After lying in bed a while longer, Yu Wanru finally couldn’t wait any longer, worried about keeping Xiao Anlan’s parents waiting, and urged him to get up.

After freshening up, they went downstairs to find everyone already waiting. Master Xiao and Madam Xiao sat on the sofa, while the other Madams and Xiao Anze and Xiao Anya stood nearby.

It was clear they were waiting for the new bride to serve tea.

Yu Wanru was immediately flustered.

Holding her hand, Xiao Anlan confidently led her down the stairs, greeting everyone cheerfully, “Father, Mother, have you gathered everyone to interrogate me this morning?”

Madam Xiao glared at him with a smile, “Nonsense. It was your father. I said it was fine to wait, but he insisted on being up bright and early, eager for his new daughter-in-law to serve tea, and we all had to join him.”

Master Xiao cleared his throat several times, too embarrassed to respond, choosing instead to stare at the coffee table as if he hadn’t heard.

Knowing his father well, Xiao Anlan squeezed Yu Wanru’s hand in reassurance, and they approached Master and Madam Xiao together.

Yu Wanru raised her skirt slightly, preparing to kneel.

Madame Xiao quickly stopped her, “No need for such a formal gesture. Times have changed; we’re not as strict as we used to be. Just serve the tea standing.”

Yu Wanru agreed softly, took the teacup from a servant, and handed it to Master Xiao, her cheeks slightly flushed, “Father, please enjoy the tea.”

Master Xiao nodded with approval, took the tea, and after a sip, handed her a red envelope.

Yu Wanru accepted it gratefully, “Thank you, Father.”

She then offered Madame Xiao a cup of tea, “Mother, please enjoy the tea.”

Madame Xiao accepted it with a warm smile, “Good, good.”

After drinking, she gave Yu Wanru a red envelope and took her hand, asking if she was comfortable and if she’d slept well. “From now on, we’re family. If Anlan misbehaves, come to me, and I’ll set him straight. Treat this place like your own home.”

Yu Wanru nodded, “Yes, Mother. I’ll remember.”

Having served tea to her parents-in-law, Madam Xiao introduced her to other family members.

Though the other wives were elders, Madam Xiao told Yu Wanru simply to call them “Second Mother,” “Third Mother,” and so on, without needing to serve tea. Then the younger members of the family came to greet their sister-in-law.

Yu Wanru gave each of them a red envelope.

Xiao Anqi, who had been holding her mother’s hand, finally dashed over in delight, hugging Yu Wanru’s leg, “Big Sister-in-law, you’ll be living with me from now on, right?”

Yu Wanru crouched down, patting her head, “Yes, that’s right.”

Xiao Anqi cheered, “Great! Now you can play with me every day!”

Xiao Anlan came over and flicked her forehead, “Your sister-in-law is here to spend time with me, not to play with you.”

Xiao Anqi covered her forehead in protest, “Mother, Gege is picking on me again.”

Madam Xiao gave him a stern look.

Xiao Anlan defended himself, “It’s true, though. My wife is here for me, not to play with this little trumpet!”

Yu Wanru was mortified, especially with so many people watching, but she could only keep her head down and stay silent.

Madame Xiao scolded, “You’re arguing with a child. When you have your own, will you fight over your wife with him?”

Xiao Anlan replied matter-of-factly, “If we have a child, the nanny can take care of him. He shouldn’t be vying for my wife’s attention.”

Madam Xiao shook her head, “Look at you, how immature!”

Taking Yu Wanru’s hand, she smiled, “Let’s ignore him and go have breakfast.”

Yu Wanru felt as though she had been granted amnesty and quickly followed Madam Xiao.

The seating arrangement at the dining table was the same as the last time Yu Wanru visited the Xiao family. Madam Xiao was seated with her co- wives on one side, while Master Xiao sat with the younger generation on the other. Xiao Anlan sat in the first position, with Yu Wanru next to him, followed by Xiao Anze and others in succession.

Xiao Anlan was particularly attentive to Wanru, but she felt embarrassed by his attentions, especially under the watchful eyes of the household, so she kept her head down and dared not look at anyone’s expressions.

Madam Xiao noticed this and, with a smile, said, “Wanru, you have hands of your own. There’s no need for him to fuss over you. Just eat, and afterward, pay a visit to Anlan’s uncle.”

Xiao Anlan cut a small piece of steak from his plate and placed it on his wife’s plate before looking up to ask his mother, “How long will Uncle be staying this time?”

