Lin’s mother arranged the two dishes from the basket and uncovered the two bowls from the wooden basin.

“It’s sour cabbage fish soup,” Zhang Qinfang couldn’t help but speak, her tone full of disdain.

Who didn’t have fish to eat these days? Sour cabbage fish soup, really? For today’s reunion dinner, they had even slaughtered a chicken.

Ning Shu glanced at her when she heard her words. “If Second Sister-in-law doesn’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.” She wouldn’t let Zhang Qinfang have her way.

Lin Xiaojing said, “That’s right. Lately, I haven’t had much of an appetite. I’ve been wanting to eat pickles with rice. I like it.”

Zhang Qinfang smiled insincerely. “Then, you should eat more later.” Such a flatterer.

Wasn’t it because Ning Shu had given her a job? Look at how she was flattering… People who didn’t know might really think she liked pickles.

Lin’s mother glared at Zhang Qinfang. “Third Daughter-in-law, you’ve worked hard. Everyone, please take your seats. We’ll start as soon as Third Son arrives.” She then brought one bowl of sour cabbage fish to the children’s table.

Lin Xiaojing sat next to Ning Shu, unceremoniously taking her third brother’s seat.

Nine adults sat at one table, which was not spacious. On the other hand, the table for eleven children was quite spacious.

“Mom, we don’t have lettuce stem strips and bamboo shoots here,” Er Bao called out.

Ning Shu put the dishes she made into one bowl, which was definitely enough.

She hadn’t thought about making two servings for two tables. In contrast, the dishes on the Lin family’s side were all in two servings, just with slightly smaller portions for the children’s table and larger portions for the adults’ table.

“I’ll go get another bowl and divide some over there,” Lin’s mother said.

Er Bao was delighted and said to his older siblings, “Mom’s lettuce stem strips and bamboo shoots are delicious.”

Hai Cai eagerly asked, “Can I have some later?”

“Of course, we can eat together,” Er Bao said.

Hai Cai grinned widely. “Er Bao, you’re really nice.”

Er Bao proudly raised his chin. “I’m the best Er Bao.”

Seeing everyone sitting down and his father hadn’t brought his chair yet, Sanbao became impatient.

So he walked towards the door alone.

Lin Xiaojing couldn’t help but remark, “Even Sanbao can’t wait. Third Brother, you’re so slow.”

“Dad…” Sanbao suddenly called out.

Lin’s mother laughed. “You shouldn’t say that behind his back.”

Lin Guodong’s movements were actually quite fast. It’s just that everyone was waiting for him, which made the wait unbearable, especially with so much good food.

That’s why he seemed slow.

He placed Sanbao’s chair between Yibao and Erbao, where there was already a space, and then lifted Sanbao up to sit down.

When he turned around to sit down himself, he found that someone was already sitting next to Ning Shu.

He could only sit in another empty seat, between Lin’s mother and Lin Xiaojing.

So Lin’s mother moved over. “Come and sit with your dad. You gentlemen can enjoy your drinks.”

Lin Guodong wasn’t polite either. “Did you go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy liquor?” He hadn’t drunk in a long time.

“But I can’t drink too much at noon. I have something to do in the afternoon. How about everyone comes to our house for a meal another day, and we can drink to our heart’s content?”

Ning Shu thought that they had never cooked or entertained Lin’s father and mother properly, so she said, “How about the second day of the Lunar New Year? It’s not good to go to other people’s houses for meals on the first day.”

Zhang Qinfang said, “The second day won’t do. Married daughters all have to bring their son-in-law and children back to their parents’ home. By then, it will only be dad, mom, and Xiaojing.”

She implied, “Are you deliberately not inviting us?”

Ning Shu said, “I’m inviting dad, mom, and Xiaojing.”

Zhang Qinfang was taken aback. “So straightforward?”

Ning Shu quickly added, “Then how about noon on the third day of the Lunar New Year?”

Zhang Qinfang was speechless.

She had been teasing herself just now.

Although the Lin family had a large population, sometimes

It can be quite troublesome when there are conflicts, but sometimes it can be lively too, like during the Lunar New Year.

With more people around, there’s that festive atmosphere.

“This wine wasn’t bought from the supply and marketing cooperative; it was brewed by the old Qin family using sweet potatoes exchanged for.” Mother Lin said.

But throughout the year, they only indulge like this once or twice.

Lin Guodong took a sip. “It’s quite strong.”

Lin Guofeng added, “Well, in the afternoon, we can rest, so it’s okay if it’s not too strong.”

Lin Guoliang agreed as well.

Actually, most men prefer wine with a strong aftertaste.

When the men drink, the women don’t. They quietly eat their food.

Ning Shu didn’t really like eating with certain people.

It’s not really their fault; after all, in this era, many people eat like they’re fighting over the food—it’s a matter of habit.

It’s just that in the future, people won’t worry about food or going hungry, so this habit will disappear.

Like Zhang Qinfang right now, using her chopsticks to fish out the best pieces of chicken from the soup, and then, not satisfied with just one piece, she goes for a second.

After she’s picked through the dish like this, Ning Shu loses her appetite, even though the chicken is cooked really well—she just doesn’t want to eat anymore.

“Wow, this pickled fish is so delicious, it’s completely different from how my mother makes it.” Lin Xiaojing said, really savoring the pickled fish.

She’s giving Ning Shu face.

But little does she know, this is the real delicious dish.

Ning Shu smiled. “If you like it, eat more.” She took a piece herself.

“Third sister’s cooking skills are praised by all the children in our Lin family.” Qian Aifen said, as she also took a piece.

But when she tasted the fish, she was also stunned.

To be honest, what she said just now was to give Ning Shu face, indirectly saying something nice, but she didn’t expect this pickled fish to be really delicious.

