"Third Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help you with?"
Gu Xiaoxiao put her precious water bottle inside the house and quickly rolled up her sleeves to go to the kitchen.
"Xiaoxiao, could you help your sister-in-law wash the vegetables and peel a few potatoes?"
The old duck soup is almost ready by now.
Ruan Qiushui thought about making braised pork with potatoes, minced meat with eggplant, pan-fried tiger-skin green peppers, and stir-fried vegetables.
By the time Xie Xiuying arrived with the Gu family, Ruan Qiushui's dishes were ready.
"I heard my second brother-in-law is here. Where is he?"
As soon as Xie Xiuying entered the courtyard, she asked Gu Xiaoxiao.
These are the family members of the third son's wife; they must be treated well.
If it weren't for Xiaoxiao saying that the third brother's wife was already at home preparing the dishes, she would have insisted on taking leave to go home and cook a big feast to welcome her second brother-in-law.
"Father, Mother, elder brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother, you've come! Please come in and sit down."
Ruan Qiushui poked her head out of the kitchen and hurriedly greeted them.
"Third brother's wife, let me help you first."
Xie Xiuying put down her things and went into the kitchen to help Ruan Qiushui start the fire.
"Third sister-in-law, let's help too."
He Chunhua and Zhou Lan were too embarrassed to eat for free, so they followed their mother-in-law into the kitchen.
With nothing to do, Gu Xiaoxiao was squeezed out by the three of them.
"Father, eldest brother, second brother, and youngest brother."
When his father and brother arrived, Gu Changfeng had no choice but to come out and greet them.
"Changfeng, what's wrong with you?"
Looking at his son's bruised and swollen face, Gu Guangrong almost lost his composure as a strict father and quickly turned his face away, his lips twitching.
His all-powerful, heaven-reaching third son actually got beaten one day. Who on earth did this?
"Third brother, what's wrong?"
Gu Changjiang and Gu Changshan were genuinely concerned.
"Third Brother, you've retired from the army, and your body's rusted too? You know what, this face with all those colors looks pretty good."
Gu Changshu was more direct, focusing on hitting the nail on the head.
"Gu Changshu, let's go outside and talk."
Gu Changfeng took two steps forward, grabbed Gu Changshu by the neck with his arm, and pulled him outside.
Gu Changfeng was not about to let go of a punching bag delivered right to his door.
"Third brother, I was just kidding. Dad, eldest brother, second brother, help!"
Gu Changshu struggled and cried out.
"You must be Uncle Gu, my younger sister's father-in-law. I am Ruan Qi'an, Ruan Qiushui's second brother."
Ruan Qi'an came out of the house and introduced himself.
"I can tell from their appearance that they are siblings. Second brother, you've come all this way, have you rested well? How about we have a drink tonight?"
Gu Guangrong wasn't good at talking and didn't know what to talk about.
"Hello, I am Gu Changshan, Gu Changfeng's second brother. Welcome to the Hongqi Brigade."
"Hello, I am Gu Changjiang, the eldest brother."
The two older brothers were also quiet types; after their introductions, they stood aside.
Gu Guangrong, who was hoping they would say a few more words, decided it was better not to say anything at all.
"Eldest brother, second brother, hurry up and tidy up the table, dinner is about to start."
Xie Xiuying called out, and Zhou Lan and He Chunhua came out carrying bowls and chopsticks.
"Okay, Mom."
The Gu brothers quickly moved stools and wiped the table.
Ruan Qi'an didn't know where the things were either, so he could only watch from the side.
Once all the dishes were served, Gu Changfeng sensibly took out the half-bottle of Moutai that was left over from last time.
His father-in-law and grandfather both enjoy drinking, and according to his observation, this is likely a family tradition. Perhaps his brother-in-law's drinking can ease the tension.
"Second brother-in-law, you're at your sister's house, so don't be shy, eat more."
Xie Xiuying was worried that Ruan Qi'an might be a germaphobe, so she specially brought out a pair of serving chopsticks and put a large bowl of meat on Ruan Qi'an's plate.
"Thank you so much, you're too kind."
He was finding it a bit too much for such enthusiasm.
"No need to thank me, we're all family, you're being too polite."
After finishing with Ruan Qi'an, Xie Xiuying busied herself serving food to Ruan Qiushui.
Her third son's wife now eats for two people, so she has to eat more and eat better.
Gu Changshu watched as his mother put half a plate of braised pork into the bowls of his third sister-in-law and her brother, swallowing hard.
"Look at you, hurry up and eat."
Xie Xiuying felt uncomfortable under Gu Changshu's gaze, so she put a piece of braised pork on his plate as well.
Not wanting to show favoritism, I served everyone present the food.
Xie Xiuying pulled Ruan Qi'an aside to chat about everyday things.
Gu Guangrong and Gu Changfeng pulled Ruan Qi'an aside for drinks.
We chatted until late at night before I went home.
After becoming pregnant, Ruan Qiushui gave up her habit of staying up late and went to bed early to rest.
Gu Changfeng stayed outside and helped his mother and sisters-in-law clean up the dishes before going inside.
Ruan Qi'an arrived, and Gu Changfeng also returned. Gu Xiaoxiao, being an unmarried young woman, couldn't stay here, so she went home with Xie Xiuying.
Early the next morning, Ruan Qiushui got up to ask for leave from the factory and take her second brother for a walk around the brigade. Unexpectedly, Ruan Qi'an had already packed his bags and was ready to leave.
"Second Brother, are you leaving after only one day?"
Ruan Qiushui was somewhat reluctant to part with it.
This is her own second brother, who treats her exceptionally well.
“I only have half a month of leave, and it will take a week to get there. I want to go back and see my parents, as well as my grandparents whom I just met.”
He was most worried about his younger sister, so he was the first to arrive at the Red Flag Brigade.
"Your second brother got to know your in-laws' character yesterday and knows that you won't be wronged or bullied by them, and that's enough."
He's at ease as long as his younger sister is doing well.
As for the divorce, his nephew already has a child, so how could he force them to separate?
"By the way, little sister, have you told your parents and grandparents about your pregnancy?"
Ruan Qi'an asked this casually.
"Oh no, I forgot."
Ruan Qiushui slapped her forehead and said that she had forgotten something.
Does pregnancy really cause memory problems?
"It seems that Second Brother was the first to know."
Very good, he was very satisfied.
"Your second brother is gone. Take good care of yourself. If anything happens, remember to write to him."
Ruan Qi'an patted his little sister's head, feeling somewhat reluctant to part with her.
"Second brother, you must take good care of yourself. Remember to keep the medicine I gave you with you at all times."
"Also, we should marry your second sister-in-law as soon as possible, lest someone else beats her to it."
Ruan Qiushui joked.
"knew."
Ruan Qi'an waved and strode away.
Aren't you going to see them off?
Gu Changfeng stood behind Ruan Qiushui, his arms around his wife's waist.
"No, if I go with him, I definitely won't want my second brother to leave."
My parents must miss my second brother, as must my grandparents who have never met him.
She couldn't be so selfish as to let her second brother spend all his vacation time on her.
"Wife, you still have me."
Could it be that his status is really lower than that of his second brother-in-law?
"Okay, I'm going to work now."
Ruan Qiushui pulled away from Gu Changfeng's hand, quickly fetched water to wash up, and went to the factory.
With her second brother gone, she no longer needed to ask for leave.
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