Jiang Shengnan has a good relationship with the residents in the family compound. Most of the neighbors who live near her house have been there for many years.
Seeing a young woman standing next to Jiang Shengnan with a child, someone couldn't help but ask curiously, "Shengnan, who is this? She looks so beautiful."
Jiang Shengnan immediately had a proud smile on her face and said while holding Chu Xia's hand, "This is my daughter-in-law Chu Xia, and this is my grandson An'an. They specially came to celebrate the New Year with us!"
With that proud look, Chu Xia seemed like the best daughter-in-law, and An'an was the best grandson.
Jiang Shengnan touched An'an's head and said, "I told them it's too troublesome to come here, it's so far away, and it's inconvenient to bring An'an. But Chu Xia said that it's not a real New Year if the whole family isn't together, so she brought An'an here directly. She also said that when An'an was younger, it was fine, but now that he's older, he should meet his grandparents. It really moved me and Lao Cen. With a daughter-in-law like her, Lao Cen and I don't know how much good fortune we've accumulated over the years."
Chu Xia stood silently by the side, only smiling, cooperating perfectly with Jiang Shengnan's show-off.
The neighbor who asked the question also laughed along, saying, "You are truly blessed. Look at my daughter-in-law, she doesn't even come here for Chinese New Year, it would be nice if she just made a phone call."
Jiang Shengnan quickly praised her daughter-in-law again, and the two of them complimented each other for a while before she restrained her smile and continued walking forward with Chu Xia.
As they walked, Jiang Shengnan said to Chu Xia, "The person just now is the wife of the logistics department's director, Lu Qin. She works at the military hospital. Don't listen to what she just said, she actually doesn't like her daughter-in-law and doesn't want people to come. Don't pay any attention to her words and don't talk to her too much."
Chu Xia will remember in her heart, when she sees Lu Qin, just greet each other when meeting, and avoid deep communication.
On the way out of the family compound, Chu Xia and An'an got to know many family members led by Jiang Shengnan. The gazes of those family members towards Chu Xia varied from friendly and curious to critical and disdainful.
Chu Xia felt that she wouldn't have much contact with them in the future. It would be enough for her to remember their names and greet them without calling the wrong person. She didn't care about anything else.
An'an was not interested in the families in the residential compound. What interested him more were the soldiers who occasionally marched in formation from time to time.
This was a group of people he had never come into contact with before. The soldiers walked in perfect unison, with a straight posture, and would salute when they saw Jiang Shengnan.
Every time he saw a group, An'an would stare at the soldiers with wide eyes, even after they had walked away, he would still turn around to look at them.
He was very curious as to why they would salute his grandmother. However, he was not familiar with Jiang Shengnan, and he rarely spoke in front of unfamiliar people.
The term "salute" was something he learned from his textbook, where the teacher taught them to salute the national flag.
Chu Xia noticed his actions and asked him, "An'an, do you like these soldier uncles?"
An'an replied, "I like them!"
Jiang Shengnan smiled with wrinkles at the corner of her eyes and touched An'an's head, saying, "An'an has a good eye! Soldiers protect the family and the country and are the most admirable people."
Chu Xia nodded, with a smile on her lips, and said to An'an, "Grandma and Grandpa are also soldiers. If you want to learn more about soldiers, you can ask your grandparents."
She sees Cen Huai'an's avoidance of Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen. Since they have all come to the Northwest, Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen are both good people and love An'an, An'an can get in touch with them more to cultivate her feelings.
Jiang Shengnan immediately understands Chu Xia's intention and hurriedly picks up, "Yes, does An'an have anything she wants to ask?"
Cen Huai'an tilts his head, looks at Chu Xia and then at Jiang Shengnan. After thinking about it, he opens his mouth and asks, "Grandma, why do they all salute when they see you?"
Jiang Shengnan pointed to the four pockets on her clothes and said, "Because I have these. In the army, those with four pockets are officers. Unless there are special circumstances, soldiers will salute officers when they see them."
Cen Huai'an nodded as if he understood, but he still couldn't figure out what officers and soldiers were.
Jiang Shengnan seemed to understand his confusion and explained to him the difference between officers and soldiers in the army, as well as some military positions.
The three of them continued talking as they walked out of the army base.
The place where the troops are stationed is far away from the city, but there are villages nearby, and there is a large market within a half-hour walk.
During the recent New Year, the market is different from usual fixed days. It is held every day until the day before New Year's Eve, and then it takes a break for the holiday.
The large market in the countryside is very lively, with people setting up stalls on both sides of the road, and the middle of the road is crowded with people rushing to the market and all busy purchasing New Year's goods.
Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan tightly held Cen Huai'an's hand, afraid that he would get lost in the crowd.
Cen Huai'an's small body was squeezed in the crowd, feeling that his face was about to deform, and because he was small, he couldn't see anything when he was blocked by the adults.
"Chu Xia, do you want to eat mutton?" Jiang Shengnan shouted loudly, otherwise she wouldn't be able to hear it because there were too many people and the noise was too loud.
"Eat!"
Mutton soup, mutton buns, cumin mutton, mutton with scallions, mutton kebabs, braised mutton chops ......
Thinking of all these mutton delicacies, Chu Xia can't help but gulp. Especially the lamb kebabs, she hasn't had them for a long time.
As soon as Chu Xia mentioned eating mutton, Jiang Shengnan forcefully squeezed the two of them to the stall selling fresh lamb next to them, where many people were watching the boss separate the lamb.
"Old Fu, I want a lamb! You pick one with tender meat and prepare it for me to send to the army."
Jiang Shengnan often came here to buy mutton, and spoke familiarly with Old Fu, who was selling mutton. Old Fu, holding a knife, looked up when he heard the voice. With a face full of whiskers, he smiled brightly and said, "Alright! I guarantee to deliver it to you by noon!"
Jiang Shengnan gave him a deposit, and she would give him the remaining money when he delivered it to the army.
Fresh lamb from the northwest is said to be different from lamb in other places. It doesn't have a strong smell and tastes extremely good.
Chu Xia licked her lips. Ever since she found out that Cen Zhengnian was in the northwest, she had been wanting to taste it. Now she finally had the opportunity.
During Chinese New Year, it's all about eating and drinking, and delicious food is essential.
At the market, everything sold is grown and raised by local farmers, fresh and with local characteristics.
Seeing dried apricots, buy a big handful; seeing red dates, buy a big handful; seeing beef jerky, buy another handful.
As they walked, Jiang Shengnan's basket in her hand became fuller and fuller, and Cen Huai'an's pockets were stuffed with food.
He didn't even look at the things being sold anymore, focusing only on eating the dried fruits and jerky in his pockets.
"Lamb skewers! Delicious and affordable lamb skewers!"
At some point, they arrived at the area where cooked food was being sold at the market. Jiang Shengnan's ears perked up when she heard the sound of someone selling lamb skewers.
She turned her head and saw a middle-aged man grilling lamb skewers on a stove. She could already smell the aroma of the lamb skewers.
"Mom, I'll go buy a few skewers of mutton. You hold An'an."
Jiang Shengnan wouldn't let Chu Xia spend money, so she immediately said, "I'll go buy them. How many skewers do you want?"
Chu Xia wanted to eat them herself, so she put Cen Huai'an in Jiang Shengnan's arms and said, "I'll go."
Then she quickly squeezed through the crowd.
Grilled lamb skewers take time. Chu Xia ordered twenty skewers and the vendor gave her two extra. The wait was even longer.
Jiang Shengnan squeezed over with Cen Huai'an and asked, "How much are these lamb skewers? Did you pay, Chu Xia? If not, I'll pay."
"I already paid, Mom, no need," Chu Xia replied.
In fact, compared to the future, these lamb skewers were much cheaper. The large skewers cost 20 cents each, and the small ones cost 10 cents. She ordered ten large skewers and ten small ones, totaling three yuan.
The grilled lamb skewers were especially fragrant, sprinkled with cumin and other seasonings, without the gamey taste of lamb. With one bite, they were fresh, tender, and flavorful.
Chu Xia finally satisfied her craving by eating the lamb skewers.
Cen Huai'an and Jiang Shengnan each held a skewer and ate, their faces filled with satisfaction.
This was a delicacy that Cen Huai'an had never tasted before. After eating one skewer, he wanted more. He simply couldn't get enough.
However, eating too much could cause internal heat, so after the three of them finished eating what Chu Xia had bought, she didn't continue to buy more.
Then Jiang Shengnan bought chicken, duck, goose, beef, and pork. She bought too much and couldn't carry it all, so they agreed to have someone deliver it to her home.
These were all familiar households that Jiang Shengnan bought from, and they knew each other. It was common for them to deliver to the military, and sometimes they would deliver to the families of the troops together.
Just buying meat was not enough, they also had to buy some vegetables. But there were few green vegetables in the northwest, with cabbage, spicy radish, and potatoes being the most common.
At this time, there were not many greenhouse vegetables, and other parts of the northern region also had these few types, all lacking green vegetables.
