Chapter 390 Temple Fair

Chapter 390: Lunar New Year Temple Fair

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t have to worry about what to eat for breakfast, since Miao Cuifang and Zhang Xue had already gotten up and prepared it.

Miao Cuifang asked, "Xiao Xiao, don’t you have fried meatballs, crispy pork, or oil cakes at home?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head—of course not, and she didn’t know how to make them either.

Miao Cuifang said, "Good thing we packed some. I’ll have your third brother bring them over later. They’re all homemade—really good quality."

"We can save them to enjoy throughout the New Year festivities. Otherwise, all the shops will be closed on New Year’s Day, and there’ll be nowhere to buy them."

Actually, there were still places to buy them, but bringing up the prices would make Miao Cuifang cringe.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded obediently, "Good thing you’re here, Mom. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know how to cook."

Though Miao Cuifang thought it was fine for her daughter to be this way, remembering how Lu Hanchuan had gone into the kitchen early to help, she couldn’t help but quietly ask, "Xiao Xiao, who usually cooks when you and Xiao Lu are at home?"

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "Mostly him. When he’s not around, there’s a housekeeper who cooks, or I just grab food from the cafeteria."

Miao Cuifang said, "That works too, but I see Xiao Lu works hard in the military. When he comes back, don’t always have him cook."

Back in the village, men rarely cooked. Although the Ye family men shared household chores, there were hardly any wives as clueless in the kitchen as Xiao Xiao.

But Miao Cuifang didn’t want her daughter to force hardship on herself—she just wanted to remind her.

Couples should look out for each other.

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "I know."

But Lu Hanchuan clearly loved cooking. Every time he returned, he’d drag Xiao Xiao grocery shopping and whip up meals himself.

Ye Xiaoxiao wanted to help, but he wouldn’t let her—she’d just end up waiting outside.

For breakfast, they had homemade wontons and savory stuffed pancakes.

Miao Cuifang said, "I saw there’s a lot of minced meat in the fridge. Let’s use half for the pancakes and save the rest to make dumplings tonight."

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "The cook prepped that for dumplings, but I’m not sure if there’s enough for so many people."

"It’s definitely enough. We can also make some leek-and-egg and cabbage fillings—some folks like veggie fillings," Zhang Xue chimed in.

She’d been wary at first, but after staying overnight and sharing meals, she realized Xiao Xiao lived quite freely here and didn’t feel like a bother. Today, she loosened up.

"Then we’ll all make them together tonight."

Ye Xiaoxiao could finally put her skills to use—she’d already learned how to make dumplings.

Grandma Lu also praised the breakfast.

"Cuifang, your cooking is fantastic. Thank you for making breakfast."

Miao Cuifang smiled at the old lady and said, "We’re used to waking early at home anyway. Sleeping late just feels off. Cooking’s no big deal."

Since it was still quite cold outside, Ye Changsheng suggested going to the nearby temple fair.

Miao Cuifang, however, stayed home to get things ready for the reunion dinner.

Here’s the refined translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

They had just arrived yesterday and didn’t rest well, so they could hire a chef.

But she insisted on making the New Year’s Eve dinner herself.

Ye Changning said, "Mom, today is the last day of the temple fair, and it won’t be open tomorrow. You ought to at least take a look while you’re here. We’ll be back by noon, and everyone can help with the preparations together."

Miao Cuifang was still hesitating.

Ye Xiaoxiao held Miao Cuifang’s arm and said, "Let’s go take a look. There are loads of fun stuff and tasty treats at the temple fair. Since we’re running low at home, maybe we can see if there’s anything else we need to buy."

Hearing this, Miao Cuifang gave in.

Miao Fengshan had trouble walking in winter. Though Xiaoxiao’s pain-relief patches helped ease the pain, he wasn’t up for walking.

"You all go ahead. I’ll hold down the fort. Leave Jiajia with me—I’ll take care of her."

Though Miao Fengshan was a man, he was a pro with kids.

Moreover, Ye Yijia was an easygoing kid who usually played by herself once she was fed.

Shen Qiuyu had originally planned to stay home with the child, but after hearing Grandpa say this, she was fine leaving Jiajia with him.

The temple fair in the capital wasn’t something you could see every year, and she was genuinely curious.

Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu also stayed home.

At their age, crowded places weren’t their thing anymore.

Once the plans were settled, Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changning drove everyone out.

Lu Hanchuan drove another car so there’d be enough seating.

The temple fair was on East Ring Road. Though it was the last day, it was still hopping.

They had to park outside and walk in.

Ye Xiaoxiao reminded her eldest brother and sister-in-law to watch the two kids so they wouldn’t get lost.

Even though Ye Baocheng was already eleven, he was still kidnappers’ dream.

Ye Changqing and Ye Changan each held one child’s hand.

Both children knew better than to wander.

Lu Hanchuan held Ye Xiaoxiao’s hand as they walked along with the group.

"We came a bit late—half the stalls probably packed up."

Ye Xiaoxiao swung his hand playfully like a child. "It’s not too packed now. Otherwise, our shoes would’ve been trampled off!"

At first, everyone walked together, but gradually, they split up.

Ye Xiaoxiao bought tanghulu, sugar figurines, and sugar paintings...

When Lu Hanchuan saw they were all sweets, he wouldn’t let her gorge on them.

"Be careful of toothaches. Save some for later." Ye Xiaoxiao handed Lu Hanchuan the half-finished tanghulu, and he polished it off.

"I wasn’t planning to eat them all, I’m just admiring them."

Lu Hanchuan smiled—yeah, right, like he’d believe that.

She’d clearly wanted to take a bite of everything earlier, yet now claimed to be "admiring."

"Alright, then let’s go admire those lanterns over there. We don’t have any lanterns up at our gate yet."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Because I didn’t buy them in advance."

Her old household probably never hung such large lanterns, so she hadn’t even thought of it.

Lu Hanchuan: "Let’s grab some now. I’ll hang them up later once we’re back—just hook up the wires and we’re set."

So Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan picked out two big red lanterns together.

After browsing a bit longer, the two went to find the others.

Ye Baocheng and Ye Baoyuan each had a candied hawthorn skewer and a Sun Wukong sugar figurine, eating as they walked.

"Let’s head out. We’re good for today. They’ll have lion dances here for Lunar New Year—we can come back then."

Ye Changning had nothing in his hands, having bought nothing.

They’d already stocked up on household stuff; no need to shop now.

Ye Xiaoxiao glanced around: "Then we’ll leave once we find everyone."

The Ye family stuck out, and they soon regrouped.

Miao Cuifang had bought some mahua and sugar cakes to snack on later.

As the Ye family walked back, they bumped right into Hao Yanyan and Xu Jianwen’s family.

This time, no dodging it—especially when Xu Jianli spotted Ye Xiaoxiao and greeted her.

"Xiaoxiao-jie, you’re here for the temple fair too?"

Xu Jianli had been dragged along by his family, initially sulking, but now beaming like he’d won the lottery.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t about to read the room, nodding first in response.

"Yes, just showing the family around."

Xu Jianli also noticed the group around her.

It had to be said, they turned heads on the street—men and women combined, averaging well over six feet tall.

The women were gorgeous, the men downright model-tier.

Clearly, good looks ran in the family.