An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

In the backyard, the scorching sun was shining on the bluestone floor, and the shadow of the old locust tree covered the trunk in the middle.

Zhuang and her two sisters-in-law had just finished lunch and were walking out chatting and laughing.

Today, Zhuang wore a brand new lilac-colored double-breasted shirt and a moon-white horse-faced skirt. The silver hairpin in her hair gleamed in the sunlight. She wore an unconcealable smile, even the fine lines around her eyes smoothed out.

Maybe it was because of his uncle's return, but Jing Chunxi felt that his aunt was particularly energetic today. Her walking posture was brisk, and her slightly plump waist swayed slightly with her steps, making her look as light and graceful as a girl.

"Sister Xi, go quickly! Your cousin Mingyue and the others have just sat down, and the two little girls are still hesitating, wondering if they should go to the front yard to call you." Seeing Jing Chunxi coming towards them, Zhuang Shi waved quickly. Her eyes curved into crescents as she spoke, and her voice was filled with unconcealable joy.

"really?"

Jing Chunxi's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing the greeting. Her light green silk sash tied around her waist fluttered as she ran, like a cheerful little butterfly. She turned back even as she trotted, raising her voice to say, "Aunt, my third uncle said they're eating in the front yard with my grandparents, and asked for some light food to be brought over."

"I understand. Go ahead and eat, Sister Xi. You don't have to worry about this."

Zhuang's voice came from behind. Although Jing Chunxi heard her aunt's footsteps and turned back, probably wanting to go to the kitchen to give some instructions immediately, she didn't care about that at the moment. She just wanted to find her friends quickly.

In the courtyard, tables had been moved to areas out of the sun. Three square elm tables had originally been neatly arranged under a large locust tree, but now two had been moved to areas with denser shade.

The women who had made the rice dumplings that morning should have gone home by now. Two tables were being cleared away, making a clanging noise. The table they had sat at that morning now had a few more people, and laughter could be heard from afar.

"I am coming."

Jing Chunxi quickly ran to the table, saw an empty seat, and sat down immediately. The wooden stool still held the warmth of the sun. She smoothed her messy hair with her hand before looking up at the crowd.

"Cousin Xi."

Jing Mingyue, who was sitting opposite, was the first to greet him. She had her hair styled in a double bun today, with a few small silk flowers dotted in her hair, which made her oval face look even brighter and more charming.

"Sister is here! Let's eat."

As soon as Jing Mingzhu spoke, the baby fat on her face trembled, and two dimples appeared faintly.

"Cousin!" Lin was holding Congcong in her arms, feeding the child with a small wooden spoon. She had changed into a clean indigo-colored cloth dress and her hair was meticulously combed. Although she was dressed simply, she looked very energetic and had gained a lot of weight.

Jing Chunxi smiled at Lin, his eyes fixed on Congcong in her arms. The little fellow was skinny and tiny, looking only two or three months old, his big black eyes looking around curiously.

Lin held a small wooden spoon filled with a paste, which she was carefully putting into the child's mouth.

"Congcong is so young, shouldn't he be fed?" Jing Chunxi asked curiously. She moved closer and found that although Congcong was thin, he was very energetic and his little mouth was slurping his food sweetly.

"He eats everything. Auntie Lin's milk isn't enough!" Lin fed her son another mouthful and raised her head, embarrassed. As she spoke, she glanced at Qiaoqiao, who was sitting next to her, and a trace of guilt flashed across her face. "He's not young anymore, just two months younger than the young master."

Qiaoqiao smiled, her white teeth gleaming, her pink shirt making her face look even more rosy. "My brother is just small, but he's very smart. He takes after daddy," she said with a hint of pride, her eyes sparkling.

Congcong seemed to understand his sister's praise. After swallowing a mouthful of food, he stared straight at Jing Chunxi as she spoke with his big black eyes. He also stretched out his little arms and opened and closed his hands. Lin joked, "Congcong is saying hello to his cousin."

"Ah! Really!" Jing Chunxi exclaimed in surprise, and quickly stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Congcong, "Hello, Congcong." Her serious look made everyone laugh.

