Chapter 100: New Year's Day Two: Visiting Da Yizi

"Fine, the bad news is that my work will be busier from now on, and I'll have fewer chances to go home."

"As for the reason, it's the good news I just mentioned."

"The organization decided to appoint me as General Manager of the Coking Group, and the notice was issued early yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qiang's eyes flashed with brilliance.

He doesn't crave promotion; he just believes that one should excel in whatever field one works in.

In Xu Qiang's view, this promotion is recognition from his superiors of his ability and work.

"Congratulations, Dad!"

Hearing his father's words, Xu Yuexin and his family all smiled, "Qiao Qiao, bring a bottle of wine; I want to congratulate our dad."

"Should we get Erqu (baijiu) or Fenjiu (baijiu)?"

"Fenjiu (baijiu)."

A short while later, Chen Qiaoqiao placed the wine on the table. Xu Yuexin opened the bottle and poured a glass each for himself and his father.

Then, at the request of his older brother, sister‑in‑law and others, he poured a glass for each family member.

"Your recent promotion is well deserved; I've long thought you should be given greater responsibilities."

Xu Yuexin raised his glass with his family to toast his dad, saying, "Mom, Qiao Qiao, older brother, sister‑in‑law, Ran Ran, you all agree?"

"Exactly! Our dad's professional ability is top‑notch."

"Indeed, he's won so many awards."

Amid the laughter and cheers, the Xu family raised their glasses together, sending blessings to Xu Qiang.

"Dad, the General Manager's job is even more demanding. While you work diligently, please be sure to take care of your health."

After setting down his glass, Xu Yuexin said earnestly.

"Don't worry, I've got him taken care of."

Wu Yan confidently assured, "Besides, I'm a worker, and I'll retire next year, so I can devote myself entirely to looking after your dad."

These days there's a status called 'yi gong dai gan'—working as a worker while performing administrative duties in an institution; Wu Yan falls into that category.

Therefore, like other female staff, she can retire at fifty.

"With Mom here, we all feel at ease."

Older brother Xu Li said, "Anyway, my sister‑in‑law and I aren't planning to have children right now; she'll definitely manage."

"It's time to have one."

Wu Yan nudged the eldest son sitting beside her and said.

"I'll write a cookbook for Mom behind me; Mom, just follow it to cook for Dad, no mistake."

Nowadays, most people still lack the concept of healthy eating, and Xu Yuexin plans to start implementing it with his own dad.

Don't be fooled by his age; in Xu Yuexin's eyes, his dad has only just taken off, and he must keep healthy to soar higher and more easily.

"You also know nutrition?"

Xu Qiang laughed at his son's remark, "Alright then, I'll wait for you to finish the cookbook."

"Hmm, let's have vegetables."

Xu Yuexin lifted his chopsticks and said, and the family fell into a harmonious, joyful atmosphere.

A few days later, on New Year's Eve, the Xu family spent the most joyful and peaceful night in over twenty years.

…

On the morning of the second day of the New Year, the whole family gathered to watch TV, and at that moment Chen Qiaoqiao needed to go write a research report.

Her team was progressing slowly; if they didn't hurry, they wouldn't meet the deadline.

"I'll write it together with her."

Xu Yuexin stood up and said.

"Hmm, you go ahead; if you get tired of writing, come rest."

Wu Yan nodded and said.

After greeting their parents, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao entered the bedroom and sat at the desk.

Chen Qiaoqiao wrote while Xu Yuexin read beside her.

Whenever Chen Qiaoqiao encountered uncertain points, she discussed them with him.

After a morning, Xu Yuexin answered several of Chen Qiaoqiao's questions, pushing the research report forward a bit.

At the end of work, Chen Qiaoqiao mentioned Chen Yixue.

"My sister finished dinner at home last night and then returned to Tuanjie Lake."

Chen Qiaoqiao, full of concern, said, "I originally wanted to visit her, but I still have to write the research report."

"I'll go see her for you."

Xu Yuexin immediately expressed his stance.

Taking care of Da Yizi is his inescapable duty! Seeing Xu Yuexin step forward, Chen Qiaoqiao felt somewhat relieved.

"Alright, alright. I bought her a lot of things; you can take them all over."

"I'll bring some more vegetables over."

Xu Yuexin said.

After lunch at home, Xu Yuexin took the snacks Chen Qiaoqiao bought and two bags of vegetables and headed to Tuanjie Lake.

Chen Yixue was cooking dinner at home; after Xu Yuexin knocked, she came forward to open the door.

The heating was on, and she was wearing a light‑purple silk nightgown at home, elegant and accentuating her figure.

"Come, let me see you."

After entering, Xu Yuexin placed the vegetables and snacks on the table and went into the kitchen to check Da Yizi's dinner.

Good fellow, it's the New Year and she's actually eating plain boiled noodles at home.

"Just this? Isn't that a bit unfair to yourself?"

Xu Yuexin said with sympathy.

Chen Yixue helplessly spread her hands and said, "I only know the lower part."

"Oh, then you're not very capable."

Xu Yuexin smiled faintly and said.

"It's none of your business."

Chen Yixue snorted, feeling guilty, and shifted her gaze elsewhere.

She had bought some vegetables years ago but couldn't cook them, so she fell into today's predicament.

"Stop being stubborn with your mouth and bring the vegetables in quickly."

Xu Yuexin instructed Da Yizi.

"Okay."

Chen Yixue obediently went outside, carried the two big bags of vegetables Xu Yuexin brought into the kitchen, and said, "Let me wash the vegetables."

"No, I'm afraid you won't wash them clean."

Xu Yuexin doubted Da Yizi's ability to do housework and didn't dare give her any task.

