Wiping away her tears, Wang pulled Zhao Di close, looking her over again and again, saying repeatedly, "Zhao Di, you're finally back! You must have suffered a lot this past year! Look how thin you've become!"

Zhao Di's eyes also reddened, but she still smiled and said, "Grandmother, I've gained weight, didn't you notice?"

Xu Lanzhi looked at Zhao Di standing properly in front of her and finally felt relieved. She said tenderly, "You haven't gained weight, but you've grown quite a bit taller. My son, you're finally back!"

As Xu Lanzhi spoke, she couldn't help but cry.

Zhao Di hurried over to support Xu Lanzhi and said, "Mother, what's wrong with you all? I'm perfectly fine, why are you all crying? Mother, please don't do this, what if Grandma cries too much and hurts her health!"

Xu Lanzhi smiled through her tears and said, "What Zhaodi said is a good thing; we should be happy."

"Zhao Di, please sit down and tell us how you've spent the past year!"

Zhao Di then recounted her experiences of the past year, focusing on the good news and omitting the bad.

TaDu & Novel App offers more high-quality free novels, ad-free online. Read for free!

Xu Lanzhi sighed, "Your grandmother has been talking about you countless times since you left a year ago. I kept saying I would come to pick you up, but one thing after another happened at home, and it kept getting delayed!"

Zhao Di said, "Mother, the family has changed so much in the year I've been away! Now we're not only farming, but Yin Di's shop is thriving. I heard they're going to build a factory now, that's really great!"

Jiedi said excitedly, "Isn't that right, eldest sister? You've come back at just the right time. You can take over the wool mill, and I can go back to the ranch to herd sheep again!"

Xu Lanzhi is currently thinking about what kind of work would be suitable for Zhaodi after she returns, since both Yindi and Jiedi already have their own careers.

Hearing Jiedi say this, Xu Lanzhi was truly moved. She was worried that the sisters would have a falling out over this matter. Unexpectedly, the usually carefree Jiedi was the first to think of her eldest sister, afraid that her eldest sister would be disappointed.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Di smiled and said, "Third girl, I know you too well. You're always thinking about running wild on the ranch. How old are you? You can't hang out with those boys on the ranch anymore. You'd better keep a close eye on this wool mill!"

Jiedi said somewhat anxiously, "I'm still young, what am I afraid of? You're the eldest sister, it's your responsibility to manage the factory!"

Zhao Di looked at Jie Di gratefully and said, "Silly girl, I know you're worried that I'll be back suddenly and have nothing to do. Don't worry, once the factory is built, I have things I want to do!"

Looking at her eldest daughter, Xu Lanzhi noticed that she had become much more composed in just one year, speaking and acting with the demeanor of an elder sister.

Xu Lanzhi asked gently, "What do you want to do? I'll fully support you!"

Read novels on TaDu, ad-free and free online!

Zhao Di said, “Mother, thanks to Boss Sai’s care over the past year, he took me as his apprentice and taught me all his cooking skills. Now that I have mastered the skills, I was embarrassed to come back like this, but my master said that Lanling is not peaceful now and business is not as good as before, so he told me to come back.”

Xu Lanzhi said, "Boss Sai is truly a heroine. She has been taking care of our business all these years and has been very kind to you. We are grateful and will give her a discount on our chickens from now on to help her through this difficult time."

Zhao Di hurriedly said, "Mother, this is wonderful! My master has already closed two of her shops. I thank you on her behalf!"

Jiedi asked anxiously, "Big sister, you've been talking for so long, but you still haven't said what you want to do!"

Zhao Di said, "I learned cooking skills from my master, and I thought about opening my own small restaurant."

Jiedi said, "Opening a small restaurant is fine, but if you're going to open one, open a big restaurant!"

Xu Lanzhi chimed in, "Jiedi is right. If we're going to open one, let's open a big restaurant. Zhaodi, tomorrow I'll have Yindi take you to find a suitable shop. Qianniang will cover the cost!"

Zhao Di said, "No need, Mother. I've saved up some money this year, enough to open a small restaurant!"

Madam Wang frowned and said, "This child, why don't you listen to your mother? Your mother earns money for you and your sisters. Just do as your mother says, let's open a big restaurant!"

Zhao Di was about to decline, but Xu Lanzhi had already made up her mind. She said, "Third Sister, your eldest sister's return is a great joy! You should go to the county today and have your second sister arrange things at the shop, then bring your sisters and Zili back so our family can have a proper get-together!"

