Chen Guangze pinned his fair-skinned wife beneath him, his heartbeat completely out of rhythm.
Seeing those red lips so close to him, his blood rushed, and he was just about to lean down when Zhang Qiulian’s affected voice came from outside.
“Fifth son, are you in there?”
Chen Guangze clenched both fists and cursed under his breath.
“Damn it. Talk about killing the mood!”
He messed up his hair, stood up, and prepared to go outside.
Hu Yan’s leisurely voice came from behind him.
“Chen Guangze, no matter what your sister-in-law asks you for, don’t agree to it.
“Otherwise, we’re done.”
Chen Guangze raised an eyebrow when he heard this, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.
It seemed his wife had really started thinking about their little family.
His voice was filled with affection.
“Don’t talk nonsense. Get yourself ready and come out too.
“Dinner should be ready soon.”
Hu Yan tiptoed toward the window, planning to eavesdrop on what the two people outside wanted to discuss.
Zhang Qiulian’s voice drifted faintly from outside.
“I’m sorry. Did I disturb you two?”
Hu Yan couldn’t help mimicking Zhang Qiulian’s tone, deliberately making her voice strange and exaggerated.
“Did I disturb you two?”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Why did this happen?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to.”
It was always the same few lines.
Didn’t she ever get tired of saying them?
Hu Yan no longer felt like listening to their conversation and instead put the clothes she had bought that day into the wardrobe.
Her mother-in-law’s cold voice came from outside.
“Everyone, come eat!”
Hu Yan was about to go out when Chen Guangze walked in, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the dining table.
Hu Yan tried to pull free but couldn’t.
By the time the two of them arrived at the table, everyone was already seated.
It was rare for the entire family to be gathered together.
Except for Old Man Chen and Bai Fengxia’s youngest daughter, who was away at university, everyone else had returned.
Chen Ergen and Bai Fengxia had five sons and one daughter.
It was truly a large and thriving family.
Their eldest son, Chen Guangzong, had married Zhang Qiulian.
They had three sons—triplets named Chen Lei, Chen Sen, and Chen Hao.
They were already five years old.
Chen Guangzong had fallen ill and passed away three years ago, leaving Zhang Qiulian widowed at home with the children.
Their second son, Chen Guangming, had married Lin Xiulan.
They had two daughters, seventeen-year-old Chen Chun and sixteen-year-old Chen Xia.
Their third son, Chen Guanghui, had married Guan Guiying.
They had two daughters, sixteen-year-old Chen Qiu and fourteen-year-old Chen Dong.
Their fourth son, Chen Guangyao, had married Tang Lijuan.
They had one daughter, sixteen-year-old Chen Tingting, who was attending junior high school.
Tang Lijuan was also pregnant with another child.
Their fifth son, Chen Guangze, had married Hu Yan.
They were newlyweds and did not have any children yet.
Their youngest daughter, Chen Xiangyun, was nineteen and attending university.
The eldest and second sons were twins, as were the third and fourth sons.
There were twenty people in total, and the dining table was packed.
The Chen family had good genes. All the sons were tall and well-built.
The heads of the household, Chen Ergen and Bai Fengxia, were unusually happy.
After all, they were elderly people. Like most grandparents, they wanted their children and grandchildren gathered around them so they could enjoy the happiness of having a large family.
On ordinary days, all the household chores—
cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and all the other miscellaneous tasks—
were handled by the four nieces, Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong.
After Hu Yan married into the family, she gave each of the four girls a new outfit every month.
Sometimes she would secretly slip them some money as well.
The parents of all four girls favored sons over daughters.
They believed that once a daughter married, she belonged to someone else’s family.
They usually paid little attention to their daughters. If not for Teacher Bai’s authority, they might even have beaten and scolded them.
Tonight’s dinner consisted of a large basin of mixed stew, another large basin of chicken with mushrooms, and two plates of tasty cold dishes.
Compared with their usual meals, it was quite lavish.
No one picked up their chopsticks.
Everyone looked toward Teacher Bai.
