CHAPTER 963: CHAPTER 649: THREW UP AGAIN

First watch of the night is over.

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Returning home were Old Master Zhao, Zhou Mikang, and Lin Wenbin. All three of them were covered in dust. "Baohe, Baojuan, and Qingshu are still helping clean up. We came back first," said Old Master Zhao.

Chuxia and Zhao Yulan quickly brought out the hot water they had prepared earlier to help the men wash their hair, hands, face, and feet. Old Lady Zhao also got off the kang to help. By the time they finished, the sky was already getting light.

"I think I should make breakfast first. Let everyone eat their fill and then sleep," suggested Zhao Yulan as she glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already close to six o’clock.

"Alright..." Old Master Zhao nodded. "I guess Xiaomi and Wenbin are probably hungry, and even if they lay down on the kang, they wouldn’t be able to sleep."

Lin Wenbin nodded honestly, "I am kind of hungry."

Zhou Mikang went to the west room to check the temperature on the kang and came back, "Chuxia, stay with Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom on the kang to keep warm. Brother-in-law and I will handle breakfast."

Zhao Yulan quickly responded, "No need for you to do it. You’ve been busy all night, how can I let you make breakfast? I’ll just make some porridge, heat the buns, and get some small pickles. It’s quick. You all go rest on the kang, quickly."

Zhou Mikang looked seriously at Zhao Yulan, "Mom, you were busy all night too. We’re young, we can handle more. If you really consider me your own son, you’ll listen to me."

His sincerity was evident from his expression, and Zhao Yulan felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

It wasn’t that she was easily moved, but in this era, there were very few men who would do such a thing. Especially a man with Zhou Mikang’s background. Not to mention others, even Lin Baohe, among men, was already very caring toward his wife and children, yet he rarely cooked.

Anyway, Zhou Mikang’s actions truly reassured Zhao Yulan about her daughter’s future.

She obediently followed her parents to the west room, leaving Zhou Mikang and Lin Wenbin to busy themselves downstairs.

"Do you need my help?" Chuxia glanced at the two and asked.

"No need." Zhou Mikang waved her off, "Go chat with the elders for a bit. When breakfast is ready, I’ll call you to help."

Chuxia looked skeptically at the two, "Do you know how to use a stove?" They always used a gas stove at home.

"Summer, don’t underestimate people, okay?" Lin Wenbin glanced at her discontentedly, "I’m not great at cooking, but when it comes to this big stove, my skills are top-notch." As he spoke, he had already struck several matches trying to light the fire... none caught...

"Brother, did you use so much strength fighting the fire that now your hands are shaking..." Chuxia said as she stepped forward, taking the matches from his hand and pulling out the thick wooden sticks from the stove, then grabbing some soft wheat straw to put inside.

"Look at me, my brain’s gone all fuzzy..." Lin Wenbin snatched back the matches from Chuxia, "Alright, alright, I’ve got it now, you go inside."

"Okay." Chuxia agreed and leaned against the door, watching him without going back inside.

Zhou Mikang, who had already rinsed the rice and placed the buns on the rack, glanced at the clumsy Lin Wenbin and shook his head helplessly, "If you had to survive in the wild, you’d probably starve, wouldn’t you?" Saying that, he pushed Lin Wenbin aside, struck a match to light the soft straw under the stove, then added a couple more handfuls of soft grass, pulled the bellows a few times, and quickly threw in some hard straw... soon enough, the fire in the stove was burning fiercely, "Alright, just keep pulling the bellows to maintain the fire and once the water’s boiled, let it simmer slowly."

"Big Brother, have you never lit a stove before?" Chuxia asked curiously, still leaning on the door.

"Never. It’s never been my turn to do this job," Lin Wenbin said, giving Zhou Mikang a thumbs up, "Not bad, we can trust you with my sister."

"You’re just realizing this?" Zhou Mikang rolled his eyes, finding a big pickle and starting to slice it. Despite his rank, his knife skills were impressive. In no time, he had a bowl of finely shredded pickles on a plate.

It was Chuxia’s first time seeing Zhou Mikang cook, and she stared wide-eyed in surprise, "Zhou Mikang, your skills aren’t bad, when did you practice this?"

"Have you discovered another one of my good qualities?" Zhou Mikang smiled at her, "The longer you stay with me, the more of my good qualities you’ll discover."

"Flattery will get you nowhere..." Chuxia rolled her eyes, feeling reassured, and returned to the west room. Old Master Zhao was recounting the fire incident to Old Lady Zhao. Seeing Chuxia come in, he waved her over and said with a serious look, "Summer, you must live well with Xiaomi. He’s truly a good kid. In all my years, I’ve never met such a good young man."

Chuxia turned her eyes, "Even better than Brother Qiliang?"

"Of course!" Old Master Zhao nodded affirmatively, "I’ve always been proud of your Brother Qiliang, but compared to Xiaomi, your Brother Qiliang really can’t compare."

Chuxia said, "Growing environments are different; they can’t be compared like that."

