"Xiaolan, come and try auntie's cooking." Li Aizhen had heard about Xu Xiaolan's experience from Qiao Zhixia, and instinctively felt sorry for her.

“I just don’t know if you people here are used to eating these dishes from our countryside?” Qiao Xinguo smiled a little embarrassedly.

Li Aizhen's cooking skills have always been remarkable. Today she made pork with preserved vegetables, pan-fried tofu, a piece of sweet and sour carp and crispy pork vermicelli soup, as well as two dishes of spicy dried radish and spicy cabbage that she pickled herself.

Although it was not presented in an exquisite manner, it was fragrant and the quantity was substantial.

"I'm used to it. I'm grateful to you for hosting me, so how could I possibly refuse?"

After Xu Xiaolan finished speaking, she stood up and poured a few glasses of wine to toast the people at the table.

"Come on, raise your glasses. We wish Jingyang Company great success and prosperity in the coming year. We also wish uncles and aunts good health and eternal youth."

Xu Xiaolan is outgoing and passionate. This time she became the host and made the honest and introverted wife even more embarrassed.

Qiao Xinguo has a bad heart, but maybe because he has eaten a lot of Jingyang vegetables during this period, or because he has been properly cared for, it is not a big deal if he drinks less.

Several people raised their glasses together, looking forward to the future, welcoming the new year and a new life.

"Auntie, did you make these dried radishes and spicy cabbage? They're so delicious!" Xu Xiaolan couldn't stop eating after taking a bite of Li Aizhen's pickled cabbage.

Qiao Zhixia also tasted it, and the taste... could only be described with two words: stunning.

Just with this dish of pickled vegetables, she can eat a whole bowl of dry rice.

"Mom, your pickle making skills have improved! It's so delicious."

Although I know that the improved taste of these sauces is due to the use of her Jingyang vegetables, my mother's control over the sauces also played an important role.

"Yes, Auntie, you can open the store now."

"Don't be so exaggerated. This thing is not rare. Everyone can make it, except..." Li Aizhen cast a slightly disdainful look at Qiao Zhixia.

"Mom, why are you glaring at me?"

"When I was a kid, I was a naughty kid who climbed trees to dig out bird nests. Now I can't even pickle sauerkraut properly. Every time I pickle it, it goes bad."

“Puchi~Hahahaha…” Qiao Chudong and Xu Xiaolan both burst out laughing, even Yaya joined in the laughter.

"That's all superstition." Qiao Zhixia pouted in dissatisfaction.

"Then tell me why you are the only one in our family who doesn't know how to pickle vegetables? Even your dad knows how to do it."

"I..." Qiao Zhixia was speechless. Some things really couldn't be explained.

Xu Xiaonan suddenly said in a gloomy tone: "To be honest, Auntie, your craftsmanship really can't be buried. I think you can open a canning factory to open up the provincial market, or even the national market."

"Canning factory?" Several people looked at Xu Xiaolan.

"Yes, we use Jingyang fruits and vegetables as raw materials to produce canned fruits, preserved fruits, pickles, pickles and sauces, etc. With the quality and taste of Jingyang vegetables, the sales volume will definitely not disappoint you."

"Yes! If we just sell fruits and vegetables, we will be restricted by transportation and storage, and we may not be able to go too far. But canned food is different." Qiao Chudong also thinks it is feasible.

Xu Xiaolan's suggestion was in some ways inconsistent with her development direction.

"I originally wanted to take my Jingyang vegetables to the Canton Fair next autumn to try to win an export quota. Now it seems I can bring a few more products to the fair."

"Given our current national conditions, exporting agricultural products is the most appropriate. The country has very strict control over companies engaged in import and export trade, but your products are indeed outstanding, so you may be able to make an exception and obtain import and export rights. Come on!" Xu Xiaolan shook her long hair and raised her glass again.

“Yeah, come on!”

Xu Xiaolan: "Zhizhi, eat quickly. After eating, don't forget to do two sets of test papers. You still have to take the college entrance examination."

Qiao Zhixia: ...

That's great. There are so many things to do. It's really not easy to be a strong woman.