In order to have some green vegetables to eat in winter, Chu Xia planted some garlic sprouts, leeks, and small cabbage in the house, and also preserved some leek sprouts.
When she came to the northwest, she had harvested a crop of these things and gave them to Sister Li.
By noon, they had almost finished shopping, and they were hungry. In the place where they sold cooked food, Chu Xia and the other two looked for something to eat.
At this time, there were many people eating, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods. Most of them were specialties of the northwest.
There were buckwheat noodles, thick soup, donkey meat yellow noodles, saozi noodles, and some dumplings and baked cakes that could be found anywhere.
Jiang Shengnan had tried all of these, and she, Chu Xia, and Cen Huai'an could clearly tell which ones tasted better.
"What do you guys want to eat?"
Chu Xia is fine with all of them. The lamb skewers she wanted to eat the most have already been eaten so she looks down at Cen Huai'an and asks him, "An'an, what do you want to eat?"
Cen Huai'an looked at each stall and finally chose donkey meat yellow noodles.
The stall owner stood directly in front of the pot, pulling the noodles. The yellow noodles were long and thin, bright and enticing, like golden threads, and then they were put into the pot.
After boiling and scooping out, they were topped with a sauce made of donkey meat, tofu, and other vegetables. It was so fragrant and rich.
With one bite, the yellow noodles were thin and chewy, and the sauce was delicious, especially the donkey meat, which had a better texture than pork or beef.
Cen Huai'an felt extremely happy today. He had eaten many delicious foods that he had never eaten before. He finished a bowl of donkey meat yellow noodles cleanly, not leaving any soup.
Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan were also very satisfied with their meal.
Jiang Shengnan wiped her mouth and said, "An'an made a great choice. I also love eating donkey meat yellow noodles. I've been very busy so I haven't had them in a long time, so today was really satisfying."
After buying enough things and eating their fill, the three of them hit the road back home.
On the way, An'an was a bit out of energy.He was going to take a nap at home now, but as he walked, he yawned one after another. Jiang Shengnan looked at him, feeling so sorry for him that she wanted to hold him and let him sleep.
However, Cen Huai'an was too big now and not light in weight. She couldn't hold him for long, and Chu Xia also didn't have much strength.
"Should I have known, we would have come by bicycle." Jiang Shengnan said with regret.
"It's okay, we'll be home in a while." Chu Xia touches Cen Huai'an's head.
Jiang Shengnan thought for a moment and said, "Otherwise, I'll carry him on my back. We still have to walk for a while to get home."
Without waiting for Chu Xia to speak, Cen Huai'an rubbed his eyes and said, "Grandma, I don't need to be carried."
Actually, it's quite impressive for a five year old child to walk for so long. At the market, besides eating, he's been standing all the time.
However, the child was tough and energetic, and Cen Huai'an often ran around with Brother Bang and the others. If it weren't for nap time now, he would be even more energetic than Chu Xia.
Jiang Shengnan kept watching An'an, and as she watched, they arrived at the military base.
Chu Xia was more tired than Cen Huai'an. She didn't exchange pleasantries with Jiang Shengnan and went straight upstairs with An'an to take a nap.
When Chu Xia woke up in the afternoon, it was already three o'clock, and there was no one in the small building. Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen were not at home.
The clothes she wore when she got off the train were placed on the sofa by Jiang Shengnan. There was also a note she left on the table, telling Chu Xia that she and Father Cen had gone to work, and that she had already had the clothes repaired by a tailor.
The clothes that Chu Xia changed out of were taken by Jiang Shengnan early in the morning to be repaired by someone. She didn't expect them to be repaired so quickly.
She picked up the clothes to look at the torn parts, and they were repaired very well. Flowers were embroidered on the holes, and there was no trace of the damage. They even looked better.
The more Chu Xia looked at them, the more she liked them. She was about to take them upstairs when she heard a commotion outside. At this moment, Cen Huai'an also rubbed his eyes and came downstairs with his short legs.
"Mom."
Chu Xia pulled him outside. The voice came from their own yard, and she always had to go out and see what was happening outside.
Before she could go out, the door was opened, and Jiang Shengnan was having someone help carry the things they bought today into the house.
As soon as she saw Chu Xia and An'an, Jiang Shengnan immediately smiled and said, "You're awake. Chu Xia, did you see that the clothes were repaired?"
"I saw it, mom. The clothes are mended really well, you can't see any traces at all."
Jiang Shengnan said, "I specifically found a skilled tailor. If he couldn't repair it well, wouldn't the good clothes be ruined?"
