The two sisters stir-fried the dishes that Deng Min had prepared in the kitchen and were ready to serve. In addition to the braised dishes that Bai Jiaojiao brought, there were also mackerel, shrimp, sea monster, and stewed hen, which were four meat dishes. The four vegetable dishes were jellyfish skin mixed with cabbage hearts, soybean sprouts that they had grown at home, peanuts mixed with radish strips, and finally cabbage stewed with vermicelli. Eight dishes in total, which was quite a feast.

The children sat around a table, and Bai Zhiman's face was radiant.

"Shibo, could you try to visit your father-in-law's house again next year on the second day of the Lunar New Year?" Bai Shiqing asked.

Bai Shibao scratched his head: "Not so easy."

Before the Lunar New Year, he did go on a blind date with his sister-in-law, but he found that he couldn't even open his mouth when he met the young woman.

Why is it so hard to find a partner?

How come other people can find partners?

"I wonder who this kid takes after." Bai Zhiman shook his head. But since Bai Shibao is a son, there's no rush for him to get married a little later. He still had the mind to make sarcastic remarks.

It was tough on Deng Min; on her day back at her parents' home, she still had to help Bai Shibao find a partner.

When Deng Min and Bai Shihai rode the bicycle that Bai Shibo had just brought back before the New Year back to the Deng family home, they attracted the attention of the children who were running around in the village. They all followed the bicycle and ran to Old Deng's house.

"Isn't this the third brother back? Oh, he even borrowed a bicycle."

Deng Min heard her second sister-in-law's sarcastic remarks but couldn't be bothered to pay her any attention.

"Dad, Mom, Hai and I have come back to see you."

Deng Min is the third child in her family, with an older sister and an older brother, and two younger sisters. In other words, her brother is the only male in her generation, and he is extremely spoiled by the family. As a result, even her brother's wife is favored at home and treats the sisters with absolute authority.

When Ning Cuicui saw that Deng Min had entered the house without even glancing at her, her expression immediately turned sour.

Before she could even react, Old Man Deng started fuming: "You still remember you have a family? I thought you'd forgotten all about it!"

During the Lunar New Year, Deng Min didn't want to argue with her father about those old, trivial matters. She forced a smile and said, "In previous years, we were just too busy at home. This year, Bozi came back from town, so Hai Ge and I finally had some free time to come back and see you all."

Deng Min's father-in-law was paralyzed on the kang (a heated brick bed) and needed someone to take care of him; the Deng family was aware of this.

Deng Min had already explained things so clearly, so Deng's mother tugged at Deng's old man's arm, signaling him to stop: "Hurry up, son-in-law, put the things aside and come sit on the kang. You've already come, why bring anything else?"

Bai Shihai pulled Bai Manzhi forward and said, "Manzhi, wish your grandpa and grandma a Happy New Year."

Happy Chinese New Year, Grandpa and Grandma! Wishing you a long and healthy life!

These words were taught to her by Deng Min at home. Bai Manzhi spoke fluently, and with the good genes of the Bai family, she was also beautiful, which made Deng's mother extremely fond of her.

"You two are really something, it's been so long since I've seen my granddaughter. Old man, hurry up and give Manzhi some money for New Year's."

Mother Deng picked up Bai Manzhi and showered her with affection, but Old Man Deng disliked that she was his granddaughter and sat as still as a bell.

For a moment, Deng's mother felt a little awkward. Deng Min gave her mother a look, indicating that everything was alright.

It wasn't the first time her father had favored boys over girls. Back then, she did much better in school than her second brother, and she was still younger, but he made her drop out of school first to help with chores at home and earn work points.

And what happened? Her brother didn't even manage to graduate from junior high school.

Not finishing junior high school is a lifelong regret for Deng Min, but there are many families like hers. That's just fate, and there's nothing Deng Min can do about it.

"Let me see. Our Xiaomin hasn't been back for several years. She's finally come back this time. What good things has she brought?"

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, daughters who return to their parents' home are guests. They sit on the kang (a heated brick bed) while their sisters-in-law or brothers' wives busy themselves in the kitchen to entertain them.

At the Deng family home, the daughter who had returned to her parents' home was in the kitchen, while Ning Cuicui was outside eating melon seeds.

Ning Cuicui entered the house and reached out to look at the basket Bai Shihai had brought. Inside were two cloth bags and a chicken.

Ning Cuicui picked up the chicken and pouted, "They really went all out. Xiaomin, you should save this chicken to stew for your father-in-law to help him recover."

Ning Cuicui's words sounded polite, but she was secretly disliking Bai Zhiman for being a cripple. Deng Min's face immediately darkened, and Bai Shihai squeezed her hand under the table.

“We’ve been raising three of them at home for three years. They’ll get too old if we don’t eat them soon, so we’re thinking of slaughtering them all this year. My dad will definitely get a share.”

Bai Shihai thought to himself, "I only come back once every few years, how can I not do this face-saving thing properly?"

Ning Cuicui, however, thought Bai Shihai was easy to bully. She sneered twice with a half-smile and said, "What are these two packages? Brother-in-law, we're all family. We all know each other. Don't try to put on a show."

Ning Cuicui's words angered Deng Min. She had only wanted to come back and have a good New Year, and she brought so many nice things to shut her father up.

This Ning Cuicui doesn't even look at the kind of life she lives, yet she's here looking down on her with veiled barbs.

Deng Min put on her shoes and got off the kang (a heated brick bed): "Come here, Mom, let me show you what I bought."

Deng Min opened a bag, inside which were two jars.

"This jar contains wheat flour that we roasted ourselves. It's delicious when you mix it with water."

Deng Min took out a jar, and when Ning Cuicui heard that she had cooked it herself, she rolled her eyes in disdain without any attempt to hide it.

Deng Min glanced at Ning Cuicui and took out another can from her pocket: "This is a can of malted milk powder. Mom, you and Dad can mix it and drink it whenever you have time. People say it's very nutritious."

"Malted milk powder?!"

Ning Cuicui had only ever seen this jar at other people's houses before; she had never even known what malted milk powder tasted like in her entire life!

She snatched it from Deng Min's hand: "Dad, Mom, this is perfect for Qiangqiang to grow taller!"

Old Man Deng was about to nod in agreement when Deng Min snatched the malted milk powder back: "This is for my parents. If your son wants to drink it, you can buy it for him yourself. I have no obligation to support your son."

Old Deng was displeased: "What are you saying? Everyone says that the bond between aunt and nephew is the strongest. Aunts dote on their nephews like crazy. What's wrong with giving him a can of malted milk powder?"

"Dad, are you determined to give this malted milk powder to Deng Mingqiang?"

"What you gave me, I can give to whomever I want!"

"I'm sorry, but if you and Mom can't get this into your mouths, I won't deliver it! Hai-ge, let's take this back!"

Before Deng Min could even open her other cloth bag, she put the fried wheat flour she had just taken out into it, tied it all up tightly, and stuffed it into the basket.

"Xiao Min." Bai Shihai looked at Deng Min's face with concern, afraid that she would upset him.