Chapter 1299: He Can't Be Left Behind

The moment the topic of a partner came up, Dujuan's face went red: "He's all right, I suppose."

Chuxue saw that look on her face and understood at once: "So, has the man's side brought up the idea of proposing to you?"

Dujuan nodded, still blushing: "They did, but I said I'd have to discuss it with my aunt first, and he agreed."

Chuxue smiled at her: "You took the day off to go over today—was that to talk this over with my mom?"

Dujuan nodded: "Originally I was planning to go tomorrow, but I got a call from my uncle at noon, so I just took the day off."

After chatting a while longer, Chuxue checked the time. Since they were hosting family for dinner tonight, they naturally couldn't arrive too late: "Yan Cheng, let's tidy up and head over now."

Fu Yan Cheng naturally had no objection: "All right."

From here to the Xiao family home, it was just one bus ride—no transfers needed.

When the three of them arrived, Aunt Xiao Nianchun had already come with her two children. Seeing them come in: "Chuxue, Yan Cheng, you're here?"

The two of them greeted her in unison.

Fu Yan Cheng spoke first: "Aunt, is there anything else? Let me help you."

Xiao Nianchun didn't know Fu Yan Cheng could cook, so she looked toward her niece.

Chuxue laughed: "He's actually a decent cook."

Xiao Nianchun laughed: "Our Chuxue is the lucky one."

Xia Qiu, who had just gotten off work and come in from outside, caught this remark: "Looks like I'll have to keep after Shaofeng more—he needs to learn to cook properly. Whether it's my husband, or Yan Cheng, or my nephew-in-law, they all cook well; he can't be left behind."

For a moment, the courtyard was full of laughter.

Perhaps hearing his mother's voice, Junjun inside the house suddenly started crying.

Now Xia Qiu couldn't be bothered with anything else and hurried inside: "Son, don't cry, mama's here."

Seeing her run inside, Chuxue turned to Miao Yiqiu, who had just come out of the kitchen: "Great-grandaunt, is there anything left to do? I'll help too."

Fu Yan Cheng knew that even if he told her to rest, she probably wouldn't agree: "Just sit and help Aunt trim the vegetables—the rest I'll handle."

Seeing how considerate her nephew-in-law was, Xiao Nianchun couldn't help winking at her niece: "You've got a good eye—Yan Cheng is a thoughtful one."

Seeing Fu Yan Cheng go off to fetch a stool, Chuxue had wanted to tease her young aunt-in-law a little. If her aunt-in-law's in-laws hadn't caused that scene, her aunt-in-law's life wouldn't be bad either. But thinking of the child who had been harmed, she swallowed the words back, afraid of saying the wrong thing and making her aunt-in-law dwell on the past.

The words turned over in her mouth and came out as: "He's out on missions all the time, so when he's by my side he naturally has to behave."

Fu Yan Cheng came back with the stool just in time to hear this. Not the least bit annoyed, he smiled and said: "My wife's right, so Aunt, whatever chores you have, just put me to work."

As they were talking, the Xiao family's eldest aunt-in-law came into the courtyard with her eldest daughter-in-law, Jiang Limin.

After exchanging greetings, Jiang Limin looked around the courtyard, a flash of envy in her eyes. If Second Uncle's family hadn't been found, this courtyard might well have been theirs—after all, her husband was the Xiao family's eldest son and eldest grandson.

The eldest aunt-in-law saw that look and jabbed her with an elbow: "Stop daydreaming—get over here and lend a hand."

Though Jiang Limin was unwilling, she knew this couldn't be changed and didn't want to upset her mother-in-law, so she quickly gathered herself: "All right."

Miao Yiqiu, who was going back to the clan lands with her husband tomorrow, saw her eldest daughter-in-law arrive and asked: "Haitang, Wanpeng's wedding is next month—how are the preparations going?"