Chuxia handed him a plate of meat buns, and Jiadong sat down at the table to eat.
Three bites per meat bun, his mouth was completely stuffed.
“Slow down, don’t choke.”
Chuxia poured him a glass of water.
It took some effort for Jiadong to swallow the meat bun in his mouth, and he let out a sheepish chuckle, “Second sis, these meat buns are really tasty.”
“If you like them, eat more, I’ll get you more if it’s not enough,” Chuxia said.
Jiadong smiled again and lowered his head to continue eating the meat buns.
Just then, Qin Yang came in from outside.
Chuxia had greeted him before and invited him over for dinner that night.
Qin Yang had been accompanying her to various stores these days and was familiar with everyone.
Seeing Chuxia sitting by the window, he walked straight over.
Jiadong had just bitten into a large meat bun when he looked up and saw a tall and straight figure, which made him freeze.
He glanced at the pot of cooked food next to him and subconsciously stood up, making a loud clang with the chair due to the abrupt movement.
He hurriedly steadied the chair and stood up straight, “Bro… brother-in-law…”
He mumbled with a mouthful of bun and hurriedly swallowed it down, then continued, “I got these because I was craving them from second sis…”
Qin Yang nodded indifferently, “If your second sis gave them to you, then you keep them.”
This was Chuxia’s family, and even if the wife wasn’t cherished in that household, if she couldn’t let go of this kinship, he would respect her wishes.
But, if someone like Mother Lin came to bully his wife, he certainly wouldn’t be polite.
Qin Yang also knew that Chuxia had a different attitude towards her brother.
They had met before when they returned to her parents’ home, and this Jiadong seemed to be a bit simple-minded.
He wondered how such a smart wife could have such a silly brother.
Noticing that Jiadong was uncomfortable around him, Qin Yang told Chuxia that he was going to find Qin Wu.
After Qin Yang left, Jiadong quietly asked, “My brother-in-law isn’t angry, is he?”
Chuxia handed him another bun, “Eat up, head back early once you’re done. It’ll be hard to navigate once it gets dark.”
Jiadong didn’t ask any further and quickly finished all the buns on the plate and let out a satisfied burp.
Before leaving, he still seemed worried and asked, “Second sis, I’m really taking these with me, are you sure it’s okay?”
“Off you go, be careful on the road.”
Jiadong chuckled and hopped on his bicycle, crouching low and pedaling furiously, disappearing into the dusk in no time.
In her previous life, the Lin Family had been demanding, but when Li Guangyuan betrayed her, it was only her simple-minded brother who stubbornly wanted to stand up for her, even though by that time she no longer cared.
It wasn’t until Jiadong’s figure was out of sight that Chuxia turned back and entered the bun shop.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was completely different.
Everyone pitched in, and dinner was almost ready, covering two large tables with food.
There was no separation of men and women, everyone casually took seats, but everyone wanted to sit at Chuxia’s table.
In the end, the Qin Family and her good friend Sun Lanlan sat beside them, and Sun Bingnan, in an effort to foster a relationship between his sister and Cai Jun, pulled Cai Jun to sit at the Qin Family’s table as well, with Su Wensong also joining them.
Chuxia, Qin Yang, and the Pang Yongli couple, Jia Liang, Hou Xiaobao, and Chen Chunhua sat at one table.
The five newcomers, three women sat at Chuxia’s table and the two men went to sit with the Qin Family.
The dining atmosphere was even more lively, Chuxia made a simple opening speech, then encouraged everyone to eat and drink up.
With the joy of receiving salaries and the holidays, this meal lasted for a full two hours.
Everyone was toasting each other and exchanging blessings. Hou Xiaobao even brought up the karaoke down south and sang a song for everyone on the spot.
Lin Chuxia thought to herself, if there’s a chance next year, she’d definitely set up a karaoke for them.
After dinner, everyone tidied up the shop again.
Sun Lanlan pulled Lin Chuxia aside and handed her a small pouch, “A New Year’s gift for you.”
It looked like a scarf, bright red, similar to the one she was wearing around her neck.
Lin Chuxia thanked her and reminded her, “Don’t spend money on me next time. Use it on yourself, dress up nicely, so you can find your Mr. Right sooner.”
Sun Lanlan pinched her playfully, her cheeks visibly reddening.
Lin Chuxia curiously watched her. They often joked about this, so why such a big reaction today?
Seeing that she glanced at Cai Jun in the distance, Lin Chuxia wondered if there was really something going on?
Before Lin Chuxia could ask more, Sun Lanlan waved her off, “I won’t talk about it now, I’m leaving with Third Brother first, heading back to the village soon.”
“Okay, take care on the road.”
Sun Lanlan went to call Sun Bingnan. The two of them had already packed up their belongings. Just as they reached the door, someone called out to them from behind.
“Bingnan…”
Cai Jun, who was in the back kitchen, heard that Sun Lanlan and Sun Bingnan were about to leave and quickly ran out.
He rushed and with a bang, ran right into Qin Lihua, who was just about to enter the kitchen.
“Sorry, so sorry…” He apologized repeatedly.
Qin Lihua was only holding half a bottle of vinegar and wasn’t hurt badly. She shook her head, “It’s okay!”
Seeing she was really fine, Cai Jun chased after them again, “Bingnan, why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
Sun Bingnan glanced at his sister and asked him amusedly, “Why do we need to inform you about going home?”
Cai Jun also looked at Sun Lanlan, but only glanced at her before looking away, “Well… after New Year’s, I’ll visit your Uncle and Aunt to send my greetings.”
“Alright then, I’ll be waiting for your visit,” Sun Bingnan cheerfully agreed.
…
“Lihua, what are you doing standing here?”
Zhou Hongmei came out from the kitchen and saw Qin Lihua standing at the kitchen door, staring into space outside the Bun Shop.
“Put the vinegar bottle back, let’s go home.”
Qin Lihua snapped back to her senses, nodding repeatedly, “Oh, right away.”
She stepped into the kitchen and then turned to look outside the door again.
“Hurry up, your fourth aunt and the others are still waiting.”
Zhou Hongmei urged her again, then went to speak with Lin Chuxia and Zhang Guilan, who were waiting.
After a while, Qin Lihua came out, and they all headed home together.
The Qin Family of seven, plus five workers from Qin Family Village, twelve people marched mightily down the streets of Ancheng County.
It was cold at the end of the lunar month, and the entire street was quiet at this time, but no one felt the chill.
“Bang—”
Firecracker sounds erupted not far away. The New Year was coming!
…………
Elsewhere, Lin Jiadong returned home and it was already pitch dark, but his family had not yet rested.
The power was out again today. Oil lamps were lit in the house, casting dim, flickering shadows that did not affect Lin Jiadong’s mood at all.
He took the cooked food from the handlebars of his bike, humming a tune as he walked into the house, calling out before even entering, “Mom, I’m back.”
He didn’t hear his mom, but his elder sister Lin Jiayi’s voice came out, “Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting for you for so long.”