Su Xiaomeng swallowed.

Su Chengji quickly looked at Su Xiaomeng, signaling her to say a few words for him.

But Su Xiaomeng wasn’t the type to invite trouble. She quickly shook her head and, before Su Chengji could grab her, she dashed back to her room, staying far away from her dad!

Little white-eyed wolf...

Su Chengji blinked, then walked over to the washboard, muttering, "Who still uses a washboard these days? We have such a fancy washing machine at home. Wife, why do you keep this washboard around?"

"Ha."

Su’s mother snorted, "Use the washing machine to clean clothes, but for your mouth, only a washboard will do."

Su Chengji knelt silently on the washboard, "Oh dear..."

"Stop pretending!"

"Wife, I was just speaking the truth..."

"Don’t you have a brain? Who do you think that plump auntie is?"

"A kind and enthusiastic person."

"Then go and live with her!"

"Su Chengji, aren’t you very proud that Meng Meng is pregnant?"

"I was fine, but she’s having twins with Xiao Yin!"

"Back then, the doctor also said you were having twins, but it was a trick on me..."

"Su Chengji."

"Hmm?"

"Kneel. If I don’t let you get up, you cannot get up."

Su’s mother was exhausted. She went into the kitchen, furiously starting to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner for the next day.

The sound of chopping vegetables was so intense that even Su Xiaomeng, hiding in her bedroom, was trembling with fear.

Afraid that if she dared to go out, it wouldn’t be vegetables being chopped, but her dad.

Su’s father kneeled until the evening when Su’s mother finally gave him a look to let him get up, and he stood up, acting injured from kneeling.

Su’s mother wasn’t bothered by him. Though she was busy in the kitchen, she kept an eye on him.

He still thought that his little actions with Su Xiaomeng went unnoticed by her!

Was she crazy to marry such a person?

The dinner that night clearly turned into a critique session for Su Chengji. Su Xiaomeng listened by the side, smart enough not to get involved like her father did.

She kept her mouth shut, not daring to utter a word, fearing that the fire would spread to her.

"Did you hear me?"

"Su Xiaomeng, I’m talking to you! Did you hear me?"

"Huh? Oh, what?"

Su Xiaomeng looked up, panic on her face as she looked at her mom.

Su’s mother looked at her silently.

Resigned, Su Xiaomeng put down her bowl and chopsticks, finally forced to stand with her father on the same targeted line.

The next day was New Year’s Eve.

Su Xiaomeng calculated and realized she had already been home for two days!

She wondered if her uncle was also being enslaved by her mom to help out like she was.

"Cut these melons into pieces, be careful."

Su’s mother instructed.

"Oh, for a fruit salad?"

"To make some honeydew lime juice."

"Oh, mom, what’s cooking in the pot?"

"Pig trotters with soybeans."

"And this one?"

Su Xiaomeng pointed to the dish in the pan.

"Braised chicken with mushrooms."

Su Xiaomeng took a deep breath of the delicious aroma, "Mom, you’re so virtuous!"

"Take notes. You’re so grown, yet you can’t do anything. Once married off, you think it’s me who gets scolded behind your back because you can’t do this or that?"

Su Xiaomeng nodded and responded.

Su’s mother glanced at her, then quietly asked, "Is Yin Shixiu really that busy?"

"Yeah, he’s really busy. Usually leaves home in the morning and doesn’t get back until six or seven in the evening."

Actually, it wasn’t like that. Yin Shixiu just cherished those cozy morning moments with her and made time to have breakfast together, so he adjusted his schedule, often reaching the office around eleven.

"Busy is not an excuse. No matter how busy, if a person truly loves someone, they’ll make time for you."

"...Yeah."

"Your dad might have been scatterbrained, but to make my life better with his own abilities, he was busy from dawn to dusk. Yet even then, he never neglected me."

"That’s why you married him, mom!"

Su’s mother showed a rare smile.

"Even now, his priority is still us, me first and you second. A man’s career outside means nothing if he can’t look after his family. Anyone can make money. It’s not like we need to rely on him. So if a man can’t provide you with mental support, then don’t bother."

"Uncle... is really busy."

Su Xiaomeng murmured again.

Su’s mother glanced at her, seemingly puzzled.

"But he doesn’t neglect me."

Su Xiaomeng smiled at her mother, looking extremely proud.

"Such childlike behavior!"

"Hehe."

The Su Family is quite large, but each small family has different customs. Thus, on New Year’s Eve, they all eat at home. Only on the third day will they return to the old village mansion to eat together.

With just the three of them at the table, it seemed a bit lonely, but as long as Su’s father kept his mouth running, he could entertain them as if there were a dozen people, making the mother and daughter laugh nonstop.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Su’s father and mother gave Su Xiaomeng a red envelope, noting that this would be the last year she receives one.

Sadness...

But Su’s mother reminded, "You can ask Yin Shixiu for one."

Su Xiaomeng’s eyes brightened. Even before the new year, she grabbed her phone and got on WeChat.

Uncle, red envelope, red envelope!

——Call me hubby.

Hubby, red envelope, red envelope!

——Call! Me hubby.

Audio message successfully sent.

