At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

"You're back? Have you eaten?"

Bai Yushu looked up at him, then lowered her head again and gently patted Sijin's back.

Then he laughed and said, "Baby, this is Daddy. You see Daddy's back, right? You can eat your food."

"I'm full. The four little ones helped me a lot. That kid, Erliang, is really unwavering."

Yi Zhongding smiled and sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), gently touching Erliang's cheek.

"Being able to eat and sleep well is a blessing. The task of newborns in the first six months is to eat and sleep, and grow as fast as possible. Our Erliang is exceeding expectations."

Bai Yushu chuckled softly.

"Hey kid, why are you looking at me like that? You eat your food, I'm not going to take it from you."

Yi Zhongding looked at Si Jin's little eyes and couldn't help but tease him.

"Go away, you're never serious."

Bai Yushu chuckled and slapped him lightly, her blushing face looking especially charming in the sunset.

Yi Zhongding smiled but didn't reply.

He watched Bai Yushu breastfeeding under the lamplight, the orange glow outlining her soft features, though her eyes still bore the weariness of childbirth.

But the tender look on her face, that of a new mother, was something she had never seen before.

"What are you looking at?"

Bai Yushu noticed his gaze and blushed slightly.

"You look beautiful."

Yi Zhongding answered honestly.

"Glib-tongued."

Bai Yushu spat at him, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

Si Jin finished eating, opened his mouth, let out a small burp, then closed his eyes and fell asleep contentedly.

Bai Yushu gently placed him back on the kang (a heated brick bed), straightened his clothes, and then picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands.

"Zhongding, can I ask you something?"

Bai Yushu suddenly spoke up.

"you say."

Yi Zhongding nodded.

"Did that guy in the sea today, the one I met in Sichuan Province, say anything to you?"

Bai Yushu's voice was soft, but her gaze was fixed intently on him, revealing an expression of admiration.

Yi Zhongding knew that the look of admiration on his wife's face was not for him, but for that other person.

"After exchanging a few words, he asked me how the artemisinin project was progressing, and I said it was ready to enter the mass production stage."

"He then asked me if I had any difficulties that needed to be resolved. I said that there were shortages in the supply of equipment and medicinal materials. He said he would ask his colleagues in the Ministry of Foreign Trade to find a way to coordinate."

Yi Zhongding briefly repeated his conversation with that person.

"That's all?"

Bai Yushu asked, somewhat dissatisfied.

That's all.

Yi Zhongding paused for a moment.

He then added, "But before he left, he shook my hand and said, 'Comrade Xiao Yi, do a good job. The country and the people need you.'"

Yi Zhongding said this very calmly.

But Bai Yushu could tell that her husband's voice contained a deep, suppressed excitement.

She reached out and took his hand, without saying a word, just squeezing it tightly.

A few bird calls drifted in from outside the window as birds returned to their nests; it was already completely dark.

"Dinner's ready! Everyone, come inside."

Tan Xiulian shouted from the kitchen.

The courtyard suddenly became lively.

Nine liang ran towards her mother with her short legs. She took two steps and fell down, but she didn't cry. She got up and kept running.

Sanjin walked steadily at the back, still clutching the straw in his hand, as if he had found some treasure.

Yi Zhongren and his several teenage boys emerged from various corners, rushing to the kitchen.

Yao Yao and Miao Miao were engrossed in playing with the toys, while Liu Liang and San Liang, who remained unmoved, hugged them.

Yi Zhongding stood up, walked to the door, and glanced back at Bai Yushu and her two sons on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Dinner's ready."

Yi Zhongding said softly.

"Go ahead and bring it in after you're done eating. I'm not hungry yet, so you don't need to bring it in so early."

Bai Yushu raised her head, smiled at him, and said...

She couldn't leave the house during her postpartum confinement period; all three meals had to be brought inside.

"Okay, I'll bring it in for you."

Yi Zhongding nodded, glanced at the two little ones sleeping side by side on the kang (a heated brick bed), and then left, satisfied.

The main room was already bustling with activity.

The eldest brother Yi Zhonghai's four children sat around the table on high stools that had been specially prepared for them.

Jiu Liang clung to the edge of the table, trying to stand on the stool and rummage through the food on the table.

Liu Liang and San Liang sat upright, eagerly waiting for the meal to be served.

Sanjin was tapping his chopsticks, but his sister-in-law scolded him and took them away. He was now crying pitifully.

Yi Zhongren, Yi Zhongmin, Yi Zhongyan, and Yi Zhongxin, his younger brothers, helped set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Yi Zhongyao and Yi Zhongmiao were putting bibs on the four little ones, otherwise their clothes would be ruined after eating.

For a moment, the room was filled with the sounds of chairs clattering, bowls and chopsticks knocking, and children shouting.

Tan Xiulian brought in a large bowl filled with steaming hot cabbage stew with glass noodles, topped with a few pieces of golden-brown fried salted fish. The aroma immediately filled the air.

"Hey, sister-in-law, the vegetables are tough today."

Yi Zhongding leaned over for a look and praised it.

"What's so hard about it? Winter's here, and the market's started selling ribbonfish. We cut a ribbonfish into a few pieces, fried them, and each of us shared a piece to taste."

"But today, Aunt Wang from the fish stall at the market specially saved two '38 cents' fish for me. Oh my, you can't usually get this quality even if you're in line."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile.

Yi Zhongding glanced at the ribbonfish on the plate.

Since the availability of ribbonfish, the people of Beijing have given each type of ribbonfish a name based on the grading system used in the market.

"One and a half cents" is a leather strap fish, meaning it's only as wide as a watch strap.

The strap of the "two-and-a-half" coin is about two fingers wide.

"Sanmaoba" refers to a piece that is about three fingers wide, has a relatively good color, and is thick. It is generally only available in the depths of winter.

The "Four-Finger" is the most exquisite, measuring four or five fingers wide, and is also called the top grade.

Tan Xiulian bought ribbonfish for 38 cents a pound.

"Hey, where's the older brother?"

Yi Zhongding asked, puzzled.

"No need to wait for him, he won't be back that soon. He has to work overtime at the factory today, so he told me before he left that he would be late and that he would be eating at the factory."

Tan Xiulian glanced at the courtyard gate before shaking her head and speaking.

Although the scene was chaotic, the younger ones couldn't wait any longer.

However, everyone waited until Tam Sau-lin sat down and started eating before they began to eat.

The family sat down around the table.

Yi Zhongding picked up a little bit of minced ribbonfish and put it in his mouth; a salty taste instantly assaulted his oral cavity.

If people in later generations were to put it in their mouths, they would have to spit it out.

But this is the normal salt content of dishes in this era.

The dishes are meant to be eaten with rice, not eaten as vegetables.

But Tan Xiulian fried the ribbonfish to perfection, making it savory and flavorful. It was especially delicious with cornmeal porridge.

He picked up another piece of cabbage and glass noodles with his chopsticks. The noodles were stewed until translucent and had absorbed all the broth, making them smooth and delicious.