It’s completely different from the pickled fish soup they usually make.

“It’s really delicious.” Qian Aifen couldn’t help but praise, “Third sister’s cooking skills are really good.”

In the past, when the children said it was delicious, she didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just because the dish was good.

But now it seems to be true.

Ning Shu smiled. It wasn’t that exaggerated; it was just that the fish was prepared differently, and she used enough oil.

But in this era, oil is scarce and rationed, so most people are reluctant to use much oil when cooking.

This affects the taste.

With Qian Aifen’s words, everyone started eating the pickled fish.

Zhang Qinfang snorted coldly in her heart. These people were all flatterers; she wouldn’t eat it.

If Ning Shu knew what she was thinking, she would have said, “Thank you for not eating.”

Otherwise, with the way she was picking at the chicken, she would have finished the whole bowl of pickled fish.

Ning Shu usually ate slowly, savoring each bite, but today she was the fastest at the table.

After she finished eating, she tidied up her table, moved her chair aside to make space for everyone, and went to check on Sanbao.

She saw Sanbao eating his fish slice porridge in small, careful bites.

When he ate, he was as careful as the other, Yibao and Erbao, cherishing every bite.

Especially when he ate the fish slices, he was super cute, nibbling on them like a squirrel with a pine nut.

Sanbao felt someone watching him, so he looked up and saw his mother.

He smiled slightly and scooped up a spoonful of porridge, “Mom…” he handed it to her, “Eat…”

With Sanbao’s words, everyone in the room looked at them, mother and son.

Ning Shu shook her head. “Mom won’t eat. Sanbao, you eat and grow up quickly.”

Sanbao was not polite.

When he heard his mom say not to eat, he put it in his mouth, “Eat, grow up.”

“Sanbao is so filial, he’s so young but already knows to be filial to his mom.” Qian Aifen praised.

“Exactly.” Mother Lin loved to hear praise for her grandchildren.

Even if it was from her daughter-in-law, she was happy. “Sanbao, can you give Grandma a bite too?” She teased Sanbao.

Sanbao turned his head to look at Grandma Lin.

Grandma Lin smiled at him.

Ning Shu also smiled, curious about what Sanbao would do.

Even though Sanbao was young, he had a good memory. Or you could say, children remember people.

When he sat on Ning Shu’s bicycle, he could recognize Lin Xiaojing, so he was even more familiar with Grandma Lin.

So, after hesitating for a moment, he scooped up a spoonful of fish slice porridge from his bowl and handed it to Grandma Lin, saying, “Grandma, eat.”

The word “Grandma” was pronounced very clearly.

“Oh, my good boy, Grandma won’t eat, you eat it yourself.” Grandma Lin was so touched, her eyes were teary.

It was no wonder she had raised such a filial grandson.

When Sanbao heard Grandma say she wouldn’t eat and let him eat it himself, he obediently followed.

He stuffed the fish slice porridge into his mouth without any hesitation.

After finishing, he showed Grandma the spoon, “All gone.”

“That’s right, all gone. Our Sanbao eats so cleanly. Food should be eaten cleanly, cultivating a good habit of not wasting.” Grandma Lin praised.

“Good.” Sanbao’s voice was full of childishness, very cute.

Yibao saw that his little brother’s bowl was empty of eggs, so he stood up, picked up a chopstick of egg, and put it in his spoon, saying, “Sanbao, eat the egg.”

“Okay.” Sanbao ate the egg that was picked up for him.

His face was rosy and tender, perhaps because of his good skin as a child, or because the food was warm.

He looked like a New Year painting doll.

Ning Shu watched Sanbao for a while before going outside.

It was chilly in the kitchen, but the sun was shining outside, so she went out to sunbathe.

After Ning Shu, Lin Xiaojing also finished eating quickly.

She used to never clean up her dishes after eating, just leaving them on the table.

This time, she followed Ning Shu’s example, cleaned up her dishes, put them on the stove, and then went outside.

Seeing Ning Shu walking around in the yard, she curiously asked, “Sister-in-law, what are you doing?”

“Taking a walk to aid digestion,” Ning Shu replied. “Isn’t it said that walking after a meal can help you live to ninety-nine?”

“Then I’ll walk too, and try to live to ninety-nine,” Lin Xiaojing joined in the digestion-walking movement.

Ning Shu couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s better to live to a hundred than ninety-nine.”

“Why?” Lin Xiaojing asked.

“Longevity of a hundred years,” Ning Shu explained.

Just then, the wife of the brigade leader hurriedly ran over. “Guodong’s wife… Is Guodong at home?”

Seeing her hurried appearance, Ning Shu quickly said, “He’s here, eating inside.” Then she shouted inside, “Guodong, the brigade leader’s wife is looking for you.”

As Ning Shu spoke, the brigade leader’s wife had already rushed into the kitchen. “Guodong… Guodong…”

“Auntie?” Lin Guodong had just gotten up and saw her coming.

The brigade leader’s wife urgently said, “Guodong, sorry to disturb your meal. Three police officers came to my house, and Hongfa Bo asked you to come over. There’s something he wants to discuss with you.”

Lin Guodong nodded and asked, “Two of them came in the morning?” Then he said to his father and mother, “Dad, Mom, you can eat. Don’t wait for me. I’ll go over there.”

The brigade leader’s wife said, “Yes, two of them came in the morning, and one of them isn’t from around here. Judging from the accent, he’s not a local.”

Seeing this, Ning Shu followed out of curiosity.

The police had come again, definitely related to Zhuang Daming’s matter.

Lin Xiaojing also followed out of curiosity.

She also knew about Zhuang Daming’s matter, so she didn’t go to Zhuang’s house to watch the excitement in the morning. But when her mother came back, she explained the situation.