In reality, blind dates are just like that. Both families have already inquired about each other's family backgrounds beforehand, and whether the two people can hit it off can be decided in just twenty minutes.

Seeing that Tong Huijuan didn't want to leave, Chen Feng was afraid that if Shen Jingyan were alone with her, they would talk about random things, and she was even more afraid that after the two talked, Tong Huijuan would like Shen Jingyan even more.

Shen Yuqin's limelight had already been stolen by Shen Jingyan, so the two of them couldn't be left alone together any longer!

Chen Feng had no choice but to stay, albeit reluctantly.

Although she stayed in the kitchen, she did almost no work; all six dishes and two soups were made by Shen Jingyan.

The food was served, and its aroma filled the air.

Anzi returned from playing outside, just in time for dinner.

As soon as they picked up their chopsticks, Chu Jincai's family praised Shen Jingyan's cooking skills.

"Brother Gangzi, your niece is really capable, beautiful, quiet, and a great cook. If you could marry her, you'd be incredibly lucky!"

Tong Huijuan didn't explicitly say "Jingya entered our family," but the meaning was already clear.

Shen Honggang smiled very honestly and said, "My niece is wonderful in every way. I am truly blessed."

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng lost her appetite for the meat in her mouth. She glanced at Shen Yuqin, whose expression wasn't much better.

All morning, she was jumping around like a clown, but as soon as Shen Jingyan appeared, she became invisible.

Shen Yuqin lost all appetite and glared at Shen Jingyan, wishing she could tear her apart and devour her.

Chen Feng could only try to make amends for her daughter by saying nice things:

"Sister-in-law, actually Yuqin's cooking is even better than Jingya's! I didn't have a chance to cook today because I was talking to Chaoyang. I'll have her show you her skills another day!"

Shen Yuqin quickly replied, "Yes, yes, Auntie, I can cook too."

Anzi, who had been silently eating, looked up and retorted in a carefree manner:

"What can you do? You can't even light a fire! And you want to cook? Even pigs wouldn't eat your food!"

Anzi's words successfully made Chu Chaoyang burst into laughter.

Shen Yuqin's face looked as if she had been shoved into a bucket of pig manure, her expression a mix of anger, shame, and embarrassment, distorting her features.

Chen Feng was so angry at her "brainless" youngest son that she almost fainted, and she slapped Anzi's finger with her chopsticks.

"Eat your food. Adults are talking, what right do you kids have to interrupt!"

Anzi touched her sore fingers and said with a mix of grievance and stubbornness:

"Did I say something wrong? When has my sister ever cooked? Wasn't it always Sister Jingya who cooked?"

Tong Huijuan and Chu Jincai exchanged a knowing look.

Children are kind-hearted and would never lie.

Besides, what younger brother wouldn't side with his older sister?

Even Anzi was unwilling to speak well of Shen Yuqin, which is enough to prove that Shen Yuqin is not only ugly, but also extremely lazy, and her character is even more worrying.

The couple reached a tacit understanding: whatever Chen Feng said, they should interpret it in reverse.

Shen Jingyan had no intention of causing trouble for Chen Feng and her daughter, after all, it was the New Year, and she didn't want to create any unnecessary complications.

However, Anzi was like a mouthpiece for her, and with just a few words, she made Chen Feng and her daughter feel upset. She was happy to see this happen and put several pieces of braised pork ribs on Anzi's plate.

Everyone was satisfied with the meal, except for Chen Feng and Shen Yuqin, who had no appetite.

He barely ate a few bites of the delicious food, but his anger was already building up inside him.

According to local matchmaking customs, the time after the meal is for chatting. Elders usually step aside to give the two young people enough space and time to get to know each other. In Northeast China, this is called "laoke".

As they chatted, they became familiar with each other and developed a liking for one another.

As soon as they finished eating, Chen Feng sent Anzi out to play.

Shen Yuqin was naturally trying her best to find opportunities to get closer to Chu Chaoyang.

Seeing Shen Yuqin clinging to Chu Chaoyang like a leech, lacking any girlish reserve, Tong Huijuan's disgust for her deepened even further.

After cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen, Shen Jingyan said goodbye to Shen Honggang.

"Uncle, Aunt, Uncle, Aunt, Brother Chaoyang, I'm going back now."

Shen Yuqin and Chen Feng couldn't wait for her to disappear.

Before Chen Jingyan could even step out the door, Tong Huijuan winked at Chu Chaoyang and said:

"Chaoyang, escort Jingya home. Don't let the young lady go back by herself."

Chu Chaoyang readily agreed.

Shen Jingyan was speechless: "Auntie, I don't live far away, it's just a short walk, no need to see me off."

Shen Yuqin was afraid that Chu Chaoyang would move, so her burly body blocked half of the door.

"That's right, she lives right in the forest farm, it's only a mile away! There's no need for Brother Chaoyang to take her!"

Chu Chaoyang impatiently pushed her away, gazing intently at Chen Jingyan and saying:

"Even a mile is a journey. Anyway, I don't have anything else to do, so I'll just treat it as a post-meal digestion."

Shen Yuqin couldn't stop Chu Chaoyang, so she could only stare helplessly as Shen Jingyan and Chu Chaoyang walked out of the courtyard side by side.

Tong Huijuan and Chu Jincai watched the two men's retreating figures, their lips pursed in smiles.

Chen Feng's eyes darted around, and one wicked thought after another popped into her head.

No matter what, she couldn't let Chu Chaoyang and Shen Jingyan become a couple!

The Chu family's conditions are so good that you couldn't find another like them even with a lantern. If you miss this opportunity, you'll never get another chance!

She had to secure the best family for her daughter; otherwise, if Shen Jingyan married better than Shen Yuqin, she would be miserable for the rest of her life!

"Sister-in-law, don't let Jingya's quiet nature and cooking skills fool you. She's actually quite vicious. Just because she didn't like the family I found for her last time, she grabbed an axe and threatened to chop me up!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!