夏芷晴 was slightly taken aback. Didn't Zhi Ning say to give them a "warning shot"? Why has she suddenly become so enthusiastic?

Chen Mo was also stunned for a moment because Xia Zhining's behavior at this moment was somewhat out of character for her.

"Zhi Ning... Hello." Han Anniang laughed, scanning the sisters with her eyes. For those unfamiliar with them, it was indeed hard to tell them apart.

She could only differentiate based on the colors of the clothes the sisters were wearing.

"Hello, sister-in-law, I'm Xia Zhiqing. We've met before, you can just call me Zhiqing." Xia Zhiqing greeted Han Anniang and then watched intently at the uncleaned cured meat in a wooden basin, rolled up her sleeves, walked over, squatted down in front of the basin, and said, "Sister-in-law, let me help you."

"No need, this cured meat is difficult to handle. You're wearing a white dress, don't get it dirty." Han Anniang hurriedly said, the cured meat is smoked black, and someone inexperienced in the kitchen would really struggle to handle it. She then called Song Min to deal with it.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I cook often at home. Cleaning cured meat is not a difficult task."

After speaking, Xia Zhiqing stood up, first rolled the hem of her white skirt into a strip and tied a knot, so that when squatting, the skirt wouldn't drag on the ground. Then she looked around and spotted the kitchen knife on the cutting board, grabbed it, and started scraping the blackened skin of the cured meat with swift and skilled movements, cleaning off the black oil stains from the skin in no time, revealing the golden yellow meat with skin.

Next, Xia Zhiqing scooped a ladle of hot water, poured it into the wooden basin, took a clean cloth, and began scrubbing the other three sides of the cured meat vigorously.

Seeing Xia Zhiqing's skilled technique, both Han Anniang and Song Min were stunned. After all, in their view, a Magistrate's Daughter should be the kind whose fingers never touch spring water, yet she was capable of handling such dirty work.

Han Anniang was instantly impressed with Xia Zhiqing and started chatting with her.

Xia Zhining: "..."

Her sister did cook at home, she didn't deny it, but the cleaning tasks were always done by servants, her sister only handled the final stir-frying and steaming. When did she learn this whole set?

Her sister was already busy working, she naturally wouldn't stand by and watch, and after looking around the kitchen, she found something to do herself.

In the past, Xia Zhining definitely wouldn't lower herself to do this kind of work, nor could she endure this labor.

But after months with the army, she adapted to such a harsh environment.

This was considered child's play.

This New Year's Eve dinner, Han Anniang planned to make fifteen to twenty dishes, so there were many processes to handle, there was no shortage of work to do.

Seeing the two sisters without airs, Han Anniang was much relieved, after all, in her eyes, she hoped every one of Chen Mo's women would be virtuous and capable, gentle and demure.

The kitchen quickly became bustling, instead, Chen Mo standing aside became the odd one out.

"Husband..."

Just as Chen Mo was thinking about finding some work for himself, Xiaolu's voice sounded behind him.

Turning back, Chen Mo saw Yi Shiyin standing at the kitchen door, the inside and outside of the kitchen were dim and bright, she stood under the winter sun, like a spirit in the sunlight, with translucent skin and luscious lips.

Her eyebrows were thin like willow leaves, raised at an angle, adding a touch of playfulness to her beauty, dressed in a light green long dress, like a maiden about to wed.

Xiaoling beside her thought the young lady's outfit must outshine the Xia Sisters, but seeing the sisters busy in the kitchen, she was instantly stunned.

What kind of move is this?

This is simply unsporting.

"Xiaolu, where did you go?" Han Anniang looked up at Yi Shiyin and said, "Uncle was just looking for you."

"...Went to relieve myself." Yi Shiyin fibbed, then glanced sideways at Xiaoling, as if saying it's all your fault for getting busy now.

"Miss..." Xiaoling poked Yi Shiyin's waist, then signaled with her eyes.

Seeing this, Yi Shiyin slightly straightened up, her clear eyes fixed on the Xia Sisters, then she lightly laughed and said to Chen Mo: "Husband, these must be the Xia Sisters."

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment and then realized Xiaolu was trying to put on a big-sister act, and said: "This is Xia Zhiqing, and she's her sister Xia Zhining, Xiaolu, you can just call them Zhiqing and Zhining."

Yi Shiyin's idea of acting as an elder sister wasn't wrong, but her lively big eyes paired with her innocent and harmless face, truly lacked any authority.

Even if you put on airs, people wouldn't think you were doing so.

Xia Zhiqing is truly clever; she only acts foolishly over matters of the heart.

Chen Mo hasn't given her official status yet, meaning she has no position in the Chen family, plus she's not one to love rivalry, so naturally, she wouldn't oppose Yi Shiyin, she laughed: "So you're Sister Yi, Mo Lang has mentioned you to me, finally we meet now."

Yi Shiyin isn't one to compete out of jealousy, having a pure heart like a blank paper, seeing Xia Zhiqing's smiling welcome was not like what Xiaoling had said in the room just now, she suddenly forgot all the advice Xiaoling had given her and giggled:

"You don't need to call me Sister Yi, just call me Xiaolu, husband mentioned I'm three years younger than you guys." Yi Shiyin said.

Xiaoling palmed her forehead.

"Then how..."