At this moment, someone waiting to eat at the Yin Family Old Mansion leaned on the balcony, grinning and opened the voice message—

"Lecherous uncle, if you don’t give me a red envelope, I won’t come back! Even if you come to pick me up, I won’t return!"

WeChat red envelope.

Su Xiaomeng happily opened the WeChat red envelope. The other party was wealthy, and before opening the envelope, she was full of anticipation.

After a mere 5.21 yuan was deposited into her change wallet.

Su Xiaomeng silently closed her phone.

No fun, the richer they are, the stingier they get!

With a disappointed face, she came out, and Su’s mother asked with a smile, "Did you get it?"

"It’s not even enough for a meal of spicy hotpot."

Su’s mother chuckled, not really bothered about it.

Yin Shixiu noticed that Su Xiaomeng had received the red envelope but didn’t react, merely lifted a corner of his lips in a faint smile.

"What’s with the smile? Feeling so happy?"

It’s Yin Meng’s mother who came to the balcony, also his third sister.

"Nothing much."

He put away his phone.

Yin Shihua nudged Yin Shixiu with her elbow, "Don’t pretend in front of me, okay? In love?"

"Still keeping silent, haven’t seen you bring anyone home so far. What’s your plan? Staying single forever?"

"Third sister, if you’re planning to set me up on a blind date, drop that idea."

Before Yin Shihua could say anything, she was rebutted, feeling a bit frustrated, she had to change the topic, "But recently, Mom and Dad seem quite worried about you."

"That’s how old people are."

Yin Shihua glanced at him, "Anyway, you need to be clear that no matter what kind of woman you find, she must be capable of supporting this big family."

"I understand."

"Dad and Mom are both strong-willed people. If Shi Qian hadn’t had such issues, you wouldn’t be under so much pressure. But regardless, reality is staring you in the face, you need to be mindful."

"Uh-huh, alright sister, hurry inside, it’s cold out here."

"Trying to chase me away already?"

Yin Shixiu just smiled.

He glanced at his phone again, with a light smile playing on his lips. Yin Shihua, who hadn’t gone far and looked back at Yin Shixiu, happened to catch this smile.

She secretly came to a conclusion in her heart.

"Fourth Young Master, the things you asked me to wrap are ready." said the servant.

"Alright."

"Fourth Young Master, is the white jade chess set... also for gifting?"

The servant blinked, a bit unsure.

"Don’t tell the master."

"...Oh, okay."

The servant looked surprised, but more puzzled.

That was the chess set the master had spent a fortune on at an auction the year before. He often takes it out to wipe... is it for gifting?

This year’s Spring Festival Gala was quite good, Zhao Benshan’s sketch was still innovative, and the songs and dances were quite captivating.

Su Xiaomeng leaned against the sofa, her eyelids growing heavier.

"If you’re sleepy, go to bed. It’s not good for pregnant women to stay up late."

Su Xiaomeng lay on the sofa, shaking her head, holding her phone tightly...

Su’s mother didn’t bother her, just took a blanket and covered her.

Su Xiaomeng eventually fell asleep.

Later, she was awakened by the sound of fireworks and firecrackers outside!

"Mom, what time is it?"

As soon as she asked, she saw TV hosts on several central channels enthusiastically counting down.

Su Xiaomeng quickly grasped her phone, with vibrations continuously coming, she carefully looked at the blessings sent by friends...

Uncle... wouldn’t forget, right?

One minute, two minutes...

Su Xiaomeng pursed her lips, her mood sinking further until—

Uncle "called."

She dashed into the bedroom immediately.

Su’s mother sighed, just finishing saying "A grown-up daughter can’t be kept," when Su Chengji came over and kissed her all over her face.

"Wife, Happy New Year." He grinned at her impishly.

Su’s mother glanced at him, extending her hand, "Where’s the red envelope?"

"Come, into the room, I’ll give it to you."

Su Chengji stood up, beckoning her with a smile, that cheeky look—inwardly, who doesn’t know what he’s thinking!

"Xiao Meng, remember to turn off the lights and TV when you come out!" Su’s mother reminded Su Xiaomeng before entering the room.

"Oh, alright!"

Su Xiaomeng responded loudly, then cleared her throat, softly saying, "I thought you forgot..."

"Happy New Year."

Yin Shixiu’s magnetic and gentle voice came from the phone. He was in Beijing, she was in Chengdu.

A distance of 1,789.5 kilometers.

Ah, it turned out to be that far, she never felt it before.

"...Uh-huh, Happy New Year, Uncle."

Su Xiaomeng slowly replied, outside the window, the night sky, fireworks bursting into a splendid scene, the booming sound enhancing the atmosphere of the Spring Festival to the fullest.

"Is there fireworks being set off near your home?"

Yin Shixiu heard the sound from Su Xiaomeng’s end.

"Yeah, it’s particularly beautiful! Uncle, aren’t you guys setting off fireworks?"

"A few kids are setting off fireworks in the yard."

"Oh!"

Su Xiaomeng responded, at a loss for words, just when she was worried about not finding a topic, Yin Shixiu spoke, "Have Uncle and Aunt gone to bed?"

"...Uh-huh, they’ve gone to their room."

Su Xiaomeng said, remembering her mom’s instructions to turn off the living room lights and TV, so she continued talking on the phone while turning off the TV and lights.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com