Upon hearing the young man's agreement, a bright light immediately appeared in Xia Zhiqing's eyes.

She slightly stood on tiptoe and took the initiative to kiss Chen Mo's lips.

Just as Xia Zhiqing was about to pull away, Chen Mo embraced her head, lowered his head, and held her soft lips in a deep kiss, gently caressing her.

Feeling that the young man was struggling, Xia Zhiqing fully cooperated with his advances, allowing him to kiss her chin, fragrant neck, collarbone, and more...

Standing there, Xia Zhiqing leaned backward, holding onto Chen Mo's head, tilting her head back, her breath faint, and if it weren't for Chen Mo supporting her, she might have already fallen to the ground.

As she felt her dress being lifted, Xia Zhiqing, who was gradually losing herself, suddenly snapped back to reality. She quickly took Chen Mo's hand from her thigh and said, "Mo Lang, that's enough... Zhi Ning might be outside, and I still need to discuss this with her."

"Alright, I'll help you button up," Chen Mo said.

"Huh?" Xia Zhiqing was startled. She looked down and found that her top had slipped down to her armpits. The young man's nimble hands were so skillful that she hadn't even noticed.

"It's okay... I can do it myself," Xia Zhiqing replied.

"Don't move."

Chen Mo gently pat her body, pulling her dress back up, and the latter dared not move at all.

Feeling Chen Mo's fingers skillfully buttoning her dress, Xia Zhiqing's ears turned red with heat. She glanced up and saw the young man's eyes fixated on the delicate area of her neckline, filling her with such shame that she wished she could disappear. She quickly said, "Mo... Mo Lang, don't get any ideas."

She was truly afraid of what the young man might do next.

But after he tidied her up, the young man did not take it further. He said, "Zhiqing, although I might be unreliable with minor things, I do respect you when it comes to important matters."

With that, he gently kissed Xia Zhiqing's smooth forehead and said, "Alright, I'm leaving. Remember, don't force yourself if you can't do it. Some things cannot be forced."

"Hmm..."

Xia Zhiqing was so smitten by Chen Mo that she was thinking, even at this moment, Mo Lang is considering her feelings.

...

December 31st.

New Year's Eve.

Early in the morning, any family with some affluence had begun slaughtering chickens and ducks.

Therefore, walking down the street, people could often be seen sitting at their doors, using hot water to pluck chickens and ducks, and gutting fish in preparation for tonight's New Year's dinner.

Having experienced chaos for more than two years, it had been a long time since people had a proper celebration, and now that life was somewhat stable, they wanted to have a decent New Year's meal.

Some families, having married off their daughters, could not be careless either.

To welcome the new year.

At Fu Ze Restaurant, starting from December 25th, items were discounted in sequence, with a big promotion launched.

Especially today, with all items at half price.

High-end goods like fine salt, perfume, tiger meat, and tiger whips were sold at discounts as much as one-third or even one-tenth of the original prices.

Particularly, fine salt was reduced to one hundred cents per pound, hardly more expensive than coarse salt.

Chen Mo was clearing out the inventory, as the trade routes to Jiangnan were interrupted, leaving a large stock of fine salt that wouldn't sell without price reductions, as it was too expensive for the local people.

Yi Family Courtyard.

Han Anniang and Song Min moved here yesterday to reside temporarily. According to Han Anniang's plan, the New Year's dinner would be held at the Yi Family Courtyard.

Unlike other people slaughtering chickens and ducks, at the Yi Family Courtyard, they were slaughtering sheep and cattle.

Anyone who's ever cooked knows that to prepare a New Year's dinner, if you don't start early in the morning or by midday, time isn't enough.

The main reason being that Han Anniang wanted to do everything personally and didn't want servants to help.

Chen Mo drove the carriage to the Government Office to pick up the Xia Sisters, then headed to the Yi Family Courtyard.

Inside the carriage, Xia Zhiqing was nestled by Chen Mo's arm, sitting next to him, while Xia Zhining sat opposite.

Xia Zhining wore a long black dress with a fox fur draped over her shoulders, appearing in a summer-to-autumn attire that felt a bit out of place in winter.

However, the advantage was that it showcased her beauty entirely, with her graceful figure, especially the two exposed sections of her white calves under the slit of her dress, exuding femininity.

Xia Zhiqing and Xia Zhining dressed similarly, but she wore a white dress and had a cape over her shoulders, clearly showing she was afraid of the cold.

Her fair skin had a rosy tint, eyes resembling autumn water, a bright and beautiful face, as if she were a peony flower nourished and blooming, with perfume enhancing her allure.

The two women's attire was not only to please themselves but also to compete with Yi Shiyin.

Of course, this point was certainly brought up by Xia Zhining.

In her view, Chen Mo hasn't married a wife, just a concubine, so there's no need to show respect; she should give the other party a "show of strength."

Hmm, Xia Zhining wants to be the big sister.

"What are you looking at? I'm only agreeing to be your woman for my sister's sake, don't get any ideas." Sensing Chen Mo's gaze, Xia Zhining said.

