Once the formalities were over, everyone began to eat to their hearts' content.

The culinary skills of a Five-Star Chef were, of course, beyond reproach. The meal lasted for nearly two hours.

With the babies present, it was inconvenient to smoke. Everyone had to drive, so drinking was also out of the question. What else was there to do but eat?

Second Aunt remarked, "These dishes from the five-star hotel are too skimpy. There are only a few slices of meat, and they're gone after you and I each take a piece with our chopsticks. And this pig's trotter, it's finished in just four or five pieces?"

Third Aunt smiled. "Meals at five-star hotels are probably all like this. They aren't meant to fill you up, just to give you a taste."

Second Aunt sighed. "It's delicious, but it's just not worth the price."

Third Aunt held different views, so she didn't linger on the topic. Second Aunt, who wasn't one to overthink things, turned to Wang Lu beside her. "You're about to give birth. Will you have a maternity nurse, or will your mother be taking care of you?"

Wang Lu smiled. "We've already discussed it. My mom will take care of me, and my mother-in-law will look after Xiao Wen."

Second Aunt nodded. "That's a good arrangement. If your mom had to take care of Xiao Wen, you during your confinement, and the newborn baby, where would she find the time? A newborn needs constant care and can't be left alone." She then added, addressing the couple, "You just make sure to take good care of Xiao Wen and prepare the postpartum meals properly."

Second Aunt was known for her unpleasant, blunt way of speaking and had offended more than a few people over the years. But anyone who spent enough time with her came to understand the kind of person she was. In truth, Second Aunt had a kind heart and no ill intentions. Her tendency to be disliked at times stemmed from her lack of education and a straightforward personality that often spoke without thinking.

Take Third Aunt, for example. Her relationship with Second Aunt was actually quite good. Over the years, Second Aunt's bluntness had inadvertently solved several problems for her. On the matter of postpartum care, it was something Third Aunt found awkward to bring up herself, so she let Second Aunt say it. That way, her daughter-in-law wouldn't read too much into it.

In the past, Lin Jiajun had been fond of fooling around and was often unreliable. His marital relationship was turbulent, which in turn caught his parents in the middle to bear the brunt of it. Now that their son had matured and was earning good money, Wang Lu could finally have a peaceful pregnancy. She no longer had to worry about what her husband was up to or why he was coming home so late. As their marital relationship harmonized, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law naturally improved as well.

While they chatted, Yu Zheng, Lin Rui, and Du Yan were sitting together on another side. Second Aunt had called Yu Zheng's mother, asking him to inquire about Lin Rui's affair. Otherwise, why would someone like Yu Zheng, who lived so far away, meddle in another family's private business?

Yu Zheng pulled Lin Rui aside and asked in a low voice, "Are you still with that other woman?"

Lin Rui glanced at Du Yan, who was talking with Sun Rou.

"Don't look at her," Yu Zheng said. "She wasn't the one who asked me to do this."

Lin Rui thought for a moment and quickly figured out what was going on. "I cut off contact with that woman last time," he said softly. "She tried to reach out a few times after that, but I ignored her."

"Really?" Yu Zheng asked.

"Of course."

Yu Zheng didn't press further, though he was only half-convinced. But he couldn't just interrogate him relentlessly. If the man wouldn't admit it, what could he do? "Since you've broken it off with her, you two need to live your lives properly. Treat Du Yan well. She had nothing when she first got with you."

"For your wedding, you only gave a thirty-thousand-yuan betrothal gift, bought a ring, and invited a few tables of guests for a meal. That was it. Now that you're earning money, you can't just kick her to the curb. How can a man do something so heartless? And I'm not just saying this, but for a woman like Du Yan, finding someone else after a divorce would be no problem at all."

Lin Rui sighed. "I know. I'll treat her well from now on and take good care of our family…"

Yu Zheng nodded. "That's the right way to think. Du Yan forgave you this time; don't you ever forget her kindness."

A table is only so large, and snippets of their conversation drifted over to the other side. Du Yan's expression turned icy, a sneer touching her lips.

"Sister Yan, listen," Sun Rou whispered. "Brother Rui knows he was wrong."

Du Yan remained silent for a moment before replying, "Sun Rou, stay out of this. You're a woman too. If Yu Zheng ever did something like this to you, how would you feel?"

Sun Rou immediately went quiet. After a while, she said, "Sister Yan, no matter what you decide, we all support you."

Each table had been set with three cartons of cigarettes and three bottles of liquor. Lin Feng told everyone to split the cigarettes and take the liquor home, saying he would buy more if they ran out.

Lin Dahu laughed. "Well, I won't be polite then! I'm taking a bottle."

"I'll take one home too," Lin Daan followed.

It was all baijiu, which the young people didn't particularly enjoy. With the number of people in the Lin Family, it worked out to about one bottle per person.

The meal was winding down. Lin Jie's teachers were getting ready to leave, so Lin Dashan and Zhou Cuilan went over to say their goodbyes. After a few pleasantries, the teachers departed. Lin Jie had plans to hang out with Chen Miaomiao and his friends, so he was also about to leave.

"Be safe, and don't go running wild, you hear?" Zhou Cuilan pulled him aside to remind him.

Lin Jie laughed. "Mom, I won't mess around."

Zhou Cuilan nodded. "Do you have money?"

"I do."

"Alright. Call me later."

"Okay."

Lin Jie went to each table to say his farewells before leaving with his classmates.

Lin Feng asked Zhang Yuxi to watch the children while he went to settle the bill. When he returned, he found that the women had already started packing the leftovers. Some dishes had been served late, and with everyone already full, they had barely been touched. Second Aunt, Third Aunt, and Zhou Cuilan were busy packing the food into takeout containers.

Third Aunt said, "You all go have fun. I'm not going. Wang Lu is due any day now, so she can't be left alone."

At this point, Wang Lu was so exhausted she looked about to collapse. She needed Lin Jiajun to help her just to stand up.

Lin Feng couldn't help but think of Zhang Yuxi's pregnancy; it must have been a hundred times more difficult than this. He remembered her telling him about it. By the fifth month, she could no longer climb the stairs and had to rest at home constantly. The one blessing was that when the babies were born, they were all perfectly healthy, just a little underweight. Even the delicate fourth baby, thanks to Lin Feng's meticulous care and the system's help, had grown strong and was now just as boisterous as the eldest!

"Honey?" Zhang Yuxi came over. "What's wrong? I called your name a few times, but you didn't hear me."

Lin Feng snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze fixed on her.

Zhang Yuxi grew a little concerned. "Honey, why are you staring at me like that?"

Lin Feng smiled. "I just realized how beautiful you are today!"

Zhang Yuxi's face flushed. "What are you talking about? We have to go."

Today was the babies' first birthday party, so of course, as their mother, she had to dress for the occasion. The strollers were being pushed by Zhao Lizhen and Zhou Cuilan, while the two fathers carried the bags and other belongings.

Lin Feng wrapped his arm around Zhang Yuxi's waist. "I'm telling the truth!"

Sun Rou turned her head, caught the scene, and winked at Zhang Yuxi. Flustered, Zhang Yuxi tried to pull away, but Lin Feng just held her tighter and chuckled softly. "You won't let me hold you? Should I kiss you instead?"

"Ah? No, you can't do that… not with all our relatives around…"

"Then just let me hold you."

She could feel that in this moment, Lin Feng was somehow different from his usual self.

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