After the He family moved into the Han family's home, the Han family became much livelier. A few days before the New Year, He Yuhan started preparing for the New Year, especially for the New Year's Eve dinner. Her mother and mother-in-law helped out, and the three of them chatted and worked together, making it quite lively.
He Chenglin has retired and now lives at the Han family home. He plays several games of chess with Liu Zhongyi every day, or he looks after his grandson and grandchildren.
Gu Huayang and He Haobo were running around happily, enjoying their time with their aunt every day and having her cook delicious meals for them. They were the happiest of all.
He Yuhan started by steaming mantou (steamed buns), sugar triangles, and bean buns, followed by steaming sticky bean buns and rice cakes. These were all staple foods. After steaming, they could be frozen quickly outside and then placed in a large vat outside to freeze. Whenever she wanted to eat them, she would bring them inside to thaw and then heat them up.
After preparing the dry rations, He Yuhan started making some more substantial dishes, such as braised lion's head meatballs and poached chicken. These could be made in advance and frozen, then simply steamed when needed. Making them all on New Year's Eve wouldn't be enough time, as there are too many dishes to prepare and not enough pots and time.
After the Little New Year, the family's meals improved significantly. They had hot pot one day and stewed meat the next, and the enticing aromas constantly wafted from the Han family's courtyard. Gu Qishen and Yuan Qihua also ate at the Han family's house every day, making it a lively and bustling place.
Gu Qishen felt happy and touched every day watching his son's cheerful demeanor and how often his son clung to He Yuhan's side. His son was no longer as taciturn as before; he had completely returned to being a lively and adorable child, which was how a child should be.
He knew that He Yuhan had played a significant role in this; she had essentially filled the void of maternal love his son lacked. The thought that they could live together again and that his son wouldn't leave He Yuhan's side filled him with joy.
Huo Xicheng arrived home on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, and Huo Dingzhong was very happy to see his eldest son return.
Ever since Li Shuyun returned from City C, Huo Dingzhong has been looking forward to his eldest son's return after learning that his eldest son would be home for the Chinese New Year.
After returning from City C, Li Shuyun started arranging for her eldest son to meet potential partners. Having learned her lesson from her second daughter-in-law, she was determined to be extremely cautious when choosing a wife for her eldest son.
At the request of her eldest son, Li Shuyun chose girls from simple families who were gentle and virtuous. The Huo family did not need their eldest son to marry into a powerful family; they just needed to find someone their eldest son liked who was also a good match for them.
Li Shuyun was overjoyed to see her eldest son return. She quickly put down her grandson and said, "Xicheng, why didn't you tell me beforehand so that your third son could pick you up?"
Huo Xicheng said, "I'm a grown man, why would I need to accept this?" With that, he placed the two large bags he was carrying on the floor in front of the sofa.
Li Shuyun poured her son a cup of hot water and noticed two large bags on the ground. She asked, "What are you carrying in these big bags?"
Huo Xicheng sat on the sofa, took the hot water his mother poured for him, drank some, and said, "These are all things that Yuhan and Aunt Hui asked me to bring back."
As he spoke, he opened the large bag and started taking things out.
Huo Xicheng first took out a few bottles of Moutai liquor and said, "Dad, Yuhan asked me to bring these to you?"
Huo Dingzhong's eyes lit up when he saw it was Moutai. He took several bottles of Moutai to his side and said happily, "Your Uncle He's little girl is really a wonderful person. She knows I like this kind of thing. Last time, your mother brought back several bottles of Moutai, and this time she brought back four bottles. This is a very generous gift. But I like it."
Li Shuyun rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "That's exactly what you wanted to hear, isn't it? But Chenglin also said to tell you to drink in moderation and to keep an eye on you."
Huo Dingzhong said, "When have I ever drunk too much? Besides, this is Moutai, so I have to drink it sparingly."
Huo Xicheng chuckled as he looked at his father and took out several packets of milk powder, saying, "Mom, this is milk powder for Xiaofeng. Yuhan said to let the child drink it continuously, and she will send you more when it runs out. There are also these cured meats, candies, pastries, and dried goods, which were basically all prepared by Yuhan."
Huo Xicheng took the contents out of the two large bags and laid them out on a coffee table.
Li Shuyun said, "Your Aunt Hui and the others are too kind. Why did they bring you so much stuff? Every single one of these is a scarce commodity. They already brought me so much last time, and now they're bringing me even more. Don't they celebrate the New Year?"
Huo Dingzhong said, "Yes, Xicheng, really, how could you ask for so much stuff? With supplies so tight right now, wouldn't all of this be the He family's entire supply?"
Huo Xicheng said, "I refused, but Yuhan insisted that I take it back, saying it was a New Year's gift. Yuhan basically got all of these back. She has connections."
Li Shuyun said, "You didn't buy it on the black market, did you? You have to tell Yuhan that she can't trade on the black market anymore. It's too dangerous. If she gets caught, she'll go to jail."
Huo Xicheng said, "It wasn't obtained from the black market. Yuhan has her own connections, so she's very safe. The daughter that Aunt Hui and the others found is no ordinary person; she's someone with great abilities."
Li Shuyun said regretfully, "To be honest, Yuhan is a really good girl. It's a pity that the Han family married her off so early. Otherwise, it would be great if she could be our daughter-in-law."
Huo Dingzhong said, "I haven't met the youngest daughter that your Uncle He and his family found. I heard that the He family cherishes her, but she was married off to Han Yixian at a young age. Someone who is valued so much by the Han family must be extraordinary."
Two years ago, everyone thought Han Yixian's fiancée was dead after the explosion. It was rumored that it was that woman from the Han family who was responsible, and Han Yixian even severed ties with the Han family because of it. Unexpectedly, Yuhan was miraculously unharmed. Even more unexpected was that Zeng Yufen wasn't Han Yixian's biological mother—it was truly shocking.
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