Yu Huiru was naturally pleased to hear Li Shuyun praise her daughter and laughed, "Aren't your three sons all excellent too? Why are you envious of me?"
He Yuhan smiled and said, "Aunt Yun, you should stay longer this time so you can have a good time with my mother."
Li Shuyun smiled and said, "Actually, I've wanted to visit your mother and you for a long time. This trip is also for your brother Huo's marriage. Your brother Huo agreed to go back for a blind date during the New Year, so I guess I've accomplished my mission. If it weren't so cold every day, I would have liked to stay a few more days, but the weather here is just unbearable for me."
He Yuhan looked at Huo Xicheng, who was looking down and seemingly lost in thought, and said, "The weather this year is indeed colder than in previous years. It would be better if you came during the spring or autumn."
She turned to her mother and said, "Mom, I'm cooking a welcome dinner for Aunt Yun today. Please keep her company and have a good chat."
Liang Jingyun said from the side, "Yuhan, I'll help you."
He Yuhan stopped her, saying, "Second sister-in-law, you're pregnant and having severe morning sickness, so don't go into the kitchen. Besides, my second brother has finally come back, so you should spend some time with him. I can cook by myself."
He Zhendong said, "Little sister, I'll help you. I know how to pick and wash vegetables."
Yu Huiru said, "Sure, let's have a welcome dinner for Aunt Yun today. Yuhan, your cooking is the best, so we'll have to trouble you. Ask your second brother to help you."
He Yuhan said, "You're too kind to me. Aunt Yun, please have a seat. I'll take the things to the kitchen first."
As she spoke, He Yuhan carried the things to the kitchen, and He Zhendong and Huo Xicheng followed her and carried the things to the kitchen as well.
Looking at He Yuhan who had entered the kitchen, Li Shuyun said regretfully, "If only Yuhan were my daughter-in-law. Why did you let your child get married so early?"
Yu Huiru sighed and said, "After all, Yuhan didn't grow up by my side. Although I want to make it up to her, I can't interfere too much. Besides, she's a very opinionated child."
There are many things you don't know. Don't underestimate her just because she's a girl; she's no less capable than any boy. Otherwise, do you think Han Yixian would be so fixated on Yuhan and insist on marrying her?
Li Shuyun said regretfully, "Oh dear, what a loss! Such a good girl has become someone else's wife. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we sisters became in-laws?"
Yu Huiru glared at Li Shuyun and said, "It's too late to say anything now. Don't say these things in front of Han Yixian. My son-in-law is very protective of his."
Li Shuyun nodded and said, "I know that. I definitely won't say anything when he comes. Back in Kyoto, Han Yixian was the best candidate for son-in-law in every family. They said he was good-looking and capable, but I've never met him. I have to meet this young man properly today."
Li Shuyun also wanted to see what Han Yixian was like, just how outstanding he really was. She simply felt it was a real pity that such a wonderful girl as He Yuhan had been missed out on by her family. If it were He Yuhan, she felt her son definitely wouldn't have objected.
He Yuhan took all the ingredients to the kitchen and started cleaning.
He Zhendong said, "Little sister, let me help you. Just tell me what you want me to do."
He Yuhan looked at it and said, "Then you can peel the potatoes for me, chop the meat, and clean the fish. I'll do the rest."
Huo Xicheng said from the side, "Yuhan, let me help too. What can I do?"
He Yuhan turned her head and said, "Brother Huo, Aunt Yun has come all this way, so you should keep her company. My second brother and I can manage here."
He Zhendong also said, "That's right, Xicheng, you should keep Aunt Yun company. I'll help Yuhan."
Huo Xicheng saw that it was indeed a bit crowded for three people to stand in the kitchen, so he nodded and left the kitchen.
Liang Jingyun said from the kitchen doorway, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
He Zhendong pushed his wife out of the kitchen and said, "You're in a special period right now, so your job is to rest well. We'll talk about it again when you're better, okay? Listen to me."
He Yuhan laughed and said, "That's right, Second Sister-in-law, if you throw up again while you're here, my Second Brother will be worried. You go and chat with Aunt Yun and the others. Leave things here to me and Second Brother."
Liang Jingyun was pushed out of the kitchen with a blush on her face.
He Zhendong glanced outside, closed the kitchen door, and while cleaning the fish, said, "Little sister, are you really leaving next year?"
He Yuhan nodded and said, "It's basically confirmed. This is also for the safety of both our families. After we leave, you can stay at my house. It's more comfortable and private there than here in the compound."
If my second sister-in-law has to work after giving birth, then we can ask Aunt Liang to help take care of the baby, or you can ask my mother for help too. We'll give her some money; we won't use anyone for free.
He Zhendong said, "Your second sister-in-law's eldest brother doesn't need my mother-in-law to look after his child, but her second brother also has a child, and her third brother is getting married soon. I guess my mother-in-law won't have enough to go around with. She definitely won't be able to take care of us."
If all else fails, we'll ask Aunt Wang for help. We can't ask any outsiders to look after the child. You know there are many things in our family that we can't let outsiders know, and it's not safe for outsiders to help with the child. If all else fails, we'll have your second sister-in-law quit her job.
He Yuhan said, "You have to discuss this with your second sister-in-law. You have to respect her opinion. The house next door, Qihua's, will be given to Haifeng and his family. That way, you can look after each other. It's also good that my mother can come and help you take care of the children while she's with her son. It's just that my father will be all alone then."
He Zhenhua said, "If that doesn't work, we'll find Uncle Du a temporary job in the city. All three children will be studying in the city, Aunt Wang will be there too, and Uncle Du can come over. In a few years, Haifeng and Haichao will graduate from high school, and if they don't go to university, they'll get jobs."
Hai Chao wants to join the army, so I'll send him to our area. Hai Feng can stay and work in the city, and then the Du family will be settled in the city.
He Yuhan said, "Second brother, what you said is really feasible. My parents raised me, and I will have a share in taking care of them in the future. Even if my parents come to the city and there is no food ration, we won't be afraid. However, I estimate that my parents will eventually go back to Laohewan. We'll have to talk about it later. I'll discuss it with my parents when I go to Laohewan for the New Year."
With He Zhendong's help, He Yuhan cooked quickly. First, she stewed a braised pork belly, then made a braised lion's head meatball, along with pickled fish, black pepper beef tenderloin, Mapo tofu, sweet and sour spicy cabbage, potato stew with dried green beans, scrambled eggs with wood ear mushrooms, and a fish head tofu soup.
For their staple food, He Yuhan asked her second brother to buy steamed buns from the cafeteria, and the family also baked some flatbreads.
He Yuhan specially got a flat-bottomed pan for making pancakes for her family, which works exceptionally well when placed on the stove. He Yuhan is very skilled at making pancakes; the pancakes she makes have many layers and aren't hard, making them very delicious.
Today, He Yuhan prepared all her signature dishes, and the meal was already quite lavish for the guests.
He Zhendong knew he could have a good meal today; he had been craving his younger sister's cooking for a long time.
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