roccoschili Chapter 420 Too many women can be troublesome; even small talk takes two chapters.
Chapter 420 Too many women can be troublesome; even small talk takes two chapters.
Chu Yueyao, supporting her pregnant belly, walked over and stood in front of Lin Chen. She looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but then she didn't.
Finally, he simply said, "You're back."
Lin Chen took her hand: "You're back."
Her hands were a little cold, so Lin Chen instinctively rubbed them to warm them up.
Chu Yueyao's lips curved slightly, but she didn't pull away, letting Lin Chen hold her hand.
Qin Shuyan stood under the eaves with red eyes, tears welling up in them.
Lin Chen quickly went over and helped her up, saying, "Slow down, slow down."
Qin Shuyan leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder, her voice trembling with tears, "You're finally back."
Lin Chen put his arm around her shoulder: "You're back, you're not leaving anymore."
Qin Shuyan looked up at Lin Chen, tears streaming down her face: "Really?"
"Really, at least two months."
Qin Shuyan burst into laughter through her tears and playfully punched Lin Chen in the chest: "What about two months from now?"
"We'll see."
Qin Shuyan punched her again, this time more lightly.
Xiao Yulou stood to the side with his sword in hand, already impatient.
"Husband! If you had come back a few days later, I wouldn't have been able to hold it in and would have gone into labor."
Lin Chen was both amused and exasperated: "This can't be kept quiet."
Xiao Yulou's eyebrows furrowed: "Anyway, I feel like it'll be in the next day or two."
"Then you should stay quiet for the next couple of days." Lin Chen glanced at the sword in her hand. "Don't practice any martial arts, and don't use any knives or guns."
Xiao Yulou hid his sword behind his back: "I know, I know, stop nagging."
Lin Chen looked at Wen Ruoxi with a helpless expression.
Wen Ruoxi walked over with a smile and handed him the account book.
"These past few months."
Lin Chen looked at the second account book in his hand and fell silent.
Wen Ruoxi blinked: "What Sister Mingyue gave you was the general ledger, and what I gave you was the business of Zuiyuexuan. There's no conflict."
Lin Chen took a deep breath: "Did you two plan this?"
Wen Ruoxi smiled but didn't say anything.
Ye Qingying walked over carrying a tea tray.
"Have some tea."
Lin Chen picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found the temperature to be just right.
"It tastes good."
Ye Qingying smiled slightly, holding another cup of tea, standing beside him, slowly sipping it, her eyes never leaving Lin Chen.
Murong Xue and Su Xiaoxiao each held one of Lin Chen's arms, their eyes red-rimmed.
"My husband, you're finally back!" Murong Xue's voice trembled.
Su Xiaoxiao didn't say anything, she just held Lin Chen's arm, tears welling up in her eyes.
Lin Chen patted their heads, one in each hand: "You're back. Don't go out unless there's something important."
The two of them laughed, but still refused to let go.
The four girls, Qin Xin, and the five girls, Qing'er, walked over, stood in a row, and bowed.
"My husband."
Lin Chen nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."
"It's not hard work." The girls nodded with smiles, their faces beaming.
Lin Chen nodded to Lan Fenghuang and the other girls, then walked up to the old matriarch, lifted his robe, and knelt down.
"Grandmother, Mother, I'm back."
The old lady bent down and patted Lin Chen's head, her hand trembling slightly.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Su Wanqing stood to the side, looking at Lin Chen, her eyes reddening, but she didn't cry.
She said softly, "Get up, the ground is cold."
Lin Chen stood up and grasped Su Wanqing's hand: "Mother, I..."
Su Wanqing nodded, turned her head away, and secretly wiped the corner of her eye.
"Alright, that's enough. It's good that you're back."
Lin Chen stood in the middle of the courtyard, looking at the people in the courtyard.
The sunlight shone from the east, falling warmly on everyone.
A breeze carries the scent of osmanthus blossoms and the aroma of porridge wafting from the kitchen.
Lin Chen took a deep breath and smiled.
I'm hungry.
That's something a child would say.
Su Wanqing smiled, turned around and walked towards the dining room: "Everything has been prepared for a long time, just waiting for you."
Lan Fenghuang followed, saying, "Mother, I'll go help with the arrangements."
Yao Yao chased after her, shouting, "Me too! Me too!"
