Huo Jingrui dropped Yunyi off at the Chu Family’s small courtyard but didn’t go in. He had to represent his factory at a seminar upon his return to Beijing. He hadn’t attended in the morning and couldn’t miss the small group discussion that afternoon.
Watching Yunyi close the door and go inside, he finally turned to leave. These past few days had been as hectic as a war, and it really hadn’t been easy for him. That was also why he hadn’t insisted on dropping off the Ye Family couple as well.
Just as Yunyi was about to enter the house, someone knocked on the door. "Chu girl, are you back?"
Turning around to open the gate, she saw it was Auntie Zhang from the phone booth out front. "Auntie, did you need something?"
Auntie Zhang looked Yunyi up and down. "Seems like you did well in the countryside. You haven’t gotten any darker; in fact, you look like you’ve grown taller!"
Yunyi smiled. "It’s all thanks to my grandparents. I was selected to work in the health clinic, so I didn’t get sunburned into a black monkey."
When Auntie Zhang heard Yunyi’s words, she slapped her thigh. "See! What did I tell you? Capable people can thrive anywhere."
After saying this, she seemed to remember something and slapped her forehead with a WHACK. "Look at me! I came to pass on a message and almost forgot."
Yunyi saw her forehead was already red from the slap. Auntie Zhang is so earnest, hitting herself that hard! She really doesn’t hold back. "Please tell me, what is it?" she asked.
Auntie Zhang smiled. "Someone surnamed Hua asked me to tell you that you’ll be having dinner together tonight. They’re hosting a dinner for your family’s newly recognized Second Granduncle and his family. Someone will come to pick you up tonight."
Yunyi nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Auntie."
With that, she took out a handful of White Rabbit Creamy Candy from her pocket—actually from her space. "Auntie, please have these. Just a little something sweet."
Auntie Zhang politely declined a few times, but seeing Yunyi was sincere, she accepted the candy. She praised Yunyi profusely for a good while before leaving with a smile.
After seeing off Auntie Zhang, Yunyi closed the door and went back to her room.
After bolting the door, she went straight into the space. She still hadn’t prepared the gifts for her visit to the Huo Family the next evening.
Mother Huo’s clothes were already finished. Next, she needed to make more skincare cream. She had to make extra since the Huo Family was large; just counting Huo Jingrui’s three elder brothers and their wives, she needed to be prepared in case she met them the next evening.
She was busy all afternoon, making over twenty jars of skincare cream and roasting about ten packets of tea leaves—each packet, of course, contained just over two hundred grams.
After she had taken a bath and tidied herself up, she had just left the space when she heard the Wei couple returning from work.
Cheng Lanlan saw her coming out and said with a smile, "Yunyi, didn’t you go out this afternoon?"
Wei Hongyan looked stunned. "Yunyi, you’ve got another dinner?"
Yunyi could only nod. "Mm-hm."
Wei Hongyan wailed, "Argh! Then my legs are aching for nothing! I practically pedaled them crooked. Sister-in-law said she was making hand-pulled noodles tonight, and I even told everyone I’d be eating at home, hoping to spend more time with you. Now it looks like I’ll miss out!"
She turned towards the kitchen. "Sister-in-law, are we still having hand-pulled noodles tonight without Yunyi?"
Cheng Lanlan came out from the kitchen, still working on a scallion, and said with a smile, "Forget hand-pulled noodles for tonight. We’ve moved them to tomorrow morning."
Wei Hongyan’s lips twitched. "Hand-pulled noodles with meat sauce in the early morning? That sure is luxurious."
Then she burst out laughing. "Alright, count me in! Luxurious it is! Who can resist when your meat sauce noodles are the best, Sister-in-law?"
She had barely finished speaking when Auntie Wei’s voice carried in from outside the gate. "You cheeky girl! Just a few days ago, you were saying the noodles I make are the best, and now it’s your sister-in-law’s hand-pulled noodles. You really go all out when it comes to getting a free meal!"
This remark immediately prompted laughter from everyone in the courtyard, leaving Wei Hongyan to cover her face in embarrassment. "Well, this just proves she’s not my real mother!"

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