Chapter 8: Winning a Man's Heart Through His Stomach

After the meal, everyone smacked their lips—not intentionally, but simply savoring the lingering flavors.

Even Zhan Chunying, who was very dissatisfied with Tang Qiyue, found it hard to pick any faults at this moment.

"Little Aunt, is the food at your house always this delicious?"

The eldest nephew was still young and in his "ten thousand whys" phase, so he couldn't help but ask.

Tang Qiyue shook her head. "We don't eat meat every day at my house. It’s just that my maternal grandfather’s ancestors were imperial chefs and left behind many recipes. I usually flip through them when I have free time. This is actually my first time cooking them!"

The whole family couldn't believe it. If it was this delicious on the first try, how good would it be if she practiced every day?

Even the green vegetables, which were usually hard to swallow, tasted exceptionally good to the eldest nephew. They clearly didn't have much oil and were only seasoned with a little salt, yet they tasted a hundred times better than what his mother made.

Having conquered the stomachs of the entire family, Tang Qiyue, as the new daughter-in-law, had finally passed the first hurdle.

Tang Qiyue stood up to clear the dishes, but was stopped by Mother Zhan. She glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law and Zhan Chunying. "You two go wash the dishes!"

Although the eldest daughter-in-law felt a bit uncomfortable, she couldn't say anything. With a stiff face, she pulled Zhan Chunying along to take the dishes to the kitchen to wash.

For a moment, Tang Qiyue didn't know what to do. In her two lifetimes of experience, she had never actually been a daughter-in-law before, so she looked to Zhan Zeye for help.

Zhan Zeye didn't respond to her, but instead brought up a matter with Mother Zhan: "Mother, I only have three days of leave this time. My housing application over there has been approved. Would you like to come and live with me for a while?"

The eldest brother, who had been sitting hunched over, immediately stood up. "Second brother, what are you doing? I’m not dead yet, and you’re already taking our mother away? Isn't that just asking the neighbors to point fingers at my spine?"

The eldest son supporting his parents was a recognized rule. The eldest brother might not have much ability, but he was filial at heart, and he cared most about his reputation.

Back when he got married, it had emptied the family savings. Zhan Zeye had secretly joined the army to save on rations, which had left the eldest brother feeling guilty and self-reproachful. Fortunately, Zhan Zeye was capable; not only did he survive the battlefield, but he also earned military merits and was now an officer of some standing.

Having finally survived the famine years, the family's life was a bit better now. With the money Zhan Zeye sent back, the family had long since stopped going hungry. If he let his mother be taken away, he would be despised by all their relatives in the future.

Zhan Zeye looked at his brother, whose face was flushed with anxiety. He really hadn't considered all that; he had only thought about taking his mother to enjoy a better life with him, where at least there was a cafeteria and she could eat better.

"Big brother, I’m just taking Mother to stay with me for a while, not to keep her there forever. I don't have to go on missions every day now, I just need to lead the troops, so I can keep Mother company!"

Zhan Zeye was truly filial, and he spoke sincerely, but the eldest brother disagreed.

The eldest brother, who was never good with words, roared, "Cut it out! You haven't had a baby that needs Mother to come over and help look after, so don't even think about snatching her away!"

Zhan Zeye:...

Tang Qiyue was stunned watching from the side. It was the first time she realized that not every family was as emotionally distant as hers; it turned out that brothers could actually fight over where their mother lived.

Finally, Mother Zhan couldn't watch anymore and slapped the table. "Enough! I’m not that old yet, what are you two brothers fighting about!"

Mother Zhan glanced at her anxious eldest son and gave him a glare, then said to Zhan Zeye, "Xiao Ye, Mother knows you want to be filial, but I’m used to living here. If I suddenly change places, I won't have anyone to chat with, and I’ll be bored to death."

Zhan Zeye lowered his head; he truly hadn't thought of that.

"Besides, you’re married now. Even if I follow the army, you should be taking your wife with you. As long as you two live your lives well, Mother will be happy!"

Mother Zhan grabbed Tang Qiyue’s hand and patted the back of it with a smile.

This made Tang Qiyue feel quite embarrassed.

Originally, Mother Zhan had been bothered by the fact that Tang Qiyue was a capitalist's daughter, but after today's meal, she was completely reassured.

They say that a woman marries for food and clothing, and it’s the same for a man taking a wife—it’s just about managing the household and having a hot meal.

Tang Qiyue looked delicate and not like a sturdy girl, but Mother Zhan had seen her cooking skills with her own eyes. Her youngest son, who usually shoveled food into his mouth, had been much more refined today, yet his chopsticks hadn't stopped moving.

At the very least, having captured her youngest son's appetite, there was no need to worry about the couple's relationship.

Mother Zhan didn't want to go and disturb the couple as they cultivated their relationship. If her presence as a mother-in-law caused Tang Qiyue and her son to break up, who would want a man who was already physically injured and unable to have children?

Thinking deeply, Mother Zhan felt more and more that she couldn't leave with her youngest son.

Zhan Zeye still wanted to persuade his mother, but seeing his sister-in-law and younger sister returning to the room, Mother Zhan brought up another matter directly.

"Alright, everyone sit down. Let's talk about dividing the family property!"

The sudden mention of dividing the family shocked everyone.

It was said that only families with bad blood between brothers divided the property after the last son got married, but the Zhan brothers didn't seem to have a bad relationship at all.

Under Tang Qiyue’s confused expression and the eldest sister-in-law’s pale face, Mother Zhan stated directly, "Your father passed away early, and I raised the three of you. You all know what the situation was like in this house, right?"

The Zhan siblings nodded.

Their father had died of illness. To pay for his medical treatment, the family had been emptied out; even the coffin for their father had been bought with borrowed money.

"Now that Xiao Ye is married, he will definitely have to support his wife. It wouldn't be right for him to keep sending his salary back home. Eldest daughter-in-law, don't you agree?"

Mother Zhan stared at the eldest daughter-in-law.

She knew the eldest daughter-in-law’s little schemes. Over the years, she had been eyeing her youngest son's money in one way or another. Fortunately, she wasn't foolish and had never thought of handing all the money over to her.

"Mother, you're right!"

The eldest daughter-in-law smiled awkwardly, but her expression couldn't have been uglier.

Mother Zhan didn't indulge her and continued, "Logically, since Chunying isn't married yet, I shouldn't bring up dividing the family so soon. But Xiao Ye rarely comes home, and who knows when he'll be back next. Anyway, I’ve saved up enough for Chunying’s dowry, so she won't be mistreated in the future. Let's just divide the family!"

Zhan Zeye had no objections. He had been a lone wolf before, and it wasn't certain they would be two people in the future, but if his mother wanted to divide the family, he would cooperate.

The eldest brother opened his mouth, but thinking of his brother’s life-and-death struggles over the years, he didn't have the face to say no.

"Mother, we'll listen to you!"

With the eldest brother speaking up, Zhan Zeye also nodded.

As for the eldest daughter-in-law’s opinion, it could be completely ignored.

Only Tang Qiyue raised a question.