Jing Chunxi felt a little embarrassed by the laughter. Then he thought about Grandpa Xiaobei's short stature and how he looked thinner than the average person. He then looked closely at Congcong's little face and couldn't help muttering, "His eyes and nose are like Aunt Lin's, and his mouth is like Qiaoqiao's. How can he look like Grandpa Xiaobei?"

Her serious analysis set everyone off in another round of laughter. Qiaoqiao nearly fell off her stool, laughing so hard she was practically falling off. Jing Mingyue covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Even Xiaoman and Chuyi, who were clearing the dishes, couldn't help but glance back.

Amidst the laughter, Jing Chunxi felt someone on the bench swerve to the side. She looked up and saw it was Jing Mingrong. She wore only a single wooden hairpin in her hair, looking simple yet neat, and her clothes were also plain. A faint smile played on her lips as she quietly watched the others chatting and laughing, a smile also playing on her lips.

Jing Chunxi quickly leaned towards her and asked, "Why didn't you eat this morning?" Then he looked at the food on the table - the plates of rice cakes and pastries looked a little dry and hard, and the white porridge was not steaming like the pot that was just cooked in the morning, it must be a little cold.

The only things that looked quite appetizing were the two extra pots of stew. "This morning's food was much better," she added softly.

Hearing this, Jing Mingrong took a bite of the leftover sugar cake from this morning, pretending to enjoy it. "I served the old lady and ate with her in the front yard." She answered softly, her tone calm and natural, without calling herself a servant or deliberately trying to please.

Jing Chunxi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her answer. The fact that she could sit at the same table with Mingyue and Mingzhu showed that her grandparents weren't too restrictive or particular about her, and didn't treat her like a servant or an outsider. A closer look at Mingrong's complexion, words, and actions revealed a natural demeanor. She didn't underestimate herself, and she presented herself as optimistic and positive.

At this time, Jing Mingyue noticed that Jing Chunxi had been staring at the two pots of stewed vegetables, so she took the initiative to explain: "This is a stew made from last night's leftovers. Don't look ugly, but the taste comes out when several ingredients are mixed together. It tastes better than last night's." As she said that, she picked up a piece of food with a serving chopstick and put it in the empty bowl in front of Jing Chunxi, "If you don't believe me, try it."

Jing Chunxi looked down at the bowl, which contained a rich array of dishes: a piece of braised pork belly, a mixture of fat and lean, wrapped in golden bamboo shoots, with a few slices of black fungus and a few greens scattered around. She recognized the bamboo shoots and black fungus; they were the ones she had left in her grandparents' room last night. They must have been soaked and stir-fried this morning.

"Adding bamboo shoots and black fungus to the stir-fry makes it less greasy. Eat quickly." Everyone at the table looked at her expectantly, chattering in unison. Jing Chunxi no longer hesitated, scooping up all the food in the bowl with her chopsticks and taking a big bite.

“Is it delicious?”

“Not boring, right?”

Under everyone's expectant gaze, Jing Chunxi deliberately made an exaggerated expression of enjoyment and said in a drawn-out voice, "It's so delicious!" Her look made everyone laugh again. Even Congcong opposite her was so happy that he kicked his legs and giggled.

To be fair, this dish was unexpectedly delicious. Although I would occasionally eat a hodgepodge with the children in the cafeteria at Qingshan Villa, the food made by the master's wife was definitely not as delicious as the one here.

The fat from the braised pork is absorbed by the bamboo shoots, and the black fungus adds a layer of taste. The flavors of the various ingredients are blended just right, neither greasy nor bland.

Jing Chunxi thought to herself, "I need to find a chance to talk to Brother Jing Yi and learn some cooking tips here." She thought to herself, "The children of Qingshan Villa will surely enjoy eating the same meals as their parents."

During the meal, Jing Mingrong ate quietly, only occasionally whispering to Jing Chunxi which dish tasted better. Looking at her gentle profile, Jing Chunxi suddenly remembered the bundle that Wutou had specifically asked her to pass on.

While everyone was laughing, she leaned close to Jing Mingrong's ear and said in a low voice, "Cousin, I'll go to your room later."

Mingrong was slightly stunned when she heard this. She had never expected that Jing Chunxi would take the initiative to ask her out. She then nodded slightly, with a surprised smile on her lips.

The sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves onto the table. In the mottled light and shadow, the scene of everyone having fun together looks particularly warm and beautiful.