Li Weibo got up abruptly, about to continue, but Li Zhengguo stopped him:
"Xiao Bo, you lost."
Li Weibo froze entirely, then cupped his fists towards Han Lushi: "I lost."
Han Lushi also raised his hand and cupped his fists at him: "You didn't go all out. You have more than just strength. The venue isn't suitable today. We'll spar again in the team sometime."
"Haha, alright!" Li Weibo laughed heartily: "We'll spar again in the team sometime. We four brothers are all very interested in you, the number one."
Han Lushi said, "Four?"
"Yes!" Li Weibo nodded: "There's also that kid Ranran, he's a fighter. He wants to fight anyone he meets. You're his brother-in-law, of course he'd challenge you."
"Li Weixin?" Han Lushi said lightly: "He's no match for me."
Li Weibo shook his head: "Not necessarily. It's hard to compare two teams, but it would be good for you two to spar. It'll make the team members of both sides respect you. He's the top person below the captain and vice-captain."
"Upgraded again?" Han Lushi became interested: "Alright, I'll talk about it when I have time. I'm busy this year."
"Oh?" Li Weibo raised an eyebrow: "Did you get a mission?"
Han Lushi shook his head: "I requested leave for pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal confinement period."
"Pfft hahahaha!" Li Weibo sputtered with laughter: "Good, good, good, I concede. I really concede. My sister-in-law is truly fortunate."
"Unfortunately, I don't have much leave, so I can only save it for when I need to take maternity and confinement leave."
Outside the main gate, Tian Jing and Yu Ziyu were quietly washing dishes, their ears tilted towards the sounds in the courtyard.
"Excuse me, is this Captain Tian's home?"
A voice sounded from behind Tian Jing.
Tian Jing turned around sharply.
Standing behind her was a middle-aged, refined man. As soon as the man saw Tian Jing, he smiled:
"Captain Tian, Captain Zeng sent me. He said there's someone here who needs me to talk to."
Tian Jing recognized him. He was Sun Quanxiao, a specially appointed Level 2 psychological counselor from the specialty team.
Tian Jing stood up, shook the water off her hands, and took the tissue Yu Ziyu handed her to wipe her hands:
"Mr. Sun, hello. I didn't expect it to be you. Please, come in."
Sun Quanxiao nodded: "You first."
Tian Jing led the way, stepping onto the stairs and gesturing for Sun Quanxiao to enter the main gate.
The fight in the second courtyard had just ended. Seeing his mother bring in a refined man, Li Weibo was taken aback, then put on a smile: "Mom, I think I know this uncle."
Tian Jing frowned: "You've seen Mr. Sun before too?"
Li Weibo pursed his lips, his secret exposed.
Tian Jing glared at her second son.
Han Lushi walked up to Sun Quanxiao: "Mr. Sun."
Sun Quanxiao looked at Han Lushi and then at Li Weibo, saying, "Why are you at the Li family's house?"
"I'm part of the Li family." As he spoke, Han Lushi turned and extended his hand to Li Weili, who was walking towards him.
He took Li Weili's hand, made sure she stood steady beside him, and then introduced her:
"Lili, this is Mr. Sun, a psychological counselor."
Li Weili smiled and nodded: "Hello, Mr. Sun."
Sun Quanxiao smiled, looking at the perfect couple: "Good, good, good. You've finally settled down, I can rest easy."
Seeing her husband approach, Tian Jing introduced him to Sun Quanxiao.
The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Sun Quanxiao then asked where the person who requested his presence was.
Tian Jing knew Sun Quanxiao was very busy, so she led him back towards the outer courtyard.
Upon seeing Zeng Jingchu tied to the bed, Sun Quanxiao's expression remained unchanged. He waved to Zeng Jingliang in the room:
"Sir, and Captain Tian, please leave. I'll handle this."
After Tian Jing and Zeng Jingliang left, the door was closed.
Tian Jing said to Zeng Jingliang, "That's a psychological counselor from the specialty team. You can rest assured."
"Go watch Yuanyuan. She's playing with Yuan Fang. Make sure her hands don't touch water."