"Precisely because of the different growing environments, Xiaomi’s actions are even more commendable..." Old Master Zhao looked earnestly at his granddaughter, "You grew up in the countryside; how many men have you seen willing to cook for their families?

To this day, besides your dad occasionally helping your mom cook, I haven’t seen another man doing it. Your eldest uncle wouldn’t even add a handful of fire to the stove for your eldest aunt.

What kind of background does the Zhou family have? They came to our house and did such a thing, it’s not easy at all. You should really cherish him and stop always butting heads with him."

Chuxia protested, "Grandpa, you’re being unfair. Big Brother also helped with the fire, why didn’t you praise him?"

"Wenbin is certainly a good kid, but you’re married to Xiaomi now, so of course, I have to bring him up and remind you."

Chuxia: "..."

"Why are you two busy here?"

"Well, today it’s our turn to take care of breakfast."

Lin Baohe and Zhou Mikang’s conversation floated in, and Chuxia quickly went out to greet them, only to see her father covered in soot like a black ghost, "Dad, where’s Aunt?"

"She’s still there, I came back first."

"Dad, wash up, breakfast will be ready soon." While they were talking, Zhou Mikang had already prepared hot water.

Chuxia praised him with a thumbs-up, "So considerate." Lin Baohe gave her a glance, and she playfully stuck out her tongue before running to the east room to wake up Luan Xiaoxiang.

"What time is it?" Luan Xiaoxiang looked at her, looking utterly confused.

"It’s six-thirty, hurry and get up, breakfast will be ready soon." As she spoke, Chuxia reached under the covers and pinched her waist, "We’ve been up since three, you slept like a log, couldn’t wake you at all."

"Why did you get up so early?" Luan Xiaoxiang asked, still puzzled as she got out of bed and dressed.

"Your third uncle’s house caught fire, everyone went to help, Aunt and Uncle haven’t come back yet."

"What?" Luan Xiaoxiang was instantly awake, staring wide-eyed at Chuxia, "Did you say Uncle’s house caught fire? My parents haven’t come back? Are they okay?"

"Of course, they’re fine, they’re just helping tidy up over there. My dad just got back. If you’re worried, you can go take a look after breakfast. As for me, I’m not going."

"It’s not them I’m worried about, it’s my parents..." As she spoke, Luan Xiaoxiang dressed and folded the quilt, and Chuxia helped to nudge her shoes to the edge of the kang with her foot, "Hurry up, I’ll go help with breakfast."

Having finished washing up, Luan Xiaoxiang was just in time for breakfast. Seeing her staring blankly at the food on the table, Chuxia said, "We’ve already set aside portions for Aunt and Uncle, go ahead and eat."

"No, that’s not it..." Luan Xiaoxiang waved her hands quickly, "I’m not worried about that, I’m just puzzled..." Pausing, she continued, "How is Brother-in-law so good at cooking?"

"Xiaoxiang, eat more." Old Lady Zhao clipped a bun for her, "In the future, find a husband just like your brother-in-law, kind-hearted and caring. Finding such a husband means you’ll have happiness all your life."

Luan Xiaoxiang smiled with a blush, "I don’t have Chuxia’s luck, I’d just be happy to find someone who doesn’t mind my lack of education."

Chuxia laughed and poked her, "You should say, you’d be happy to find someone who doesn’t mind you sleeping like a log."

"You’re annoying!" Luan Xiaoxiang glared at her and stuffed the bun into her mouth. Then, Chuxia ran out of the room covering her mouth, and Zhou Mikang dropped his chopsticks and chased after her, as Zhao Yulan stood perplexed for a moment before following. She saw her daughter vomiting violently against the wall, while her son-in-law gently patted her back.

"Sis..." Luan Xiaoxiang followed with a bewildered look, "Sis, I didn’t mean to, are you... are you okay?"

"I’m fine..." Chuxia had already stopped vomiting and waved her hand, "It’s not your fault. I just can’t handle the smell of meat buns, maybe I ate too much meat last night, I need something lighter."

Zhao Yulan brought out a mug of warm water and handed it to Chuxia, "Rinse your mouth."

Returning to the meal, Chuxia staunchly avoided any meat dishes, had a bowl of millet porridge, and ate some pickles. Zhou Mikang peeled an egg for her, but she handed it back, saying she felt full just looking at it.

"Xia..." Old Lady Zhao beckoned her over, "Help Grandma find something in the west room."

"Okay." Chuxia responded, quickly supporting the old lady off the kang and heading to the west room with her, with Zhao Yulan following behind. As soon as they entered, Old Lady Zhao lowered her voice, "Xia, when was your last period?"

Startled, Chuxia realized why the old lady was asking. Her face flushed red, "Grandma, it’s supposed to be around these days. During winter, it usually gets delayed."

"How many days delayed under normal circumstances?" Zhao Yulan inquired.

After thinking seriously, Chuxia replied, "I’m usually three to five days later than the last time, and under normal circumstances, it should be tomorrow this time." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote for your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)