Xia Zhiqing's words were cut off by Xia Zhining taking the hint: "Hello Xiaolu, I'm Xia Zhining."

Xia Zhining respected Han Anniang because she's that rascal's elder, and indeed older than herself, but Yi Shiyin seemingly was younger, and if discounting official status, she and her sister were the first to become that rascal's woman, naturally unwilling to call Yi Shiyin sister.

Xiaoling wanted to speak for the young lady, but the foolish young lady was already giggling and greeting Xia Zhining.

Xiaoling felt angry for the young lady's lack of competitiveness.

Yi Shiyin was simple-minded and soon became well-acquainted with the Xia Sisters, most importantly, she didn't hesitate to believe what the Xia Sisters said.

...

Yi Shiyin didn't eat lunch at the Yi Family Courtyard.

Because Chen Mo was to accompany her to the Yi Family for a family reunion lunch.

After all, Yi Shiyin's parents are still alive, along with a whole bunch of family members like aunts and uncles, so they definitely need to reunite. To avoid conflicting with the Chen Family's dinner, the Yi Family set their gathering at noon.

Upon arriving at the Yi Family, Yi Shiyin distributed the prepared red envelopes to the younger members of the Yi Family.

A group of children crowded around Yi Shiyin and Chen Mo, calling them Aunt and Uncle.

Chen Mo saw Yang Wei's widow.

She was once the wives and concubines of the former Qinghe Gang Leader, and now they've remarried. The husbands even live with them.

A Noble Clan is a Noble Clan; even if it's a second marriage, with husbands joining the wives' family, there are still people eager to become part of it.

Chen Mo chatted with them for a while, without a hint of guilt over past actions.

At meal time, in the main hall, there were over ten tables of Yi Family members seated, while outside a stage was set up for opera, dance, and variety performances.

To Chen Mo, who hadn't felt the New Year's atmosphere for a long time, he experienced a rich sense of the holiday spirit this time at the Yi Family.

There is something that Chen Mo had to admit: the larger and more rule-bound the clan, the more lively the New Year celebration.

With a few drinks in, thoughts were gradually drowned by the familial and holiday atmosphere, smiles spreading as toasts and tea were exchanged - "Sister, Brother, Uncle, Aunt" greetings back and forth, making the atmosphere increasingly harmonious.

The children quickly filled up and went to play in the courtyard, flipping string figures, with maids following behind to prevent any injuries.

Not until 1:00 PM did the two of them take a carriage back to the Yi Family Courtyard.

At this moment, the kitchen was bustling with activity.

The clattering of pots and pans mingled with the sounds of women's laughter, as the enticing aroma of food flowed in along with the afternoon sunlight.

Yi Shiyin put on the sleeves that Xiaoling prepared for her and joined in.

Not far from the window, strands of light and shadow fell, melting the snow under the eaves. A gust of cold wind blew by, and a leaf drifted from the branch into the surface of the heavenly pond, creating gentle ripples.

Xiaoling walked over, using a fish net to catch a few Tail-eyed Spirit Fish from the pond, heading towards the kitchen.

The wind howled, the winter was chilly, yet time flowed like the gradually melting snow under the eaves.

Chen Mo gazed softly at the scene in the kitchen.

This is what I want to cherish and protect!

The women busied themselves in the kitchen, while Chen Mo found a bow and arrows and began shooting in the courtyard.

...

As dusk fell, the aroma of food in the kitchen grew stronger.

Maids assisted Song Min by carrying dishes, fetching chopsticks, and moving benches.

Plates of dishes were brought to the table.

Stewed chicken with mushrooms, braised bear paw, braised fish, fish with pickled vegetables, stir-fried greens, Four Happiness Meatballs...

Eighteen dishes filled the dark red sandalwood table completely.

The steaming hot dishes, whether just out of the pot or covered after cooking, wafted appealing scents throughout the room.

"Husband, stop practicing and wash up for dinner," Yi Shiyin called out to Chen Mo.

Xiaoling brought warm water, with a dry towel placed on a wooden basin for Chen Mo to dry his hands after washing.

In the hall, Chen Mo, Han Anniang, Yi Shiyin, Xia Zhiqing, Xia Zhining, Song Min, and Xiaoling sat together.

No maids were asked to serve them.

"Wow, it smells so good here. Sister Han, will Sister Xiaoling eat with us too?" Song Min asked Han Anniang.

"From now on, we will all eat together. We are family now," Han Anniang replied with a smile.

Xiaoling blushed, wondering if she had been accepted. She glanced secretly at Chen Mo.

"Come, let's raise our glasses together," Chen Mo stood up, raising his wine glass.

Han Anniang and the others stood up in turn, imitating Chen Mo's action.

"Cheers!"

The wine glasses clinked together.

Song Min took her first sip of wine, which made her cough from the spiciness, turning her face red and causing everyone to burst out laughing.

Sitting down, Chen Mo did not need to do much, as Yi Shiyin and Han Anniang took turns serving him, with Yi Shiyin even personally feeding him.

Thus, with his free hands, Chen Mo gently stroked the thighs of the two women.

The meal stretched on for a long time.

So long that a bell from Fu Ze Restaurant rang out.

Everyone looked at each other and smiled, saying together, "Happy New Year."

The Eighth Year of Xuanhe has arrived!

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