Having spent some time talking with a few children here, it was getting late. Yin Yang packed up the wooden buckets. Today’s harvest was decent.

"Let’s go, time to head back." Xu Mumu carried her little brother.

On the afternoon of the next day, Zhou Yunhong came over in a car with plenty of fresh vegetables on board, as well as some fish and other meats. These past few days, Xu Mumu had gone up the mountain several times and brought back quite a bit of game.

The brothers, Xu Jiang, borrowed quite a few tables from the brigade, preparing for tomorrow’s banquet.

Relatives and friends had also been notified, and Li Caixia and the others had returned, making the home even more lively.

Preparing so much all at once, Li Caixia felt a bit of the pinch but was also somewhat proud; her son-in-law was truly capable.

"Just preparing a little would be enough. Buying so much is just spoiling those people." Looking at all the stuff, Li Caixia began to berate Yin Yang, thinking that even with money, one shouldn’t be so wasteful.

Besides, there were still some people in the brigade she didn’t get along with. Yin Yang invited everyone from the entire brigade and bought so much good food, she felt it was a bit of a loss.

"No worries, it’s just this once, we should make a good impression," Yin Yang said gently.

Yin Yang’s words struck a chord with Li Caixia; she really wanted to make a good impression and was quite happy to do so.

"Alright, alright, but don’t be so wasteful next time," Li Caixia muttered, thinking of the people she had grudges with being envious and resentful. Li Caixia felt that wasting a little wasn’t so bad; besides, vegetables weren’t expensive, and the meat was all game that her daughter brought back from the mountain, so hosting a banquet didn’t cost much at all.

Thinking of that made her feel much better.

Xu Mumu watched from the side, finding it amusing to see how easily Yin Yang pacified Li Caixia. With his sweet talk, it was indeed effortless for him to win her over.

The whole Old Xu Family was there, along with Xu Mumu’s aunt and several aunts who came early to help out. With so many people to feed, the few members of Old Xu Family couldn’t handle it all alone.

Her aunt’s and third uncle’s families came together. Xu Mumu and Yin Yang were there to greet the guests, and when they saw her aunt’s family arrive, they happily welcomed them in.

"Mumu is getting prettier and prettier," Xu Qingxing said, giving the things she’d brought to Xu Mumu.

"Aunt looks good too," Xu Mumu replied with a smile.

"Sweet-talker, I’m getting old," Xu Qingxing chuckled. This niece was indeed capable, no wonder her mother indulged her so much back then.

"By the way, is your grandma in the kitchen? I’ll go help them." Xu Qingxing handed her son over to her husband and rolled up her sleeves to help Madam Chen work.

"They’re in the kitchen; just accompany grandma, no need to work," Xu Mumu said as she handed a candy to her little cousin.

"How can that be? I’m not a guest." Xu Qingxing said with a smile.

Lin Juan, standing to the side, pursed her lips and stayed quiet; she didn’t dare offend the main family now.

Dongbao was stubbornly refusing to repeat the fifth grade, wanting to play at home all day. After coming back from Imperial City, he started to look down on the things at home. No matter how much reasoning was tried with him, he wouldn’t listen. This wasn’t just a son; it was like dealing with a diva, and she was tired of catering to him.

Seeing a few well-behaved, helpful children, Lin Juan couldn’t help but feel sour again, wondering why her child was so disobedient. She felt wronged inside.

After settling Qin Liang and Xu He, Xu Mumu and Yin Yang didn’t rest. Many guests arrived today, and Xu Mumu recorded everything each family brought.

Soon after, her eldest aunt and Su Xiu also arrived, bringing quite a few people.

With her eldest sister’s arrival, Li Caixia happily rushed out to chat with her, as she now loved talking to her sister, showcasing all of her family’s accomplishments repeatedly without any boredom.

Li Caiyun, being pulled away, thought: "..." She didn’t want to see this sister at all. Having competed with her for half her life, she ultimately lost completely, which made her heart heavy.

Xu Mumu watched her eldest aunt’s expression of resignation and silently sympathized for two seconds. There was no changing her mother’s nature, so let it be.

Not long after her eldest aunt’s arrival, relatives from her maternal grandfather’s side came, led by Madam Chen. As they were related to her maternal grandfather’s family, it wasn’t awkward or unfamiliar.

Almost everyone from the brigade came, including the team leader and the secretary.

However, Zhao Qing wasn’t seen, prompting Xu Mumu to ask Zhao Guodong about him.

Zhao Qing was currently working on a project with his mentor, so he didn’t come back for the summer.

Mentioning his son, Zhao Guodong was brimming with pride, feeling as if he’d accomplished something great because of his promising son.

Xu Mumu nodded, thinking it was good that way. She wondered whether the guy had moved on, and not showing up was good too, avoiding awkwardness.

Regarding the banquet, Xu Mumu had discussed it with Du Yu. Later, she saw Du Yu bringing over a girl in a floral dress with braided pigtails.

Following behind them was a family of three, and it turned out to be Xue Yan, who was already married and had a child.

"Mumu, long time no see." Xue Yan looked at Xu Mumu with joy.

"It’s been a long time indeed. Xue Yan, you got married, aren’t you going to introduce?" Xu Mumu smiled at them.

"Yes, this is my husband, Han Zhengbang, and this is my son. We’ve been married for over a year," Xue Yan introduced her husband. She still remembered Yin Yang. Back then, he and Xu Mumu had come to the cinema a few times. Yin Yang was very handsome, leaving a deep impression on her.

And now they were also married, which was great. Xue Yan sincerely wished Xu Mumu well.

She was a bit envious of Xu Mumu. If she had listened to Xu Mumu and been more serious earlier, she might not have gone to university but at least would have been able to attend a vocational school.

Over the years, she became increasingly aware of the differences between her and Xu Mumu and the others.

Xu Mumu was able to talk to her so openly and still see her as a friend, which made her very happy.

"You seem to be very happy." Xu Mumu said with some emotion. In the years since she came to this world, she felt that time passed especially fast; it seemed just like yesterday when she was still playing around with Xue Yan in school.

By comparison, those months during the supposed apocalypse felt like living through several lifetimes.

If it hadn’t been for those memories and physical strength from her past life, she would have felt like everything from her previous life was so distant.

"Yes, but if it weren’t for Du Yu mentioning your banquet, I wouldn’t have known when you got married," Xue Yan said helplessly.

After graduating from high school, everyone went their separate ways and rarely kept in touch. Later, when Xu Mumu and they moved houses, she couldn’t keep in contact.

It was during work that she saw Du Yu with his partner at the movies, and she heard about this from him, so she brought her husband and child and came along with Du Yu.