Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law

Chapter 226 Happy New Year!

Xia Zhiqing was slightly dumbfounded. Didn't you, Zhining, say you wanted to give the other party a "boost"? Why are you so enthusiastic now?

Chen Mo was also stunned for a while, because Xia Zhining's behavior at the moment was somewhat inconsistent with her character.

"Hello Zhining." Han Anniang said with a smile, her eyes scanning the two sisters. For those who are not familiar with them, it is really difficult to tell them apart.

She could only tell the difference based on the colors of the clothes the two sisters wore.

"Hello, sister-in-law, my name is Xia Zhiqing. We have met before. You can just call me Zhiqing." Xia Zhiqing also greeted Han Anniang, and then stared at the food in the wooden basin with lively eyes. The unwashed bacon immediately rolled up his sleeves, walked over, squatted down in front of the wooden basin, and said, "Sister-in-law, let me help you."

"No, this bacon is difficult to handle. You are wearing a white dress, so don't get it dirty." Han Anniang said hurriedly. The bacon was so black with smoke that Xiaobai, who had never cooked before, couldn't handle it well. She called Song Min after saying that. deal with.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. I cook from time to time at home. Cleaning the bacon is not a difficult task."

After saying that, Xia Zhiqing stood up, first rolled the hem of her white skirt into a single line and tied it into a knot, so that the skirt would not drag to the ground when squatting. Then she looked up and down, and saw the kitchen knife on the cutting board. , took the kitchen knife, and started scraping the blackened meat skin on the bacon. With a sharp technique, the black oil stain on the meat skin was scraped off, revealing the golden skinned meat.

Then, Xia Zhiqing scooped another spoonful of hot water, put it into the wooden basin, took a clean rag, and scrubbed the other three sides of the bacon vigorously.

Seeing Xia Zhiqing's skills so skillfully, Han Aniang and Song Min were stunned. After all, in their opinion, the prefect's daughter should be the kind who would not touch Yang Chun Shui with her fingers. They didn't expect that she could do such dirty work.

Han Anniang was immediately impressed by Xia Zhiqing and took the initiative to chat with Xia Zhiqing.

Xia Zhining: "..."

She did not deny that her sister had cooked at home, but the cleaning work was done by servants, and her sister was only responsible for the final stir-frying and steaming. When did she learn this?

Her sister was already busy, so naturally she would not stand aside and watch. She looked around the kitchen and started looking for work.

If it were in the past, Xia Zhining would definitely not have the shame to do such a thing, and she would not be able to endure this hardship.

But after a few months in the army, I got used to the harsh environment.

These are considered child's play.

For this New Year's Eve dinner, Han Anniang plans to cook fifteen to twenty dishes, so there are many processes to deal with, so she doesn't have to worry about running out of work.

Han Aniang felt a lot relieved when she saw that the two sisters had no airs. After all, in her eyes, she hoped that every woman in Chen Mo would be a virtuous wife, a caring wife, a gentle and virtuous person.

The kitchen quickly became busy, but Chen Mo standing aside became a stranger.

"Husband."

Just when Chen Mo was thinking about finding a job for himself, Xiaolu's voice sounded behind him.

Chen Mo turned around and saw Yi Shiyan standing at the door of the kitchen. There was darkness and light inside and outside the kitchen. She was facing the winter sun, like an elf under the sun, with crystal clear skin and delicate lips.

Her eyebrows are as thin as willow leaves and arched diagonally, adding a bit of playfulness to her beauty. She is wearing a light green dress, like a married girl.

Xiao Ling, who was following her, thought that the young lady's outfit at the moment would outshine the Xia sisters, but when she saw the two sisters busy in the kitchen, she was immediately dumbfounded.

How could anyone do such a trick?

This is simply not about martial ethics.

"Xiaolu, where have you been?" Han An'iang raised her head, glanced at Yi Shiyan, and said, "Uncle was looking for you just now?"

"I went to relieve myself." Yi Shiyan panicked, then glanced at Xiao Ling, as if to say it was all your fault, and now he was busy working in vain.

"Miss." Xiao Ling poked Yi Shiyan's waist and then made a look.

Seeing this, Yi Shiyan raised her eyebrows slightly, looked at the two Xia sisters with clear eyes, and then said to Chen Mo with a slight smile: "Husband, these two are the Xia sisters, right?"

Chen Mo was stunned, and then he realized that Xiaolu was trying to act like a sister, and said: "This is Xia Zhiqing, and she is my sister Xia Zhining. Xiaolu, just call them Zhiqing and Zhining."

Yi Shiyan's idea of ​​showing off as a sister is not wrong, but her big, smart eyes, combined with her innocent, harmless face, really have no dignity at all.

Even if you are staged, people will not think you are staged.

Xia Zhiqing is such a smart person, she knows that only in emotional matters will she be stupid.

Chen Mo hasn't given her a title yet, which means she doesn't have the slightest status in the Chen family. In addition, she's not the kind of person who likes to argue, so naturally she won't go against Yi Shiyan. He said with a smile: "It turns out it's Yi Shiyan." Sister, Mo Lang mentioned you to me, and now we finally meet."

Yi Shiyan was not a jealous person, and her heart was as pure as a piece of white paper. When she saw Xia Zhiqing greeting her with a smile, it was not what Xiao Ling had told her in the room just now, and she immediately forgot what Xiao Ling had told her. , chuckled and said:

"You don't need to call me Sister Yi, just call me Xiaolu. I heard from my husband that I'm three years younger than you." Yi Shiyan said.

