"Do I really not need any help? Won't my uncle and aunt look down on me?"
"Really, they don't need to. How could they look down on you! Ask my mother, and she'll definitely say the same thing."
Zhuang Zhimeng was relieved to hear An Qingbai's words; she was glad that her uncle and aunt wouldn't mind.
An Qingbai led Zhuang Zhimeng into the house. Her younger brother, An Qinglin, was setting the table with dishes when he saw Zhuang Zhimeng and greeted her, "Happy New Year, Sister Zhimeng!"
Happy Chinese New Year, Qinglin!
An Qinglin smiled shyly, then went back to the kitchen to help.
Zhuang Zhimeng didn't see An Tanxiao in the house, so she asked, "Brother Qingbai, where's Uncle? Why don't I see him?"
“My dad was just here a moment ago, but I don’t know where he is now.”
A short while later, An Tanxiao returned. "Zhimeng is here!"
"Uncle, thank you for troubling us!"
"No trouble at all. You and your third brother can come over to our house to play whenever you want. We're all welcome!"
"Okay, I'll come here with Brother Qingbai often from now on."
"Okay! I carved a little trinket for you, you can keep it and play with it!"
Zhuang Zhimeng felt the little monkey wood carving was very valuable and was a little embarrassed to accept it.
An Tanxiao gave An Qingbai a wink, signaling him to persuade An Qingbai.
Seeing her hesitation, An Qingbai said, "Zhizhi, put it away! My dad usually doesn't carve such complicated zodiac animals. Look, this is your zodiac animal. It's obviously carved especially for you! We all have them."
Zhuang Zhimeng only took it after hearing that everyone had it, saying, "Thank you, Uncle!"
"You're the third son's girlfriend, so we'll be family from now on. Family doesn't need to talk like strangers."
"good!"
Zhuang Zhimeng was deeply moved. They had all treated her so well, and she would remember it all. She would also treat them well in the future so as not to let them down.
Zhuang Zhimeng went to the kitchen and asked Shi Meiling, "Auntie, would you like me to cook for you?"
"No need, just wait. Let the third brother get you some snacks to eat first. Dinner will be ready soon!"
He even called An Qingbai over: "Third brother, get Zhimeng some food to tide her over, dinner will be served soon!"
"Yes, Mother!"
An Qingbai gave Zhuang Zhimeng some snacks and told her to sit down and eat them.
Zhuang Zhimeng felt extremely uncomfortable while eating snacks, so she only peeled a few peanuts as a token gesture. These peanuts must have been roasted by herself, as they smelled quite fragrant.
An Qingbai sensed that she was embarrassed, so he peeled a handful of sunflower seeds for her, put them in her hand, and told her to eat them.
Zhuang Zhimeng gave half to An Qingbai, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
"Zhizhi, don't be shy, relax!"
"Okay! I just feel it's not appropriate for me to eat snacks while my aunt is cooking!"
"My mother doesn't mind. We'll just cook more meals for them from now on!"
"OK!"
After finishing the sunflower seeds, the meal was ready, and all the dishes were served.
Shi Meiling came out of the kitchen and saw the two of them eating sunflower seeds. "You two go wash your hands and get ready to eat!"
An Qingbai and Zhuang Zhimeng obediently went to wash their hands, but An Qingbai's mind started wandering again: "Zhizhi, shall I wash your hands for you?"
"Stop fooling around, your auntie will see you!"
"My mother won't come out at this time!"
"No, it would be so embarrassing for your aunt if she saw it."
I want to wash you!
"Alright then! Hurry up and wash!"
An Qingbai poured hot water into the basin, pulled Zhuang Zhimeng's hand into the basin, washed her hands, dried her hands, and then washed his own hands.
After they were seated, An Tanxiao raised his glass: "Let's have a toast to our family, wishing us all the best and good days to come!"
Shi Meiling also raised her glass, "Your father is right, our family will definitely get better and better. Cheers!"
An Qingbai poured himself a full glass, gave Zhuang Zhimeng a small sip, and the two of them downed their glasses.
An Qingbai was worried that this was Zhuang Zhimeng's first time drinking, so he put some food on her plate to help her calm down. He didn't know that Zhuang Zhimeng had actually drunk quite a lot before.
An Qinglin could only drink plain water, because he was young!
An Tanxiao picked up his chopsticks and took the first bite of food before the others started eating. "Zhimeng, eat your food, eat more!"
"Okay, Uncle!"
Shi Meiling watched Zhuang Zhimeng eat fish and said, "Third brother, take care of Zhimeng and pick out the fish bones for her."
"Um!"
"Don't worry about me, Qingbai, eat by yourself!"
An Qingbai still put the fish meat with the bones removed into her bowl, even if Shi Meiling hadn't said anything, he would have done it anyway.
Zhuang Zhimeng ate the fish and also put some vegetables in An Qingbai's bowl.
Shi Meiling and An Tanxiao both saw this and were very pleased; it's a good thing that young people have a good relationship.
After dinner, Shi Meiling asked An Qingbai and An Qinglin to wash the dishes, but Zhuang Zhimeng wanted to do it and neither of them agreed.
Shi Meiling chatted with Zhuang Zhimeng, "Zhimeng, do you like the food? If there's anything you don't like, just tell your aunt."
"Auntie, the dishes are all delicious and just what I like! I love them!"
"If you like it, that's fine. I'll make it for you again next time you come to my house!"
"Thank you, Auntie!"
"No need to thank me, there's nothing to thank me for! We're family!"
"You're right! We're family!"
Shi Meiling told Zhuang Zhimeng some embarrassing stories about An Qingbai from his childhood, which made her laugh from ear to ear.
When An Qingbai finished washing the dishes and came out, he saw Zhuang Zhimeng laughing heartily, and knew that his mother must have said something to him.
But he didn't ask, which probably means it's not a good thing.
It wasn't until An Qingbai escorted Zhuang Zhimeng home that Zhuang Zhimeng leaned close to his ear and giggled, "See you tomorrow, little dog!" Then she laughed and ran home.
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