Once in the courtyard, Ji Xiao turned around and saw his friend. Excitedly, he stood up and put his arm around Gu Yanxiao's neck, saying, "Brother Xiao, why did you suddenly come back? You didn't even give us a heads-up so we could have picked you up." Gu Yanxiao, while searching for his daughter with his eyes, replied, "It's not like I can't find her. Why would I need anyone to pick me up?"
Gu Yanxiao went to Xia Dahe and Zhao Danxiang's table to greet his parents-in-law. He sat down next to his father-in-law and drank a few glasses with him. Xia Dahe said, "Go have a couple of drinks with Xiao Ji. He helps with a lot of things around the house." Gu Yanxiao nodded, "I know, Dad. We grew up together. It's his duty to help." Ji Xiao chimed in, "Yes, Uncle Xia, don't be shy. Brother Xiao and I are very close. There's no need for thanks." He then put his arm around Gu Yanxiao's shoulder and went to their table to drink. Several young people stood up to greet him, "Brother Xiao." Gu Yanxiao replied, "Don't be shy, sit down quickly." The people at this table had all helped Xia Liang before. Some knew Gu Yanxiao, while others were friends of Ji Xiao, but they had only heard of Gu Yanxiao's name and didn't know him personally.
His two little daughters were overjoyed to see their father return, but they couldn't resist the temptation of the barbecue and continued eating with their heads down. Gu Yanxiao didn't miss any of this. He was gratified that his two daughters still missed their father, but it was clear that their longing was not as strong as a barbecue meal, and he was a little sad. Xia Liang saw everything and secretly laughed to herself, thinking what a fake father-daughter relationship.
By eleven o'clock, the children were all full and ran into the main room to watch TV. The adults had also stopped eating and were chatting in the yard. Only Gu Yanxiao and Ji Xiao's table were still drinking. Luckily, they had bought a lot today, otherwise they probably wouldn't have enough to drink. Xia Liang went to the kitchen, found some black tea and white sugar, and brewed it. After brewing, she used a strainer to filter out the tea leaves and poured the tea into a large bucket. She then added milk, and a simple milk tea was ready. Xia Liang poured a cup for each of them. Ji Xiaodie took a sip and said, "Sister-in-law, what is this? It's so delicious!" Xia Liang smiled and said, "This is milk tea I made myself. There's more in the kitchen. Go get some yourself when you're done." Ji Xiaodie nodded vigorously. The two were already quite familiar with each other, so they didn't stand on ceremony.
She carried the children's cups to the main room and saw the little ones sprawled on the sofa, giggling with delight. "My darlings, come and try my milk tea, isn't it delicious?" Hearing that there was something good to drink, Gu Yuanzhi immediately sat up, took the cup from her mother, and gulped down a big mouthful. Her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Mommy, what is this? It's so delicious!" Xia Liang gave the remaining three cups to her daughter and nieces and nephews, patting her youngest daughter's head. "This is milk tea. Drink slowly. There's more in the kitchen. I hope Mommy will make it for you often." The little one nodded happily, "Thank you, Mommy. Mommy is great!"
At midnight, the group of drinkers dispersed. Xia Rong and Gu Yanxiao had both been drinking, and Zhou Xiong and Tian Longhui, the two brothers, escorted them home. Xia Liang went into the main room and saw the children sleeping haphazardly. She said to her sister-in-law, Zhou Xiaohui, "Let them stay here for the night. They'll be coming back tomorrow anyway, and it'll save them the trouble of running around." Zhou Xiaohui didn't stand on ceremony and nodded, saying, "Okay, then Mom, Dad, you, and I will head back." Xia Liang tried to persuade them to stay, saying, "Why don't you just sleep here? It's late, and it's cold outside." Zhou Xiaohui waved her hand, "Never mind, it'll save you the trouble. We're going back." Xia Liang saw them off, instructing Xia Dahe and Zhao Danxiang, "Mom and Dad, take care." Xia Dahe said, "It's alright, only your brother drank too much. I'm not drunk. I'll ride my bike, don't worry." Zhao Danxiang said, "You should go inside quickly. It's too cold outside." Xia Liang nodded, "Once you're gone, I'll head back."
After her parents and brother and sister-in-law left, Xia Liang returned to the courtyard and saw Liu Ma cleaning. She quickly stopped her, saying, "Go to bed early! You can do this tomorrow." Liu Ma didn't refuse, as it was indeed very cold and late, and went back to her room to rest. Xia Liang went to the bathroom to wash up. When she came out, Tian Longhui and Zhou Xiong hadn't returned yet, so she sat in the main room and waited for a while. Only after Tian Longhui and Zhou Xiong returned safely did Xia Liang go back to her bedroom. Gu Yanxiao had already washed up and was lying in bed. Xia Liang didn't think he was drunk, so she went up to him and asked, "You're not drunk?" Gu Yanxiao sat on the bed, wrapped his arms around Xia Liang's waist, buried his face in Xia Liang's stomach, and said in a muffled voice, "I'm not drunk, I know what I'm doing."
The next day, when Xia Liang woke up, it was already quite late. The children had already eaten breakfast, and Gu Yanxiao was watching them practice martial arts with Chen Yanling and the others in the yard. Seeing his wife get up, he went up to her and asked, "Are you hungry? I'll go to the kitchen and get you something to eat." Xia Liang blushed and glared at him. Whose fault was it? Seeing his wife's glare, Gu Yanxiao touched his nose and went into the kitchen. Seeing that there were still noodles that Liu Ma had rolled out earlier, he made a bowl of noodles for Xia Liang with the chicken soup. Xia Liang's stomach had been growling for a while, and she finished it in no time.
Gu Yuanzhi had finished her homework under her father's supervision and was now circling around her mother, asking, "Mom, I want to eat something delicious, and can I have the milk tea from last night?" Xia Liang nodded, "No problem." How could she refuse such a small request? Besides, what child doesn't love snacks? She herself often secretly ate spicy strips when she was little.
Xia Liang went outside to the kitchen, took the frozen butter inside to thaw, and then boiled a few eggs. After the eggs were cooked, Xia Liang peeled them, keeping only the yolks and feeding the whites to Gu Yanxiao, who was watching her. After the butter softened, she added powdered sugar and beat it with an electric fan mixer. She then mashed the egg yolks through a sieve and added them in, mixing well. Next, she added flour and cornstarch, mixing until there was no dry powder left. She then shaped it into a cylinder and placed it outside to freeze.
Xia Liang asked Gu Yanxiao to light the oven while she went to boil water and make tea; the little guy was probably addicted to milk tea. Once the milk tea was ready and the dough was almost frozen, Xia Liang brought it in, sliced it, placed it on a baking sheet, and put it in the oven. The couple sat in the kitchen, looking at each other without saying a word, quietly waiting for the cookies to bake.
After sitting for a while, Xia Liang glanced at her watch and thought it was about time. She then directed Gu Yanxiao to open the oven door, and instantly the aroma of butter wafted out. The little ones who were building a snowman in the yard smelled the aroma and ran into the kitchen to ask, "Mom, is it ready?" Xia Liang asked Gu Yanxiao to take the food to the little ones, while she followed behind carrying milk tea.
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