After they finished their meal, Li Aizhen was about to discuss the menu for tomorrow's New Year's Eve with her two daughters, when Qiao Xinguo spoke up and said that Mrs. Qiao was coming over to celebrate the New Year.

"Come on." Qiao Zhixia said indifferently.

Just don't think about asking her to subsidize Qiao Laosan's family. What can she do if the old lady comes to have a meal?

My uncle and his family will be coming over tomorrow, so it's bound to be a lively New Year.

Today, the two sisters started to help Li Aizhen fry the meatballs and simmer the meat.

Xu Xiaolan volunteered to help take care of Yaya.

This year is the first year after the separation, and it is also the most prosperous year for our family, so we should really celebrate it.

As the aroma of fried meat wafted out, a familiar and annoying voice rang at the door: "Hey, is the mother-in-law busy?"

As soon as Mrs. Lin opened the door curtain and came in, she saw dozens of pieces of braised meat in the dustpan on the kitchen table.

There was an enamel basin beside her filled with fried fish and shrimps, the abundance of which was much more luxurious than what she had at home.

Mrs. Lin really didn't expect that the Qiao family, a poor family, would be so generous during the New Year. Even this meat must cost a lot!

Where do they get the money? Look at how dilapidated the house is. They are reluctant to spend money to repair it. They spend all the money on food.

You deserve to be poor all your life.

"Why are you here?" Li Aizhen's face turned unhappy as soon as she saw Mrs. Lin.

Some time ago, she and Qiao Xinguo went to the town to talk to her about divorce with He Xuyang. Not only did she refuse, she also shamelessly asked Qiao Chudong to go back to take care of her mother-in-law.

Thinking about it makes people feel sad.

Qiao Zhixia glared at the old woman, then simply pulled up Qiao Chudong with a stiff face and went into the house.

"Mother-in-law, I don't want to come here for the New Year! It's because you taught your daughter to be so ignorant. She didn't go back to her husband's house for the New Year, but stayed at her parents' house with her child. What does that look like? As an elder, why don't you teach her a lesson?"

Li Aizhen is no longer the soft persimmon she used to be, who was self-abased and easily bullied because she had no son.

It is not for the sake of her daughter not being bullied by her husband's family that she swallows her anger and curries favor with her humble mother.

She stood up straight, and asked coldly, "Why are you playing dumb? Don't you know what your son has done? Instead of managing my daughter, you might as well discipline your son. Otherwise, any woman who follows him will be in trouble."

Mrs. Lin's face darkened: "I don't like what you said. Didn't our Xuyang just cheat on his wife? What man doesn't cheat? Besides, my son was seduced, and it's also my son's fault for being so popular with women. You don't have a son, so you don't understand. I don't blame you."

"If you don't blame me, then why should I thank you? No wonder you could raise such a beastly son. It turns out that you are an old beast yourself!"

It was the first time that Mrs. Lin was scolded by Li Aizhen, who always acted humbly in front of her. How could she allow this with her proud self-esteem?

So I was furious at the time: "No, why are you still cursing? What's wrong with my son having a woman rushing to throw herself into his arms? Your daughter can't even give birth to a son, and we didn't dislike her, but you are taking advantage of her. Who gave you face?"

After leaving her sister in the room, Qiao Zhixia walked out.

"Since your son is so charming, why don't you divorce my sister? What are you doing here? Let me guess... Is it because that girl who threw herself into your arms hasn't been released yet and your family is in need of a cook?"

"...You are so uneducated. No wonder you are still unmarried at the age of 20." Mrs. Lin stared at Qiao Zhixia with contempt in her presbyopic eyes.

"Whether I get married or not is none of your business! Do I eat your rice? Get lost now and go back and tell your scumbag son to go with my sister to get a divorce on the 16th of the month, or we will sue you directly in court."

After Qiao Zhixia finished speaking, she stepped forward decisively and pushed Mrs. Lin out.

Mrs. Lin stood at the crack of the door with her hands on her hips and cursed: "What are you talking about for a divorce? Your daughter is a hen that can't lay eggs. My son hasn't given up on her yet, and you are still picking her? Bah..."

"Blah——" As a basin of pot washing water splashed out, the world finally became quiet.

Qiao Zhixia clapped her hands: "Get lost——"