Xiaoling held his forehead.

"Then what"

Before Xia Zhiqing could say anything, Xia Zhining walked down the slope and said, "Hello, little deer, I'm Xia Zhining."

The reason why Xia Zhining respects Han An is because she is the elder of that bastard, and she is indeed older than herself. However, Yi Shiyan can tell that she is younger at first glance, and if status is not counted, she and her sister were the first to become that bastard. A bastard woman would naturally not want to call Yi Shiyan sister.

Xiao Ling wanted to speak for the young lady, but the silly lady had already greeted Xia Zhining with a smile.

Xiao Ling felt angry at the young lady's indisputability.

Yi Shiyan was simple-minded, and soon he started to get into a fight with the Xia sisters. The most important thing was that Yi Shiyan believed what the Xia sisters said without thinking.

Yi Shiyan didn't eat at the Yi family courtyard at noon.

Because Chen Mo would accompany her to Yi's house for a reunion dinner at noon.

After all, Yi Shiyan's parents are still alive, and there are seven aunts, eight aunts and other relatives who must be reunited. In order not to conflict with the Chen family's New Year's Eve dinner in the evening, the Yi family decided to have it at noon.

As soon as he arrived at the Yi family, Yi Shiyan distributed the red envelopes he had prepared to the juniors of the Yi family. A bunch of children gathered around Yi Shiyan and Chen Mo, calling them aunt and uncle.

Chen Mo met Yang Wei's widow.

That is to say, the wives and concubines of the former leader of the Qinghe Gang are now married again, and the other party is still married.

A noble family is a noble family. Even if it is a second marriage or a marriage, there will always be people trying to get in.

Chen Mo also chatted with them for a few words, and he didn't feel guilty at all as a murderer.

During meal time, more than a dozen members of the Yi family sat in the lobby, and a stage was set up outside the hall for singing, dancing, juggling and other performances.

For Chen Mo, who has not felt the flavor of the New Year for a long time, this time he felt the strong flavor of the New Year in the Yi family.

There is something Chen Mo has to say, the more affluent families have more rules, the more lively the Chinese New Year will be.

After a few glasses of wine, my thoughts were gradually overshadowed by the smell of home and the New Year, and I was slowly tainted with smiles. I toasted and poured tea, and greeted "sister, sister, uncle, and aunt" back and forth, and the atmosphere became more and more harmonious.

The children were full without eating much, and played in the yard, turning over flower ropes. The slaves followed behind, fearing that someone would fall.

It wasn't until late that the two of them returned to the Yi family courtyard in a carriage.

At this time, smoke was also rising from the kitchen.

The clanking of pots and pans, mixed with the voices of women talking and laughing, and the tempting aroma of food, flowed in together with the afternoon sunshine in this atmosphere.

Yi Shiyan put on the sleeves Xiaoling prepared for her and joined in.

In front of the window not far away, there were strings of light and shadow cast, melting the snow under the eaves. A cold wind blew, and a leaf fell from the branch and fell onto the surface of Tianchi, causing waves.

Xiao Ling came over, used a fishing net to catch a few tail-eye fish in the pond, and walked towards the kitchen.

The wind is noisy and the winter is cold, but time is like the snow gradually melting under the eaves.

Chen Mo looked at the scene in the kitchen with soft eyes.

This is what I want to wait for!

While the girls were busy in the kitchen, Chen Mo found a bow and arrow and started shooting in the courtyard.

……

It was dark and the smell of food in the kitchen was strong.

The maids helped Song Min by serving food, holding chopsticks, and moving stools.

Bowls of food were served.

Chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised bear paws, braised fish, pickled fish, stir-fried vegetables, Sixi meatballs.

Eighteen dishes were placed on the dark red sandalwood table.

The hot white smoke rises and blends from these pots and bowls, or the food that has just been taken out of the pot or has been fried and covered, and the alluring fragrance permeates the room.

"Husband, stop practicing, wash your hands and eat quickly." Yi Shiyan called Chen Mo.

Xiao Ling brought warm water and put a dry towel on the wooden basin for Chen Mo to dry after washing.

In the hall, Chen Mo, Han Aniang, Yi Shiyan, Xia Zhiqing, Xia Zhining, Song Min, and Xiao Ling were sitting together.

No maid was asked to wait on him.

"Wow, it smells so good. Sister Han, will Sister Xiaoling eat with us too?" Song Min asked Han Anniang.

"We will all eat together from now on. From now on, we are a family." Han Anniang said with a smile.

Xiao Ling's face turned red. Was this recognized? She looked at Chen Mo secretly.

"Come, let's raise a glass and drink together." Chen Mo stood up and raised his glass of wine.

Han Anniang and other girls stood up one after another, imitating each other.

"cheers!"

Wine glasses clinked together.

It was Song Min's first time drinking. She coughed violently and her face turned red, which made several people laugh.

Sitting down, Chen Mo didn't want to do anything at all, because Yi Shiyan and Han Aniang brought him vegetables one after another, and even Yi Shiyan even fed him himself.

Therefore, Chen Mo's free hands directly touched the legs of the two women.

It took a long time to eat this meal.

After a long time, a bell rang from Fuze Tower.

Everyone looked at each other, smiled and said to each other, "Happy New Year."

The eighth year of Xuanhe’s reign has arrived!

(End of this chapter)