Crossing Over to Yamada Love

"I must say, this noodle dish is really delicious when mixed like this. Hai's mother, how did you come up with this idea?" Mo Quan finished a bowl in no time, and asked as Wang Shi refilled his bowl. Everyone nodded in agreement; the taste was indeed excellent.

"Hehe, you're all doing so well today thanks to Lan'er. She learned this way of cooking from someone in town, and she taught us how to make it at noon. Isn't it delicious?" Wang kept putting noodles on her husband's plate with her chopsticks, and seeing everyone enjoying the meal made her happy too.

"Lan is really something. She even brought back a new way to eat after going to town. Second Master is really benefiting from you." Mo Jin said while eating, giving Mo Lan a thumbs up.

Mo Lan smiled proudly. At her age, she didn't know what modesty was. Of course, she was happy to be praised by an adult.

"Lan is quite good." Mo Quan smiled with satisfaction. Then he took the bowl handed to him by Wang Shi and began to eat the noodles again.

Mo Lan thought to herself, "This is the atmosphere a meal should have—no arguments, no conflicts. Everyone's laughing heartily and eating comfortably." Mo Lan looked at everyone with satisfaction. Whether it was her grandparents, her second uncle, her eldest uncle, or her father, everyone had smiles on their faces, shoveling noodles into their mouths. At that moment, she felt that life was so wonderful.

Although Wang ate slowly and deliberately, she enjoyed it immensely, and Mo Mei looked on with obvious pleasure. This was much better; it would be even better if Mother, Aunt, Brother, and Xiao San were here. As for the people from the second branch of the family, they should never show up—that would suit her perfectly.

"Grandpa and Grandma, Lanlan is amazing, isn't she? You have to let me go to town often in the future, so that Lanlan can hear about more food. Our family can also eat new food more often." Mo Lan said with a smile, she was applying for the right to go to town in the future.

"You silly girl, you've only been out for a short while, and you already want to go out again. Learn from your sister, don't always run around outside." It was Mo Changhe who spoke. He bit into a clove of garlic, glared at Mo Lan, and scolded her, but the smile on his lips betrayed him. Clearly, he was quite satisfied with the child. He was just putting on a stern, disciplining tone to prevent her from running wild.

Upon hearing his words, Mo Lan pouted and sniffed, her adorable appearance making everyone laugh.

“Second brother, you too, Lanlan is a sensible child, don’t always criticize her.” Mo Quan began to defend his granddaughter.

"Yes, Father." Mo Changhe replied, secretly amused. That was his daughter, how could he not love her? But with everyone around him, he couldn't indulge his daughter, or else she would become even more unruly.

Mo Changhai watched and listened to everything with a smile. He liked the feeling; it was light and warm. Seeing his brother's expression as he looked at his niece, a faint envy stirred within him. When would he be able to have his own child?

The meal was finished just like that. Mo Lan accompanied her grandmother and Mo Mei to clean up, while Mo Changhe helped his brother walk slowly around the yard. This was also Mo Lan's request, so that Mo Changhai wouldn't sit for too long and would have to move around from time to time.

Mo Quan sat in the courtyard watching his two sons, smoking his pipe, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

After Wang and the others finished tidying up, Mo Changhe helped his brother back inside to rest for the afternoon. Mo Lan also followed Wang to the kang (heated brick bed) and took a nap.

In the afternoon, Wang and Momei were busy with chores, while Molan was learning to read with her uncle. During this time, Mo Changhai fell ill. He was in pain for a while, and Molan could only stay by his side, unable to help.

Seeing her uncle's suffering, Mo Lan couldn't bear it. Just another half month, another half month, and he'd be better. Then the thing would come out, and she could dig it out and give it to her uncle to eat. It should help his illness.

In the evening, Wang steamed cornbread, reheated the leftover meat sauce from lunch, stir-fried some shredded potatoes with dried chili peppers, and made a "sleeve-swinging soup," which was actually spinach and egg soup. It was called "sleeve-swinging soup" because while making it, eggs were tossed into the pot, causing the sleeves to swing back and forth. Hence the name.

When it was time for dinner, the whole family was together again, and those who had gone to their parents' homes had already returned. On the table were the braised meat that Liu had brought back, and Qiu had brought back 20 eggs and 10 duck eggs. As for Feng and Cui, they hadn't brought anything. Whether they truly hadn't brought anything back, only they themselves knew.