Then she continued to busy herself with having people carry the things to the kitchen, putting the ones that needed to be in the refrigerator in the refrigerator, and stacking the ones that needed to be in the corner in the corner.
Chu Xia took Cen Huai'an to the kitchen, which was filled with a lot of food and vegetables that could last for a month.
"Mom, did we buy too much?"
"Not too much. During the Chinese New Year, someone might come to our house for a meal. I think we didn't buy enough," Jiang Shengnan pushed the cabbage inside and quickly went out to see where the chickens and ducks were in the yard.
Because the ones that were killed were not fresh, all the ones sent over were alive.
Cen Huai'an was curious about small animals at his age, especially geese. He had never seen them before, so he followed to take a look.
Once he's finished looking, Chu Xia assigned him homework: "For your diary today, just write a piece about 'Ode to the Goose.' I'll be checking it."
Cen Huai'an's smile instantly disappeared, and he muttered, "Oh," feeling disappointed that his joy of seeing the geese was gone.
"Mom, is it okay if I only write fifty words?"
Chu Xia replied, "I think it's better if you write 150 words."
Seeing his even more gloomy face, Chu Xia couldn't help but laugh, rubbing his chubby little face and saying, "Okay, I lied to you. You can write as many words as you want."
Cen Huai'an's mood suddenly improved, and he happily went to write his diary.
While writing, he realized that something was wrong. Wasn't a diary something he wrote whenever he wanted? He was fooled by his mom again, hmph!
The next day was New Year's Eve, and it was a great day.
Although Ganzhou was still cold, the military family compound was already very festive. From time to time, you could hear the sound of children setting off firecrackers and their laughter as they played.
Cen Huai'an was not familiar with those people. He followed his grandfather's bodyguard, Xiao Liu, and pasted couplets at home.
Father Cen was still very busy. Except for dinner in the evening, he was hardly seen during the day. Jiang Shengnan was also occasionally called away for work.
Therefore, the task of pasting couplets on New Year's Eve was left to Chu Xia, Xiao Liu, and Cen Huai'an.
Cen Zhengnian still hadn't come back.
"Sister-in-law, is the position right?"
Chu Xia stood back and looked, saying, "It's fine, no need to move."
Then Xiao Liu stood on a stool and applied paste to stick the couplets, while Cen Huai'an handed him the paste and couplets. The two of them worked together perfectly.
Starting from the front gate, they pasted couplets in every room of the house, even sticking a "Good Fortune" character on the refrigerator and the table under the television.
After pasting the couplets, Xiao Liu also hung two red lanterns at the front gate and the living room entrance, instantly making the whole building look festive.
Then Xiao Liu started preparing the ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Most of the fried and traditional dishes for the New Year had already been prepared before Chu Xia arrived, such as red date buns, meatballs, and fried fish.
Xiao Liu made them all, and Chu Xia was very impressed when she found out. Being a bodyguard was not easy, as they had to both protect the leader and be skilled in the kitchen.
However, there are advantages too. Bodyguards are not always on duty. In two or three years, he wants a promotion, and both Father Cen and Jiang Shengnan will help.
So, many also aspire to become the chief security guard. Those who are not competent won't be selected.
Initially, Chu Xia wanted to help him with some work. She found out she couldn't be of much help, only assisting in boiling water and gathering firewood when it came to slaughtering chickens.
At lunchtime, they ate dumplings. Jiang Shengnan had previously made a lot of dumplings in the fridge, and they were planning to make dumplings on New Year's Eve as well.
In addition to cooking the meat, Xiao Liu was also responsible for chopping and seasoning the filling. Chu Xia, along with An'an, helped in wrapping the dumplings.
Neither Jiang Shengnan nor Father Cen could return. The base's canteen was also making dumplings for New Year's Eve. The entire unit of officers and soldiers made and ate dumplings together, and many families from the family compound came to help.
Chu Xia and An'an were unfamiliar with the base and the residents in the housing area and the residents weren't familiar with Jiang Shengnan because she was too busy to attend to them. It would be a bit awkward there, so they had their meal at home.
In the evening, there was a New Year's Eve performance at the base, specially organized by the military cultural troupe to entertain the officers and soldiers. Jiang Shengnan had promised Chu Xia to take her and An'an to watch after their New Year's Eve dinner.
The cultural troupe's actors were very professional, and their performances were very enjoyable, featuring singing, dancing, sketches, and drama.
Since Jiang Shengnan finished speaking, Chu Xia was okay. She had seen all kinds of performances on TV before and was not so curious. But Cen Huai'an hadn't seen them, so he was looking forward to it.
