1970s: My childhood sweetheart ran away, and I turned around and married the wildest chief.

Before Qiao Wanqing arrived, she had already heard Lu Mingzhou talk about the family situation. Lu Mingzhou was also worried that his wife would not be able to adapt when she first arrived and that she would be bullied, especially since there was a third sister-in-law who was hostile to her. So he explained the relationships between the family members in great detail.

Qiao Wanqing knew very well what the situation was between the siblings.

She didn't think it was a coincidence that everyone came back to visit relatives together; it was more likely that they had planned it and deliberately rushed back at this time.

Miao Cuiying introduced them to Qiao Wanqing. Lu Mingzhou only called her "elder brother" and "elder sister-in-law," ignoring the other woman, Lu Mingqian.

Qiao Wanqing then joined in the shouting.

After getting acquainted, Miao Cuiying immediately said, "You must be exhausted from such a long car ride, right? The room is ready, go and rest for a while."

As he spoke, he took Qiao Wanqing's hand and led her to the west room.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Lu Mingqian sat down in a chair and said angrily, "Is this how your fourth sister-in-law was raised at her parents' home? She doesn't even know how to greet her elders?"

Before Qiao Wanqing could speak, Lu Mingzhou spoke first.

"Who do you think you are, elder? If you don't like this place, then don't come back next time, so you won't be an eyesore."

"you……"

Lu Mingqian stood up angrily, glaring at Lu Mingzhou. "This is my home. Why can't I come here? Lu Mingzhou, don't think you can act like a big shot in this house just because you've got some skills. You even have the nerve to say you're in charge here? Let me tell you, Minghui is the eldest son of this family. You are nothing."

Lu Mingzhou sneered, "Whether I am or not is not for you to decide."

He glanced at Lu Minghui beside him, showing him no respect whatsoever, and asked, "Big brother, your eldest sister says I'm nothing in this family. Do you think so too?"

Lu Minghui hadn't expected Lu Mingzhou to be so blunt. Realizing what he'd said, he quickly smiled and advised, "Fourth Brother, you're joking. We're all family, no need for such formalities. Fourth Brother, you must be tired from your journey, go and rest!"

"Why are you speaking up for him? This house is ours, why should we be afraid of him?" Lu Mingqian said anxiously.

Lu Mingzhou looked at Lu Minghui for a while, but didn't say anything polite to him. He then turned around and took Qiao Wanqing to the west room to rest.

The main house consisted of five tiled rooms. Mr. and Mrs. Lu lived in the east room. Two of the middle rooms were living rooms, and one room was divided into three. The two rooms with windows at the front and back were bedrooms, and the middle room without windows was a granary, which was the storage room that was commonly used in later generations.

The west wing is a large, unpartitioned room with a spacious layout. You can enter directly from the outside corridor without going through the living room.

When Qiao Wanqing entered, she saw that the space was indeed very large, about forty square meters, and it was very clean, with cement flooring.

There is a wardrobe, a desk, and a wooden sofa near the entrance. To the right is a kang (a heated brick bed), and near the door is a stove. We don't usually cook here, but there is an open flame for boiling water. Right now, there is a kettle on it.

The kang (heated brick bed) is quite spacious, and there is a cabinet that separates the stove at the head of the kang from the inside.

Miao Cuiying smiled and told Qiao Wanqing to rest on the kang (heated brick bed). "The quilts are all new, and the kang is heated. If you're tired, just rest well. The kitchen has made you some chicken soup. Are you hungry? Mom will make you a bowl of chicken noodle soup."

She already knew that Qiao Wanqing was pregnant, so naturally she had to take good care of her.

Qiao Wanqing was indeed quite hungry. She had always had a large appetite, and it had only increased since she became pregnant.

She smiled and said, "Thank you, Mom. I am indeed hungry!"

Miao Cuiying was overjoyed. "There's hot water here. Let Mingzhou fetch some water for you to wash up. The noodles will be here soon."

With that, she rushed out.

Qiao Wanqing sat on the kang, which was heated and covered with a thick mattress. There was a brand-new cotton quilt on the kang, which was very large and somewhat like the quilts of later generations.

In those days, quilts were generally not that big; if two people shared one, it would be easy for drafts to leak out when they turned over.

However, in the family compound, Qiao Wanqing made her own quilts, all of which were large enough that even if two people shared one, no matter how they turned over, there would be no draft.

When my mother-in-law saw it, she asked her about it. I didn't expect that my mother-in-law would have prepared it for her when she came back. She is so thoughtful!

Seeing her touching the quilt on the kang (heated brick bed), Lu Mingzhou asked, "What's wrong? Are you not used to it here?"

The family's conditions were considered good by rural standards, but compared to the family compound or the Qiao family's previous conditions, it was far worse. Lu Mingzhou was genuinely worried that she wouldn't be able to adapt.

Qiao Wanqing smiled and said playfully, "It is... a little uncomfortable. Don't you think it's a bit hot?"

It was only mid-November, and although the Lu family lived in the north, the temperature wasn't cold enough to require heating the kang (a traditional heated brick bed).

Especially since the wall behind the kang (heated brick bed) is a heated wall, the room is incredibly warm right now, it's really... a bit hot!

Lu Mingzhou was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "It's windy today, I was just worried you'd get cold. Besides, you're pregnant now, you need to take good care of yourself and not get sick, otherwise it won't be good for you and the baby. If it gets too hot, I'll turn off some of the charcoal in the kang, and it'll be comfortable in a little while."

He put his luggage in the corner, went to find pliers to remove some of the charcoal embers, and soon Miao Cuiying brought over the food: two large bowls of noodles and a plate of scrambled eggs.

There were two large chicken legs in Qiao Wanqing's bowl. The two of them sat on the sofa and ate the noodles clean.

After eating and drinking her fill, Qiao Wanqing lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a while and soon fell asleep.

Seeing that she was asleep, Lu Mingzhou took the gifts he had brought back out and handed them to his mother.

As soon as he stepped out of the house, he saw several children standing at the door, peering longingly inside, but hesitant to go in.

Lu Mingzhou raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Did you smell something fragrant?"

The little ones were indeed craving chicken soup, but dared not say so.

Lu Mingzhou said with a smile, "Come here, I'll give you some candy."

The children's eyes lit up, and they immediately followed. In the living room, Lu Mingzhou opened the package, took out the candy, and gave each child a few pieces. He also took out some cookies that Qiao Wanqing had bought and gave each child two pieces. She had even bought some sponge cakes.

These are available in department stores, but they are quite expensive. However, they taste good and are loved by both adults and children.

Candy, cookies, sponge cake, and canned goods. Lu Mingzhou opened two cans and told them to divide them among themselves.

The children from the third wife's family fought the most fiercely. Of course, the most important children in the family were those from the third wife's family. The boys were like little bandits, able to eat and play, and were at the age where they were very mischievous.

As soon as Lu Mingzhou took out his things, his eldest and second eldest brothers reached out their hands to take them.

The second wife currently has only two girls, who stand obediently to one side, not vying for the food, but staring longingly at it.

The child that Lu Minghui brought back was completely different.

They don't steal it because they disdain it!