Xue Yue went over and explained the plan.

Zhang Qian didn’t have any particular opinion, so she looked to Xue Xingzhou.

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "Yeah, that’s fine. We’ll head over once we’re done here."

Xue Yue asked Zhang Qian, "Will Tun Tun be alright if we don’t go back for lunch?"

Zhang Qian replied, "He should be fine. My dad’s at home."

Truthfully, Xue Yue didn’t have high hopes for her father’s relationship with her older brother and the others. Too many years had passed. It was impossible for them to be as close as they once were, but a situation like this—being able to come back, share a meal, and chat—wasn’t bad either.

When Xue Yue went over and told him, Xue Changlin actually broke into a grin.

He immediately said to Liu Hongxing, "Make a few extra dishes for lunch. Xingzhou and I are going to have a couple of drinks. Oh, and kill that old hen, too."

Liu Hongxing frowned. "I was keeping that hen for its eggs."

Xue Changlin said, displeased, "Just kill it like I told you."

Liu Hongxing shot Xue Changlin an angry glare but went to kill the chicken anyway.

At noon, Xue Xingzhou arrived with Zhang Qian.

Both Xue Changlin and Liu Hongxing couldn’t help but look her over a few times.

As they were all gathered for this rare occasion, Xue Xingzhou poured Xue Changlin a drink.

"Dad, I’d like to propose a toast. I just hope you both are doing well."

That simple phrase, "doing well," contained all of his heartfelt feelings.

Xue Changlin smiled and nodded. "Yes, we’re all doing well. Xingzhou, put some food on your wife’s plate."

Then he said to Zhang Qian, "Child, make yourself at home here. Don’t be a stranger."

Zhang Qian nodded. "Thank you, Dad."

Zhang Qian followed Xue Xingzhou’s lead in calling him "Dad," but it still felt awkward. It was as if she were calling out the wrong name.

"Yes, eat up. Your child is over a year old now, right?"

Zhang Qian nodded. "He’s one and a half."

"Good. Next time you visit, bring him so I can see him."

Since Xue Changlin had said so, Zhang Qian naturally nodded and agreed.

All in all, the meal was quite harmonious, aside from Liu Hongxing still mourning her egg-laying hen.

While it was fine for the others, Xue Xingjun felt anxious throughout the meal. He didn’t even know what he was worried about; it was just that after learning the truth about his older brother’s background, it pained him to see his father acting this way.

As they were about to leave after the meal, Xue Yue suddenly remembered what Xue Xingjun had told her earlier. She said to her father, "Since Xingjun doesn’t want to stay in his hometown, let him come with us to Beijing City. He’s a good kid—obedient and hardworking. You don’t have to worry. We’ll all be there, so we won’t let anything happen to him."

Xue Xingjun’s eyes lit up, and he quickly looked at his father.

Xue Changlin paused for only a moment before agreeing. "If he doesn’t behave, just send him back. As for what work he does, you can arrange it. You don’t need to give him any special consideration."

Xue Xingjun’s brow furrowed in displeasure. "Dad, I’m right here. Couldn’t you at least say something a little nicer?"

Xue Changlin didn’t even glance at him.

Xue Yue smiled. "I understand. Don’t worry."

Watching Xue Yue and the others walk off into the distance, Xue Changlin remained standing at the doorway, unmoving. A sudden wave of emotion washed over him. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was sad to see his children go or something else, but he suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.

Xue Xingjun saw that his father’s mood had soured, so he quickly retreated into his room. This was not the time to get on his father’s bad side; that would just be asking for a scolding.

Meanwhile, Xue Yue and the others were on their way back.

Zhang Qian said, "Your dad seemed quite happy. And your stepmother seems alright, too."

Xue Yue smiled. "He probably just missed us since he hasn’t seen us in two years. But then again, maybe he’s just gotten older and learned to let things go."

As for Liu Hongxing, Xue Yue didn’t want to say anything more.

They hadn’t gone back for lunch or called ahead. When they didn’t return in time to eat, He Lang figured they had been asked to stay, so he didn’t wait for them. He did, however, leave some food in the pot for them.

Zheng Guofeng knew they had gone back that morning and didn’t have any objections. He wouldn’t ask many questions upon their return either. When it came to that man, he chose an attitude of deliberate indifference—acknowledging his existence but wanting to know nothing more.

The next day was New Year’s Eve. This year, they didn’t celebrate at the old family house; there were too many people, and they wouldn’t have been able to find a seat even if they went.

However, after dinner, a group of them went over anyway to offer New Year’s greetings, chat, and watch TV.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xue Xingzhou’s family went to visit Zhang Qian’s parents.

On that same day, He Nan suddenly announced to his family that he had met a woman. He said she seemed nice and that he was considering a long-term relationship, so he wanted to bring her home to meet Mr. and Mrs. He.

The news was so sudden it caught Mrs. He and the others completely off guard.

"Where did you meet her? What’s her name? How old is she? Where is she from?"

Mrs. He anxiously questioned He Nan, but before she could finish, her brow furrowed with worry.

He Nan asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

Mrs. He asked him worriedly, "Have you told the children? What do they think? The kids are older now; if they don’t agree, you can’t just force it."

He Nan had been single for several years. Right after his divorce from Guo Jinfeng, Mrs. He had been anxious to find him a new partner to help take care of the house and children. But now that He Nan had actually found someone, she was worried about what the kids would think.

He Nan said, "I’ve already told both of them. Ziqing said she has no objections, as long as I’m happy. It’s just Xiao Nian... he didn’t say he agreed or disagreed. I guess we’ll have to see what he thinks after he meets her."

Mrs. He finally let out a sigh of relief. Then she started asking He Nan about the woman. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Her name is Wang Hui Fang. She’s thirty-nine, divorced, and has no children. She’s a cook in the transport team’s cafeteria. I met her while eating there, and we gradually got to know each other."

When Mrs. He heard she was divorced, she said, "Her age is fine, but why did she get divorced? Do you know the reason?"

He Nan nodded. "I do. She told me she and her ex-husband divorced because she can’t have children."

Mrs. He asked in surprise, "She can’t have children?"

He Nan said, "Yeah, that’s what she told me. But I heard from someone at work who knows her ex-husband that he’s already remarried. It seems their divorce really was because they didn’t have kids."

Mrs. He thought for a moment. "It might be for the best that she can’t. You already have two children, after all. If she can’t have any of her own, maybe she’ll treat Xiao Nian and Ziqing better."

Although He Nan had considered that as well, he felt it was a thought best left unsaid.

"Mom, you absolutely can’t repeat that to anyone," He Nan said. "Otherwise, if things work out between us, the village gossip will be a real headache."

Mrs. He nodded. "Don’t worry, I know what to say and what not to say."

Afterward, He Nan recounted everything he knew about Wang Hui Fang’s family situation.

Overall, Mrs. He felt the situation was acceptable. The woman was from town, earned her own money, and even worked at the same place as He Nan.

He Nan said she was a nice person, but they would have to meet her to judge for themselves.

Mr. and Mrs. He discussed it and decided to have He Nan bring her home for a visit after the fifth day of the New Year.