In the afternoon, they continued making dumplings, cut some vegetables, and left them in the kitchen. Xiao Liu also left to celebrate the New Year with other officers and soldiers.
Cen Huai'an sat on the sofa, supporting his chin and looking at the door, feeling a bit upset.
"Mom, will dad come back today?"
Chu Xia didn't know either. Cen Zhengnian had a unique job, and she wouldn't call him unless necessary. Besides, they had already seen him when he picked them up at the station yesterday, so another call wouldn't be appropriate.
She patted Cen Huai'an's head, sighed inwardly. She also wished Cen Zhengnian would come back. It would be perfect to have the whole family together for Chinese New Year.
"Wait until the evening and we'll see."
During Chinese New Year, she and An'an would stay in the northwest until almost the Lantern Festival. Cen Zhengnian could always find time to come back.
Jiang Shengnan winds up back in the middle of the afternoon, and as soon as she arrives home she puts on her apron and asks Chu Xia, "Is there anything you want to eat? My cooking skills are still good."
Chu Xia accompanied her to the kitchen. There was a traditional stove and a coal-fired stove, along with a stack of chopped firewood, making everything convenient.
For the New Year's Eve dinner, there had to be various poultry and fish. After Jiang Shengnan found out that she couldn't cook what Chu Xia mentioned, she instructed Chu Xia to teach her the method, controlled the seasoning, and together they cooked. They worked well together.
Cen Huai'an wants to follow and help, but is driven out by Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan to watch TV.
The kitchen was not big; it was just right for two people. Another person would make it crowded.
Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan made a total of ten dishes: cumin lamb, pickled fish, braised chicken, braised goose with potatoes, garlic chives with duck, and some vegetarian stir-fry.
The aroma was incredibly inviting. Even Cen Huai'an couldn't stay seated in the living room watching TV; he lay at the kitchen door, observing the two cooking.
At this moment, Chu Xia was stir-frying beef. As she took it out of the pan, she smiled and offered a piece of beef to Cen Huai'an. It was so hot that it made a sizzling sound, yet he didn't want to spit it out.
"Is it good?"
"Delicious." He spoke unclearly with his mouth full of beef.
"It's delicious even if we all eat it together at dinner."
After finishing the dishes, the pot still had hot water, and there were embers in the bottom. Jiang Shengnan put the food in the pot and took Chu Xia and An'an to the base's bathhouse.
An'an was entrusted to Father Cen, and his change of clothes was also given to him.
Bathing on New Year's Eve is a Chinese custom from ancient times to the present day. And foot soaking is a must; it's said that this prevents freezing feet in the coming year.
After the bath, on the first day of the new year, it's customary to wear new clothes, all clean and fresh, to celebrate the new year in style.
The military's bathhouse was similar to the Liangzhou bathhouse—there were no separate rooms, everyone showered together. At this moment, there weren't too many people, but there was still a considerable crowd.
Jiang Shengnan said to Chu Xia, "There'll be more people later in the evening."
After the shower, Chu Xia feels comfortable all over. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she and Jiang Shengnan chatted on their way home.
At this moment, Jiang Shengnan felt immensely guilty towards Chu Xia and An'an because it was getting dark, and Cen Zhengnian hadn't returned yet. It seemed he might not be back for New Year's Eve."
The New Year's Eve dinner should be a reunion for the whole family. Chu Xia and An'an had come to the northwest specifically to celebrate Chinese New Year with Cen Zhengnian. However, at this moment, he couldn't make it back.
It was due to work, but it made Jiang Shengnan feel sorry for both Chu Xia and An'an.
Despite this, she didn't show it on her face. She just behaved even better towards Chu Xia and even planned to add some extra money to the prepared red envelopes.
Upon returning home, the lights were on in the small building. Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan went in and found that Father Cen and An'an had already returned. The two were sitting in the living room playing Chinese chess.
Father Cen looked very serious, focusing on the chessboard, and Cen Huai'an was also watching attentively, waiting for his turn.
Hearing the sound, Father Cen glanced at the two, relaxed his furrowed brow, and said to Cen Huai'an, "Your grandmother and mother are back. It's time for dinner. Let's forget this game."
He moved to collect the chess pieces, but Cen Huai'an held his hand and said, "Grandpa, we can finish the game after dinner."
Father Cen coughed, "After dinner, don't you want to watch the New Year's Eve performance?"
Cen Huai'an said with a naive face, "We can finish the game and then watch."
Chu Xia felt that Father Cen's face was about to darken, so she suppressed her laughter and pulled Cen Huai'an up, saying, "Let's forget about the game. Come upstairs with me to tidy up, and we'll come down for dinner later."
