The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the hot weather has slightly cooled down, making sleeping at night much more comfortable.

Rainy days have also increased, with fine misty rain nourishing the newly planted crops. During rainy days, it feels quite refreshing.

Cao ger has been at the Chen family for nearly two months, showing significant changes. Not only is his face fuller, but his little arms and legs have also gained some flesh, making him slightly heavy to hold.

After the busy farming season, Chen Yuchun hasn’t sent Dazhuang over again. The adults feel little difference with one less child, as this boy is too well-behaved and quiet. However, Qiaoniu has been a bit fussy, but thankfully Cao ger has become livelier. The two babies, being of similar ages, can play together.

Two days before the Mid-Autumn Festival is Liu Guixiang’s birthday.

Chen Yuandong has long planned to prepare a feast for his wife’s birthday, asking his third brother for help. His father-in-law and mother-in-law will also come over.

He discussed this with his third brother in advance, and Chen Yuping readily agreed.

The day before the birthday, Chen Yuping went to his second brother’s house to discuss the menu for the celebration.

“My father-in-law loves to drink, and my mother-in-law enjoys a bit of rice wine too. Ping ger, please prepare a few more side dishes, I believe they will like it.”

“Let’s have braised chicken, garlic ribs, red-braised pork, stewed pig’s trotters, pan-fried fish, spicy stir-fried meat, bitter melon with eggs, and three delicacies soup. There aren’t many spicy dishes, but they pair well with rice and wine, balancing light and rich flavors.”

Liu Guixiang’s eyes lit up at the menu: “Great! Third brother, you’ve arranged this wonderfully. Just do it as planned. Husband, give a hundred wen to third brother, and he can go to the Shen family to get some wine and a few ounces of rice wine. Let’s have a good celebration tomorrow.”

“That’s too much money,” Chen Yuping thought. “A few dozen wen is enough. I don’t know what to give for your birthday, I’ll arrange this meal as a small gesture. No need for second brother and sister-in-law to be polite, we’re family.”

Chen Yuandong shook his head: “No, no. I’ve said we need to have a lively birthday celebration for your sister-in-law. Third brother, you can’t take over my job. Here, take the money.”

“Third brother, keep the money. Your second brother has long wanted to help me celebrate, it’s his goodwill.”

“Fine then.”

Dad Chen saw the money in his third son’s hand: “Did your second brother give this?”

“Yes, he said he’d take care of the food tomorrow,” Chen Yuping smiled wryly. “He even gave me extra.”

“Accept it. If there’s extra, just return it tomorrow.”

Chen Yuping nodded: “I don’t know what to give for my sister-in-law’s birthday. I was just thinking of organizing the meal.”

“No need to give anything, it’s not a major birthday. Your father and I aren’t giving gifts, so you don’t have to either,” Dad Chen said, adding, “We’ll have lunch at your second brother’s house and dinner here. You’ll need to invite your elder brother’s family over as well.”

“I’ll stop by Third Uncle’s house to discuss this with elder brother later.” He needed Third Uncle to save some meat and ribs for tomorrow, ensuring the ribs had enough meat on them.

Chen Yuandong went to Shen Village for wine and stopped by his elder brother’s house to invite them for lunch the next day.

When Chen Yuping arrived, he ran into his elder brother sending off his second brother, and he immediately laughed: “Elder brother, second brother,” and shared his purpose.

“Tomorrow will be easy, you won’t need to prepare lunch or dinner,” Chen Yuchun joked.

The three brothers chatted for a while before Chen Yuandong and Chen Yuping headed home.

The next day, it was another rainy day, with fine rain falling steadily, making the world seem wrapped in a thin veil, very cool and pleasant.

Chen Yuchun arrived early, bringing the two children over. Zhang Zhiwei went to the fields to check on the crops. As recent rains had left the fields flooded, requiring drainage ditches to prevent the seedlings from being drowned.

An ger is over a month older than Qiaoniu, who looks larger than Cao ger. It’s hard to tell their exact ages, but Cao ger has grown significantly in the nearly two months at the Chen family, looking similar to Qiaoniu when she was four months old, so he might be around four months now. While Qiaoniu is over five months, and Dazhuang, at two years, is the oldest among the four children.

All the kids at home are very well-behaved, and not fussy at all. Placed on the bamboo bed, they play happily.

Chen Yuping is busy in the kitchen, while Chen Yuchun assists him. Dad Chen and Liu Guixiang watch the four children and keep an eye on their own stall, while others are busy in the fields. Even in the rain, there are still farm chores to do. True leisure will only come when winter arrives and there are no crops left.

When the Liu family’s elders arrived, the three Chen men had just come inside with their pant legs muddy and wet.

Dad Chen welcomed them in, serving tea, peanuts, melon seeds, dried apricots, and sweet potato strips, all from their own land.

The table was filled with about ten people. Today was a good day, and Liu Guixiang also had some rice wine, enjoying a lively lunch.

The meal was very delicious, and the two old men, Father Liu and Father Chen, had a bit to drink, chatting like old friends with slurred speech.

“Good times are here for the in-laws,” Liu Pozi smiled warmly. “I’ve heard in town about Ping ger’s cooking skills, and indeed, it’s just as delicious today. My daughter Guixiang marrying into the Chen family is truly a blessing. Thanks to the help from you, the young couple can live a smooth and comfortable life.”

Dad Chen chuckled: “Guixiang is a good girl, meticulous and thoughtful. My Yuandong is truly fortunate to have such a wonderful wife.”

Chen Yuping couldn’t help but chuckle at the two elders’ mutual praise and hurried into the kitchen with a stack of empty bowls and chopsticks.

In the kitchen, Chen Yuchun had already rolled up his sleeves, washing the dishes with agility.

The two worked quickly, tidying up the kitchen in no time.

In the afternoon, the Liu elders were ready to return to town. They came by ox cart, however, Father Liu had drunk a bit too much, so Chen Yuandong escorted his father-in-law and mother-in-law home.

Liu Guixiang organized the items her parents brought back—fish, meat, two live chickens, two live ducks, Qiaoniu’s clothes and shoes, and two pieces of soft cotton fabric. It was easy to tell one piece was for her and one for Yuandong.

“Your in-laws care about you two. You should think of them often and visit when you have free time.” As a father himself, Dad Chen empathized. If the children are doing well, it brings peace of mind.

Liu Guixiang’s eyes glistened, her voice a bit hoarse: “Dad is right.”

Dinner at the old house also required preparations.

Seeing the time was about right, Chen Yuping went to the old house to get things ready.

Dad Chen didn’t ask his eldest son to help, telling him to stay home and watch the three children.

Soon, Liu Guixiang came over carrying Qiaoniu, followed by Chen Yuandong, who was carrying a chicken, a duck, and some fish and meat.

The chicken wasn’t killed. They had made chicken soup for lunch, and having it twice in one day would be too nourishing.

They prepared a duck in rice wine, twice-cooked pork, red-braised fish, shrimp paste tofu, stuffed gourds, dry pot potato slices, winter melon soup with bones, and stir-fried greens.

After a lavish lunch, dinner was lighter with mainly vegetarian dishes.

After celebrating his sister-in-law’s birthday, it was soon time for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chen Yuping had been thinking about preparing something special. He was particularly confident in his cooking skills, as he had a “golden finger” for culinary techniques.

He planned to make snowskin mooncakes, which are not only beautiful but also delicious. They look exquisite and upscale. He didn’t intend to sell them, as there wasn’t enough time. Instead, he wanted to show off to the villagers and neighbors, planning to be better prepared for next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival to ensure good business.