TaDu offers more high-quality free novels, with no ads. Read online for free!

After saying that, she asked, "Mother, should we invite my eldest sister and second sister's families over to join in the fun?"

Madam Wang shook her head and said, "Forget it. Xiahe is alright, but once Chunya comes, she'll hear that Zhaodi is going to open a restaurant. With her petty nature, who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause. Let's ignore them. We, the mother and the children, will just need to invite Qiumei and Zili!"

Xu Lanzhi nodded in agreement: "Then let's do as Mother says!"

Jiedi clapped her hands and exclaimed with delight, "Grandma, you are truly wise and capable! My eldest aunt is coming, and this meal is bound to be unpleasant. I'll go and call her right now. Don't wait for me for dinner tonight; I'll go back with my second sister and the others tomorrow!"

It is said that people are in high spirits when they have good news. When Zhao Di returned, the Tang family was all in high spirits. Xu Lanzhi even wanted to cook for her family herself.

Zhao Di took the apron and said, "Mom, I'll cook today. Let's see if I'm good enough to open a restaurant!"

Xu Lanzhi said with a face full of satisfaction: "My happy days are yet to come, my children are all so successful!"

Yindi also brought Tang Qiqi and the others to help out, saying that the sisters should cook this meal for their grandmother and mother.

Wang and Xu Lanzhi were sent out of the kitchen, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were so happy they couldn't stop smiling!

I must say, Zhao Di has learned a lot during her year away from home.

TaDu Novels app, a completely open-source and free online novel website.

She grabbed a Tangji signature free-range chicken, cleaned it quickly, cut it into pieces, and marinated it for later use.

He caught another fish and quickly cleaned it up.

After cleaning the fish, she glanced at the beef offal soup simmering in the pot.

Over here, the younger sisters have washed all sorts of fresh vegetables and are just waiting to cook them.

Sisi is still kneading the dough. She has been studying at the private school these days and hasn't made any pasta dishes in a while. Today she's going to show off her skills and make a mixed steamed bun.

Xu Lanzhi tried to come in and help several times, but was stopped outside the kitchen. Tang Qiqi even joked, "Mom, as long as the kitchen doesn't explode today, you can just wait for the food to be served!"

As they were talking, Qiu Mei arrived with Zi Li. Seeing that her eldest and second eldest sisters hadn't come, she said somewhat apologetically:

"Oh dear, today is your family dinner, it's a bit inappropriate for Zili and me to come!"

Xu Lanzhi gently patted her and said, "Third sister, you've fallen into your old habit again. I've told you so many times, this is your home. Look at those three rooms in the east wing, they're reserved for you and your mother."

"And you're something else! You don't live here yourself, and you won't let Ziqiangzili and the others come over either. You insist on staying cooped up in the chicken farm."

Original text^. @From TaDu Novels.

Qiu Mei said, "I feel at ease guarding those chickens. Zi Qiang is now learning his craft from Master Qing Feng and doesn't come back often. Thanks to you, Zi Li is able to continue studying at the school. He comes back occasionally and wants to talk to me!"

Xu Lanzhi said to Wang Shi, "Mother, you see, I told you long ago that these two brothers, Ziqiang and Zili, inherited your temperament. They are loyal, righteous, hardworking, and rare good children!"

Madam Wang smiled with satisfaction. Xu Lanzhi's words made her overjoyed; she was praising her grandson, and also praising herself.

Qiu Mei continued, "Isn't Ziqiang also going to learn a trade? Zili told me today that he doesn't want to study anymore and wants to find a shop to be an apprentice and learn a trade!"

Wang didn't see anything wrong with it; a boy should have some skill to support himself.

Xu Lanzhi was displeased when she heard this. She said, "Ziqiang is already fifteen. I didn't stop him from learning a trade, but Zili is only twelve years old. He's still a child. How can I bear to let him become an apprentice?"

After saying that, she waved to Zili with a warm smile and said, "Zili, come to your aunt."

She ran over shyly and called out, "Auntie!"

Xu Lanzhi pulled him to sit down beside her and said, "Child, don't listen to your mother. Just focus on your studies with Mr. Liu. There are so many people in our family, we don't need anyone to do the work."

Auntie tells you that your brother said he wants to learn a trade. I personally asked Mr. Liu, and he said that your brother is very skillful and would be perfect for learning a trade.

QQ: 563743675

As for you, Mr. Liu said you were born to study. Study hard, and when the time comes, you'll pass the imperial examination with flying colors, return home in glory, and everyone will respect your mother!