After arranging for Xu Mingxuan's comrades and their families, it was already lunchtime.
In Chen Lan's kitchen, five rice cookers had finished steaming the rice, and the braised dishes steaming on the small stove were exuding a unique aroma.
Two large pots of stewed dishes were ready, and the entire kitchen was filled with the rich scent of food.
The little foodies playing in the living room smelled the aroma from the kitchen and kept exclaiming, "So fragrant." Little Stone and Tiger had already run to the kitchen door, while the dragon-phoenix twins and Little Douzi were crawling rapidly towards the kitchen.
Even in the kitchen, one could hear the continuous exclamations of the old lady.
Chen Lan opened the kitchen door and saw Little Stone and Tiger blocking the entrance, sniffing the air. Little Stone said, "I smell so much meat." Tiger said, "I smell the stew."
Chen Lan chuckled and said, "You two have quite sensitive noses, don't you? You're both right. Come, move aside, let Auntie Xiao Lan pass."
While talking to the two little ones, Little Douzi and the dragon-phoenix twins had already crawled to the kitchen door. As soon as the twins saw their mother, they quickly crawled towards Chen Lan, muttering, "Mommy, fragrant, fragrant."
Little Douzi also said, "Auntie, fragrant, fragrant."
At this moment, the old lady also walked over. Hearing the innocent chatter of the three little ones, she couldn't help but laugh and say, "These three little foodies, their mouths are so greedy, no one can compare. You eat well every day, don't you? Why are you still so greedy!" Su Dan Novel Network.
Chen Lan gently stroked Little Douzi's head and said, "Little Douzi is so good! Shall we eat delicious food soon, okay?"
As they were talking, Chun Cao also came out of the kitchen, looking at her increasingly lively son.
Chun Cao picked up her son from the ground and said sincerely, "Xiao Lan, thank you, and thank you, Auntie, and everyone else. Little Douzi is talking more and more, and his health is getting better and better. It's all thanks to you and Auntie. You two not only don't dislike us mother and son but also take such good care of us.
Xiao Lan, thank you and Auntie, and thank you to your whole family. You are all good people."
Chen Lan quickly stopped her, "Chun Cao jie, why are you saying this? Our meeting is fate. It's such a great fate that we met each other in such a remote place! As the saying goes, 'It takes a hundred years to cross a river on the same boat, and a thousand years to sleep in the same bed.' Think about it, we've cultivated for a hundred years to know each other and to live together in this valley."
The old lady also repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, Lan'er is right. This is fate, something ordained by heaven for us to meet."
Chun Cao's eyes were red as she said, "Xiao Lan, no matter what, I still want to thank you, thank Auntie, thank everyone in the valley for taking us in. Xiao Lan, I want to ask you, can the four of us settle down in the valley?"
Chen Lan smiled happily and said, "Of course. After the new year, when the ground thaws, we'll start building houses for you and planting crops. Everyone will have to work a bit harder. Chun Cao jie, you need to be mentally prepared!"
Chun Cao wiped away a tear that was about to fall and smiled, "No problem. By then, my injured arm will definitely be fully recovered. I'm a good hand at farming at home, so just you wait!"
As they were talking, Chen Lan remembered something she had wanted to discuss with the three of them for a long time, but now was clearly not the time, as dinner was about to be served.
So she said, "Chun Cao jie, after dinner, I'll come to your room to discuss something with you."
Chun Cao readily agreed, "Okay! After dinner and tidying up, Ruyi, Xiao Xue, and I will wait for you in the room."
Since things were settled, Chen Lan and the old lady each carried a child back to the living room. Chen Lan, carrying Jia Hui, went to the large study and called out to Xiang Xi.
Xiang Xi poked his head out from the study doorway and asked, "Little Lanzi, what do you need me for?"
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Lunch is ready. Come and eat! But before we eat, please go next door and borrow a table. We have many people eating today, and our three tables are not enough. Also, please invite them all over for dinner."
Xiang Xi let out a "tsk" and said, "Little Lanzi, I knew you must have something for me to do, otherwise you wouldn't have come all the way to call me for dinner?"
Chen Lan couldn't refute him and could only smile sheepishly, "Little Watermelon, to compensate you, I'll specifically make your favorite glutinous rice wine eggs and glutinous rice balls tomorrow morning. How about it?"
Xiang Xi happily said, "It's a deal, Little Lanzi. You can't go back on your word!"
Chen Lan playfully teased him, "Little Watermelon, if you don't believe me, I can give you the ingredients now, and you can make it yourself?"
Xiang Xi waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, don't give them to me. I only know how to eat, not how to cook. Wait for me, I'll go next door to get you a table now."
Saying that, he put on his warm coat and ran off.
During the meal, Chen Lan was worried that the women might feel awkward, so she tried to arrange for the families living together to sit together so they could get to know each other in advance. Also, it would be easier to communicate at the table, which is a unique Chinese dining culture.
However, everyone was still a bit reserved. They only ate the large bowls of stewed dishes and rice that were served to them, feeling too shy to take the braised dishes from the plates on the table. Chen Lan and her mother-in-law kept serving them braised dishes, urging them to eat more and not to leave any leftovers.
Uncle De and Uncle Fu, along with Xiang Xi and the other big boys, accompanied the fathers of the comrades who had come along, drinking sorghum wine. After a few drinks, everyone started talking, discussing the fields, the crops, and this year's harvest.
Xiang Dong and Er Hu accompanied Xu Mingxuan's comrades in drinking. This table was filled with enthusiasm, and everyone was like they were at a banquet in the army, raising their glasses and shouting, "One, two, three, cheers! Let's roar and cheers together, and drink it all down!"
After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was flushed with alcohol.
Fueled by the wine, they reminisced about "the glorious years of war and sighed with emotion about their current happy lives."
Zhao Tie, Li Daqiang, Zhou Dashi, and Chen Erlin, while slightly tipsy, kept thanking Xu Mingxuan for his thoughtful arrangements, which freed them from worries and allowed them to not worry about their parents and wives and children suffering from cold and hunger."
Zhao Tie, Zhou Sixi, and Xu Hao also said with great emotion, "Old Xu, we've been a burden to you."
Xu Mingxuan immediately put on a stern face and roared, "What are you doing? What nonsense are you talking? We are comrades who fought in the same trench. It's not easy for everyone to come back alive from the battlefield, and it's even harder to be together now.
What do you mean by burden? We are comrades who took bullets for each other, with a life-or-death friendship. We are lifelong comrades, brothers for life."
Xu Mingxuan continued, "I'm telling you all, you all need to live well, live very well! We fought and killed enemies, wasn't it all for a better life? I'm telling you, our better days are still ahead!"
Everyone nodded in unison and said, "Yes, we'll listen to Old Xu. We have to live well. Our good days are still ahead!"