Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 364 Rewarding the Women

night.

Lin Chen specially arranged for a meal to be prepared for his family members.

A plate of braised pork belly, glistening with oil, the skin translucent and springing back when poked with chopsticks.

A pot of Ganoderma lucidum stewed with pheasant, the soup was golden yellow, and the aroma filled the whole yard.

There was also roasted rabbit, stir-fried ginseng, and honey-glazed purple ganoderma, all laid out on the table.

Yao Yao sat upright in her seat, but her eyes kept glancing at the table. Her throat moved once, then moved again.

"My dear husband, we've been eating vegetarian food every day while you've been away, and we've all gotten so thin."

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and twirled them between his fingertips.

Lin Chen glanced at her: "Why do I feel like you've actually gained weight?"

Yao Yao paused with her chopsticks, looking at Lin Chen with a serious expression:

"That's edema, from missing you."

Lan Fenghuang slowly took a sip of soup, put down the bowl, and...

"You have such a mouth, you can lie without even blushing."

"I'm telling the truth." Yao Yao picked up a piece of spirit pork, put it in her mouth, and her eyes immediately narrowed.

Yagyu Yuki sat next to the main seat, holding a wine glass and slowly sipping his drink, his face expressionless.

But her chopsticks never stopped; she picked up food at a very fast pace.

Lin Chen noticed that she had silently finished a bowl of rice.

The most dangerous people are those who quietly accomplish great things.

At first, A-Yue was quite reserved, sitting in the corner, only picking up food from in front of her with her chopsticks, eating small bites like a little sparrow.

Yao Yao glanced at her, then used serving chopsticks to place a rabbit leg in her bowl.

"Try this, it's delicious."

A-Yue was stunned for a moment, quickly thanked him, took a bite, and her eyes lit up instantly:

"So delicious!"

Yao Yao smiled, said nothing, and continued eating.

Liu Sheng Piao Piao sat on the other side, head down, poking at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks, not moving for a long time, lost in thought.

Lin Chen glanced at her, then picked up a piece of rabbit leg and put it in her bowl: "Why aren't you eating?"

Liu Sheng Piaopiao paused slightly, raised her head, and her eyes were still a little red:

"Eat...eat."

She picked up a rabbit leg, took a bite, chewed it twice, swallowed it, then lowered her head and continued poking at her rice.

Lin Chen looked at her like that, sighed inwardly, said nothing more, and continued drinking.

Lingbo sat at the very end of the table, with a bowl of white rice, a plate of vegetables, and a glass of water in front of her.

She ate quietly, without making a sound, like a shadow.

Yao Yao leaned closer and whispered:

"Sister Lingbo, why aren't you eating meat? It's so delicious!"

Lingbo said calmly, "I won't eat."

Yao Yao blinked: "Why? You're not fat!"

Lingbo didn't say anything and continued eating her vegetarian dishes.

Yao Yao was rebuffed and retreated, turning back to continue chatting with A Yue.

After a few rounds of drinks, Yao Yao yawned, her eyes almost closed.

"My husband, I'm sleepy. I waited for you at the city gate all day. I got up too early."

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Go to sleep if you're sleepy."

Yao Yao stood up and pulled A Yue along:

"Come on, come on, I'll take you to bed. You'll stay next door, and we can chat tonight!"

As Yao Yao pulled her away, A Yue glanced back at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen nodded to her, and then A Yue followed Yao Yao and ran off. She almost tripped over the threshold after taking a couple of steps.

Liu Sheng Piao Piao remained seated, glancing at Lin Chen, then at Liu Sheng Xue, and whispered:

"Sister, I'm going to sleep too."

After taking a few steps, she turned back to look at Lin Chen, her lips moved but she didn't say anything, then turned and left.

Only Lin Chen, Lan Fenghuang, Liu Shengxue, and Ling Bo remained at the dinner table.

Lan Fenghuang took a sip of wine, stood up, and stretched.

"I'm going to sleep now, you two can continue your conversation."

She walked to Lin Chen's side, bent down and whispered something in his ear, her voice so soft that only Lin Chen could hear it.

Lin Chen smiled and patted her bottom.

Lan Fenghuang rolled her eyes and left.

The room fell silent.

Lingbo put down her chopsticks, stood up, picked up her cup and bowl, and turned to leave.

Lin Chen called out to her, "Ling Bo."

Lingbo stopped and turned to look at him.

Lin Chen pointed to the dishes on the table: "You're full after eating so little?"

Lingbo said calmly, "That's enough."

Lin Chen laughed: "You eat so little every day, aren't you hungry? Do you want me to make you something special?"

Ling Bo glanced at Lin Chen, her eyes as cold as ice.

"Is what you made edible?"

Lin Chen choked.

Liu Shengxue stood beside him, a very faint smile curving her lips.

Lingbo carried the bowls and plates away; her white robes flashed at the doorway and disappeared into the night.

Lin Chen watched her retreating figure and shook his head: "That woman, she really has a sharp tongue."

Liu Shengxue said calmly, "You asked for it."

Lin Chen chuckled, raised his glass and clinked it against hers: "Come on, let's drink."

The two drank their wine in silence.

The candlelight flickered, casting intermittent light and shadow on Liu Shengxue's face.

She drinks beautifully, unlike Yao Yao who gulps it down, or Lan Fenghuang who drinks slowly and deliberately; she just drinks naturally.

As Lin Chen watched, he suddenly felt a tickle in his heart.

He put down his wine glass, stood up, walked to Liu Shengxue, bent down, and picked her up in his arms.

Liu Shengxue nearly dropped her wine glass, quickly grabbing Lin Chen's neck and frowning slightly.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Chen looked down at her, grinning.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, haven't you heard of that?"

Liu Shengxue blushed and turned her head away: "Who's celebrating your wedding day?"

"Who else could it be?"

Lin Chen carried her into the house, talking as he walked, his steps so fast it was like he was running.

Liu Shengxue buried her face in Lin Chen's shoulder, her ear tips turning red.

……

Late at night.

The room quieted down, with only the chirping of insects outside the window, coming in bursts.

Liu Shengxue leaned against Lin Chen's chest, her eyes closed, her breathing steady, but she was not asleep.

Lin Chen placed his hand on her waist, stroking it casually.

After a long while, Liu Shengxue suddenly spoke up: "Piaopiao is unhappy."

Lin Chen hummed in response but did not reply.

Liu Shengxue opened her eyes and looked at Lin Chen: "You're not going to get involved?"

Lin Chen shook his head and chuckled: "We should intervene, but not now."

Liu Shengxue did not speak.

Lin Chen patted her shoulder. "I know what I'm doing. You go to sleep. I'll go check on Yao Yao."

Liu Shengxue nodded gently and closed her eyes.

Lin Chen got up, dressed, and tiptoed out the door.