Chapter 167: Direct Praise

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Direct Praise

Her throat tightened. Her fingertips dug into her palm.

"Sister-in-law, I... I’m not a picky eater, and I’m not afraid of hard work. I can do anything."

Song Yao grabbed her wrist and pulled her up two steps.

"Oh, come on! You’re overthinking things!"

Li Ying: "I-I’m really not..."

’She could’ve handled it if her sister-in-law had yelled at her; she was used to that.’

’But her sister-in-law was suddenly complimenting her?’

’And so directly, too?’

It was the first time she’d encountered anything like it, and she froze completely.

After being pulled up two steps, she was now level with Song Yao.

Song Yao immediately linked arms with her warmly.

"What’s there to be awkward about? From now on, we’re best buds, number one sisters!"

Li Ying: "O-Okay..."

’So, a fierce sister-in-law was one thing, but an overly friendly one could also make your palms sweat.’

The two had just stopped at the door to the room when Li Hanchen arrived.

"Honey, you’re the best!"

As soon as she spoke, both siblings’ ears turned red at the same time.

The goods would have normally taken the two of them three trips to move, but he had carried it all up himself in three trips.

By the time everything was neatly arranged, the sun was high overhead.

It was her sister-in-law’s first visit. Song Yao thought it would be impolite to just have her grab a few bites at the cafeteria, so she immediately puffed out her chest.

"I’ll cook!"

Li Hanchen shook his head.

"You just had a long trip, you should rest. Leave the stove to me."

Hearing this, Li Ying shot up from the sofa.

"I can help too!"

Song Yao stood up, smiling. "This little one in my belly has been really easy on me. No morning sickness at all. My appetite is great, and I’m sleeping and eating well."

She hadn’t finished speaking when there was a KNOCK KNOCK at the door.

Song Yao went to open the door, and Shen Rongdan was standing outside.

Seeing him, Song Yao acted very naturally, calling out, "Second Brother!"

Li Ying’s heart skipped a beat.

’Sister-in-law... has a second brother?’

She subconsciously turned to look at Li Hanchen, who raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose.

"I was so busy moving things I forgot to mention it. The Shen Family, they’re not Song Yao’s biological family."

Before he could finish, Song Yao had already pulled Shen Rongdan into the house. She led him to the kitchen doorway and introduced him with a smile.

"Xiao Ying, this is my second brother!"

Then she turned and added, "I was adopted by the Shen Family when I was little. This is my dear brother. I also have an eldest brother in Beijing; I just came back from there today."

Shen Rongdan immediately extended his hand, his smile bright and straightforward.

"Hello, I’m Shen Rongdan. Just call me Second Brother, same as our Song Yao does."

Li Ying nodded and gave her name.

"Li Ying."

She was always a woman of few words with strangers, neither cold nor warm.

Shen Rongdan, on the other hand, wasn’t reserved at all. He sized her up and said cheerfully, "You and your brother are cut from the same cloth. Just like me and Song Yao—even the curve of our eyes when we smile is the same."

After saying this, he actually tilted his head, leaning close to Song Yao’s shoulder.

Li Hanchen tightened his apron, wrapped the cloth ties around his waist, tied a knot, and pointed toward the door.

"Don’t leave for lunch. Song Yao just brought back a bunch of authentic snacks."

"Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony!"

Shen Rongdan immediately replied with a laugh.

Then he smoothly went to take her place, heading to the kitchen to lend a hand.

Li Ying waved her hands, her face turning red.

"That won’t do at all! You’re a guest; it’s not right to have a guest cook!"

Without another word, Song Yao grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"It’s a cold day. Rough chores like washing dishes and vegetables should be left to the men! They have thick skin and can handle the cold water."

"Come with me. Your sister-in-law brought you some goodies. All snacks, and plenty of them!"

She pulled out bag after bag of snacks and pressed them into Li Ying’s hands.

"I just brought this back from Beijing. It’s moisturizing but not sticky, and it won’t cause breakouts. Try it!"

Li Ying repeatedly tried to refuse.