Xiao Yulou, sword in hand, followed after him, saying, "I want two more meat dishes!"
Su Wanqing didn't even turn her head, laughing and scolding, "I know, I know, you're all gluttons."
Laughter filled the courtyard.
Lin Nian'er was still clinging to Lin Chen's lap, looking up at him: "Daddy, have you eaten yet?"
Lin Chen bent down and picked her up: "Almost there, almost there."
Lin Nian'er wrapped her arms around Lin Chen's neck and pressed her face against his; it was soft and cool.
"Daddy, your face feels so cold."
"It's cold outside."
"Then I'll warm you up." Lin Nian'er covered Lin Chen's face with her two little hands, pressing hard until her little face turned red.
Lin Chen smiled, feeling as warm as if he had a stove inside his heart.
……
The dining room at Dongshan Villa is large enough to accommodate ten tables.
But only one table was open today—a huge mahogany round table, which was packed full.
The table was laden with various delicious dishes, their aromas irresistible, all of which were Lin Chen's favorites.
Lin Chen glanced at it and swallowed.
"This...this is far too lavish!"
Su Wanqing sat next to the old lady and said with a smile:
"How long has it been since you came back? How can I not give you something to eat?"
Liu Ruyan sat down with Lin Nianjun in her arms, and glanced at Lin Chen:
"My mother gets up early every morning to oversee the preparations."
Lin Chen looked at Su Wanqing, his heart warming: "Mother, you've worked so hard."
Su Wanqing waved her hand: "What's so hard about it? You should eat more, that's the best thing for you."
The old lady picked up her chopsticks, glanced at Lin Chen, and said with a smile:
"Alright, everyone's hungry, let's eat."
The old lady picked up a piece of spare rib and placed it in Lin Chen's bowl.
"eat."
Lin Chen looked at the ribs in the bowl, then at the old lady, and his eyes welled up with tears.
"Thank you, Grandma."
The old lady laughed and scolded, "What are you thanking me for? Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Lin Chen lowered his head and took a bite of the rib.
The meat is tender and falls off the bone with a single bite, and is savory and flavorful.
"tasty."
This sentence was spoken from the heart.
The taste of home always brings tears to my eyes.
The dinner table instantly became lively.
The sounds of chopsticks, bowls, and conversations mingled together, creating a festive atmosphere, much like during Chinese New Year.
Qin Shuyan picked up a piece of fish and put it in Lin Chen's bowl: "Eat more fish, it's good for your brain."
Lin Chen's lips twitched: "Are you implying I'm not smart enough?"
Qin Shuyan smiled, her eyes crinkling: "I didn't say that."
Xiao Yulou picked up a large piece of braised pork and stuffed it directly into Lin Chen's bowl: "Eat meat, you've lost weight."
Lin Chen looked at the mountain of food piled up in his bowl, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry:
"Are you trying to feed me like a pig?"
Zhao Mingyue said slowly, "Pigs are good too, they're chubby and cute."
Lin Chen: "...Are you praising me?"
Chu Yueyao picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks and placed it in Lin Chen's bowl: "For balanced nutrition."
Lin Chen looked at the bowl: pork ribs, fish, braised pork, vegetables...
Okay, let's eat.
Lin Nian'er sat on Lin Chen's lap, a piece of pork rib stuffed in her mouth, her cheeks bulging, and mumbled:
"Father, I want to eat that too."
The little finger pointed at the glutinous rice chicken.
Lin Chen picked up a piece, blew on it, broke it open, and fed it to her.
Lin Nian'er took a bite, her eyes shining like light bulbs: "Delicious!"
Liu Ruyan held Lin Nianjun in her arms. The little guy looked around with his big eyes open, babbling incoherently.
Lin Chen reached out, wanting to hug him.
Lin Nianjun glanced at Lin Chen, then at Liu Ruyan, and decisively buried his head in Liu Ruyan's arms.
Lin Chen: "...This little brat?"
Liu Ruyan smiled: "You should stay a few more days."
Lin Chen sighed and continued eating.
Su Wanqing picked up a chicken leg and put it in Lin Chen's bowl: "Eat more, you're so thin."
Lin Chen had given up on explaining and buried himself in eating.
The matriarch and Su Wanqing sat at the head of the table, eating and watching the whole family with satisfaction in their eyes.