Chapter 52: The Third-Day Return Visit

Chapter 52: The Third-Day Return Visit

Lu Mingchao could feel the scorching hot tears falling on her ear, slowly trickling down her neck.

Xie Yan was crying.

Each word was choked with sobs.

The dim candlelight reflected in Xie Yan's eyes, like a moon shattered in water, flickering with fine, bright light.

Lu Mingchao gently patted Xie Yan's back, humming a newly learned lullaby.

The wine did not intoxicate.

He was intoxicated on his own.

Xie Yan had been too tense for too long.

As the night deepened, the soft lullaby flowed like a gentle, murmuring stream.

Lu Mingchao didn't know when she fell asleep, only remembering the candle flame flickering once before finally sinking into darkness.

When she woke up again, it was already bright outside.

On the wooden table under the window, two red plum blossoms from who knows where were placed.

The cold wind seeped through the window cracks, making the red plums sway, beautiful and resilient.

Lu Mingchao's spirits lifted suddenly. Seeing the wick flower before sleep and opening her eyes to fiery red plums were both good omens.

After dressing and tidying up in the dimensional supermarket, Lu Mingchao stepped outside.

A thin layer of snow covered the withered branches, and the large courtyard had already been swept clean.

So, it had snowed during the night.

Was this like spring rain, arriving silently with the wind?

"Mother."

Xie Jingyi was squatting under the eaves, brushing her teeth carefully.

When she saw Lu Mingchao, she spoke cheerfully, her mouth full of white foam.

After rinsing her mouth, Xie Jingyi waddled over to Lu Mingchao on her short legs. "Mother, it's sweet, smell it."

Xie Jingyi opened her mouth wide, her soft, fine hair casually tied back, looking utterly adorable.

Lu Mingchao smiled, kissing Xie Jingyi's chubby cheek. "It is sweet."

"Sanbao is such a good girl."

"Mother kissed me!" Xie Jingyi's face beamed with a radiant smile. "Er Bao, mother kissed me."

Xie Ru'an: ...

He was young, but he wasn't deaf.

Right, men and women should not be too intimate, he wasn't envious at all.

"Mingchao."

Xie Yan was dressed in a narrow-sleeved black robe, with his wrists tightly cuffed and his ink-black hair neatly tied up, making him appear even more upright and giving off a youthful charm.

"A Yan, you look really handsome today," Lu Mingchao teased with a smile.

Well, Xie Yan always looked good.

Xie Yan's cheeks flushed slightly. "Mingchao, I've prepared some things for the three-day wedding return visit. Come and see if there's anything else we need to add."

Lu Mingchao nodded and, as she passed Xie Ru'an, ruffled his head.

"When did you prepare all this?"

Half a side of frozen pork, two dressed chickens, two jugs of fragrant and clear wine from the city, two bolts of soft fabric in different shades, and a set of calligraphy tools.

"It was all prepared before the wedding," Xie Yan said softly.

"I'll add some fresh fruits and vegetables later."

"But how are we going to carry all this?" Lu Mingchao looked at the large half side of pork, slightly worried.

Xie Yan smiled. "I've got a cart ready. The road isn't too slippery, so we can just push it along."

Lu Mingchao felt reassured.

She loved days when she didn't have a care in the world.

Once everything was packed, the courtyard gate was locked.

Xie Yan pushed the wooden cart ahead, while Lu Mingchao followed with the children.

Xie Jingyi and Xie Ru'an huddled together, whispering softly.

Lu Mingchao held her breath and, without a change in expression, overheard them.

The two little ones were worried about whether they would be well-liked.

A few red wedding banners still clung to the courtyard wall, fluttering in the wind, looking from afar like plum blossoms on a branch, strikingly beautiful amidst the scattered snowflakes.

Lu Lei stood at the door, rubbing his hands and stomping his feet to keep warm, occasionally looking out.

Lu Mingchao suddenly remembered the scene when she left the marquis's residence.

Lu Lei and Lu Chunsheng had waited at the corner gate of the Yongning Marquis family, holding onto a faint hope, just wishing to see her once.

"Little sister is back," Lu Lei's hearty voice rang out.

The next moment, Yunniang hurried out, her hands still wet.

"They're here."

Yunniang carefully looked over Lu Mingchao, relieved to see that her complexion wasn't as pale as yesterday.

She then greeted Xie Yan's children.

"Grandma," Xie Jingyi, cheerful and sweet, pulled the shy and reluctant Xie Ru'an forward, beaming.

Xie Ru'an took a deep breath, mustering his courage. "Grandma."

Yunniang's heart softened, "Hurry, come inside."

"Huaiqian," Yunniang didn't forget about Xie Huaiqian.

As the wooden cart was pushed into the yard, Yunniang finally got a clear look at its contents, feeling both relieved and uneasy.

She secretly pulled Lu Mingchao into the kitchen and spoke earnestly, "Chaochao, we can manage on our own. You mustn't always think of subsidizing the family."

"In the surrounding villages, which girl brings back so much when she returns home?"

"Those fresh fruits and vegetables must have cost a pretty penny."

Lu Mingchao affectionately held Yunniang's arm, "Mom, I happen to know some people who can get me fruits and vegetables at a good price, they don't cost much."

"The other gifts for returning home, Xie Yan had prepared them before the wedding."

"Mom, don't worry, your son-in-law is very dutiful."

"Mom, I still crave the soup you make," Lu Mingchao naturally cooed.

Yunniang tapped Lu Mingchao's forehead, "Mom's already got it ready."

"Chaochao, the plum blossom petal on your forehead is so lifelike, it looks real at first glance. What made you decide to get a plum blossom tattoo back then?"

Lu Mingchao showed no panic, focusing on the time difference.

"Mom, I had a scar from childhood, so I found a top-notch tattoo artist to ink it, so I don't have to put on floral decorations every day."

When Gu Zhen stayed overnight, she had also asked her.

Her explanation was almost the same, just the timing was different.

"Mom, doesn't it look good?" Lu Mingchao asked with a playful smile.

Yunniang looked at her with adoration, "It looks good, it looks good."

"My Chaochao looks good no matter what."

Then, helplessly, she said, "Your forehead has had its share of troubles with you."

Lu Mingchao didn't mind, "Now, after the worst, things are looking up."

"How are you getting along with Xie Yan?" Yunniang whispered, looking around.

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow, feeling that this question was somewhat meaningful.

Yunniang stomped her foot and whispered directly into Lu Mingchao's ear, "When did your period come?"

Lu Mingchao: Confirmed, it wasn't her overthinking her mother's intentions.

Lu Mingchao remained calm, "On the wedding night."

Yunniang looked at Lu Mingchao's clear and bright eyes, sighed softly, and gently pushed her, "Go rest in your room and chat with your grandmother."

Yunniang sincerely hoped that Lu Mingchao could have a child of her own.

The incident with Lu Miao had left a psychological shadow on Yunniang.

Lu Mingchao rubbed against Yunniang's shoulder, "Mom, Xie Yan treats me very well, Huaiqian, Ru'an, and Jingyi also respect and are affectionate towards me."

"Xie Yan has raised the children well, they are polite and filial."

"Mom, don't worry about me, I will be fine."

"Even if things go wrong, isn't there my second brother to stand up for me?"

"Unable to obtain books to read."