Throughout the journey, Chu Xin'er kept talking, sharing with Ye Nian'an what had happened in Haicheng during their absence.

"Sister-in-law, you have no idea how fast Ye Sheng and Shu Ling's 'revolutionary friendship' has progressed!"

"oh?"

Since it concerned her third brother's marriage, Ye Nian'an couldn't help but become interested: "Tell me quickly, what's going on?"

"Last time Shuling came to visit, she happened to run into Brother Ye Sheng chopping firewood in the yard. You didn't see it, but Comrade Shen Shuling rolled up her sleeves and went to help without saying a word!"

"He swung that axe with such force, it was even more powerful than Brother Ye Sheng! Brother Ye Sheng was stunned, his face turned red!"

"And another thing! A couple of days ago, Brother Ye Sheng somehow managed to get two movie tickets. He said he didn't want to go, but he forced them on Shuling."

"And then? The very next day, someone saw them entering the movie theater one after the other! Tell me, isn't it obvious to everyone that their intentions are as clear as day?!"

"I think his oath to 'jump into the well' is not far from coming true!"

This vivid description made Ye Nian'an unable to suppress a laugh.

It seems that her hypocritical third brother has truly fallen completely into Shen Shuling's clutches.

The car sped along and soon entered that familiar alley.

Before even reaching her doorstep, Ye Nian'an could see from afar the anxious figures waiting at the gate.

Ye Xiang, Jin Xiangyu, Ye Yao, Ye Sheng, Leng Siqing... not one is missing.

"You're back! You're back!"

Jin Xiangyu, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot the car, and her voice trembled with excitement.

As soon as the car came to a stop, everyone swarmed around it.

"My Niannian! My precious darling! You're finally back!"

Jin Xiangyu grabbed Ye Nian'an, who had just gotten off the car, her eyes instantly reddening. She looked Ye Nian'an up and down, as if afraid that she might be missing a single hair.

"Mom, I'm fine."

Ye Nian'an smiled reassuringly, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

Then, Jin Xiangyu looked at Chi Xinyao.

"My dear sister! You're finally back! You must be exhausted from the journey."

Chi Xinyao felt a warm current flowing through her heart and said with a smile, "It's not that exaggerated, I'm fine. It's you who's really working hard taking care of so many children at home."

Jin Xiangyu immediately turned to her second son, Ye Hui, her eyes filled with undisguised heartache.

"Ahui! Let Mom take a look! Oh my, this child, he's gotten so dark, like a lump of coal! Did he not eat or sleep well in the army?"

Ye Hui scratched his head and gave a simple, honest smile: "Mom, I'm fine, I'm just tough! The food in the army is great!"

Ye Xiang also came over and patted Chu Yan and Chu Zhenyuan on the shoulders: "Zhenyuan, Chu Yan, it's good to be back, it's good to be back! You two have had a hard journey!"

"Big brother."

Ye Nian'an greeted Ye Yao with a smile.

Ye Yao remained as gentle and refined as ever, his eyes filled with satisfaction: "Welcome home, Niannian."

Just then, an extremely exaggerated wail suddenly came from the side, successfully attracting everyone's attention.

"My God! My dear sister! You're finally back!!!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Ye Sheng rush over, hug Ye Nian'an's leg, and burst into tears.

"In the two months you were gone, I couldn't eat or sleep properly, and I kept counting down the days until you came back! Look how thin I've become! I'm so thin I look unrecognizable!"

As he spoke, he solemnly wiped away non-existent tears.

His exaggerated appearance amused everyone.

Ye Nian'an was both amused and exasperated by his comical antics, and jokingly scolded, "Third Brother, I think you haven't just lost weight, you've just gotten three inches thicker!"

"I don't care! You have to make it up to me!"

Ye Sheng clung to her stubbornly, refusing to let go, and looked up with a pitiful expression.

"You must cook tonight! Make 81 dishes! Otherwise, my wounded heart will never heal!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Nian'an was not angry at all. Instead, her eyes crinkled into a smile: "Sure, eighty-one dishes, right? No problem."

"But... such a big event, shouldn't we invite more people to join in the fun? Third Brother, go and call Shuling over, the more people, the better the meal tastes."

Upon hearing this, Ye Sheng's smug smile froze instantly, as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

Seeing this, Chu Xin'er immediately jumped in to help: "That's right! Sister-in-law is absolutely right! Shuling helped chop wood and take care of the house the other day, we must thank her properly!"

Ye Sheng was repeatedly cornered by the two's coordinated attack, his eyes darting around anxiously as he scratched his head in frustration.

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the three little ones out of the corner of his eye, as if they were his lifeline.

He rushed forward, scooped up the three little ones with both hands, and hugged them tightly.

"My dear nephews and nieces! Have you missed your handsome and dashing third uncle?"

Before the children could answer, he announced to himself, "Good that you wanted to! Come on! Your third uncle feels sorry for you, so I'll take you to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some good food! We're not playing with them anymore!"

After saying that, he used his three children as shields and sprinted away without looking back.

A burst of laughter immediately erupted in the courtyard.

Even the usually composed Ye Xiang and Ye Yao couldn't help but laugh and shake their heads.

Only Ye Hui, who had just returned from the army, was scratching the back of his head, looking completely bewildered.

He watched his younger brother's disheveled retreating figure, then looked at his family members who were laughing so hard they were doubled over, and asked with a simple and honest expression, "What... what happened? Who is Shuling? Why did my third brother run away?"

Chu Xin'er sneakily leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Ye Hui, you don't know yet, do you? Brother Ye Sheng is probably getting a girlfriend soon! Shu Ling is the prime suspect!"

Ye Hui was taken aback at first, his dark face full of astonishment, but then that astonishment turned into a smile of sudden realization.

He grinned, revealing two rows of bright white teeth, and nodded emphatically: "Oh! I see!"

"You little rascal, Ye Sheng, you've been hiding it well! When you get back, I'll give you a good 'interrogation'!"

After a lively exchange of pleasantries, no one even bothered to grab their luggage; the first thing they did was—

They rushed into the house to see their seven little darlings whom they had been longing for day and night!

"Oh my little darling! My sweetheart!"

When Chi Xinyao saw the seven little ones sleeping soundly in a row, her heart melted instantly.

Two months have passed, and the seven little buns have grown quite a bit.

Each one was exquisitely beautiful, with skin as white and tender as a freshly peeled egg, and chubby little faces that made you want to give them a big kiss.

Perhaps smelling the scent of their loved ones, the little ones, who were sleeping soundly, all opened their eyes at the same time.