Song Yao just pressed it directly into her palm.

"Take it! If you don’t accept, you’re not giving me face."

Before long, four dishes and a soup were served on the table.

Once the meal began, Li Hanchen’s chopsticks never stopped moving, piling her bowl with fragrant, tender pork ribs.

"I just bought these this morning. Eat them while they’re hot. See if they’re tender enough."

Song Yao picked up a piece, and her eyes lit up after one bite.

"Oh, this is it! I’ve been craving this for so long!"

Hearing that, Li Hanchen’s lips curled into a smile that reached his ears.

"Then have some more. Don’t hold back."

After the food was all gone and Shen Rongdan had taken his leave, Li Ying quietly asked Li Hanchen.

"Brother, when are you going home? If you’re leaving today, I’ll go with you. If not, I’ll head out first."

Li Hanchen thought for a moment and said, "I need to stay for another two days."

"Then I’ll take the bus back myself tomorrow."

Li Ying said, her voice soft but her tone crisp.

Song Yao immediately chimed in.

"Yingying, why don’t you stay for a couple more days? You can go back with us!"

Li Ying looked around the small room.

"It’s almost the New Year, and we need to stock up on goods. Mom doesn’t know how to ride a bike, so if I go back, I can help her carry things."

Hearing this, Song Yao didn’t insist, but only gave her some earnest advice.

"Then have your brother take you to the station tomorrow, okay? Keep a close eye on your luggage on the way. Don’t talk to strangers, and don’t even touch anything someone offers you, let alone eat it."

Li Ying nodded with a smile.

"Don’t worry, I’ll remember all of it!"

「The next morning.」

Li Ying left with a bulging cloth bag on her back, filled entirely with the cured sausages Song Yao had insisted she take...

She had barely left when Shen Rongdan came looking for Song Yao.

"I’m heading back to Beijing in a few days. When are you two planning to leave?"

Song Yao turned to look at Li Hanchen.

Li Hanchen’s answer was blunt.

"The twentieth of the twelfth lunar month."

Shen Rongdan nodded.

"Okay, then I’ll leave two days before you."

Surviving the winter in Ning City really took a bit of grit.

At night, Song Yao loved to curl up in bed and wait for Li Hanchen to come back.

The moment he lay down, she would immediately pounce on him, pressing against his chest.

She would lounge in his arms, her little mouth planting kiss after kiss on him.

"My husband smells so good~"

Li Hanchen’s ears quietly turned red again.

His body visibly relaxed, his shoulders slowly slumping from their tense state.

Of course... he also felt a bit pent-up.

Song Yao was completely bewildered: "???"

"Can’t I even touch it?"

"A little squeeze won’t make you lose any hair!"

Li Hanchen’s lips moved, but he was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.

He was terrified.

He was afraid Song Yao would see the empty spot on him.

Fortunately, Song Yao didn’t really press the issue.

"Nuzzle! Sniff!"

She even said righteously, "This is called absorbing yang energy!"

"I’m always so cold, huddled up all the time. I must be low on yang energy."

Two days after Shen Rongdan left, Li Hanchen drove Song Yao back to the village.

He had to borrow a car.

Song Yao was pregnant, after all. Taking a train, then transferring to a long-distance bus...

He was afraid the ordeal would leave her legs feeling like jelly.

The last time Song Yao traveled from Ning City to Wu Family Village, it had taken her two full days and nights by train.

This time, Li Hanchen put the pedal to the metal, leaving at six in the morning sharp.

They arrived home just as the sun began to set in the west.

Wei Guilan was squatting by the stove kneading dough, her fingers covered in white flour.

Li Ying threw open the curtain and rushed into the kitchen.

"Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are back!"

Wei Guilan’s hands stopped. Forgetting the dough, she wiped her hands on her apron and ran outside.

Flour fell from her apron, creating a small, pale-white patch on the blue-brick floor.

Her apron strings weren’t even tied properly. As she ran, she turned back and shouted, "Quick! Go boil some water! Make some brown sugar ginger tea!"