"Sister-in-law, your family is too stingy! How come you only gave us such a small amount of braised meat? Who's going to eat that? I suppose you've already eaten. Then let's share it with the rest of our family." Cui Shi stared at the plate of braised meat, pulled it in front of her, and said to Liu Shi.

Mo Lan was annoyed. "Why are you everywhere? You say your aunt's family is stingy, but you're so generous. What about your things?"

"Third Aunt's family must be very wealthy," Mo Lan said excitedly, looking at Cui Shi with obvious envy.

“That’s right. My family may not be considered extremely wealthy, but compared to ours, they’re worlds apart,” Cui said proudly. Looking at Mo Lan’s expression, she scoffed.

"Third Aunt, Brother Zhu, and Sister Ju must have had plenty of good food. Lanlan is so envious." Molan looked at Cui Shi, her envy growing even stronger.

"Envy me, huh? Envy won't change anything. Your maternal family is dirt poor. You're not even able to afford anything." Cui Shi drew out the last syllable, deliberately trying to provoke Mo Lan.

“Yes, it’s because my maternal family is poor.” Mo Lan sighed as she said this, and Qiu’s face also darkened.

"Since Third Aunt has eaten so much delicious food, how will you all eat tonight? Why don't you stop eating? It's not good to overeat." Mo Lan's next words immediately brightened Qiu Shi's face. They also left Cui Shi speechless.

"You, how dare you talk like that..." Madam Cui pointed at Mo Lan, her face full of exasperation.

"What's wrong, Third Aunt? Did I say something wrong? That's what you were saying about Eldest Aunt just now. And both Third Aunt and Second Madam went back to their parents' homes. Why did my maternal family, which is so poor, send back gifts, but Second Madam and Third Aunt didn't?" Mo Lan asked innocently, as if she didn't understand why Cui Shi was angry.

"What do you mean, girl? Are you complaining that we didn't give you a return gift? I'm so old, you're not afraid of stuffing yourself to death if you want to eat my return gift." Upon hearing this, Madam Feng's face darkened, she slammed her chopsticks down, and scolded Mo Lan.

"Oh, so the mistress brought a return gift. Lanlan doesn't want to eat it. Lanlan likes the food her grandmother makes. Lanlan isn't afraid of overeating. Because Lanlan doesn't eat alone." Molan wasn't afraid of her at all. A stern face is only good for coaxing children. Trying to scare her? Not up to the task!

"Grandma, Mom, don't be angry. Haven't you noticed that Lanlan has changed since she kowtowed? She's always talking back to you and me. Is she being haunted by something?" Mo Ju, who hadn't said much until now, spoke up ominously from the side. She was small and cute, and her frightened expression as she spoke these words was quite pitiful.

Mo Lan narrowed her eyes. She had truly underestimated Mo Ju. Seeing her always so quiet, who knew her words could be so deadly? She was so young, yet she understood all this. Not simple. What should she do now? Mo Ju's words had truly gripped her lifeline.

"Hey, Ju is right, Mother, Lanlan really does seem a bit off. She wasn't this clever before. Could she be possessed by a ghost?" Upon hearing her daughter's words, Cui was surprised and began to look Molan up and down.

"Who says otherwise? Sister-in-law, I think we should find someone to take a look. Maybe something unclean has possessed Lan'er, making her dare to talk back to her own family." Madam Feng was secretly pleased, her eyes gleaming, and she added fuel to the fire with her words.

"Don't talk nonsense! My sister isn't haunted by anything unclean. She's very good to Xiao San!" Xiao San, who had been sitting next to Mo Lan listening to the adults, suddenly stood up and shouted at them, as if he'd been provoked. His puffed-up face was both endearing and pitiful.

Mo Lan pulled Xiao San'er back, squinting her eyes without saying a word.

*******

Second update! Thank you to Yu Ni Chang, Lei Ge Tian Ying, Mu Mu Ge Zi, and Long Zai Tian Shan for the peace charms. Thank you everyone for your support.

Introducing this book—"Rebirth of the Eldest Daughter." Written by Meiyan Kongkong. Those who enjoy farming/domestic drama might want to check it out.