Chen Jun nudged Li Dongxiang’s arm.
"What’s wrong, you have so much food and you’re not eating, why are you looking at me?"
Li Dongxiang spoke while also not delaying her meat picking.
"You’re not feeling well, right? Eat less meat, eating too much won’t digest well."
Chen Jun’s face almost couldn’t hold when saying this.
"I’m feeling better now, and because I wasn’t feeling well before, I need to eat more meat to replenish."
Li Dongxiang said it like it was a matter of course.
Others listened and found it funny; only she would directly shout out to supplement her body with someone else’s food.
Chen Jun was so angry he nearly slapped the table.
"Alright, Chen Jun, let’s have a drink, Sister-in-law likes to eat, so let her eat more, anyway, Yiyi prepared a lot."
Ye Hao quickly changed the topic, fearing they might start arguing at his place.
"Deputy Battalion Commander Ye knows how to talk."
Li Dongxiang said while picking another piece of meat to eat.
Those sitting next to her rushed to make progress towards the braised pork.
The pork was cooked really well, if they didn’t eat some now, there would be none left.
Li Yifan took the lead in toasting Gu Yi; firstly to welcome her to the military base and secondly to thank her for her hospitality.
Others also toasted Gu Yi, continually praising her culinary skills.
Listening to his fellow soldiers praise Gu Yi, Ye Hao felt delighted inside.
The women finished eating first and went to the side to chat.
"Sister-in-law, you cooked this meat really well today."
Li Dongxiang had her fill today, saying to Gu Yi while burping.
"Isn’t it good? More than half went into your stomach, aren’t you afraid of indigestion?"
"If there’s something to eat, why worry about indigestion, right, sister-in-law?"
Li Dongxiang intentionally steered the conversation toward Gu Yi, wanting to see her expression now.
Though Li Dongxiang wasn’t seen as great usually, she wasn’t as foolish today.
Actually, she saw Gu Yi buying groceries yesterday and thought Ye Hao and her were living poorly.
Buying so much today was just keeping up appearances.
So she ate desperately just to see Gu Yi distressed.
If Gu Yi knew of her thoughts, she could only marvel at Li Dongxiang’s peculiar imagination.
Just then Wu Chunmei was speaking to Gu Yi, so Gu Yi pretended not to hear Li Dongxiang.
But Li Dongxiang didn’t see it that way; she thought Gu Yi was upset she ate too much.
Now you’d have to keep up appearances, feeling overwhelmed?
The men were still drinking, and Qiangqiang and Nuonuo were getting sleepy after eating.
Gu Yi saw their eyelids drooping.
"Sister-in-law, you should take Qiangqiang and Nuonuo home to sleep, they seem really tired."
As a mother, she was also a bit reluctant.
"Then we’ll head home first, leave the dishes, we can help clean up together tomorrow."
Ye Honglian held Qiangqiang and spoke to Gu Yi.
"Leave it, we’ll come early tomorrow. You’re alone, it’s too tiring."
Wu Chunmei said as well.
They’ve also hosted guests and understand how tiring the cleanup can be.
But the kids really needed sleep.
"It’s okay if they finish early, I’ll start cleaning then. You should go back."
Gu Yi didn’t want to trouble them to come help clean early in the morning.
"Sister-in-law, take the kids back, I’ll stay and help clean later."
Fang Hong thought she’d help since she wasn’t busy.
"That works, Dongxiang should help too."
Ye Honglian looked at the quiet Li Dongxiang.
"Me? I’ll see, you go ahead."
She didn’t say yes nor no.
"No worries, head back quickly."
"Alright, we’ll head out then."
Ye Honglian and Wu Chunmei took the sleepy kids and headed home.
Left with only the three, Fang Hong didn’t speak much.
Li Dongxiang liked to talk though, but her words were often sarcastic.
Gu Yi didn’t want to engage with her.
So she occasionally went to heat the food.
When she couldn’t avoid Li Dongxiang, she’d respond with "mm" or "ah."
Finally, the men finished drinking and eating.
Li Dongxiang pretended to help clean the tableware.
"Old Chen, you’ve had too much, I’ll help you home first."
Without waiting for Chen Jun’s response, she helped him up and spoke to Gu Yi.
"Sister-in-law, Old Chen drank too much, I’ll take him home. Leave this for tomorrow, I’m leaving."
"Running off quickly, Sister-in-law Gu, keep your distance from her in the future. She’s the type to take advantage and leave."
Gu Yi might’ve expected this from Li Dongxiang, so she wasn’t fazed, but Fang Hong couldn’t hold back her dissatisfaction.
Gu Yi laughed and nodded.
"Alright, stay far away next time."
Fang Hong’s words let Gu Yi see her as someone worth befriending, although she’s quiet, she’s sensible inside.
Watching Gu Yi and Fang Hong move dishes into the kitchen, some who weren’t too drunk helped out too.
Gu Yi hurriedly stopped them, saying it wasn’t necessary.
Ye Hao held her back.
"You cooked so hard, it’s only right they help clean."
Fang Hong happened to overhear.
Thinking Ye Hao, usually stern, was indeed quite considerate towards his wife.
"So why aren’t you helping?"
Gu Yi found it amusing, knowing that Ye Hao drank quite a bit yet still was considerate about her being tired, which warmed her heart.
"I’ll help, I’ll wash the dishes later."
Gu Yi knew if she continued talking to Ye Hao it wouldn’t end.
She pushed him aside and continued her cleaning.
Gu Yi and Fang Hong together quickly finished washing the dishes.
Fang Hong intended to help clean the floor.
Gu Yi quickly stopped her.
"It’s getting late, Jianjun drank quite a bit too, you should take him home to rest. I’ll clean the rest tomorrow."
Fang Hong saw Li Jianjun already leaning on the sofa, likely had too much, so she didn’t hesitate more with Gu Yi.
She supported Li Jianjun and left.
Finally, only Ye Hao and Li Yifan remained sitting.
"It’s late now, I’ll head back too. Gu Yi’s cooking is great, I’ll come often."
Having drunk quite a bit, Li Yifan seemed livelier than usual.
"You’re welcome anytime."
Truly, although Gu Yi and Li Yitian are partners now, she didn’t quite know Li Yifan well.
Li Yifan smiled and headed out.
Ye Hao, though drunk, managed to maintain composure in front of others, but relaxed when alone, revealing his drunkenness.
"Yiyi, what are you doing?"
"Yiyi, why aren’t you coming over yet?"
"I’m cleaning; you go take a shower, alright?"
"No, you have to shower with me."
Gu Yiyi was speechless, realizing he was really drunk.
Gu Yi felt helpless, how does he behave like a child when drunk, needing coaxing?
Eventually accepting fate, she led him to shower, unable to tolerate someone covered in alcohol and sweat sleeping beside her.
Soon, Gu Yi’s voice was heard from the bathroom.
"Ye Hao, stand on your own, don’t lean on me."
"Not time for sleep yet, wait until we get to bed."
After finishing up with Ye Hao, Gu Yi was soaked.
Luckily, Ye Hao had some awareness himself; otherwise, she wouldn’t have managed.