Liu He and Ma Mingyue settled down in the family compound. The factory had a lot of work to do these past two days, so Song Qing worked overtime. When she got home, she tugged at her collar.

Why is it so hot this year?

Lu Yang came back from outside and reached in to pull out a handful of popsicles. "Mung bean flavored."

The two little girls who were playing in the dirt immediately stood up. Song Qing quickly told them to wash their hands, and Lu Yang handed one to each of them. These past few days, Xiaoting had practically been a permanent resident of his house, and she had been very conscientious in buying an extra one.

"One for each of you, and another one for your aunt."

The two little girls skipped inside. Lu Yang tore off the remaining piece of paper and handed it to Song Qing. Song Qing took it, took a bite, and couldn't help but squint her eyes.

"That feels so good."

She held the rest to his lips, saying, "You didn't even bother to buy one more."

Lu Yang took a bite. "It's just that Zhuangzhuang and Suisui aren't here, otherwise I would have to go."

Having many girlfriends can be a real problem. Sometimes there are so many people at home that you have to buy a lot of food to share with the kids.

"Ye Man came by at noon."

Lu Yang took one bite and refused to eat anymore. He took a hoe from the woodshed and started turning over the soil that his daughter had turned over. "What's wrong?"

Song Qing glanced at him indifferently. Logically speaking, this was someone else's family matter, and since he hadn't brought it up with her, she shouldn't pry. However, it was fine for a husband and wife to gossip in private.

What exactly is the situation in Comrade He's family?

Lu Yang is a very meticulous person, but he hardly cares about things that don't concern him. So when his wife asked him a question, he was naturally completely confused.

"What's going on?"

"Haven't you noticed that ever since Comrade He's mother and cousin came, Xiaoting has been coming to our house all the time?"

Lu Yang dug up a few dried vegetable roots and threw them against the wall. "Xiaoting is close to our An'an and often comes to our house to play with her. Suisui also comes often. Our daughter goes to visit them too."

Song Qing secretly rolled his eyes. It seemed that he didn't think there was anything wrong with Xiaoting staying at their house all day, and even Ye Man bringing food over for her to have lunch at her house these past few days.

"Kids are curious about everything. Our An'an insisted on going to Zhao Qin's house for dinner for a few days before, and even slept at their house at night."

"..."

I picked up the hoe again and dug up a few vegetable roots. After this batch of vegetables is finished, we can plant another batch. But this time I can't be lazy and can't just plant one kind. An'an doesn't want to eat it.

He is now exceptionally skilled at farm work. When he picks up a vegetable root, he knows to shake off the soil before throwing it over. After a while, he noticed that Song Qing hadn't spoken, so he stopped what he was doing and looked over.

He saw Song Qing looking at him helplessly, then paused and immediately began to recall what he had just said.

"Could it be... that something happened to his family? But He Zhangcheng looks perfectly fine to me."

Song Qing ignored him. When Ye Man came over, she didn't say anything specific, but she had a hint of apology on her face, saying that Xiaoting had troubled them. Song Qing immediately waved her hand, saying that Xiaoting was such a good girl, she was not even half as good as An'an, and that the two of them playing together would not require much attention from the adults.

Lu Yang was digging the ground by himself again. The two little girls ran out of the house and came to watch him work. With the children already out, it was impossible for them to discuss these things. The couple worked together, one digging the ground and the other picking vegetables and cooking.

Just as the dishes were about to be cooked, He Zhangcheng arrived. He knocked on the open door and looked at Lu Yang apologetically, "Brother Lu, thank you for your trouble. I've come to pick up Xiaoting and take her home."

The two children sat on small stools that Lu Yang had made under the eaves, looking up at Lu Ronghui telling them stories. It was hot in the summer, but the apple tree provided some shade, and even the dining table was set up there.

Since Xiaoting got together with An'an, she often went to their house, wishing she could live there. He Zhangcheng and Lu Yang also became much more familiar with each other, and no longer called him Battalion Commander Lu as before, but called him the more affectionate Brother Lu.

Lu Yang sat on the other side, bent over and fiddling with his gadgets. Tools were scattered all over the floor. An An was used to these things now and would only occasionally deign to squat down and watch.

Upon noticing He Zhangcheng's arrival, he merely looked up and hummed in acknowledgment.

Song Qing came out of the kitchen when she heard the noise. It was too hot to cook in the summer, so she had already washed and prepared the vegetables and was about to call Lu Yang in.

"Xiao He? Why are you here today?"

"sister in law"

He Zhangcheng smiled a little embarrassedly and explained, "Xiaoman is busy, so I came to pick up Xiaoting." After saying that, he looked at his daughter and said, "We're going home. Today, your aunt made your favorite sweet and sour fish."

Xiaoting lowered her head unhappily when she saw her father coming over, but when she heard his words, she immediately looked up angrily, "I don't like eating fish, fish will get stuck in my throat!"

She does eat fish, but she doesn't particularly like it.

He Zhangcheng looked somewhat embarrassed. "But didn't you say you wanted to go up the mountain to grill fish that day?"

Xiaoting got even angrier when she heard this. It was because her grandma and the others came that their trip to the mountain was ruined. Uncle Lu can't always go to the mountain with them.

An'an: "I eat cabbage, but I don't like cabbage."

Song Qing: "..."

That's a really easy-to-understand explanation. The atmosphere is a bit awkward right now. I wish I had never been here. I don't even dare to look at Xiao He's face.

Xiaoting: "...didn't go for the grilled fish either."

They had been looking forward to this for so long, and had just been disciplined by their families not long ago. They were hoping to go to the mountains for fun, but it all fell through because of someone they disliked. Xiaoting pouted and looked up at the sky.

"I'm sorry, how about I take you to the mountains again next time Dad has time off? Let's go home first, we're waiting for dinner at home."

Song Qing quickly comforted the two children. An'an pouted like Xiaoting, "I'll definitely take you into the mountains next time I have a vacation. It's not that Mommy doesn't allow you to go into the mountains, but you must be accompanied by an adult. Next time your uncle comes back from vacation, will you go with him to the mountains to hunt?"

Xiaoting didn't want to go back, but she couldn't stay here any longer. She had already caused Aunt Song a lot of trouble, and if she didn't leave, Aunt Song and Uncle Lu would also be in a difficult position. So she reluctantly said goodbye to them.

"Goodbye, Uncle, Aunt, Little Aunt."