Before we knew it, it was Lunar New Year's Eve, and the whole family was gathered together in a lively atmosphere.

"This is the first time in years that we've all come together like this," Hua Guangzong said, having finally managed to get half a small cup of wine.

"Next year, when the family welcomes a new member, I never dared to dream of such a wonderful day before," Hua Guangzong said, taking a small sip. At this time of year, his feelings were particularly complex.

He felt a pang of guilt that so many of his brothers were buried far from home, while he was surrounded by children and grandchildren; it was as if all of this was stolen from him.

“I shouldn’t have let you drink alcohol. A little bit of horse urine made you lose your temper,” Tian Guihua gently patted him and woke him up. “The children are watching.”

Hua Guangzong said, "...It's been so long since I've had any alcohol. Just smelling this makes me a little drunk. This year has been tough for everyone. Let's keep working hard next year and contribute to society..."

After he finished his long speech, Tian Guihua had already put a large chicken leg on Hua Xiangyun's and Li Lijuan's plates. Hua Xiangyun's bowl also had an extra large chicken wing, which Hua Zhian had taken from his bowl.

"Little sister, eat quickly!" Hua Zhian just wanted to appease his little sister, because with his unremitting efforts, she finally agreed to teach him a Taoist skill. He didn't know what to do next, so he had to hurry up and learn the skill from her these next two days.

Putting aside everything else, his skill of hitting the target with every stone throw alone is enough to bring him immense benefits.

The thought of being able to dominate the mountains in the future almost made me burst out laughing.

Xun Liangfen frowned at the brother and sister, "Xiangyun, there are still so many dishes, don't hog them all."

Tian Guihua put down the spoon. "What do you mean by 'hogging'? What are your eyes for? This is clearly his second brother's way of showing love to his sister and giving it to Xiaoguai."

After all these years away from home, has all you learned been to be unable to distinguish right from wrong?

"Mother, it's not good to spoil the child like this..."

"What's wrong with this child? Tell me, what's wrong with him?" Tian Guihua had originally hoped to have a peaceful meal today, but since Xun Liangfen was looking for trouble, she wouldn't hold back.

“This is called sibling affection. Just because you, as a mother, don’t know what your daughter likes to eat doesn’t mean the children don’t know.” Tian Guihua looked at the chicken legs and wings in Xun Liangfen’s bowl, which were no less than those in Xiao Guai’s bowl.

“Besides, these two chickens were caught by the two children from the mountain. Eat more, what’s wrong with that?” Tian Guihua swapped her bowl with Hua Baoguo’s. “Don’t hoard everything. The chicken in Baoguo’s bowl might be more suitable for you.”

Xun Liangfen felt a pang of grievance. "..." I only said one sentence...

Hua Baoguo glanced at her, then lowered his head and continued eating. He could roughly guess what Xun Liangfen was trying to do—nothing more than nitpicking and seeing who would back down first.

"Mom, I have another chicken leg here," Hua Zhian pushed his bowl over, but Xun Liangfen just glanced at it and said, "No need."

Hua Guangzong said, "Your mother isn't hungry. She's staying and eating with your maternal grandparents at your maternal grandparents' house. She hasn't been neglected."

Xun Liangfen looked up at Hua Guangzong in disbelief. In other people's homes, their husbands were their support, but in this family, her father-in-law was her strongest support.

Because of the brotherly bond between him and his father, even if the couple had made mistakes over the years, his father-in-law would always stand by her side.

When she returned, he only explained the matter briefly and did not criticize her excessively, which made her think that the matter was over. However, she did not expect that her father-in-law also had a problem with her.

Little did they know, Xun Xingshun had already discussed it with Hua Guangzong. Xun Liangfen had been living too smoothly all these years, and it was time to put her on the back foot.

"There's still so much food in the pot, help yourself. In our family, there's no such thing as who should or shouldn't eat." Tian Guihua glared at Xun Liangfen. She had been behaving quite well these past two days, but who knew she would revert to her old ways so quickly? Did she think their family was too easy to talk to?

Looking at her granddaughter-in-law who was eating with her head down, Tian Guihua decided that she would not soften her heart this time. She put down the bowl in her hand and said directly in front of her children and grandchildren, "Now that Lijuan is pregnant, you have to take over the things at home. From now on, you will be in charge of all the meals and everything at home."

You've been learning quite well these past two days, and I've taught you everything I needed to. It's time to let you take charge.

Xun Liangfen said, "Mother, I can't do it alone."

"What's wrong with that? You're not expecting me and Xiaoguai to help you, are you?"

I remember when you first married into our family, you were a whiz at everything, managing both the household and the outside world perfectly.

As for Xiao Guai, don't count on her. She's learning skills from her master, so she'll definitely have to practice at home too, otherwise the apprenticeship would be in vain.

You're a mother, so you must want children too, right?

"..." Only then did Xun Liangfen realize with sorrow that there was no one around her who could help her.

Even her two sons, whom she thought she could rely on, were sitting there in silence.

Meanwhile, Hua Baoguo, her husband, was drinking his soup, oblivious to her worries. He had promised to talk to her about the job, but nothing had happened yet, otherwise she wouldn't be in such a hurry.

After the New Year, everything will be set in stone. Will she be trapped in this small courtyard like her mother-in-law from now on?

The meal ended hastily because of Xun Liangfen's fault-finding.

Hua Xiangyun was about to help clean up the mess when Tian Guihua pushed her out of the kitchen. "Your second brother probably wants to see you. Go and check on him. As for this little thing, your mother can handle it all by herself."

Xun Liangfen looked down at her hands. In just a few days, her hands had become wrinkled and even cracked a little.

I don't have any tickets right now, otherwise I really would have gone to buy a bottle of face cream.

Since we can't rely on our daughter, and our daughter-in-law should be taken back to her room to rest by our eldest son, we should finish this as soon as possible and go discuss it with Baoguo.

Tian Guihua had already guessed what she was thinking, but that was something that couldn't be changed. Don't say that she wasn't used to doing housework; she would get used to it after a while. Who hasn't gone through this? It was already a bit late for her.

Hua Xiangyun had many Taoist exercises in her mind, and she chose the most basic and easiest to understand one. However, she couldn't stretch out in her room, but since her own courtyard was spacious enough, Hua Xiangyun led Hua Zhian to practice in the courtyard.

The Hua family members, who had already gone to their rooms to rest, heard the commotion and simply leaned against the doorstep to watch the two siblings make a fuss.

Hua Baoguo became interested and followed his youngest son, imitating him in a very serious manner.

"Zhiping, why don't you go and learn it?" Li Lijuan heard that her sister-in-law had found a master, but she didn't expect it to be a skill involving swords and knives.

Seeing that she looked quite skilled, I was somewhat tempted. "You go and learn first, and then you can teach me after I give birth to the baby."

Hua Zhiping shook his head. "This yard is only so big. Do you think I can squeeze in any more?"

Then you'd punch me, and I'd kick them all at my family...