"You found out about all this?" Liu Xinlan asked Shen Qiaoyue with a smile.
"I miss my mom's cooking, but unfortunately, my mom lives in Beijing, and I have to take care of my two children by myself!" The thought of having to take care of my two children by myself during the Spring Festival makes me sad.
When Liu Xinlan heard about her child, she felt both longing and helplessness.
"I used to think having children was great, but now I feel like I don't have enough energy!" Liu Xinlan's health has not been as good as before since she gave birth.
"That's how it is. My mom is helping to take care of the child, and I still feel tired! I'll have to take care of the child by myself in the future, and it will only be more tiring!" The two of them talked non-stop about the child.
Jiang Jinyao came over with some food and saw Lu Chen and Xu Qianli getting off work, so she called them over to come along.
When Xu Qianli came in and saw that the living room was full of meat, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Qiaoyue, did you eat all the meat at once?"
“We’re going to Beijing for the New Year tomorrow, so we didn’t have enough left over and just ate it all.” Shen Qiaoyue brought two bowls of rice from the kitchen.
Anlude said, "My sister-in-law is so generous! I haven't had meat in ages!"
"Look at this braised pork, its color is so appealing, it makes my mouth water!"
Anlud stared at the meat, eager to take a bite.
"This stew cost quite a bit of money. After you finish eating, you, my brother-in-law, remember to leave some money for the meal!" Xu Qianli sat down, picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and teased An Lude.
"A meal doesn't cost much, and it's not like we eat it every day," Shen Qiaoyue quickly said to defuse the situation.
"Never mind them. There's so much meat. I'd feel bad if we ate it all without leaving any money." After washing his hands, Lu Chen brought a whole pot of soup into the living room.
“Xu Qianli owed me a lot of money and sex before he got married. Xu Qianli, you come here.” An Lude said to Xu Qianli indignantly.
“Watch out or I’ll make things difficult for you. I’m your political commissar,” Xu Qianli said, pointing at An Lude.
Liu Xinlan punched Xu Qianli, her eyes flashing a warning.
He couldn't help but complain, "So irresponsible."
These words are fine to say here, but if someone with ulterior motives hears them, who knows what might happen.
Xu Qianli was too frightened to speak by his wife's expression.
Shen Qiaoyue took out her chopsticks and said, "Stop fooling around, hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold."
Jiang Jinyao served them bone broth. The large table of dishes was quickly devoured by the men, thankfully Shen Qiaoyue had prepared a lot of food today.
A green vegetable dish, shredded potatoes, scrambled eggs with dried radish, braised pork, braised spare ribs, and two large bowls of steamed buns brought by Jiang Jinyao. Liu Xinlan bought a bag of shrimp when she came back.
"Yes, Qiaoyue's cooking skills are really good, much better than Lu Chen's." Xu Qianli nodded in praise as he ate the braised pork.
Liu Xinlan reminded Xu Qianli to watch, saying that this way of eating was really not good at all.
“Big brother’s cooking is really terrible. I was back in the north…” An Lude wanted to complain too, but when he looked up and saw Lu Chen’s expression, he immediately stopped talking.
Shen Qiaoyue found it amusing to look at Lu Che's serious and angry expression.
“Lu Chen’s cooking isn’t good, but he’s good at work.” Liu Xinlan was also standing to the side, and couldn’t help but stare at Xu Qianli, her tone pointed. “Lu Chen can do any kind of work, and he cares about the family all the time. Even though his cooking isn’t good, he’s working hard to learn, unlike some people who can only make me eat those hard, dry meals in the cafeteria.”
Liu Xinlan's words subtly implied something about Xu Qianli, and An Lude felt as if he had been implied as well.
He rarely cooks, and most of the housework is done by Jiang Jinyao.
Feeling guilty, they dared not speak.
"What are you saying? You didn't cook either, so I had to eat in the cafeteria with you. When I'm not busy, I wash your clothes, boil water, and carry it to the water room for you. When did I not take good care of you?" Xu Qianli felt wronged. "I cook when I have time. We cook together, and I do all the washing of the dishes and pots. When my wife's grandmother is here taking care of the child and cooking, I wash all the dishes and clothes."
"Are you feeling wronged?" Liu Xinlan retorted helplessly upon hearing this.
"I'm feeling wronged!"
Xu Qianli felt wronged and dared not continue speaking, lest they start arguing.
Shen Qiaoyue tugged at Liu Xinlan's sleeve.
When these people get together, they like to chat about everyday things, and this can easily lead to arguments.
"I know I was wrong. I'll cook tomorrow, okay?" Seeing Liu Xinlan's eyes, he quickly admitted his mistake. Every time they argued, Xu Qianli was the one who admitted his mistake first.
Shen Qiaoyue finally understood that the young couple liked to quarrel, but this was a common occurrence.
After the meal, the men washed the dishes.
Shen Qiaoyue and Liu Xinlan were chatting in the living room.
"Let's go to the city together tomorrow morning to buy some things and take them to the Beijing area. There's a lot of seafood there, like dried fish and dried shrimp. Dried shrimp makes a really delicious soup."
Liu Xinlan was already on holiday after finishing work today.
She figured she couldn't go to Beijing empty-handed.
Bring back some local specialties from Fucheng.
“Okay, then let’s go to town together tomorrow to see if there’s anything we need to buy.” Shen Qiaoyue agreed without hesitation, then looked at Jiang Jinyao and asked, “Yaoyao, are you really not coming back with us for the New Year?”
Jiang Jinyao leaned back on the sofa and shook her head weakly.
“What can I do if I go there? My mother won’t be there between my father and me anymore. We’ll definitely argue when we meet.” Jiang Jinyao’s hatred for her father can’t be erased in a day or two.
For Jiang Jinyao, Beijing is now a place of heartbreak, and it's understandable that she doesn't want to face it.
“We’re all going over there for the New Year. Won’t you feel lonely here all by yourself?” Liu Xinlan looked at Jiang Jinyao with heartache. She wanted to go back, but she was conflicted.
Jiang Jinyao shook her head again and said, "An Lude is on duty at the military base, but I have many people in the family compound to chat with, such as Xiaoli and Sister-in-law Xu!"
"Xiaoli, don't even think about it. She'll rest for two days, and then she'll have to go to work. Li Qingming just picked Xia Xiaoli up."
"They picked them up?" Shen Qiaoyue and Jiang Jinyao didn't quite understand this sentence.
After exchanging a glance, Jiang Jinyao looked at Liu Xinlan curiously and asked, "Does this mean we're going back to our hometown for the New Year? Or...?"
"Li Qingming took Xia Xiaoli to the city for a date, and he even brought her luggage," Liu Xinlan explained with a smile.
Shen Qiaoyue immediately understood that the young couple were playing a rather elaborate game.
Jiang Jinyao belatedly realized this and complained, "Being in the family compound is hindering them from doing important things!"
Liu Xinlan smiled and said, "Although the two of them were quite surprised to get married, you know what? Xiaoli has become radiant after marriage, completely different from her personality before marriage."
“Hmm.” Jiang Jinyao nodded, looking at Shen Qiaoyue’s expression, and said, “People who are loved and respected are very confident. Xiaoli and Qiaoyue have the same expression.”
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