Fortunately, Eldest Aunt arrived shortly after, saving Luo Cheng from the awkward conversation with his younger aunt. Eldest Aunt had also become younger, but her appearance had changed significantly. She seemed shorter and thinner than he remembered, with a sallow complexion.

What surprised Luo Cheng even more was that Eldest Aunt now had four children. In his memory, she only had two: a daughter, Wang Yue, and a son, Wang Heng. Luo Cheng recognized Wang Yue immediately, though she had changed slightly. But Wang Heng, who was a chubby boy in the future—capable of eating three bowls of rice per meal, packed to the brim—was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Aunt Luo’s two sons were both skinny, with no sign of the chubby little boy Luo Cheng remembered.

When Eldest Aunt arrived, she immediately noticed her younger sister, Luo Hong, and the young man in a military uniform by her side. Although she hadn’t seen him in years, she recognized him at once. While Luo Cheng wasn’t particularly muscular, he had gained some healthy weight, unlike most people of this era, who were typically thin and frail.

Luo Cheng greeted her promptly and asked Luo Shishi to share the melon seeds with the children Eldest Aunt had brought along. Wang Yue, who was about the same age as Shishi, quickly joined her, and the two began chatting and laughing.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Eldest Aunt and her husband went into the house to greet Luo Cheng’s parents, as well as his grandmother, the elder in the family. Even the children were brought along to pay their respects, just as the younger aunt had done upon arriving earlier.

Once Eldest Aunt finished her greetings, her husband stayed in the room to chat with Luo Cheng’s father. Like the younger aunt, they had also brought their own chairs—two, to be precise.

Since it was still early in the day, Eldest Aunt found time to chat with Luo Cheng. Her questions mirrored those of the younger aunt, focusing on work, daily life, and marriage.

To eldest aunt and her younger sister, Luo Cheng was a highly eligible bachelor, especially in the context of their rural area. With his education, technical skills, and the ability to drive and repair vehicles, they believed even a town mayor’s daughter would be a fitting match for him.

It was precisely because they thought Luo Cheng was too good that they hadn’t introduced him to anyone. Otherwise, a man of his age still unmarried in a rural town would be considered quite old.

Luo Cheng, meanwhile, entertained his aunts with stories about life in the “army,” which he had gleaned from television dramas in his previous life. He described training routines (drawing inspiration from Soldier Assault), food in the army (Stories of the Cooking Squad), and his role in communications and transportation as a logistics or administrative soldier.

He even joked that there were no female soldiers in his unit and that those who existed were usually medics or performers. His embellished tales captivated both aunts and the children who had gathered around him. Many of them looked at him with admiration.

Before long, Luo Cheng’s uncles—his eldest and second uncles—arrived with their families, making the house lively. After greeting Luo Cheng, they went inside to pay their respects to his grandmother. Being family, there was no need for formalities.

The kitchen quickly became a hub of activity. The aunts and older female cousins were called to help, following Luo Cheng’s mother’s lead, as she was the eldest sister-in-law. Here, even guests were expected to pitch in; sitting idly and waiting to be served wasn’t an option.

Cooking wasn’t elaborate—just sweet potato and rice porridge. However, feeding over thirty people, including Luo Cheng’s family, required careful planning. The rice and millet were cooked first to make a base, which was then diluted with water and sweet potatoes in subsequent batches. Sweet potatoes cooked quickly and became mushy, making them ideal for stretching meals.

The porridge was served in large basins placed directly on the table for everyone to scoop from. The household also prepared steamed cornbread buns, ensuring one per person.

While this arrangement sufficed for younger children, it was far from enough for adolescents or young men like Luo Bing. If everyone ate their fill, the family’s grain stores would be severely depleted, leaving them in dire straits for the coming days.

While the women bustled in the kitchen, the men sat in the living room, chatting. The older sons, however, weren’t spared. Luo Cheng’s eldest uncle’s son, who was only two years younger than Luo Cheng, and his second uncle’s eldest son, a robust sixteen-year-old, were tasked with helping Luo Bing fetch water. With the increased number of guests, water was in high demand, and the young men had to show initiative.

Only the youngest children, were spared from work.

As for Luo Cheng, no one dared ask him to help. Among the relatives, he held a special status. He spent his time outside with the younger girls—his cousins and nieces. Meanwhile, the toddlers ran around nearby, nibbling on the melon seeds Shishi had distributed.

This created an unusual scene: Luo Cheng, a well-dressed young man in his military uniform, chatting with a group of girls. While the adults handled serious matters, the young men chopped wood and fetched water, and the women cooked, Luo Cheng stood out like a peacock among pigeons.

Luckily, all the girls were related to him—either cousins, nieces, or his own sisters. Otherwise, his presence might have drawn scandalous whispers.

Still, Luo Cheng wasn’t entirely comfortable with this arrangement. If he left the group of girls, his only alternative would be joining the older men for dull conversations. However, none of the girls stood out in terms of appearance.

In rural areas, it wasn’t unheard of for some women to have fair skin. Yet among Luo Cheng’s cousins and nieces, not one had a naturally fair complexion, including his two younger sisters.

Most were also overly thin, almost frail. Malnutrition during their developmental years likely stunted their height as well. The difference was stark compared to Luo Cheng’s tall, 178cm frame and relatively well-fed appearance.

In this era, Luo Cheng’s looks made him seem refined and educated, a stark contrast to the shorter, darker, and leaner people around him. His bearing immediately gave the impression of someone with higher education, a rare and highly regarded quality.