunfang remarked, "Xiao Manli has changed a lot recently; she can do many things on her own now."

Seeing how well-behaved and sensible she is, I feel much more at ease. Maybe this baby can even lend me a hand after it's born!

"Sister-in-law, please keep your voice down." Qiao Xiaoni lowered her voice, not wanting outsiders to hear that her sister-in-law was pregnant.

At this time, we need to be extra careful, because there's always a chance something might happen.

Tao Chunfang touched her belly and nodded: "I'll be more careful next time, and I won't be so careless again."

Why haven't your older brother and Chenhao come back from the mountain yet?

Xiaoshan said he went to look for them but hasn't returned yet. Could something have happened to the three of them?

Qiao Xiaoni sorted out all the peeled scallions and placed them in a large, unused basin, preparing to wash them with water later.

"It shouldn't be anything serious. Maybe something happened on the way that delayed them. Don't overthink it. They'll be back in a bit. Don't forget, there are three of them. They can look out for each other if anything happens. Right now, the worst thing you can do is overthink things."

"You're right, I can't let my mind wander right now. They must have been delayed by something and will be back a little later."

Tao Chunfang opened the lid on the stove. The eggs inside were almost cooked. They have a custom here: when the engagement is made, everyone is given red eggs to eat, which symbolizes a prosperous and thriving future.

The Qiao family is now worlds apart from what they used to be; they are now the wealthiest family in the village, possessing everything imaginable.

She was envious of everyone, which made her very happy, but when she thought of the message from her family, her brows furrowed again.

I don't know who spread the gossip, but they found out that the Qiao family had a shop in town. Her mother asked someone to pass on a message, wanting her youngest sister to come and help out.