Upstairs, Chu Xia mainly tidied her hair, put away the changed clothes, and then applied frostbite cream and baby lotion for Cen Huai'an.
At this point, there was already baby lotion available. Families with the means would buy it for their children, ensuring their faces stayed tender and rosy in the winter.
Cen Huai'an's face was free from frost and chapping now, all thanks to Chu Xia diligently applying frostbite cream and baby lotion every day.
After tidying up, Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan brought out the prepared dishes. They were all still warm in the pot.
Father Cen made a phone call, made a phone call, and not long after, Xiao Liu also arrived. Several people gathered to have the New Year's Eve dinner together.
Jiang Shengnan also brought a bottle of wine and a few bottles of Bingfeng soda. It's the New Year, after all—there should be something to drink.
Before the meal, Father Cen and Jiang Shengnan said a few words. They were about to move the chopsticks when they heard the sound of the door being pushed and voices from outside.
Everyone immediately set down their chopsticks. Jiang Shengnan's face showed excitement. Chu Xia looked at Cen Huai'an, who seemed puzzled, but she could feel her own heart racing.
The one who can come to the house at this time is extremely likely to be Cen Zhengnian.
But the voices didn't sound like just one person, and she couldn't be sure if it was Cen Zhengnian or not.
However, Jiang Shengnan couldn't wait and stood up, opening the living room door. Seeing the visitor outside, her face instantly lit up with a delighted smile.
"Chu Xia, An'an! Come see who's back!"
Chu Xia's heart raced in anticipation. Given Jiang Shengnan's reaction, the visitor outside was undoubtedly Cen Zhengnian.
She held Cen Huai'an's hand and walked to the door, lifting her eyes just in time to see Cen Zhengnian walking in the front of the courtyard.
He was wearing the coat that she had sent over, carrying a faintly dusty scent, yet radiating an exceptionally refined demeanor, with a slight air of aloofness.
As their eyes met, a smile gradually appeared in his eyes, dissolving the distant aura. He once again projected the familiar gentle and refined look that Chu Xia knew.
"Chu Xia, An'an." His low and magnetic voice rings out.
Chu Xia's calm heart began to beat rapidly, involuntarily revealing a smile on her face. "You're back."
An'an grabs Chu Xia's hand, the happiness in his eyes is especially obvious: "Dad!"
Cen Zhengnian took a few steps forward, leaving the person next to him behind, and walked up to Chu Xia and An'an. He lifted An'an and held Chu Xia's hand.
"I came back to spend the New Year with you guys."
Seeing the family of three, Jiang Shengnan's face bloomed like a flower and she went to greet the people behind.
"You guys are Zhengnian's coworkers, right? I'm his mother. Come in and join us for dinner. It's just been served."
Indeed, the ones who came with Cen Zhengnian were his colleagues, a total of four people, including Yu Tian and another who insisted on joining them back to the base, named Fang Lingling.
When the four people saw how Cen Zhengnian had just behaved, they all froze in place and their eyes wide open.
They had never seen this gentle side of him, nor had they imagined he would publicly hold his wife's hand. This openly affectionate side of him was beyond their expectations.
What surprised them even more was the appearance of Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an.
Especially Chu Xia, at this moment, she was wearing a white fur coat over a cranberry and white high-necked sweater, paired with tight jeans and ankle boots.
Her hair fell loosely, giving her a gentle yet stylish appearance. When she smiled, it seemed as if she was radiating under the lights, stunningly beautiful, leaving everyone momentarily dazed.
This is Mr. Cen's wife? Several men's hearts instantly let out a cry.
No wonder Mr. Cen was always sending money and things home. With a wife so beautiful, resembling a fairy, they thought they would spoil her to no end if they were in his shoes.
Not to mention she had given birth to such a cute and clever son, instantly likable. It made them envious.
Yu Tian felt like he had drunk half a bottle of vinegar, incomparably envious and jealous of Cen Zhengnian's good fortune.
He knew more than the others, aware that for the better part of the year, Cen's wife often sent him things. The coat Cen was wearing had been sent by his wife.
Thinking of this only added to the bitterness in his heart.
Fang Lingling, who had tagged along, felt differently from the men. She was also envious but jealous of Chu Xia.
She believed she should be superior to Cen's wife in every aspect. She had gone to college, worked at the Space Research Base, was in the same unit as Cen Zhengnian—such good conditions, after all.
Chu Xia, a worker's daughter who hadn't attended college and was far away in Liangzhou, seemed like an unsophisticated country girl at first glance.
