"Mom, let me sleep a bit more." Xu Nian’an had only slept for a short while since dawn, and he was really sleepy at the moment.
"It’s your elder sister-in-law’s first day in the house, and the noodles are ready. Are you sure you don’t want to eat? Or do you have some complaints about your elder sister-in-law?" Ji Ying frowned, staring at his sleeping figure, and muttered, "Nian’an, isn’t it time for you to find a wife too?"
The sleepiness in Xu Nian’an’s mind was instantly swept away.
He opened his eyes and immediately knew from Ji Ying’s expression that she had misunderstood. He hurriedly sat up and explained, "Mom, I wholeheartedly welcome my sister-in-law marrying my elder brother. Last night, our younger sister had a nightmare, so I couldn’t sleep for a long time."
"Nianhua had a nightmare again?" Ji Ying’s attention was instantly diverted. She recalled the last time Nianhua fell into the lake and had a fever, it seemed she had a nightmare then too. The pained and uncomfortable look on her made Ji Ying worry. Besides failing the college entrance exam, what could be so frightening for her daughter?
"Yes, yesterday she came to my room without even wearing shoes, which startled me." Xu Nian’an nodded. His little sister was the apple of their parents’ eyes, a fact he was well aware of.
Upon hearing this, Ji Ying ran to Nianhua’s room.
"Mom?" Xu Nianhua had just finished dressing and, seeing Ji Ying’s worried face, thought something had happened.
"Nianhua, did you have another nightmare last night? How about, tonight, Mom sleeps with you?"
Ji Ying murmured, "Autumn is here, don’t go walking around barefoot, the cold air is harsh."
"No need, Mom. Last night, I suddenly dreamt about our second brother, and then I went to see him," Xu Nianhua explained, swiftly changing the subject, "Mom, let’s hurry outside. I want to taste what my sister-in-law has cooked. It must be delicious."
"You’re always thinking with your stomach," Ji Ying noticed she was behaving as usual, so she did not think further and planned to sleep with Nianhua that night, so she wouldn’t be scared and end up seeking her second brother in the middle of the night.
It was Zhou He’s first day marrying into the Xu family. To make a good impression in front of her in-laws, she made egg noodles today.
The noodles and eggs were provided by Ji Ying. Initially, Zhou He thought that frying a couple of eggs for her in-laws or perhaps for her younger sister-in-law, Xu Nianhua, would suffice.
However, Ji Ying laid six eggs in front of Zhou He, saying, "We received a lot of eggs this time, one for each person can also help to nourish our bodies. Although our home is not wealthy, we can still afford a few eggs."
What Ji Ying left unsaid was that, on Zhou He’s first day in the family, she ought to eat well to celebrate.
The aromatic egg noodles, sprinkled with a bit of green onion, smelled delicious.
"Sister-in-law, your cooking is really good."
Xu Nianhua complimented, even though she hadn’t tasted it yet, the dish looked particularly appetizing.
Zhou He smiled shyly.
"Indeed, not bad at all," Ji Ying said with a smile.
Although Xu Qinghe didn’t speak, his satisfied smile also put Zhou He at ease.
Xu Nian’an devoured his noodles, eating with great speed.
To Zhou He’s surprise, the atmosphere in the Xu family was exceptionally welcoming. Her in-laws did not trouble her at all. After breakfast, when she wanted to wash the dishes, Ji Ying ushered her into the living room to rest, saying, "You made breakfast, let me wash the dishes. Nianhua has been talking about the handkerchief you made for her."
"I’ve embroidered several more," Zhou He immediately responded, glancing at the pile of dishes in the sink. Leaving so many dishes for her mother-in-law to wash seemed somewhat unfair.