The Lunar New Year was just around the corner, and it was time for all the people who were working in the cities and far away from their hometowns to travel back home. It was early in the morning of the Lunar New Year Eve, and the whole city was almost empty, so it was a lot more spacious compared to a normal day. 

In Maple Residence, after grabbing their breakfast, the husband and wife, Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye went to the cemetery to offer their prayers to their grandma, Wang Hui. After the worshipping session, they departed to the Shen residence and planned to have their lunch there before heading back to the Mu’s.

Shen Wenna had been preparing the ingredients since early morning while Xi Mushan was also there lending a hand. Meanwhile, Shen Yue was in a good mood and was writing couplets with his great-grandson, Mu Zirui, just beside him, practicing his calligraphy with a tiny brush.

When the couple carried Xiao Cheng back to the Shen residence, Shen Yue had already finished writing a few couplets. Upon seeing Mu Yuchen arriving, he passed his brush to him and asked him to showcase some of his skills.

Not wanting to ruin the aesthetic atmosphere, Xi Xiaye left Xiao Cheng who was fast asleep on the sofa just beside the two men. She covered him with a blanket and ordered the duo to keep an eye on him, and she went straight into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan were preparing the fish. He was plating up while she was making the seasoning. All their actions showed that they were operating with tacit understanding.

Xi Xiaye wanted to walk straight in, but after a moment of dilemma, she decided to abort her plan.

“What happened?” As she took a few steps backward, Mu Yuchen just arrived in the kitchen for a glass of warm water.

“Nah, it’s nothing. Let’s just leave them to their chores,” Xi Xiaye chimed.

She extended her arm to grab the glass from him and drank a few mouthfuls. Then, she continued, “I heard from Mrs. Wu that they have been getting along really well. The news was quite a relief to me. Also, Grandpa isn’t as gloomy as he was in the past. Look at where he is now. It’s not an easy achievement.”

She took a glance into the kitchen as she was speaking. After studying those silhouettes that were occupied by chores, she then turned to Mu Yuchen and gazed at him without uttering another word.

Mu Yuchen looked at her casually while taking his glass back, then asked, “Do you want more?”

“Nah, it’s almost time. Let’s put on the couplets. I see that Xiao Rui’s calligraphy is looking neat and clean.” She moved towards Shen Yue’s direction while saying so. At the exact moment, Mu Zirui laid his brush aside and pulled Shen Yue’s shirt to ask his opinion about his handwriting. With that light yank, Shen Yue looked at him with a smile.

“He has been learning from his grandpa for quite some time already. I see that he has been able to come up with a few words here and there. Caligraphy does depend on one’s mentality. It’s a practice that promotes self-cultivation, and it’ll uplift his mind and spirit,” Mu Yuchen commented in his bold voice.

Having heard that, Xi Xiaye burst into laughter. “Is there anything that has nothing to do with mentality when it comes to you? You just can’t change your habit of looking into the minds of others, huh? I’m not like you, and we’ve discussed this already. We won’t force the kids into things that they don’t like. I don’t care much about the self-motivation rubbish. I just want them to have a happy and relaxed childhood, and we parents play a big role when it comes to that. In fact, we’ll only need to be a good example for them, and we shouldn’t impose too many concepts and ideas on them.”

“A wise choice, Missus! But since when have you picked up such deep and profound feelings about this matter? I thought you were still worried about this a while ago.” He stared at her in astonishment, and the corners of his lips raised into a slight curve.

However, she returned his smile with her signature roll of the eyes and said, “You’re the only one whom I’ll allow to have such thoughts! I have always believed that a mediocre life isn’t a bad one to live in. Ordinary people achieving ordinary goals isn’t bad either. Of course, self-motivation is a good thing to nurture in our kids. However, I have been thinking that I will be content as long as they are healthy, safe, and are capable of leading a happy life. You should know me. I am a woman of no will.”

“What fighting spirit do you need? Leave that to the men,” he agreed with her, “If not, you’ll be exhausted. Do you think all those competent women truly love sitting on the top of the food chain?”

He seemed to understand the feelings of such women too.

“They surely don’t like it, but they’re forced into acceptance. Who wouldn’t want to be a smart, elegant, and gorgeous-looking woman? I was once a tough woman with a proud spine, but I have lost everything ever since I started dating you.”

“A tough woman with an arrogant spine? Back then? Oh please, you’ve always been a soft lady. Tough women carry pails single-handedly. They wear shorts and flip-flops on the streets during summer. Do you have the guts to do so? You should know that the phrase ‘tough woman’ is a compliment.”

“Are you implying that the phrase and I don’t go well together?” Xi Xiaye frowned as soon as she heard his comment and she gave him the cold shoulder.

Upon seeing that, Mu Yuchen raised his eyebrows, smirked faintly, and continued, “Your IQ and EQ have improved extensively recently, huh? A woman of your standard can only match mine.”

Xi Xiaye was left speechless…

When they were done hanging the couplets and washing their hands, it was already a few minutes past four in the evening. Around the same time, Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan came out from the kitchen with dinner, so the whole family sat down in a circle and had an early reunion dinner.

Shen Yue was in a great mood, and he had a few drinks more than he should with Xi Mushan and Mu Yuchen. After all, his spirits were high up in the sky.

Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan were very delighted too. It seemed that it had been a long time since the last time everybody sat down in such a relaxed atmosphere and had dinner together. Getting together was rare nowadays.

After dinner, the mother and daughter were in the kitchen, doing the dishes. “Xiaye, do remember to express my gratitude to Ah Chen. After all these years, I’ve been truly blessed and satisfied. Your dad and I were talking about you two last night. It’s not easy for you both, especially having to take care of us and everything else in the Xi family.”

Speaking of this, Shen Wenna paused in the middle of rinsing the dishes, and after a short while, she turned to Xi Xiaye, who was quietly doing the dishes. She stared at her and said, “Frankly speaking, if it wasn’t because of you, your father and I might not have started all over again. Ever since that incident, I have been reflecting on myself…”

“You have been a great mother. At least, to me, you’re up there on the scoreboard. I may not have always been able to understand the reason why you were so cold and distant to me, but after that, I discovered that you were also…In short, I’m grateful to have you as my mother. You haven’t raised me to be an extremist. Mother, you have a kind heart, and based on that alone, I admire and respect you with all my heart.”

“In most cases, human beings will only achieve an epiphany after experiencing all the ups and downs. However, the price that I had to pay was so hefty that I sincerely hope that you won’t encounter a similar experience. In your case, it’s best if you and Ah Chen can stay in love and accompany each other for the rest of your lives. Xiao Rui and Xiao Cheng will eventually grow up and leave you both just like the day you left me.”

“Accompany each other till the end of days? Mother, does that mean that you are in love with Father all over again?” After listening to what Shen Wenna had to say, Xi Xiaye stopped her actions, smiled, and with those hopeful eyes, she shot her mother that question.