The Bravest

After getting Lin Jie's affirmative answer, Michiko washed up, changed her clothes, showed them to Lin Jie, and asked for his opinion.

"Honey, do you think this is suitable for me? Is it too bright? Will they be unhappy? Should I change into something more plain?"

Michiko was wearing a cheongsam, which was specially made for her. It was not the kind that was tight-fitting and showed off her figure, but a slightly looser style.

The base material is black satin, embroidered with bright red peony patterns. When worn by Michiko, she looks dignified and elegant, but it is indeed quite eye-catching.

Lin Jie watched her cautiously seek advice and felt that Michiko lived too humbly in front of him.

"No, just wear this one. It's elegant and festive. I like it. I've prepared gifts for you. One for each of them. Just say you bought them. If they give you a cold look, just pretend you don't see it."

"Well, honey, you're so nice, but I've prepared something too." Michiko was very happy when she heard Lin Jie say that he liked it and that he helped her prepare a gift for the visit.

"Then take them all with you. Oh, and bring two more sets of clothes with you. Don't come back at night." Lin Jie instructed carefully.

"Ah, didn't you say we were just going to eat? If I refuse to leave, they might get angry and make things difficult for you. Forget it."

Michiko's eyes lit up at first, then she asked Lin Jie worriedly, fearing that he would be embarrassed.

"It's okay. It's New Year's Day. They won't chase you away. At most, they'll just give you a cold shoulder. You can just bear with it for a bit, be thick-skinned and say a few soft words. Then I'll beg for mercy a few more times, and you'll get away with it. It'll be easier once you get started."

"Yes, yes, husband, I'm not afraid of that. At most I'll be scolded. If they hit me, I'll hide behind you."

Michiko made up her mind that as long as she stayed, she would endure any grievance. After getting through this tonight, she would truly be considered Lin Jie's family.

Michiko and Lin Jie carefully sorted out the gifts, and Xiaofeng and her brother just happened to come back.

"Xiaofeng, Xiaolong, come home with me to celebrate the New Year." Lin Jie called them.

"I'm not going. I want to stay at home." Xiao Feng didn't know when she started to treat this place as her home.

"After dinner, I'll ask someone to take you back. Let's go!"

So, everyone got into two cars and went home with Lin Jie to celebrate the New Year.

……

Lin Jie's yard is neither big nor small. This year is the second year that Lin Jie's family has spent here, and it is also the first time that Michiko has stepped into this yard.

The yard was bustling with activity. Ye Wulian was directing his men to set up some rectangular iron stoves. These were made by Lin Jie and were to be used for barbecue in the evening.

Sun Yuelan and Haitang were sitting on the sofa and chatting. No one knew when they moved the sofa to the yard.

Michiko followed Lin Jie closely, carrying bags of gifts, like a young daughter-in-law going to meet her parents-in-law.

"Wulian, Yuelan, Haitang, we are back." Lin Jie shouted loudly on purpose.

"You're back, so why shout so loudly? I haven't seen you all afternoon, and I don't know where you went. Go in and wait."

As the mistress of the household, Ye Wulian couldn't give in, so Lin Jie stood in the yard awkwardly.

"Hey, we're going in, come in quickly, Michiko has brought gifts to see you!"

After getting the reply, Lin Jie quickly pulled Michiko into the hall. Xiaofeng and her brother would naturally be arranged by Liu Sheng. Since he knew most people there anyway, there was no need to worry about it.

Lin Jie and Michiko waited in the living room for a while before Ye Wulian and the other two came in and sat down on the sofa. Ye Wulian sat in the middle holding her son, while Haitang and Yuelan sat on both sides of her.

Michiko had already stood up when they came in. After they sat down, she smiled and called out respectfully, "Hello, eldest sister, hello, second sister, hello, third sister."

Ye Wulian nodded, Sun Yuelan kept a stern face and did not respond, Haitang felt a little unnatural, as Michiko was a few years older than her.

"Michiko, what gift did you bring? Take it out and let us see it!" When Lin Jie saw that the conversation was about to become awkward, he quickly helped to take over.

"Oh, I brought some American milk powder. And..."

"My son doesn't need it. He has enough to eat." Ye Wulian puffed out her chest. She had grown a lot bigger during the breastfeeding period, almost surpassing Michiko.

"Oh, I made it for the eldest master to drink at night so that the eldest sister won't have to work too hard at night." Michiko was very smart and immediately changed her words to flatter the master.

"Well, since you are willing, I will accept it."

Ye Wulian didn't care about Michiko's flattery of calling her "big sister", but the title of "young master" was very much to her liking.

"Michiko, what did you bring for Yuelan and Haitang?" Seeing that Ye Wulian did not refuse, Lin Jie breathed a sigh of relief and encouraged Michiko to keep up the good work.

"Oh, I didn't know what gift to choose, so I brought some supplements, ginseng and deer antlers from Northeast China..."

Sun Yuelan interrupted Michiko with a snort, "We don't need these at home."

"Yuelan, don't be anxious. Michiko, didn't you bring some cosmetics inherited from your ancestors? Take them out and let us see them." Lin Jie quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Yes, some rouge and powder I made myself." Michiko took out small porcelain bottles and small boxes from an exquisite small wooden box and placed them one by one on the large coffee table.

"Haitang, try it. Michiko said it's made with precious medicinal herbs! It can maintain your skin and can be used by pregnant women."

"Really? Michiko, please introduce me to someone. I've become ugly now, and my husband says that makeup is not good for the child."

Haitang couldn't hold it in any longer. They had already agreed not to make things difficult for her husband and to accept Michiko by default. However, Ye Wulian and Sun Yuelan insisted on giving Michiko a warning.

"If you accept it, just accept it. If you don't accept it, just say it directly. Isn't it unnecessary to do all this?" This was what Haitang thought in her heart, but she didn't dare to say it out loud.

"Ah, third sister, let me demonstrate it to you." Michiko hurried over.

"Just call me Haitang. I'm a few years younger than you. It would feel weird to call me third sister." Haitang was not used to Michiko's enthusiasm.

When Sun Yuelan saw that Haitang was not doing her job and ruined the atmosphere, she didn't want to be the bad guy anymore, so she also spoke up.

"Don't call me second sister anymore. That's how you call me in a family meeting. I'm still young. Also, why don't you give your eldest sister any cosmetics? You're really ignorant."

"Yes, we have them all. I'll make them again after I use them up." Michiko smiled sincerely when she saw that her trick worked.

"Try them all. Michiko's ancestors were hermits. They are very good at making such a mess." As soon as Lin Jie saw the opportunity, he immediately started bragging to liven up the atmosphere.

"What do you know? This is cosmetics. We dress up beautifully just to save face for you."

Sun Yuelan was immediately unhappy with Lin Jie. Which woman doesn't love beauty? But why does it become a mess when it comes to Lin Jie?

"Come here and hold our son. Go outside and keep an eye on things." Ye Wulian immediately drove him away.

Now that the person has been brought back and it is New Year’s Day, Ye Wulian doesn’t want to cause trouble at home or spread the news that it will embarrass the Lin family.

……