It was nearly evening when they returned to Xujia Village. Chu Xun rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen. He saw that the educated youth were already busy inside. He said, "It's Yueyue and I who are treating, how can we trouble you?"

“You’re busy with important matters, so we can’t help you much, but we can still help with this little bit of work in the kitchen,” Wang Jiaxing said with a smile.

Huang Xinrui pointed to the washed vegetables and said, "Commander Chu, the vegetables are all ready. We're just waiting for you, the chef, to take charge."

"Thank you for your hard work. I'll take care of the rest. You can go and rest."

"It's a rare treat to eat food cooked by our Chu Commander himself." Chen Yu walked into the kitchen and saw his proud commander wearing an apron, looking like a househusband. He almost bent over laughing.

Huang Xinrui said, "Whenever Commander Chu comes, he cooks for us. What? You've never eaten his cooking?"

"Never." Chen Yu's smile vanished, and he said plaintively, "Boss, you value women more than friends."

"Stop babbling and come help." Chu Xun glanced at him sideways.

Chen Yu twitched the corner of his mouth, resignedly saying, "Fine, fine, fine."

In the consultation room, Li Xiyue took out fifty yuan and handed it to Xu Guoqiang and Xu Yongshun.

"Captain and Party Secretary, the Revolutionary Committee has compensated us with some money. After deducting the losses to the clinic and the medical expenses for the two injured comrades, there are still fifty yuan left. Please exchange it for grain and distribute it to all the villagers as my way of thanking them for their help and protection."

Ge WH compensated them with 100 yuan, the clinic lost about 10 yuan this time, and gave Uncle Xu and Huang Xinrui 20 yuan each for medical expenses, leaving half of the money.

She received help from the brigade cadres and villagers this time, and she couldn't just leave without showing any appreciation; she had to make sure everyone received tangible benefits.

Xu Guoqiang and Xu Yongshun exchanged a glance, their eyes full of approval. This child is so sensible and knows how to behave. They hadn't protected her in vain.

"My boyfriend and I are treating everyone to dinner tonight. The brigade leader and the Party secretary must come," Li Xiyue said with a smile.

Xu Guoqiang and Xu Yongshun both agreed, saying they would go back and make some arrangements before coming over.

Li Xiyue visited Uncle Xu Liu and Xu Dashan's homes again, inviting them to dinner at the clinic, and finally went to Xu Xiangyang's home.

“Dr. Li, Jianmin and I went back to my parents’ home yesterday. We didn’t know you had such a big problem and couldn’t help you. We feel really bad about it,” Gao Xiulan said to Li Xiyue, pulling her close.

Li Xiyue asked with a smile, "If you were here, you would definitely help me, right?"

"Of course," Gao Xiulan replied without hesitation.

Li Xiyue patted her hand, "I'm already very touched by your kindness. Besides, Comrade Xiangyang has been a great help. You're family, so it's like you've helped us too. My boyfriend and I are treating everyone to dinner tonight, so you should come too."

"I won't go." Gao Xiulan glanced at Xu Jianmin beside her and said with a shy smile, "I'm not feeling well."

Li Xiyue hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?" As she spoke, she took Gao Xiulan's pulse, and after a moment she smiled and said, "Auntie, you're pregnant!"

Gao Xiulan nodded with a smile, "So let Jianmin and his nephew Xiangyang go."

“I couldn’t help anyway, so I won’t go. I’ll stay home with Xiulan. Xiangyang, you go.” Xu Jianmin helped his wife sit down, looking very nervous.

Xu Xiangyang hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm not going either. I haven't been of any help."

Li Xiyue was both amused and exasperated. He had almost beaten someone to death, and he hadn't even been of any help. What else could he do?

However, Xu Xiangyang insisted on not going, and Li Xiyue did not force him.

Back at the clinic, the food was ready, and everyone had arrived.

No one came empty-handed; everyone brought something, especially Xu Dashan, who brought a lot of game from the mountains, along with plenty of meat and vegetables.

There were too many people and not enough tables, so Wang Jiaxing and Zhou Yunze moved the tables and chairs from the educated youth settlement over and put them together to make a large long table.

Two small stoves were burning brightly on the table, with two small pots on them. Chu Xun had brought these two pots back at noon, specifically for making hot pot.

Chu Xun and Chen Yu sat at one table with Xu Guoqiang, Xu Yongshun, Uncle Xu Liu, and Xu Dashan, while Li Xiyue sat at another table with Huang Xinrui and the others.

Everyone sat around the table, under which were two charcoal braziers, making the room warm and cozy.

Chu Xun took out the Moutai he had bought at noon, opened it, and poured it for everyone.

Xu Guoqiang was somewhat excited, "This is really good wine."

“Yes, it’s rare to get to drink this on ordinary days,” Xu Yongshun said.

Xu Dashan smiled and said, "Commander Chu, you're too kind."

"You have always taken care of and helped Yueyue. I should have thanked you properly a long time ago, but I have delayed until now. I apologize for my rudeness." Chu Xun said, raising his wine glass. "I would like to toast you all to thank you for lending a helping hand to Yueyue when she was in danger."

Uncle Xu and the others raised their cups and drank with him, smiling.

Li Xiyue put the meat and vegetables into the pot, and when they were cooked, she called out to everyone, "Everyone, eat your food, don't be shy."

The aroma of the fire had already whetted everyone's appetite, and everyone picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

"This meat smells delicious."

"Yes, it's fragrant and spicy, really good."

"A hot meal in the dead of winter warms you up from head to toe."

"Hot pot with alcohol, the more you drink, the better."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone ate, drank, chatted, and laughed, making the house very lively.

It started snowing again outside, but it was warm and cozy inside, and everyone's face was glowing.

"Sister, is there any more meat?" Xu Guoqing finished his meat and then leaned over to Li Xiyue and asked with a smile.

Li Xiyue handed him a plate of meat, saying, "Yes, there's plenty."

"Everyone, eat as much as you like. If you're not full, there's more in the kitchen. Chen Yu, go and cut some meat for us," Chu Xun said.

Wang Jiaxing immediately stood up. "I'll go."

“I’ll go too.” Huang Xinrui got up and followed.

As they stepped outside, Wang Jiaxing grasped her hand. "Go eat, what are you doing following me?"

"I'm full." Huang Xinrui burped and shook his hand. "I just want to stay with you."

A sweet feeling welled up from the bottom of his heart and spread throughout his mind. Wang Jiaxing pulled her quickly into the kitchen and closed the door.