Good news came from the Wei Mansion and the Fang Mansion one after another: Wei Mansion's eldest daughter-in-law Fu Yuting and Fang Mansion's granddaughter-in-law Su Meiling both gave birth to sons.

After the banquet at the Dou Mansion, Fu Yuting and Su Meiling contacted Meng Tao from time to time by phone, informing each other of their situations and exchanging pregnancy experiences. Therefore, Meng Tao learned about their births very quickly, but she only congratulated them over the phone and did not visit them in person.

Grandma Xu said that Meng Tao was also pregnant and was about to give birth, so some old-fashioned customs had to be followed and she was not allowed to visit the mother during the confinement period. Only Xu Zhen brought gifts and followed Grandma Xu to the Wei and Fang mansions to see the newborns and congratulate them on the joy of having a baby.

Two days before the Lantern Festival, the Shen residence became lively again. Second cousin Xu Yingshuang and third cousin Xu Liwen were preparing to leave home to work, one to make a movie and the other to finish a painting. They said that they would be away for another half a year or ten months before coming back. They couldn't bear to leave Taotao, so they came to stay with her for two days.

Fourth cousin Xu Mingni doesn't have to leave Beijing, but that doesn't stop her from joining in the fun.

Meng Tao welcomed her cousins ​​very much. It was like being in spring breeze and enjoying the company of such talented women. It was a different kind of fun.

Knowing that Xu Mingni would not go to the wild, Meng Tao could not help but want to throw the mountain of broken antiques in the space, various bottles and jars, plates, cups, bowls, jade screens, embroidered screens, etc., all to her, so that she could study them slowly.

Shen Yu said there was no rush. The archaeological project that Xu Mingni participated in was nearing completion. Although she did not have to go to the field, she was still responsible for other work that needed to be completed in the research institute in Beijing. She was still very busy, so he would talk about it after she was done with this period of busy work.

The day before the Lantern Festival, Meng Zhehan also came to say goodbye. He had to return to Province D in the afternoon of the Lantern Festival.

Han Chaoyang came with him, carrying a large basket of fresh tropical fruits, including bananas, mangoes, oranges, and coconuts... These are rare items, specially supplied. Not everyone can eat these fruits in the snow and ice.

Considering that Han Chaoyang's father worked in the logistics department, Meng Tao was not surprised.

With so many young people gathered together, there has to be an event to liven up the party and make everyone have fun. Meng Tao and Shen Yu discussed it and, with the consent of Director Shen and Xu Zhen, decided to let everyone work together to make Yuanxiao, dumplings, and barbecue skewers to celebrate the Lantern Festival in advance.

It just so happened that Shen Yu used his connections to get two Ganzhou cattle and sheep, which were prepared at the slaughterhouse and delivered yesterday. He also brought seven or eight slaughtered chickens and ducks, which had been stored in the space for a day and a night. There were schools of fish and shrimp in the spring pool in the space, so he took them out and grilled them, and paired them with the sauce and seasonings that Meng Tao had prepared herself... She was afraid that they would be too delicious and make these people remember them for the rest of their lives.

Sure enough, when they heard that they could grill meat by themselves, everyone became excited, expressed their willingness to work, and rolled up their sleeves to actively look for work.

Shen Yu made a few phone calls and asked for a chef from the Xu Mansion to come over to help. It was not enough to just cook meat, other foods had to be prepared. Aunt Gao and mother were too busy to do it. Director Shen was willing to do it, but his cooking skills were really not up to par.

Then notify cousin Xu, second cousin and younger cousin that this is a gathering of young people and the elders probably don't want to attend, so don't disturb them. When the time comes, grill the skewers and send them over for them to try.

Finally, he invited four of his classmates and friends.

Shen Yu never invites people to dinner at home, he usually goes out to restaurants. It was just a coincidence that he invited these people today.

Meng Tao thought about how Han Dongdong called her a few days ago to wish her a happy new year and say hello, saying that he wanted to come over to her house to visit; and Dou Nannan, who helped her bring back her personal belongings from Gangcheng. She had planned to invite her to dinner to express her gratitude, but she never had the chance, so she might as well invite her over today to have a gathering together.

If we want to invite Dou Nannan, we naturally cannot leave out Dou Qianqian.

Meng Tao walked over and asked Han Chaoyang: "Do you want to call Dou Qianqian and ask her to come?"

Han Chaoyang replied: "She has other things to do today and can't come."

"Is it something about family matters? Is Dou Nannan with her?"

"She wasn't at home. She and her classmates went to visit a teacher. I don't know much about Dou Nannan."

"What about Han Dongdong?"

"Han Dongdong? I don't know. I was at my grandpa's house last night, staying with my cousin."

He is trying to persuade his cousin to bring him to Shen's house.

Meng Tao was speechless: It’s useless to ask, you know nothing.

Han Chaoyang also felt embarrassed, so he took the initiative to help her call, first looking for Han Dongdong, but Han Dongdong was not at home. His mother answered the phone and was very interested when she heard that they were eating barbecue skewers at Shen's house. She asked repeatedly if there were many people and who came. Han Chaoyang said that they were all young people and no elders were invited. Meng Lijun was very regretful.

He called the Dou residence again, and it was Dou Nannan who answered. Han Chaoyang asked about Dou Qianqian first, and when he learned that she had not returned yet, he handed the phone to Meng Tao.

Dou Nannan said disdainfully: "Do it yourself? What's the point of all the smoke and fire?"

"So you're not coming?"

"Coming right up!"

Meng Tao: “…”

This is a girl who has convulsions.

Dou Nannan hung up the phone, and Jiang Xiuzhen asked, "Who is it?"

"Meng Taotao, please invite me to her house to eat barbecue skewers."

"Ah? Are you really going?"

"What if I don't go? I've been invited."

"Don't forget, that's your love rival!"

Dou Nannan glanced at her and said, "What love rival? He's already married and about to have kids. What's there to fight for? Even if you fight for him, he won't be attractive anymore."

"Then you don't hate her?"

"I used to hate it."

"Why are you still associating with her? Can you please have some backbone?" Jiang Xiuzhen said indignantly.

"Why am I spineless? Never mind. You won't understand even if I tell you."

"Why are you like this? This is not like you at all."

"No matter if it looks like me or not, I am who I am."

Dou Nannan said, "You go back first. I'm going to her house."

Jiang Xiuzhen: "I'll go too!"

"She didn't invite you."

"Why don't you just bring me along? Which gathering in our circle isn't like this? One person brings another, and after we get to know each other, we become friends."

Dou Nannan pondered for a moment and shook her head: "This is my first time going to their house, so I shouldn't be too casual. Han Chaoyang is there, Meng Zhehan must be there too, and I wonder who else will be there? You shouldn't go, maybe next time."

Jiang Xiuzhen was very angry: "You just abandoned me because of her thoughts? I came here specially to play with you!"

"I know. I'll go shopping with you some other time and I'll treat you to a meal."

"Forget it! Do I look like a greedy person? Do you think I really want to go to her house? It's just to accompany you. I'm afraid that you don't know her well and will be tricked by her. You will definitely regret it if your kindness is taken for granted, hum!" After saying this, Jiang Xiuzhen ran away angrily.

Dou Nannan: “…”

(End of this chapter)