Hard work after winning the lottery

The whole family sat together.

Hua An, as the head chef tonight, personally sliced ​​the meat.

He held a sharp knife and skillfully sliced ​​off a piece of the finest tenderloin.

This first piece of meat is something to be particular about.

"This piece is for Grandpa Zhou!" Hua An respectfully placed the meat on Zhou Yinchuan's plate.

"This second piece is for Grandpa!"

Hua Mutou was so happy his mustache was practically twitching: "Great! Everyone eat! Everyone eat!"

Nuannuan and Little Potato couldn't wait any longer.

The two little ones held up small plates, looking at the knife in Hua An's hand with pleading eyes, like beggars.

His gaze was fixed, moving with every rise and fall of the knife.

He kept making gulping sounds as he swallowed.

"Come on, our little princess, eat first."

Hua An couldn't bear to keep his niece waiting, so he quickly picked up a piece of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a good balance of fat and lean meat, and placed it on the warm plate.

"Watch out, it's hot!"

Nuannuan didn't care about being hot.

She grabbed the lamb chop, abandoning all pretense of ladylike behavior, and took a big bite.

"Crunch!"

The crispy lamb skin crackles between your teeth, followed by tender and juicy lamb meat, the aroma of which, mixed with the fat, instantly fills your mouth.

Nuannuan squinted her eyes happily, her little feet dangling under the table, and mumbled indistinctly with greasy mouth:

"Delicious! Absolutely delicious! A hundred times better than the restaurants in the city!"

"That's right!"

With a lamb leg dangling from his mouth, Si Tao took over the conversation with a straight face:

"Nuan Nuan, you don't understand, do you? The reason it tastes so good is because we had the perfect combination of timing, location, and people."

"Huh?" Nuannuan didn't understand.

Si Tao pointed to the sheep on the table, then to the moon overhead:

"Because we use sheep raised on our own farm, our own secret-recipe feed, and most importantly—"

He paused mysteriously, then added, "And there's the moonlight in our own yard! That's like the 'Moonlight Treasure Box' flavor!"

"puff--"

The whole table was amused by this kid.

Hua Yun laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He picked up his beer glass and stood up.

"What a wonderful home-cooked moonlight! Come, let's toast to this home-cooked moonlight, to our family reunion!"

"Cheers!"

The glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Beer foam splashed out, spilling onto the table and into everyone's hearts.

The roast lamb feast lasted until late at night.

The adults clinked glasses and chatted about everyday matters.

The children, on the other hand, were stuffed.

Nuannuan hugged her little belly, slumped in the chair, her eyes somewhat glazed over.

Little Potato was even more direct, still clutching half a bone in his hand, he fell asleep in his mother Xiaofang's arms, with a shiny snot bubble hanging from the tip of his nose.

"Alright, everyone, get some rest."

Grandma Hua and Zhou Yinchuan were too old to stay up all night, so they went back to their room first.

Hua Yun also helped her slightly tipsy parents back to their room to rest.

Si Le was the most attentive. He went over and gently picked up Nuan Nuan, who had already started to doze off.

"Come on, Third Brother will take you to wash your face and brush your teeth, so you can turn into a fragrant little pig and go to sleep."

Nuannuan, still half asleep, wrapped her arms around her brother's neck, hummed a couple of times, and let her brother carry her away.

Si'an and Si'tao stayed behind to clean up the mess.

Although they were from wealthy families, these two boys were very hardworking.

Put away the remaining meat, feed the bones to the dog, and wipe the table clean.

In no time, the yard was cleaned up again.

Everyone dispersed.

Only the embers in the charcoal trough glowed with a dark red light, occasionally emitting a soft crackling sound.

Zhou Yanjin did not return to her room.

He moved a chair and sat in the middle of the yard, holding a half-finished can of beer in his hand.

I looked up at the starry sky.

I don't know what she was thinking, but her profile looked exceptionally soft and profound in the firelight.

When Hua Yun finished tidying up and came out, this was the scene she saw.

The man's back was broad and lonely, yet it exuded a reassuring power.

A slight smile played on her lips as she walked over quietly.

Then she reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

She rested her chin on his broad shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of alcohol and the fresh fragrance of his shower gel.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed."

Hua Yun's voice was very soft, like a feather, tickling Zhou Yanjin's heart.

Zhou Yanjin did not turn around.

He reached out a large hand and grasped Hua Yun's hand that was wrapped around his neck, gently stroking it.

The palm of her hand was very hot, making Hua Yun's heart skip a beat.

With a slight pull, he drew Hua Yun in front of him, letting her sit on his lap and hold her tightly in his arms.

"Thinking back to the first time I came here."

Zhou Yanjin said in a low voice, her gaze still fixed on the mountains not far away.

Hua Yun leaned against his shoulder, finding a comfortable position.

The door to memories has been opened.

"Back then..." she chuckled softly, "did you really want to strangle me back then?"

"Were you planning to come and question me back then?"

Zhou Yanjin smiled, her chest heaving slightly.

He lowered his head, looking at the woman in his arms, his eyes full of doting affection: "You remember so clearly?"

"certainly."

Hua Yun raised her head and looked directly into his eyes, which reflected starlight.

"That was the day we reunited. Although I was terrified at the time, thinking you were there to take the child away, thinking you would be furious. Even fifty years from now, I will never forget that scene. Your face back then, tsk tsk tsk."

The moonlight, like water, shone on the two of them, as if draping them in a layer of silver gauze.

The courtyard was quiet, save for the croaking of frogs in the distant fields, rising and falling like a lullaby from nature.

"Hua Yun"

Zhou Yanjin suddenly called her name.

The voice was low and deep, carrying an unusual solemnity.

"Hmm?" Hua Yun responded lazily, her fingers circling around the buttons on his shirt.

"Thank you."

This thank you came out of nowhere.

Hua Yun paused, looking at him with some surprise: "Thank me for what? Thank me for giving you three troublemakers and a little devil?"

Zhou Yanjin shook her head.

He tightened his arms around her, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.

His voice was choked with emotion, a side of President Zhou that would never be seen in his usual decisive and efficient manner.

"Thank you for not aborting the child back then."

"I know how difficult and painful it was for you to raise three children all by yourself back then. Thank you for being so strong, for giving birth to them, and for raising them so well and so sensible."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly.

This is his deepest guilt and his greatest gratitude.

If Hua Yun had been even slightly weaker and given up back then, all the happiness he has now would be gone.