Madam Xiao shook her head. “How should I know? It depends entirely on his mood.”

Madam Xiao’s family was not in Liucheng, and now, all her elders had passed on, leaving only one younger brother.

Over the years, Huo Junting has had no fixed residence, moving from battlefield to battlefield. At 35, he was still unmarried, and had never considered settling down.

Although he had a property in Liucheng, he rarely stayed there, only visiting this time because his only nephew was getting married.

Madam Xiao had spent many years worrying about her brother, arranging blind dates for him with young women of all kinds—sophisticated, modern, lively, elegant, beautiful, or poised—but none had worked out.

After all, what girl would want a future husband who was as cold as a block of ice, who barely responded to her words? Besides, he was a soldier who was hardly ever home, and, to be blunt, one might even end up widowed at any time.

As a result, Madam Xiao had yet to succeed in finding herself a sister-in-law.

Xiao Anlan also had business with his uncle, so after breakfast, he took a gift and left with Yu Wanru.

Huo Junting’s residence was in the east of the city, not far from the Yu family’s home.

As they passed by those ancient buildings, Xiao Anlan noticed Wanru looking out the window and asked, “Do you want to stop by?”

Wanru shook her head, saying, “No need. Tomorrow is the official visit back home, and going today wouldn’t follow proper etiquette.”

Xiao Anlan chuckled, “Etiquette or not, people make the rules.”

Wanru still shook her head. “My parents wouldn’t be prepared if we dropped in today. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Xiao Anlan said, “Alright, we’ll go tomorrow. I’ll stay with you for the day.”

“Thank you,” Wanru replied.

Xiao Anlan reached out to caress her cheek. “You’re thanking me? If you really want to thank me, why not give me a kiss?”

Wanru blushed and scolded, “Be serious!”

Xiao Anlan laughed, “Why would I need to act serious in front of my own wife? Only bookish types worry about that.”

Wanru bit her lip and said softly, “Next time at the table, please don’t serve me food. Everyone was watching.”

Xiao Anlan shrugged, “Let them watch. We’ll eat our own food.”

Seeing that he wasn’t giving in, Wanru added, “But it makes me lose my appetite.”

“Really?” Xiao Anlan finally reacted, looking at her in surprise, maybe a little disappointed. “Are you serious? You can’t eat if I serve you? Are you disgusted by me?”

Wanru, anxious at his expression, quickly said, “No, it’s not that. It’s just that…”

But even after a long pause, she couldn’t admit that it was simply the embarrassment of eating under everyone’s gaze.

Seeing her frowning in frustration, Xiao Anlan suddenly burst out laughing. “I was just teasing you, darling!”

Realizing he’d tricked her again, Wanru gave him an angry glare and turned away.

Xiao Anlan hurriedly begged her forgiveness, holding her hand and swaying it back and forth.

Wanru had no choice but to say, “Focus on driving, or I’ll walk home by myself.”

“Alright, alright, you’re the boss.”

The rest of the trip went smoothly, and they arrived safely at Huo Junting’s house.

Since Huo Junting rarely stayed there, the house had no regular servants. This time, Madam Xiao had sent two attendants to clean and look after the place.

The servants led Xiao Anlan and Wanru inside.

“Is Uncle awake?” Xiao Anlan asked.

“Yes, he’s been up early, exercising in the backyard. I’ll go fetch him.”

Xiao Anlan waved his hand. “I’ll go.”

Turning to Wanru, he said, “I’ll go find Uncle. Wait here for a bit.”

“Alright,” Wanru nodded.

As Xiao Anlan walked to the backyard, he heard the sounds of someone practicing martial arts. He spotted Huo Junting, shirtless and wearing only army pants, sweating as he trained, his muscular form steaming in the morning light.

Silently relieved that he hadn’t brought his wife to see this, Xiao Anlan thought, Good thing. Seeing another man’s body might just be bad luck.

The moment Huo Junting sensed a presence, he turned his attack in Xiao Anlan’s direction, lightning-fast.

Xiao Anlan quickly stepped back and shouted, “Uncle, don’t punch me in the face! My wife is here!”

Just as he spoke, Huo Junting’s fist stopped inches from his nose, the wind from the punch rustling his hair.

Huo Junting gave a cold snort before withdrawing his fist.

Xiao Anlan silently rolled his eyes. With no wife of his own, his uncle’s energy had nowhere to go, so he channeled it into boxing. Poor man; Xiao Anlan wouldn’t take it to heart.