"It's delicious, this braised fish is also very delicious. Brother-in-law, you are amazing."
"Don't be so loud, eat quietly, okay?"
Xia Nuannuan said impatiently.
After sitting down to eat, the girl's mouth hadn't stopped. While eating, she had been showering him with flattery and praise, exclaiming every time she tasted a dish.
Even though Qin Tian's cooking was indeed good and she was speaking the truth, these words always felt like flattery to Xia Nuannuan.
"Sister, why are you acting so strange today?"
Xia Xue looked at her with suspicion, her words a little mumbled as she was still eating.
"What do you mean? You're overthinking it. I just want you to stop being so noisy."
Xia Nuannuan retorted, trying to stay calm.
"No, that's not right."
Xia Xue shook her head and said with certainty, "You are acting strange."
"I'm not."
"You are, you definitely are."
"I told you I'm not, so eat your food and don't talk."
Xia Nuannuan put some food into her bowl and said sternly.
Qin Tian and his mother Tang Xiuxia exchanged glances, both a little bewildered.
In fact, they both felt Xia Nuannuan was acting a bit strange, though they couldn't quite pinpoint why.
"Nuannuan, here, your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. Eat more."
Tang Xiuxia put two ribs into Xia Nuannuan's bowl, saying with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Auntie."
Xia Nuannuan thanked her with a smile.
"Auntie, Auntie, I want ribs too."
Xia Xue said loudly.
"Alright, here you go!"
Tang Xiuxia picked up another rib, stretched out her arm, and handed it over.
Xia Xue quickly held up her bowl to catch it and thanked her happily.
During this time, Qin Tian, who had been watching Xia Nuannuan, keenly noticed the slight twitch of her lips.
Qin Tian looked at his smiling mother, then at Xia Xue happily gnawing on the ribs, and suddenly seemed to understand something.
He couldn't help but feel like laughing.
This girl was too easily jealous.
However, he also found Xia Nuannuan's behavior quite amusing and cute, and a mischievous thought crossed his mind.
"Xiaoxue."
Qin Tian called out with a smile.
"Hmm?"
Xia Xue looked up at him, her expression puzzled. "What is it, brother-in-law?"
"This chicken stewed with potatoes is also good. Here, give me your bowl, I'll get you some."
Qin Tian beckoned.
"Thank you, brother-in-law."
Xia Xue happily handed over her bowl.
After taking the bowl, Qin Tian put a small bowl of potatoes and chicken into it, then used the soup spoon to mash some potatoes, and drizzled the thickened sauce formed by the reduction onto it.
"It tastes even better with a little sauce like this."
"Mmm, mmm!"
Xia Xue nodded like a pecking chicken.
Xia Nuannuan bit the tip of her chopsticks, staring at the scene absentmindedly, her gaze filled with resentment towards Qin Tian.
"Here, you can have some rice later and mix it with this. It's also amazing!"
Qin Tian pretended not to notice and handed the bowl to Xia Xue.
"Mmm, mmm, brother-in-law, you're so good to me."
Xia Xue took the bowl, her face full of emotion.
"Crack!"
Xia Nuannuan bit down hard on her chopsticks, making a crisp sound.
Qin Tian and Tang Xiuxia looked over at the sound, but Xia Nuannuan's expression was already normal. She smiled sweetly at them as if nothing had happened.
"Xiaotian, get some for Nuannuan too!"
Tang Xiuxia, not sensing anything, reminded him.
"Nuannuan?"
Qin Tian looked at Xia Nuannuan inquiringly.
"No need, I can reach it myself. I'll do it myself."
Xia Nuannuan politely declined with a sweet smile.
"Alright!"
Qin Tian nodded slightly, then buried his head in eating the dishes.
Xia Nuannuan felt a little stifled, picked up the glass of orange juice in front of her, and took a big sip, frowning slightly.
Strange, why was it so sour?
"Good heavens, you're even jealous of your sister?"
Qin Tian leaned close to Xia Nuannuan's ear and teased her in a low voice.
Xia Nuannuan was slightly startled and turned her head to look at him with a resentful expression.
It was obvious that Qin Tian had done it on purpose.
"Don't worry, my mother's favorite will only ever be you, her future daughter-in-law. You are family, Xia Xue is like a guest, so naturally, I have to take care of her."
Qin Tian whispered to comfort her.
Xia Nuannuan's cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced at her future mother-in-law and sister who were chatting and laughing, and stubbornly said, "I'm not jealous at all."
"That's good if you're not. Would you like a bowl of soup?"
Qin Tian didn't expose her anymore and reached out with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan pouted and took her bowl, placing it in his hand.
Qin Tian helped her get a bowl of steaming winter melon and shrimp soup and placed it in front of her.
"Try it. This recipe is one I learned from your mother. I heard you like it very much."
"Mmm!"
Xia Nuannuan responded with a sound and picked up the spoon to take a sip of the soup.
The incredibly delicious hot soup instantly dispelled her slight resentment, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
For the sake of the delicious soup, she would forgive him for deliberately teasing her!
The four of them were finally very satisfied after this rich and delicious pre-New Year's Eve dinner!
Xia Xue, in particular, ate until her belly was round and leaned back against the chair with a look of enjoyment.
"I can't anymore, I'm too full. Brother-in-law, you're going to make me fat."
"Don't worry, you can't get fat from just one meal."
Qin Tian said, unable to suppress his laughter.
"Then I have to stay at Sister Nuannuan's house until the New Year, I can't come for meals anymore?"
Xia Xue asked pitifully.
"Of course, you can. You're welcome to come every day."
Tang Xiuxia said with a smile.
"Hee hee... Thank you, Auntie!"
Xia Xue thanked her cheerfully.
Xia Nuannuan helped clear the table, glanced at her, and said faintly, "If you're not afraid of getting fat like I used to be, then come every day!"
"Ah? It's only been a little over a week, it shouldn't be that bad, right?"
Xia Xue asked in surprise.
"Haha... Don't worry, don't listen to Nuannuan. You won't get fat. Being a little chubby makes you even prettier. You're a bit too thin."
Tang Xiuxia said with a laugh.
"My parents said the same thing before I got fat."
Xia Nuannuan added.
Xia Xue was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, "Then, then never mind. I'll come occasionally with Sister Nuannuan."
Hearing this, Qin Tian and the other two burst into laughter.
...
...
After the minor New Year, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival became even stronger.
Yucheng was just an eighteenth-tier small city. Normally, apart from the junior and senior high school students going to school, most of the residents were elderly people and children.
As university students and people working outside gradually returned, this small city began to liven up.
Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan started tutoring Xia Xue, the "little academic scoundrel," focusing on her holiday homework.
This girl was indeed not stupid, she was just playful and lazy to study.
To stimulate her motivation to study, Qin Tian promised that if she studied diligently, she would only need to study in the morning and could go out to play in the afternoon.
Only then did Xia Xue reluctantly begin to study seriously.
Under their tutoring, and influenced by the "super academic god aura," her learning efficiency was very high.
Her visibly rapid progress also gave Xia Xue a sense of accomplishment and interest in learning. Naturally, her progress was even faster when she studied willingly.
Amidst the peaceful and happy daily routine, the Spring Festival of this year quietly arrived!