The last "step" was all that remained. Seeing Cheng Ying enter the courtyard, Song Chaoyu's heart tightened with anxiety.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before three whistles sounded.
Song Chaoyu and the others infiltrated through the back door and indeed found Cheng Ying waiting for them with a couple.
At first glance, Song Chaoyu recognized Han Sheng, who was indeed the Han Second Brother from the estate!
However, Han Sheng didn't look at Song Chaoyu. Instead, he looked directly at Mu Changxi.
His eyes were full of emotion as he looked at Mu Changxi: "Axi, we've finally met again! Is my aunt well? How have you all been?"
"We're all doing very well, Second Brother, don't worry."
Mu Changxi smiled and patted Han Sheng's shoulder, his earlobes turning slightly red. He then pulled Song Chaoyu forward: "Second Brother, take a look, who is this?"
Han Sheng looked at Song Chaoyu. In fact, he recognized Song Chaoyu at first glance.
But as if he couldn't believe his eyes, he stared at Song Chaoyu again, his voice filled with uncertain surprise: "Is it... Sister Ayu?"
How long had it been since Song Chaoyu had heard someone call her so affectionately?
She smiled and nodded: "It's me."
Han Sheng immediately understood half of it. He patted his head, pointed at Mu Changxi, and then at Song Chaoyu: "Aiya, aiya ya ya! Yes, yes, have you two gotten married now? You two used to play together every day on the estate, and now you're finally married?! That's wonderful, wonderful!"
Mu Changxi also smiled: "Yes, we have a lovely child!"
He then looked at the woman standing beside Han Sheng: "Is this your sister-in-law?"
The woman looked like an ordinary woman, but she was quite beautiful.
She looked to be around the same age as Han Sheng, but standing beside him, her expression wasn't very pleasant. It seemed... she wasn't very welcoming of their arrival.
Song Chaoyu understood. After all, at such a critical juncture, if strangers came to their home, she would likely also feel displeased.
Han Sheng, seemingly oblivious to his wife's displeasure, busied himself with introductions: "This is Madam Yang. She's two years older than Ayu, and we've been married for four years. She's from Qinzhou, so we settled in Qinzhou."
"Greetings, sister-in-law."
Since they were in someone else's home, Song Chaoyu naturally had to politely nod to Madam Han Yang.
Madam Han Yang merely inclined her head, acknowledging the greeting, which made Song Chaoyu feel a bit awkward.
Han Sheng, being a straightforward person, still didn't notice his wife's unhappiness. He simply said to Madam Yang, "They must be tired from their journey. Go and prepare some food, and then tidy up their rooms. The situation in Qinzhou is unclear, so they might have to stay with us for a while."
At this point, Madam Yang could no longer hold back.
She shot Han Sheng a glance and said coldly, "Qinzhou has been sealed, and we don't have much food left at home."
Han Sheng finally noticed Madam Yang's displeasure. He frowned and said to her, "Just do as you're told! If it weren't for my aunt and Han Xi, I wouldn't be where I am today. Even if our family has no food, we can't neglect them!"
Although Madam Yang was unhappy, she had to obey Han Sheng and went to cook and prepare things.
Her demeanor made Mu Changxi feel a bit awkward. He cupped his hands towards Han Sheng and said, "We've caused you trouble."
"No, no, please don't say that!"
Han Sheng glanced at his wife busy in the kitchen and sighed, "Don't blame her. She comes from a humble background and can't think of much. Besides, she's been unhappy lately. She's not a bad person, so please don't blame her!"
Mu Changxi and Song Chaoyu were not petty people. Moreover, since they were guests in someone else's home, they naturally understood the etiquette.
Without Mu Changxi asking, Han Sheng sighed again, "We've been married for four years, and we haven't had any children. I don't mind, as my parents passed away early and no one pressured me. But it's different for her. Her mother often scolds her for not having children, and she's unhappy about it. That's why she reacted that way when you mentioned children."
Given this, Song Chaoyu nodded to Han Sheng: "Don't worry, Second Brother Han. We won't mention children in front of Sister-in-law again. We were also too abrupt in coming this time, and we truly apologize for the disturbance."
"It's nothing, nothing!"
Han Sheng was a simple and honest person. At this moment, he just scratched his head and pulled Mu Changxi into the house: "Axi, the Qinzhou noodles your sister-in-law makes are incredibly delicious! You can't get this kind of food in the capital, come and try it!"
Madam Han Yang was quite efficient. Although it was simple fare, it looked delicious.
Mu Changxi was truly hungry. He took a bowl of noodles and ate with Han Sheng. Just like in the old days on the estate, they slurped down the noodles heartily, without the many rules of the capital, and felt truly satisfied.
Mu Changxi praised repeatedly: "Sister-in-law's noodles are so delicious! I'll definitely have another bowl later."
It was evident that his praise was sincere and not just perfunctory.
Song Chaoyu also picked up her noodles, but after taking just one bite, she felt something was wrong—
Why did the noodles taste so sour in her mouth?!
It was so sour that Song Chaoyu had to force herself not to frown, and then she put down her chopsticks.
Others didn't notice her actions, but she looked at the people around her.
Let alone Han Sheng and Mu Changxi, even Cheng Ying and Xiao Ruizi were happily eating the noodles, praising them repeatedly.
Song Chaoyu looked carefully at the noodles in her bowl again. The color seemed a bit darker than theirs, and there was a strong smell of aged vinegar.
So...
Madam Yang had deliberately added a lot of vinegar to her noodles, hadn't she?
Song Chaoyu immediately understood. At the same time, Madam Yang walked over to Song Chaoyu and asked, "Sister-in-law, why aren't you eating? Are you not used to it? I specifically added half a tea egg to your bowl!"
As she said this, Song Chaoyu realized it was indeed true.
She smiled and waved her hand: "No, I've been feeling unwell from the journey. Thank you, sister-in-law! Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll give this bowl of noodles to my husband later, and I won't waste your kindness."
Her smile was kind, and her eyes held a smile, which instead made Madam Yang a little scared.
Madam Yang snatched the noodles from Song Chaoyu's hand and said, "This small bowl was specifically for you. How can those big men eat such a small portion of noodles? Let me eat it! If you want anything else, just tell me, and sister-in-law will make it for you."
Song Chaoyu became even more certain that there was something wrong with her noodles.
This Madam Yang only dared to make things difficult for her in secret, didn't she?