This statement was a perfect critical hit.

"Waaah..." Hu Li's eyes reddened, and she ran away crying sadly.

Fang Yiyi looked unwilling, and Xia Lan looked at Fang Yiyi.

"Comrade Fang Yiyi, what? You like my Qin Yu too? Sorry, it's too late. Remember to be earlier in your next life, don't even think about it in this one."

"..." Fang Yiyi glanced at Qin Yu, her expression inscrutable, then turned and left.

After seeing that they had left in anger, Xia Lan triumphantly released Qin Yu, ready to declare victory.

She looked up and saw Qin Yu's burning eyes staring at her, a smile spreading across his face.

His gentle eyes shone with a warm light, his gaze rippling like the waters of a lake, reflecting into her heart and spreading across her soul.

Xia Lan's cheeks flushed red, and her heart suddenly raced.

Qin Yu suddenly grabbed Xia Lan's hand, bent down, and brought her hand to his lips.

Xia Lan felt his warm, moist breath and was about to pull her hand away when Qin Yu's lips gently touched her hand.

Xia Lan panicked, her face turning red. Why did he kiss her hand?

“You…uh…” Xia Lan blushed and couldn’t get the question out.

"I like the way you assert your dominance." Qin Yu's voice was soft and gentle, and he looked at her with a pleased smile, his expression deep and serious.

Xia Lan blushed, and Qin Yu smiled as he took her hand and led her home.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong? Why is your face so red?" The five people asked when they saw Qin Yu leading Xia Lan back and Xia Lan's flushed face.

"No...it's nothing. I just walked for too long and got hot." Xia Lan lowered her head, walked to the water tank, washed her hands, and used the water to cool her burning face.

The three looked at Qin Yu, only to see that Qin Yu's eyes were fixed on Xia Lan. The five exchanged glances and silently continued with their work.

The fifth brother, Tian Min, once apprenticed under a chef. When the chef discovered that the fifth brother had almost completely mastered his skills, he kicked him out.

They were afraid that if they waited any longer, they would lose their jobs.

Xia Lan smelled a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen and went to take a look out of curiosity. She was surprised to see that Lao Wu was actually tossing a wok. Xia Lan's eyes widened.

"Fifth brother, you're amazing! You can even flip a wok."

"Hehe, sister-in-law, I can do more than just flip the wok, I can do other things too!" Hearing Xia Lan's praise, Lao Wu proudly demonstrated various moves for her.

This prompted Xia Lan to clap her hands.

"Just focus on cooking!" Qin Yu walked over and covered Xia Lan's eyes, glaring at Lao Wu.

The fifth brother shrank his neck and turned to the side in fear.

"How come I never knew my eldest brother was so jealous?" the fifth brother said to the sixth brother who was helping him set out the dishes.

The sixth brother looked up and glanced at Qin Yu.

He gestured in sign language.

"He likes his sister-in-law."

The fifth brother chuckled.

"It's a pity that my sister-in-law doesn't have any sisters, otherwise I would like someone like her too," the fifth brother said fearlessly.

"Who do you like?" Qin Yu's icy voice rang out from behind, and Lao Wu's whole body stiffened.

"Brother, what I mean is... Sister-in-law is such a perfect match for you, you two are a perfect couple," the fifth brother said loudly.

Qin Yu's expression visibly relaxed, and he patted Lao Wu on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"good."

After Qin Yu walked out of the kitchen with a smile, Lao Wu felt like he had escaped death.

A smile flashed in Lao Liu's eyes.

Urged by Qin Yu, Xia Lan changed into the red dress she had just bought. She remembered the saleswoman saying a string of terms. There was no mirror, so Xia Lan didn't know if the dress suited her. She then tidied her hair again.

She walked out of the room nervously.

In the courtyard, the second and third brothers brought over two large round tables. Qin Yu was helping them put the tables together when suddenly a splash of red caught his eye, drawing his attention.

Respiratory arrest.

When the second and third brothers saw Qin Yu suddenly stop what he was doing, they looked up and were stunned.

Qin Yu couldn't take his eyes off him.

Xia Lan, dressed in a red dress, walked towards him with a shy expression.

The red color accentuated Xia Lan's delicate, fair skin, making her both beautiful and alluring, like a peach blossom bud about to bloom, vibrant and eye-catching.

He wanted to hide her away, to prevent anyone from seeing her beauty.

"Does it suit me?" Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu nervously, swaying her skirt anxiously as she asked.

"You're so beautiful I want to hide you away, what should I do?" Qin Yu bent down and rested his head on Xia Lan's neck, sighing softly in a low voice.

"Oh my, where did this fairy come from! She's so beautiful..." Aunt Liu came to Qin Yu's wedding banquet at his invitation.

Upon entering, he saw Xia Lan, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but praise her.

"Aunt Liu," Xia Lan said with a sweet smile as she looked at Aunt Liu.

Aunt Qian came in carrying her things and couldn't help but glance at Xia Lan a few more times.

"nice."

"Thank you, Aunt Qian," Xia Lan said with a smile.

"Oh my, whose little girl is this? She's so beautiful." Xu Fulin led a group of uncles and elders into Qin Yu's courtyard. When he saw Xia Lan, he seemed not to recognize her and glanced at her again.

"Village chief, you've arrived." Xia Lan nodded to the village chief.

Xu Fulin waved his hand, and Qin Yu led Xia Lan toward Xu Fulin.

Xu Fulin pointed to the elderly men beside him and introduced them. "This is Third Uncle, and this is Seventh Uncle."

"Hello, Third Uncle! Hello, Seventh Uncle!" Xia Lan greeted obediently.

The two uncles were over eighty years old, considered long-lived and respected elders in the surrounding villages. Qin Yu had practically grown up under their watchful eyes, so the village chief's invitation to them was already a great honor for Qin Yu.

"Live a good life with Shi Tou." Third Uncle patted Qin Yu with a kind smile, then said to Xia Lan.

"Thank you, Third Uncle," Qin Yu said with a smile.

"I never thought you'd get married one day. I thought you were going to be a bachelor forever." Uncle Qi tapped Qin Yu with his cane, his face beaming with joy for the younger generation.

"Hehe." Qin Yu chuckled.

Xu Fulin led his two uncles to the seats, and Qin Yu carefully helped them sit down. Then, other respected people in the village came over one after another to ask for a celebratory drink.

Xia Lan finally understood why Qin Yu had said that all she needed to do was tell the village chief.

The village chief invited his third and seventh uncles over, and the word spread like wildfire throughout the village. Even if they hadn't been invited, they would still come uninvited to ask for a celebratory drink.

Moreover, those who are not of the right generation don't even dare to sit down; they just leave some money and candy and leave.

Xia Lan watched as the village aunties came over, but none of them dared to say anything sarcastic. She followed her husband over to pay her respects to her third and seventh uncles, said her blessings, left some money, and turned to leave.

Two tables were set up, but everyone except the prominent ones left, leaving exactly two tables of people – just the right number.

This made Xia Lan wonder if Qin Yu had planned this all along, intending to invite these people.