However, standing together at this moment, she felt completely overshadowed by Chu Xia in terms of looks and temperament. Not to mention Cen Zhengnian's attitude towards her.
"This made Fang Lingling's entire heart feel as if it was soaking in acidic water, hurting and bitter, consumed by jealousy. Her expression was extremely ugly, and her eyes glaring at Chu Xia as if trying to pierce her with their gaze.
Jiang Shengnan noticed something off with Fang Lingling and understood her thoughts. When letting others into the house, she stood in front of Fang Lingling, blocking her view.
"Lingling," Jiang Shengnan smiled politely, making it hard to find any fault. "Your parents are waiting at home for you. You should go back."
Fang Lingling suddenly came to her senses, her face turning pale. She had simply followed along and forgotten that her home was nearby. There was no reason for her to have New Year's Eve dinner at Cen Zhengnian's house like the other colleagues.
She forced a smile, clutching the strap of her bag tightly, wanting to glance at Cen Zhengnian and Chu Xia again, only to find they had already entered the house with Yu Tian and the others.
Fang Lingling gritted her teeth unwillingly. Meeting Jiang Shengnan's sharp eyes, she could only nod her head and say, "Okay, thanks to Aunt Jiang's reminder, I'll leave now."
She turned slowly, walking away at a deliberate pace. She looked back while walking, hoping that Jiang Shengnan would call her back.
Unfortunately, Fang Lingling's hopes were dashed. Just as she stepped out of the door, she heard a loud "bang" as the door closed.
Feeling disheartened, she looked back at the closed door, her expression becoming increasingly grim. After staring for a while, feeling unsatisfied, she finally left.
Inside the Cen household, it was bustling.
With the addition of four more men, Jiang Shengnan was ready to prepare two more dishes, but was stopped by Yu Tian and the others.
"Auntie, there are enough dishes."
Cen Zhengnian looked at Jiang Shengnan and asked, "Mom, do we have dumplings at home?"
"Yes, more than enough."
Cen Zhengnian: "Let's have the dishes first. If they're not enough, we'll have dumplings later."
"Right, right, right!" Yu Tian's trio also nodded their heads in a hurry.
Because Cen Zhengnian's colleagues were unfamiliar to everyone, after they were seated, Cen Zhengnian introduced them to everyone.
The ones who came along were core researchers for the project. Yu Tian had heard Cen Zhengnian mention them in a letter, there were two others, one named Xu Liang, and the other named Wen Anguo.
Given that they were brought home by Cen Zhengnian for the New Year's Eve dinner, the character of these individuals was impeccable.
They showed a lot of respect for Chu Xia, addressing her as 'sister-in-law' one by one. They even greeted An'an with a smile, showing warm regards to Xiao Liu without any condescension, welcoming her warmly.
Just like that, the atmosphere at the dinner table became lively with a few exchanged words.
Yu Tian was quite cheerful, praising the dishes during dinner, and his surprised and delighted look while eating brought a special joy to Jiang Shengnan.
It was her cooking. Although several dishes were taught by Chu Xia, being praised in this manner made her heart swell with pride.
Chu Xia felt delighted listening to the compliments. Xu Liang and Wen Anguo weren't too talkative, but they also appreciated the food and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Knowing his mom's cooking skills, Cen Zhengnian hadn't tasted many of these dishes before. He leaned in and softly asked Chu Xia, "Did you teach my mom to cook these?" with a hint of a smile.
Chu Xia raised an eyebrow, picked a chicken bone, and asked him, "How did you know?"
"My mom only knows how to cook one type of fish," Cen Zhengnian said.
Chu Xia: "What kind of fish?"
The corner of Cen Zhengnian's mouth rose upwards, "Boiled after frying."
There is also a helplessness in his tone, which almost didn't make Chu Xia laugh out loud. She hurriedly covered her mouth and glared at Cen Zhengnian: "You don't make me laugh."
Even though she was glaring, her eyes twinkled, adding a charming flair unique to girls.
Seeing her like this, the smile on Cen Zhengnian's face became even more intense.
Although the actions and words of the two were quiet, they couldn't escape the attention of everyone at the table, especially Yu Tian and the two other colleagues, who were particularly interested in Cen Zhengnian.
Yu Tian was eating fish, and, along with Xu Liang and Wen Anguo beside him, they gestured and nudged each other to take a peek at Cen Zhengnian.
Xu Liang and Wen Anguo also made subtle gestures towards him, indicating they noticed, and the three of them shared looks of surprise, exchanging ambiguous smiles.
Jiang Shengnan, however, was happy to see Cen Zhengnian and Chu Xia like this. A good relationship between her son and daughter-in-law was what she liked to see the most.