Zeng Jingliang hurried to the second courtyard. His daughter's hands must not get wet.
Tian Jing went out the main gate, intending to continue washing dishes. Li Weibo followed closely:
"Mom, Ziyu and I can handle this. Why don't you go see if we need to add any dishes? Mr. Sun has a good appetite."
"Alright, I'll check the kitchen."
After her mother-in-law left, Yu Ziyu quietly asked, "Who won between you and Han Lushi?"
"Dad said I lost." Li Weibo showed no displeasure:
"I know Dad doesn't want me to fight seriously. After all, Han Lushi just joined the Li family."
"Han Lushi didn't admit he won either. We agreed to have another match when we get back. We can't fight freely at home, we'd destroy things."
Yu Ziyu stuck out her tongue and chuckled lightly: "Mom was here, so I didn't dare to go in and watch."
Li Weibo tapped her forehead: "When we fight, it's close combat, not a real fight."
Yu Ziyu grinned at him: "Hurry up and take the dishes out of the basin and place them on the counter to air dry."
"Yes."
…
Tian Jing entered the kitchen and looked at the dishes prepared by Xiao Yuan, saying:
"Add a few more dishes to keep Mr. Sun for a meal."
Mother Li and Xiao Yuan had been watching Han Lushi and Li Weibo fight from outside the kitchen door, and they had also seen Mr. Sun.
Mother Li stood up: "I'll go catch a rabbit and stew it in a pressure cooker."
Xiao Yuan shook her head: "It's too late. Let's add some vegetable dishes and wild eggs. We already have enough meat dishes."
Tian Jing also disagreed with killing a rabbit now: "I'll go ask Sister-in-law Niu for some cured fish."
"That's fine." Mother Li agreed: "Damai and Xiaomai will be back for dinner too."
"Okay."
Tian Jing took a basin of dishes to Niu's house.
Sister-in-law Niu packed a basin, enough for four bowls: "It'll go bad if you don't eat it soon. It's good you came to help."
Tian Jing didn't believe Sister-in-law Niu. Sister-in-law Niu wouldn't sell her cured fish even if tourists wanted to buy it.
However, their friendship wasn't about that:
"Then I won't be polite. By the way, we'll need your help again tomorrow."
"We'll definitely be there." Sister-in-law Niu's face bloomed with a smile: "Ask Xiao Yuan to make more dishes and save some for us. Xiao Yuan's cooking is no worse than Afeng's."
"Don't worry," Tian Jing smiled: "This time, Ziyu and Xiao Yuan have prepared plenty."
"Speaking of Ziyu, she really doesn't seem like a girl from a big city," Sister-in-law Niu praised:
"She's thought of everything for you, both inside and out. You new mother-in-law will have a good life."
Tian Jing admitted: "Yes, Ziyu is very capable. I, as a mother-in-law, don't have to worry or exert myself."
"However, when I was a daughter-in-law, it was also very easy. Much easier than Ziyu."
"Hahaha," Sister-in-law Niu laughed and patted Tian Jing's shoulder:
"Yes, yes, yes, you're the fortunate one."
Seeing Tian Jing return with a basin of cured fish, Mother Li smiled: "Did you get all of Sister-in-law Niu's cured fish?"
Tian Jing nodded: "Pretty much. This winter, we'll buy some large fish ourselves and cure them like Sister-in-law Niu. Hao Hao and the others like them too."
"Deal!" Mother Li agreed: "They'll all be back for the New Year this year. I'll prepare more of their favorite dishes for them."
Tian Jing also started thinking about New Year's goods: "Make more braised pork, order two pigs for New Year's provisions."
"Alright!" Mother Li smiled so much her eyes disappeared: "The family is getting bigger, and we need to prepare more New Year's goods."
Xiao Yuan rinsed the cured fish with hot water, planning to steam two bowls and stew two bowls.
Mother Li went to find the large steamer and placed it on the outdoor wood-burning stove to steam.
The braised pork needed to be steamed until tender and soft, so when it was almost done in the kitchen stove, it was taken out to continue steaming, freeing up the stove for other dishes.