Looking at these things, Xu Mumu’s face broke into a smile.

She put the food aside, and placed the pen and notebook into her small bag, as these are things she needs to use often.

After Xu Mumu put everything away, she took out the cured meat for Madam Chen to put in the kitchen.

Madam Chen was quite surprised by the cured meat brought by Tiedan, as Liu Cuixia’s family seemed to have been quite generous. The cured meat weighed at least over two pounds.

When Xu Mumu came out, Xu Minghui was talking with Professor Song and the others, who were asking him about his life at university.

Xu Mumu also sat down nearby and listened to their conversation. She was curious about how her brother was doing at school, as Xu Minghui rarely mentioned school life when at home.

Xu Minglei, who was playing with his younger brother a short distance away, was also listening attentively, as he too longed for university life.

With Xu Minghui and the others in the Imperial City, Madam Chen and the rest were in great spirits, and Xu Mumu was quite happy as well.

In the afternoon, Xu Mumu took them to explore the nearby area and also brought them to visit her lab.

However, Xu Minghui and Xu Minglei were not particularly interested in the experiments, they were merely curious about the things.

Xu Mumu didn’t mind, knowing she couldn’t expect them to follow in her footsteps with experiments. They have their own paths to follow, and she’s helped as much as she could.

"Sis, you mentioned there are a lot of delicious foods here, when do we get to try them?" Xu Minglei asked longingly as he followed Xu Mumu.

"What’s the rush, I’ll take you tomorrow," Xu Mumu replied with a smile. She already knew those spots well, and having money of her own, they could go anytime.

"I want to try that oil-fried goose you mentioned," Xu Minglei said with bright eyes. He remembered her mentioning it when she called home and especially wanted to try it, having already sampled everything in the provincial capital.

"Sure, we’ll do as you say," Xu Mumu nodded with a laugh.

When they got home, it turned out the dean had come over with his grandson.

Seeing Duan Yunkai, Xu Mumu couldn’t help but twitch her lips — this jokester was here too.

"Mumu, your family has quite a few siblings," Duan Yunkai said dramatically, feeling a hint of envy as he was an only child and often quite lonely at home.

"It’s okay, this is my eldest brother and second brother. Brother, Minglei, this is the dean of our physics department and his grandson, Duan Yunkai," Xu Mumu introduced both sides with a smile.

"Hello," Xu Minghui smiled and shook hands with Duan Yunkai.

"Dean, why did you come over?" Xu Mumu asked curiously, as the dean rarely came to this small courtyard.

"What, can’t we come over?" The dean glanced at Xu Mumu calmly.

"Of course not, we’re delighted to have you here," Xu Mumu replied with a smile.

"Hmph, and I was thinking of you," the dean said, raising the items he brought.

"My grandfather’s student sent him some mountain goods, but we can’t eat that much, so we brought some over for you and plan to join you for a meal," Duan Yunkai explained with a smile.

They specifically chose to come just before dinner time mainly because his grandfather disliked his cooking and wanted to enjoy a better meal, also bringing some goods for Professor Song as a kind of New Year’s gift.

Xu Mumu: "..." Didn’t expect you to be like this, dean.

The dean blushed slightly and couldn’t help but glare at his grandson. This grandson was always undermining him; was he even a real grandson?

Since the dean and his group wanted to stay for dinner, Xu Mumu and Madam Chen went to prepare the meal.

In the living room, Xu Minghui and Duan Yunkai were chatting freely. Duan Yunkai was naturally lively and talkative, so the two had no awkwardness between them.

"Sis, that brother talks a lot," Xu Minglei whispered as he helped wash vegetables in the kitchen.

"He surely does, but that’s a good thing. Look, he can talk with anyone. You could learn a lot from him," Xu Mumu said with a smile. She herself wasn’t very fond of socializing, but she hoped her brothers would be articulate, which was much better than being taciturn.

"Your sister is right, but don’t take after your second uncle, like a wooden dummy who only moves when poked, I feel annoyed just looking at him," Madam Chen said calmly, taking a moment to show her disdain for Xu Jiang.

"Got it, grandma, I definitely won’t copy second uncle," Xu Minglei said immediately. Of all the uncles, the second uncle was the least favored by Grandma, who would scold him whenever she saw him. He didn’t want to be like second uncle at all.

Xu Mumu twitched the corner of her mouth, Grandma was still the same way. It’s a good thing second uncle didn’t hear Grandma’s words, otherwise, he would have been hurt again.

The second uncle and his wife were of gentle nature, and too kind-hearted. Despite all the dislike from Madam Chen, they still showed appropriate filial piety without any lack. Such a dutiful person, Xu Mumu had never seen before.

Luckily she came, otherwise even if Xu Xue were reborn, the second house wouldn’t have fared as well, and would likely have ended up as described in the book.

With her grandson’s reassurance, Madam Chen was immediately at ease.

In the evening, with guests at home and the Xu Minghui brothers’ arrival, Xu Mumu took charge of cooking, preparing a large table of dishes.

If it weren’t for her strength, Xu Mumu thought she might have collapsed from exhaustion, since making so many dishes is indeed physically demanding.

"Mumu personally made these, you should try them," Professor Song proudly said to the dean.

"They smell fantastic, I must have a taste," the dean said with a broad smile. At home, he and his grandson ate simply, mostly at the cafeteria, and no one could cook as comprehensively as this. For better meals, they would resort to dining at state-run restaurants.

During the meal, there was a round of compliments, making Xu Mumu twitch the corner of her mouth again. She knew the level of her cooking; if she weren’t a bit self-aware, she could become conceited.

These people, honestly, they exaggerate so much. It’s okay for grandpa and grandma to say such things; to them, whatever she does is the best. But she didn’t expect the dean and his lot to be like this too. In her mind, the once-untouchable image of the dean suddenly seemed to fall to ordinary levels.

"Sis, your cooking is really good," Xu Minglei earnestly said, always supporting his sister.

"That’s because you haven’t tried better food," Xu Mumu patted the little fellow’s head, though his fresh crew cut made his head a bit prickly.

"I know, you said Mrs. Liu who helps with cooking here makes delicious food," Xu Minglei said with some anticipation. It was too bad that Mrs. Liu was on vacation, and he couldn’t try her cooking, leaving a little regret in his heart.