The table full of dishes was emptied quickly, proving it was not enough, considering there were quite a few men at the table, the perfect age to eat a lot.
Moreover, Cen Zhengnian and his colleagues hadn't eaten all afternoon, and since the food was so delicious, naturally, they wanted to have more. Xiao Liu had been busy the whole afternoon and also needed to fill his stomach.
Cen Zhengnian had learned to cook dumplings from Chu Xia, and he didn't ask Jiang Shengnan and Chu Xia to step into the kitchen. Instead, he took charge of cooking for everyone.
This surprised the Yu Tian trio again.
"Zhengnian, you can cook too?!"
Cen Zhengnian casually said, "Just cooking dumplings."
Yu Tian and his friends were amazed and followed him into the kitchen, with Cen Huai'an trailing behind Cen Zhengnian with his little short legs.
Cen Zhengnian held his hand, asking if he was full and if he wanted to eat some dumplings.
An'an shook his head and replied, "I'm full, I don't want any."
The dining table was large, and concerned that Cen Huai'an might not reach the dishes, Jiang Shengnan deliberately placed a bowl in front of him and helped him to the food he couldn't reach.
Not only Jiang Shengnan, but Chu Xia, Cen Zhengnian, and Cen Zhengnian's father also served him, there was no one else who ate more than him.
Cen Zhengnian called Yu Tian over to help him light the fire, and the others watched as he poured water into the pot and boiled the dumplings, his movements displaying remarkable skill.
Despite this, his expression remained calm, revealing no signs of cooking, almost as if he was conducting scientific research.
However, the dumplings he cooked were perfect, properly done without overcooking.
"Delicious!" Yu Tian gave a thumbs-up. "Zhengnian, I never expected you'd be so skilled at making dumplings. I underestimated you before."
He had genuinely thought Cen Zhengnian was only skilled in scientific research, completely lacking any other life skills and being emotionally indifferent.
Today, from the expression when Cen Zhengnian entered the door to his act of cooking dumplings now, completely shattered all his preconceptions about Cen Zhengnian.
Cen Zhengnian glanced at him. "It's tasty because the dumpling fillings are well-prepared, not because of my cooking."
After dinner, Chu Xia and Jiang Shengnan did not move, while the men cleared the table, including Cen Huai'an.
Watching Cen Zhengnian and his father calmly washing the dishes, and Cen Huai'an placing his bowl aside, Yu Tian and his friends were left numb.
They were past the point of being surprised by anything further.
Yu Tian and his companions were to stay in the Cen family's house. Chu Xia helped Jiang Shengnan set up the beds. The quilts at home had been sun-dried together a few days ago, so there was no need to worry about dampness.
There was a guest room downstairs, equipped with a two-meter bed, enough for three men to sleep. Yu Tian and his friends mentioned they weren't picky about their accommodations, having endured all sorts of environments at the base.
Before bed, Cen Zhengnian took the three men to the military bathhouse to shower. Upon their return, Chu Xia was already lying in bed, not asleep yet, reading a medical book.
Cen Huai'an was to sleep alone in his room next to Chu Xia. His room held a 1.5-meter bed, with some child-like drawings hanging on the walls.
Chu Xia would tell him a bedtime story in his room before he drifted off to sleep and then return to her own room.
Seeing Cen Zhengnian come in, Chu Xia put down the book and curiously asked him, "You all took a day off today. How did you get the approval from the superiors?"
Cen Zhengnian headed towards the direction of the bed, taking off his coat and hanging it up, saying, "Even our base leaders are celebrating the New Year. There's unfinished work, but everyone takes a break during the New Year."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought Yu Tian and the others over. Even though the break starts only on New Year's Eve and lasts for just two days, it still makes the people at the base very happy.
Many people can't go back home and spend the New Year at the base, including the leaders.
On his way home in the base's vehicle, Cen Zhengnian happened to meet Yu Tian and a few others. Seeing them gazing outside the base, clearly missing home, he asked if they wanted to celebrate New Year at his place.
And so, a few of them came over. Fang Lingling's presence was unexpected; she insisted on hitching a ride, citing a return to a unit. The leader also agreed to let her come along, so he had no choice but to take her.
After hearing this, Chu Xia nodded, indicating her understanding.
However, thinking of Fang Lingling, Chu Xia recalled the way she looked at Cen Zhengnian at the door, which clearly suggested that she had some feelings for him.
She looked at Cen Zhengnian and chuckled, "Seems like Fang Lingling has a bit of a special interest in you. You're quite popular at the base."