Chapter 455: Gathering Together

Opening up is truly good; anything can be brought out now, and as long as it isn't something too excessive, there's no need to hide or cover it up.

"I'm leaving, An Erge, give me the car keys." An Yinan reached out her tender, white little hand directly.

Yun Qi said, "They're in my coat pocket, go get them yourself; there's also money and ration coupons in the pocket, just take them."

Li Xiue glanced at Yun Qi but didn't speak.

An Yinan raised an eyebrow; this An Erge of hers was a bit dim-witted!

"What's wrong?" Qiu Hua asked.

Li Xiue said in a low voice, "I'm preparing to try getting along with him."

Regarding her sisters, she had never thought about hiding anything.

"Then what do you think about what just happened?" Zhao Qiuhua asked.

Li Xiue smiled, "Never mind that his money has nothing to do with me, even if it were my own money, what would it matter if I spent it on Nan Nan?"

"The fact that he can be good to his younger sister shows he is a person who values relationships and doesn't prioritize money; that's a plus."

She was speaking from the heart, and she understood Nan Nan's temperament.

This point was indeed a plus.

Saying one thing while meaning another? That didn't exist.

"Alright then!" Zhao Qiuhua was also happy for Li Xiue.

She had the delicate, misty willow-like appearance of the Jiangnan region, and at school, there were many who pursued Xiue both openly and secretly.

However, Xiue always said she didn't have feelings for them, or simply didn't like them.

There were even some who were discouraged by Li Xiue before they could even make their intentions clear.

She had said that she would never reject her true feelings; if she liked someone, she would express it boldly.

Now that she was willing to try with Yun Qi, deep down, she must have had some feelings, right?

An Yinan found a place where no one was around and took out five jin of beef; mainly, she couldn't take out too much.

She also bought some fresh vegetables, and for the things she was missing, she took them from her space.

Now, the grain in her space was already gone.

Daily necessities were also pitifully scarce; most were electronic products or items with clear production dates that she had no way to take out and use.

"Why are you back so soon?" Xie Yuanyuan widened her eyes; if she had known that place was so close, she would have followed along to take a look.

"Hey, not long after I left, I ran into someone selling beef, so I just bought it directly; I didn't go out of my way," An Yinan said with a smile.

Several elders sat outside, watching the busy figures in the kitchen.

"This is what you call living!" Grandmother had a smile on her face; she didn't even go for her afternoon nap—watching this group of vibrant, energetic children, why would she want to sleep!

"It's lively, it feels like a real home!" Grandfather Chen chimed in.

"Old sister, you should be content; look at when this house has ever lacked people? In my courtyard, it's just me all alone all day long!" Grandfather Chen sighed.

"That's because you're too strong-willed!" Grandmother lamented.

If Old Chen weren't so strong-willed, letting the children go out and forge their own paths, how could he have no one by his side?

One by one they were all away, and now that Chen Xun was able to return, it was by his own ability that he was transferred directly back to the Beijing headquarters.

Actually, this transfer order had been suppressed for several years.

Back then, this kid just wouldn't come back, but now he was willing to return—because of whom, they wouldn't say!

"If I weren't strong-willed, the Chen Family would have been gone long ago," Grandfather Chen said, looking at it quite openly.

He only had one son; if everyone flattered him and everyone spoiled him, then he surely would have grown up to be a scoundrel.

When his character was stable, he sent his son to the Military.

Although his son didn't achieve any great success in his life, he was, after all, a person—an upright and honest person.

And his two grandsons were also raised very well.

"The children of the Yun Family grow up independent and strong; they have known what they wanted since they were small. My family is different; I had no choice but to be hard-hearted!" Grandfather Chen smiled, but seeing the results today, even if he died, he could face his late wife.

"Hey, why talk about that!" Grandmother said with a smile.

"How is it over at Yun Qi's side?" Liu Xicai asked Fang Hong in a low voice.

Fang Hong smiled, "They said they'd try getting along. Sister-in-law, what do you think I should do to earn some points with Yun Qi?"

Liu Xicai looked at Fang Hong; when she herself got married, she probably wasn't this nervous, right?

"You! Don't do anything; just treat that girl like your own child in the future, that's all. Time reveals a person's heart."

Fang Hong nodded firmly, "I definitely will! I don't have a daughter, so my future daughters-in-law will all be my daughters—closer than sons."

She liked daughters, but unfortunately, she didn't have the fate to have one.

Seeing how she doted on Nan Nan, it was just a matter of her personality, and she wasn't that meticulous, which was why people said she was too rational.

It was a work issue, a professional habit.

It made her appear less enthusiastic.

Habits formed over many years couldn't be changed just like that.

"I believe you!" Liu Xicai smiled; they had been sisters-in-law for over thirty years, and no one understood Fang Hong better than she did.

She was a strong-willed woman, but her delicate thoughts were all hidden deep in her heart.

"Dinner is ready!" An Yinan shouted.

Chen Xun brought out a hot pot of mutton.

Yun Bi brought out a pot of braised meat.

And Qian Zhao brought out a pot of tomato-stewed beef brisket.

Besides the three big pots, the others brought various dishes to the table.

"The braised meat pot isn't spicy, the mutton pot is spicy, and the tomato-stewed beef brisket isn't spicy; see which pot you like and sit next to it."

An Yinan made introductions, but saw that everyone remained still.

She clapped her hands, "Quick, get moving."

Grandmother sat directly beside the pot of braised meat, "This old woman won't stand on ceremony!"

The food made by her own granddaughter was truly fragrant!

She certainly wouldn't let anyone snatch her seat!

"Then I shall sit down as well." Grandfather Chen sat beside the mutton pot.

He had grown accustomed to bland food over the years, though he still liked spicy food occasionally; on the battlefield, he could stomach anything.

Nothing was more beloved than having a chili pepper.

With a chili pepper, every flavor was there.

Afterward, they took their seats in order from the elders to the younger generation.

When it came to their group, Li Xiue smiled, "The head chef should sit first."

An Yinan looked at them, "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

She sat directly beside the mutton pot, where she could blanch various vegetables.

Moreover, the seasonings for the mutton pot were already placed in front, while the other pots didn't need any seasonings.

In an instant, everyone began to take their seats.

"This is sour plum juice, it whets the appetite and quenches thirst, let's have a toast!" An Yinan raised her glass, looking at the circle of people—there were her relatives, her friends, her elders, and... her lover.

The group gathered together in joy.

One month later...

"Nan Nan, look at the things I've prepared for Auntie Li, are they okay? Is it a bit too little, do I need to add anything else?" Xie Yuanyuan asked.

"I don't know if the clothes I prepared for Huzi and Xiaoshitou will fit them." Li Xiue was a bit conflicted.

"I bought some local specialties for the village, can you all help me see if I've missed anything?" Zhao Qiuhua asked.

Everyone was busy; this busyness had already lasted for a week.

Because tomorrow, they were going back to Quanshui Village, the place where they had met and become companions.