For now, in front of her sister, Xia Zhining needs to put on an act.

"Zhining." Xia Zhiqing said a little nervously; after all, it wasn't easy for her to get Mo Lang to agree, she can't let Zhining ruin it.

Chen Mo chuckled, then leaned into Xia Zhiqing's ear and whispered, "Zhiqing, for your sake, I won't lower myself to her level."

Xia Zhiqing's face turned slightly red, and she quickly lowered her head because, under the cover of his cloak blocking Xia Zhining's view, Chen Mo took the opportunity to massage her buttocks.

Xia Zhiqing sat uneasy, afraid of being discovered by her sister.

Fortunately, the carriage stopped not long after, and Sun Meng's voice sounded from outside the carriage: "Marshal Chen, we've arrived."

Chen Mo removed his hand, stepped off the carriage first, then assisted the two sisters as they got down.

Looking at the Yi Family Courtyard, Xia Zhiqing shivered a bit, about to officially meet Mo Lang's family, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

Xia Zhining wasn't any better; although she intended to compete with Yi Shiyin, when they really arrived, she felt very flustered, her surface calmness just a pretense.

"Let's go in." Chen Mo extended his hand towards Xia Zhiqing.

Xia Zhiqing's beautiful face tensed slightly, she took a gentle breath, held onto Chen Mo's hand, interlocking their fingers, and felt a bit more at ease. She glanced at her sister, then lifted her gaze to Chen Mo, saying, "Mo Lang."

Chen Mo understood Xia Zhiqing's meaning, and motioned to his left arm for Xia Zhining.

Xia Zhining knew she had put on enough of an act, snorted coldly, stepped forward, and held onto Chen Mo's left arm as the three walked into the Yi Family Courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, Xiaoling, who was about to open the door upon hearing movement, froze a bit, her gaze swept over the Xia Sisters, instantly feeling like she was facing a formidable enemy. She didn't even know where this hostility came from, but she felt it the moment she saw the two women.

In front of the Xia Sisters, Xiaoling felt instantly overwhelmed, she even thought that her young lady couldn't compare.

"Oh no, oh no, if this continues, when will I ever become the bed warmer..."

"Young Master, two ladies." As a maid, she couldn't lose her manners. She forced a smile, bowed to them, and said, "Young Master, the young miss and Madam Han are in the kitchen."

"Mm, I know." Chen Mo led the two sisters towards the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Xiaoling ran ahead.\p>

Outside the kitchen, she called out, "Young Miss, it's not good, it's not good, the young master and they have arrived."

Yi Shiyin was plucking a feathered chicken, using firewood to scorch the chicken's head. Upon hearing Xiaoling's words, she came out holding the plucked chicken, slightly frowning: "Xiaoling, during the New Year, what's not good about the young master coming back?"

Xiaoling realized the ambiguity in her words and said, "Young Miss, the young master brought the two Xia Family ladies over, they are dressed so beautifully, and have such a special poise, they really look identical..."

As she said this, she glanced at the young miss, who wore a blue cotton-padded jacket dress, her sleeves rolled up, exposing her white forearms. Because of the busyness in the kitchen, her face was somewhat dirty, her hair was messy, and she held a plucked chicken in her hands. In comparison, wasn't the difference obvious?

Yi Shiyin evidently hadn't reacted yet, and said: "If they come, they come, what's not good about that?"

She knew long ago that her husband would bring the Xia Sisters today.

"My silly young miss, you are the one the young master personally took as a wife, with a status, but now, in your current state, won't you be overshadowed by them."

Saying this, Xiaoling walked forward, snatched the plucked chicken from Yi Shiyin's hands, called a waiting maid, gave the chicken to the maid, and then pushed Yi Shiyin into the room to make her tidy up.

When Chen Mo brought the Xia Sisters to the kitchen, only Han Anniang and Song Min were busy inside.

"Sister-in-law, where's Xiaolu?" Before Han Anniang got along well with the Xia Sisters, Chen Mo would not call her An Niang in their presence.

"... Uncle is here." Han Anniang was cutting vegetables, very focused, and only realized when Chen Mo spoke, then looked around, saying:

"Huh? She was just here."

Han Anniang wasn't that particular; as she spoke, she wiped her slightly wet hands on the apron tied around her, her gaze swept to the two women following behind Chen Mo: "These two must be the Zhiqing and Zhining Uncle mentioned, right?"

"So big..."

This was the first thought that came to the two sisters' minds.

Because it was hot in the kitchen, Han Anniang was dressed very lightly, in a jacket dress and an apron made of linen, her ample figure evident, with a slight forward lean, her bosom seemed ready to spill forth uncontrollably.

Last time, Han Anniang was dressed thickly, so Xia Zhiqing wasn't bothered upon their first meeting.

But now, she couldn't help but feel a bit inferior.

"... Hello sister-in-law, I'm Xia Zhining, just call me Zhining." After a brief moment of daze, a slight flush appeared on Xia Zhining's pale cheeks as she exchanged pleasantries with Han Anniang.

Xia Zhiqing: "..."

Chen Mo: "..."

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