By contrast, although before marriage his cooking was so poor that his wife despised him, after marriage he actually practiced for a while, and he and Da Yizi were on completely different levels.

Washing vegetables, chopping vegetables, followed by a clatter of pots and pans.

Soon, several dishes came out fresh, and Chen Yixue finally had her first proper meal in two days.

"I don't get it, how do you usually eat here?"

"I eat out," Chen Yixue said, burying her face while eating, trying to hide her embarrassed expression.

That was also why she previously refused to marry. Marriage meant doing housework, so she preferred to stay single.

"Got it, during the New Year the restaurants are closed, you have nowhere to find food."

"'Finding food' describes animals; you're the one 'finding food.'"

Chen Yixue, angry, wolfed down two big mouthfuls of rice to make up for her hungry stomach.

After finishing the meal, Xu Yuexin lay down on the sofa, and Chen Yixue followed, intending to sit down.

"Snap!"

Xu Yuexin unceremoniously slapped Da Yizi's raised buttocks, pointing to the kitchen, "Hurry and wash the dishes."

"Show some respect."

Chen Yixue frowned, covered her buttocks and said.

After washing the dishes, she returned to Xu Yuexin's side, hugging her knees and sitting on the sofa.

"If I don't come, are you going to keep eating plain noodles until the restaurant opens?"

"..."

Chen Yixue buried her face in her knees, silent.

Xu Yuexin was a bit puzzled: why, after finishing his own meal, does he start ignoring people?

"I'm asking you, speak up."

Xu Yuexin grabbed the snow‑white arm of Chen Yixue that was exposed outside her nightgown, shook it, and said.

"I won't."

"When you respect me, then I'll talk to you."

Chen Yixue muttered from her knees.

It turned out it was because of the butt slap just now.

Xu Yuexin recovered, but he still didn't quite understand.

It's not the first time he's been slapped; why is his reaction so big today? "Got a pretentious disease?"

Xu Yuexin curled his lip and looked at Da Yizi, saying.

"It's not pretentiousness."

Chen Yixue finally lifted her face, looked at him seriously, and said, "You were disrespectful from the start; if this goes on for a long time, are you going to torment me to death?"

"Interesting, already thinking about the future."

Da Yizi's words were clearly a question, but to Xu Yuexin they sounded like a perfect signal.

"Not bad, already considering a long‑term relationship."

Xu Yuexin flopped onto the sofa, looked up at the ceiling and said, "But did I promise?"

He actually dared…

Chen Yixue, angry, stood on the floor, crossed her arms, and coldly looked at Xu Yuexin, "What do you mean?"

"Do you think that because I've cut ties with my family, you can bully me?"

Saying that, Chen Yixue's eyes reddened.

"Don't look at me like that; do I seem like a heartless man?"

Xu Yuexin smiled and said, "And I never said I wouldn't agree, so why are you so impatient."

"I'm not impatient."

Chen Yixue turned her back and said, "You helped me a lot, I know."

"I will work hard to repay you, but please respect me."

"Sigh, Da Yizi still hasn't changed."

She remains the self‑respectful, self‑loving woman who tolerates no violation.

Moreover, what she said does make sense; if you don't show respect from the start, how can you talk about a lasting relationship?

If there's a problem, it's her understanding of the spanking behavior.

It's just a bit of teasing, not something that rises to the level of respect or disrespect.

"Don't worry, I don't mean to disrespect you."

Xu Yuexin stood up, supporting Da Yizi's shoulder, and gently coaxed, "Let's sit down and talk."

Da Yizi turned back, eyes watery, gave him a glance with a touch of lingering sorrow.

"Xue Xue, what do you think counts as respect?"

On the spacious sofa, Xu Yuexin pulled Da Yizi into his embrace, and a large hand rested on her waist.

Chen Yixue struggled lightly, leaned against his neck, and said nothing.

Being called Xue Xue made her feel as if she had returned to when she was very young.

"You won't say it, will you? Then I'll say it."

"You once said you didn't want to stay at home and were ashamed to face Qiao Qiao. I bought this apartment for you to meet your needs; that's respect for your personal feelings."

"You want to achieve something in your music career; I wholeheartedly cooperate with you, and that is respect for your talent."

"If those don't count as respect, then what does?"

Xu Yuexin swayed Da Yizi in his arms, saying.

"I acknowledge what you say, but touching and moving around is still wrong."

Chen Yixue still retorted stubbornly.

"Touching and moving around is a sign of my affection for you."

"If you don't want it, then from now on I won't touch you."

"So would that make you happy?"

Xu Yuexin asked back.

Chen Yixue decisively broke free from his arms and quickly created distance on the sofa.

"If you have the ability, truly don't touch."

Chen Yixue sneered.

Holding her in his arms yet saying he won't touch her again—what else is it but inconsistency? Xu Yuexin looked calmly at Da Yizi, shook his head: "You see, once we stop contact, my expression doesn't look good."

"Isn't this just hoping I touch you?"

After saying that, he moved from the sofa to beside Da Yizi, extended his arm, and tried to embrace her.

"What logic is this?"

Chen Yixue was completely speechless, quickly lifted the corner of her mouth: "Now that I'm smiling, can you let go?"

"No, you smiled because you saw me trying to hug you; I can't let go."

After saying that, Xu Yuexin squeezed Da Yizi tightly, then with a force he flipped her over, positioning her astride him, his upper body also leaning onto her.

At such a close distance, with an ambiguous posture, Chen Yixue's face flushed bright red.

"No, really can't."

Chen Yixue, her mind in turmoil, said, "We already made a mistake last time; we really can't make another mistake."

"It's fine, I'll make the mistake with you."

Xu Yuexin leaned toward Da Yizi's plump red lips, and his large hand lifted the hem of her nightgown.

(End of chapter)