Bai Fengxia held absolute authority in the family.
Even the most rebellious Chen Guangze behaved himself around her.
“Eat. After dinner, everyone stay. Your father and I have something to discuss.”
As soon as she said this, everyone picked up their bowls and chopsticks and began eating.
The atmosphere at the table was fairly harmonious.
Hu Yan quietly ate her meal.
She was already guessing what her mother-in-law was about to discuss.
It was probably Zhang Qiulian’s remarriage.
And the matter of who would adopt the triplets.
After dinner, Chun, Xia, Qiu, and Dong began clearing the table.
Bai Fengxia cleared her throat.
“I called all of you back today because there’s something I need to discuss with you…”
Before she could finish, the lively Fourth son, Chen Guangyao, interrupted her.
“Mom, what exactly is going on? It’s autumn harvest season, and everyone is so busy.
“You called us all back at a time like this. It must be something serious, right?”
Teacher Bai’s expression immediately turned cold.
She glared fiercely at him.
“You’re already in your thirties. Why are you still so impatient and thoughtless?”
After being scolded by his mother, Chen Guangyao pursed his lips and immediately shut up.
“It’s like this. Your eldest brother has been gone for more than three years.
“Your eldest sister-in-law is still young and plans to remarry. As for the triplets…”
As soon as they heard this, several of the Chen brothers stood up.
They all frowned.
Second son, Chen Guangming, was the first to ask,
“Mom, have you looked into the family she’s planning to marry into?”
Third son, Chen Guanghui, was a man of few words and merely nodded.
Fourth and Fifth sons also looked at Teacher Bai in confusion.
Hu Yan scoffed inwardly.
This was Zhang Qiulian’s ability.
Even when she remarried, she could still make her former husband’s family stand behind her as though they were giving their own daughter away in marriage.
Her ability to win people’s hearts was something Hu Yan could never match.
Truly, she could only admire her from afar.
At this moment, Teacher Bai’s voice turned stern.
She was clearly angry.
Her sons kept interrupting her, and she had finally had enough.
She slammed her hand against the table and stood up.
“All of you, sit down!
“Is this how I raised you?
“Why are you all so impatient and disorderly?”
Bai Fengxia was displeased by how much her sons cared about Zhang Qiulian’s remarriage.
If it weren’t for the sake of the grandchildren, she wouldn’t even bother dealing with such a two-faced daughter-in-law.
“Your eldest sister-in-law’s marriage is something her own mother should be worrying about.
“Why are all of you in such a hurry?”
Old Man Chen was already annoyed.
These foolish sons had been interrupting his wife the entire time.
She hadn’t been able to finish a single sentence.
He turned toward his several tall, strapping sons and scolded them.
“Shut up and listen to your mother!”
Teacher Bai sighed and slowly continued.
“Ah…
“The eldest son’s triplets can’t go with their mother when she remarries.
“Your father and I discussed it.
“None of you have sons.
“Each of your families can adopt one of the boys. That way, you’ll have someone to rely on when you’re old, and the children will have a home.”
As soon as she said this, the couples of the second, third, fourth, and fifth sons began whispering among themselves.
Second daughter-in-law Lin Xiulan was the first to excitedly speak up.
“Mom, Dad, we’ll adopt one. Any one of them is fine. You can decide which one.”
After all, the triplets looked exactly alike.
Any one of them would do.
After giving birth to two daughters whom they considered burdens, the couple had never been able to conceive again.
It had been more than ten years, and they had already given up hope of having another child.
They had even considered whether they should adopt a child.
Now that they could adopt their own nephew, it was naturally better than taking in a stranger.
Third son Chen Guanghui had always dreamed of having a son.
For the past few years, he and his wife had constantly argued and even fought over the issue.
They had come dangerously close to divorce.
Technically, they already had two children.
Government policy prohibited them from having another child, although some rural families secretly had more children anyway.
Chen Guanghui took a drag from his cigarette and thought for a moment.
“Mom, we’ll adopt one too.”