"Go back quickly. It's the New Year, it's not good to leave Xiaoyun alone at home," Grandpa Hao said with a stern face.
"Well... I'll be going now. I'll bring Xiaoyun over in a couple of days when she's better. Fifth Sister, stay a few more days. Your Fourth Sister-in-law was thinking about you a few days ago." Uncle Hao nodded to everyone, telling his sister to stay at her parents' home for a few more days, planning to bring her over once his wife was ready to move around.
“My mother-in-law is home alone, and I’m worried about her. I have to go back early.” Mei’s mother lowered her head and took out a handkerchief to wipe her daughter’s drool, without even looking at Uncle Hao.
"Hehe! Um... I'll be going now." Uncle Hao smiled awkwardly, turned around and left.
Mei's mother held her daughter, Hao's third sister-in-law held her son Xiaopang, and they all squeezed together at the big table. The remaining seven boys ate at the two tables on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Sister-in-law Hao was very thoughtful; she put a small portion of each dish in a small bowl for the children, and if they ate it all, she would bring more to the main table.
Coconut Silk kept its eyes glued to the meat, waiting for Mama Mei to pick it up. While chewing, its eyes were also busy searching for the next thing it wanted to eat.
During the meal, Mei's mother was so busy serving food to her daughter who kept asking for meat that she barely ate any herself.
"Come on, I'll feed her, you hurry up and eat." After finishing her meal, Sister-in-law Hao quickly wiped her mouth and asked Aunt Mei to give her her daughter.
"No need, I'll eat later. Sister-in-law, you've been busy all day, go lie down on the kang and rest for a while!" Aunt Mei declined.
"Why rest? I'm not tired at all. It's not bedtime yet. I feel uncomfortable lying on the kang right now."
"Sister-in-law, take a rest. I'll hold Sisi. I've never held this girl before!" Second Sister-in-law Hao put down her chopsticks and helped First Sister-in-law Hao to the kang (heated brick bed) to rest.
Hao Ersao had long wanted to try the plump, white coconut, but she hadn't had the chance until now. Of course, she was going to seize the opportunity to get close to the chubby girl.
"Come on, let your aunt pick out the fish bones for you." Seeing that Ye Si hadn't eaten any fish, Hao Ersao decided to give her a piece to try.
"I didn't give her any fish because I was afraid she wouldn't know how to spit out the bones." Mei's mother watched her second sister-in-law picking out fish bones with some concern, worried that her daughter might get pricked.
"Don't worry, I'm the best at picking fish bones." Second Sister Hao waved her hand and continued to carefully pick fish bones.
Mei's father looked at Hao's second sister-in-law with a hint of something in his eyes, but when Mei's mother gave him a wink, he ultimately didn't say anything to stop Hao's second sister-in-law's good intentions.
"Why are you all so fond of a little girl?" Grandma Hao muttered, pursing her lips.
"Because she's so lovable, unlike some old ladies who are so biased!" Although Grandpa Hao was old, his ears were still sharp, and he immediately retorted when he heard what Grandma Hao said.
"You old man, are you trying to make things difficult for me today?" Grandma Hao put down her chopsticks and glared at Grandpa Hao.
"Who's picking on you? Did you take some kind of medicine today? You seem to want to pinch everyone you see."
"Do you dare say that the old lady you're talking about isn't me?" Grandma Hao felt she couldn't swallow her anger any longer; if she continued, she would lose all standing in the family.
"I didn't name you, I didn't mention your surname, how did you know I was talking about you? Are you admitting you're biased?" Grandpa Hao looked at Grandma Hao with a surprised expression.
"Mom, can you hold Little Fatty for me for a while?" Third Sister Hao was afraid that the old couple would really start arguing during the New Year, so she directly stuffed Little Fatty into Grandma Hao's arms.
"Hmph! I won't argue with you, I'm going to play with my little grandson!" When Grandma Hao saw her chubby grandson in her arms, she immediately beamed with joy and ignored Grandpa Hao, carrying the little chubby boy away.
"Dad, you shouldn't be arguing with Mom all the time, especially during the New Year." Brother Hao started to talk to Grandpa Hao.
Grandpa Hao pursed his lips but didn't say anything.
After taking a bite of the fish, Coconut's expression immediately changed. She felt the meat was strange and wanted to spit it out, but she didn't want to waste food. Coconut frowned and hesitated.
"What's wrong, daughter? Is there something wrong with you? If there is, don't swallow it, spit it out!" Mei's father, who was always watching his daughter's expression, immediately noticed her unusual behavior.
"A thorn? Sisi, quickly spit it out so your second aunt can see." Hao Ersao looked at Ye Si's expression and also felt that something was wrong.
Coconut couldn't understand what they were saying, but seeing them put their hands to her mouth, she probably understood that they wanted her to spit it out.
She didn't want to spit out the coconut flakes anymore; she felt she couldn't just waste food because there was plenty available now.
Coconut frowned and swallowed the fish in her mouth. She turned to look at Aunt Mei and felt that it was more to her liking that Aunt Mei put meat on her plate.
"Mom!" Ye Si reached out to Mei's mother, asking her to continue holding him.
When the others saw that Sisi had swallowed the person, they were very anxious and gathered around, wanting Yesi to open her mouth so they could see.
Mei's mother quickly picked up her daughter and walked under the light, intending to carefully check whether her daughter had been pricked by a thorn.
"Sisi, open your mouth and let Daddy see, ah~!" Daddy Mei made the gesture of opening his mouth, wanting his daughter to follow along.
"Ah~!" Coconut didn't quite understand the meaning of this action, but she still followed her father's example and shouted "Ah".
"It seems like nothing's wrong." Dad looked carefully and didn't see any fish bones.
"Let me see," said Aunt Mei, still not entirely convinced, wanting to check again.
"Right!" Coconut dodged Aunt Mei's hand and hugged Aunt Mei's neck for some meat.
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