Chapter 941: A Harmonious Family

After entering the house, Uncle Xiao's wife saw they had also brought prepared dishes: "Oh my, sister-in-law, did you fry these meatballs yourself?"

Xiao Mu nodded lightly and said, "I made a few at home and brought them along to add a dish for everyone; please try them and see if you like them."

Chunxiao chimed in, "My mom also stewed some pork ribs."

Uncle Xiao's wife smiled, "Then we're in for a treat tonight."

Xiao Mu thought about going to the kitchen to help, but Miao Yiqiu stopped her: "The kitchen is almost ready; having us lend a hand is enough. You just sit here and chat with them. You are the most important person in our house now."

Miao Yiqiu's words made Xiao Mu both moved and at a loss, since this was her first time celebrating New Year's Eve at her in-laws' home; she looked helplessly at her own husband and daughter.

Liu Chuxue stepped forward to support her: "My great-aunt is just being considerate of how difficult your pregnancy is. Just listen to her. There will be plenty of chances for you to be busy later; your task right now is to take good care of yourself."

Miao Yiqiu smiled and pushed the peanuts and melon seeds over to her side: "What Chuxue said is right; you are now the household's protected priority."

Xiao Wanpeng took an apple from the fruit plate and took a bite: "Second Aunt, my great-aunt is right. With so many people in the house, you just rest. We don't have that many formalities."

With things arranged on this side, Miao Yiqiu prepared to go check the kitchen.

As she turned, she thought of her daughter: I wonder if Jinzhou can handle tonight's New Year's Eve dinner.

Just then, Xiao Laoyezi Xiao looked over and saw her expression: "Yiqiu, have them prepare extra portions of every dish. In a moment, I'll have Xiao Tao deliver some to Nianchun."

Miao Yiqiu hadn't expected Xiao Laoyezi to think of these things; her eyes instantly filled with tears: "Sigh, alright."

In the kitchen, the nanny Jiang, assigned from above, had already prepared most of the dishes. Those requiring time to steam, boil, or stew were already on the stove; the rest had their ingredients prepped and only needed stir-frying before serving.

She had naturally heard the commander's instructions outside: "Lady, why not set aside a portion of these steamed, boiled, and stewed main dishes now and have Xiao Tao deliver them? That would spare the son-in-law some effort."

Miao Yiqiu thought it made sense; if delivery was delayed, the other side would likely have prepared their own: "Alright, then I'll follow your suggestion."

Chuxue also entered the kitchen at that moment: "Come, let me help."

Uncle Xiao's wife had already brought out aluminum lunch boxes. With the few of them dividing the work, the dishes were quickly portioned and packed: "Great-aunt, since there's nothing to do right now, Xiao Tao and I will go over together."

But just as she finished speaking, Xiao Wanpeng's voice came from behind: "I'll go with you."

Before Chuxue could reply, she heard Chunxiao's voice: "I want to go too."

Miao Yiqiu naturally did not refuse; these children were all her daughter's support. Going over now was just right—it would show the people of the courtyard and the Qiu family that her daughter had plenty of people backing her, and it would also put pressure on Qiu Jinzhou, preventing him from softening toward the Qiu family again and making her daughter suffer.

Driving was naturally fast; when they arrived at the courtyard, every household was busy preparing New Year's Eve dinner.

Seeing the three cousins enter, someone spoke up: "Oh my, Nianchun's nephews and niece get along so well with her; they didn't forget to come see her even on New Year's Eve."

Upon seeing the lunch boxes they carried, they joked with a smile: "Hey, are you afraid your uncle-in-law can't handle it all and your little aunt might go hungry?"

Chuxue didn't take up the banter: "Allow me to offer early New Year greetings to everyone. May the coming year be prosperous and auspicious, and may each day be better than the last."

The auntie's hands didn't stop moving, but her face was all smiles: "Then we'll take your young lady's auspicious words as a blessing."