Chapter Seventy-Four: The Luck Encountered

(Thank you all for your support with the monthly and recommendation votes. Meeting you is my greatest fortune.)

“Hurry and eat, otherwise the dishes will get cold. Brother said we should start eating first.”

Yang Qing and Bai Zhijun took Xiaochun out to buy some drinks, while Bai’s mother mentioned she had homemade pickled vegetables and went to fetch them. In the courtyard, at the dining table, little Qiuer became the rightful hostess, her face beaming with a joyful smile as she invited everyone to begin their meal.

“Aunt, have a little bun made by my brother, it smells so good!”

“Sister Qin, would you like some chicken sticks? I’ll serve them for you.”

“Sister Jin, have some meat.”

For the first time, Qiuer played the hostess, her excitement and enthusiasm evident as she kept serving dishes to the three women, appearing both adorable and sensible.

Xiaoxi laughed and followed suit, giving whoever Qiuer served, but her tiny hands struggled to hold the chopsticks steady and she never quite managed to pick up the food.

“Waa waa waa~~”

She let out anxious cries, prompting Tan Jin to scoop her into her arms and seat her firmly on a small stool beside her.

“Eat nicely now. If you don’t eat well, you won’t grow up, and then you’ll never be able to pick up food.”

“Waa waa waa~~ Then today Xiaoxi will eat two bowls, awooo~ Xiaoxi wants to grow up!”

“Ha ha, alright, that’s your promise. Two bowls it is, and I’ll serve you some dishes.”

“Okay, thank you, sister!”

Xiaoxi buried her head in her meal, while little Bai did the same, though she noticed that the more she ate, the more food appeared in her bowl!

“Whoosh!”

Her watermelon-shaped head swung around, following the chopsticks that kept serving her, and she met Bai Lingyue’s loving smile.

“No, no! Aunt, please stop serving me, I can’t finish it!”

Little Bai waved her hands and protested, causing laughter all around.

Qin Xue pulled the enthusiastic hostess Qiuer into her seat and served her dishes, then glanced occasionally toward a small room, puzzled.

“Why hasn’t Xia’er come out for dinner yet? Has Dong’er not been coaxed to sleep?”

She got up and said, “I’ll go check, you all eat first.”

Entering the small room, she found a tiny child wearing only little shorts, gleefully crawling about the bed, which was piled with animal plushies bought from the zoo.

Xia’er was trying to catch the little one to dress her, but as soon as she caught her, the child would kick her legs and roll away with a giggle, crawling off again.

She seemed to think her sister was playing a game with her.

“Ha ha... Didn't Dong’er want to sleep? Why is she so lively?” Qin Xue laughed at the scene.

“Sister Qin…” Xia’er finally noticed Qin Xue’s arrival, and after catching the little one again, she said helplessly,

“She was about to sleep, but as soon as she saw the animal plushies left on the bed by Qiuer and the others, she suddenly refused to sleep and started crawling everywhere!”

“Mm,” Qin Xue smiled, “If she won’t sleep, let’s take her to eat. Hold her, I’ll help dress her.”

She proceeded to dress Dong’er, thinking it would be simple, but after a while, she still hadn’t managed.

Qin Xue: ⊙︿⊙

Am I... really this useless?

“Hehe, sister, you hold Dong’er and I’ll dress her. She’s very active, and it’s hard to dress her.”

Xia’er giggled, and after switching roles, Dong’er’s clothes were soon put on.

Qin Xue: ...

I really am useless!

She carried Dong’er, who was clutching a panda plushie, and as they stepped out the door, the people who had gone out returned.

“Huh, wasn’t Dong’er supposed to sleep? Why isn’t she... sleeping?”

Yang Qing set down a box of bear drinks, opened it, and let Chun and Xia hand them out to the little ones. He looked at Dong’er, busy squeezing her panda plushie, and asked in confusion.

Qin Xue laughed, “She’s not sleeping, just going to eat. By the way, why did you buy alcohol?”

Yang Qing glanced at Bai Zhijun already seated at the table and said helplessly, “Brother Bai said, since his sister is visiting, we can’t do without alcohol.”

Qin Xue laughed, “Haha... I see. Then I’ll have some today. I haven’t tried Bear Spirit before.”

“Uh…”

Yang Qing stared at her, surprised, “You... want to drink too?”

“Why not?” Qin Xue blushed slightly and glared at him.

“Alright, just a little. Don’t drink too much. You didn’t drive, right?”

“No, I didn’t.”

The aroma of food filled the air, and Bear Spirit flowed freely.

The adults raised their glasses, and the children clinked their bear-shaped bottles, beginning a happy welcome meal.

After a cup of Bear Spirit, a rosy glow blossomed on Qin Xue’s exquisite face, making her all the more enchanting.

“Sister, have some food.”

Thoughtful Qiuer quickly served her a piece of chicken.

“Hiss!”

The alcohol’s fire combined with the spicy dish made her stick out her tongue and take a deep breath, but she still found it exhilarating.

“Is this... your first time drinking white spirits?” Yang Qing handed her a glass of water, surprised.

“Mm,” Qin Xue stuck out her tongue and laughed, her cheeks flushed. “I only ever drank a bit of red wine occasionally. This is my first taste of such strong spirits, and I’m not used to it.”

Yang Qing: “Yeah, then don’t drink any more. Have some food, it’ll help.”

“Right, right,” Bai Zhijun nodded quickly. “Bear Spirit is nothing like red wine. Don’t drink any more, or you’ll get drunk after another cup. Eat some food.”

As he finished speaking, Qin Xue’s eyes brightened mysteriously, and Bai’s mother shot him a sideways glance.

“Are you afraid Xiaoxue will drink, and then a bottle of Bear Spirit won’t be enough for you? Didn’t you get enough last night?”

Bai Zhijun shrank his neck, not daring to respond. This, perhaps, is the reason for the seven-year itch in many marriages.

Because... they know each other all too well!

Bai Zhijun fell silent, while Qin Xue poured another cup of alcohol, her gaze full of feeling as she looked at Yang Qing and spoke softly,

“Qing, since meeting you and the little ones, I’ve come to truly understand what perseverance, responsibility, and love mean. So…”

“Thank you. Thank you for making my life more meaningful, and thank you, little sweethearts, for the happiness you bring me.”

Qin Xue looked at Yang Qing and Qiuer, her voice trembling with emotion, “That day, meeting you all was the greatest fortune bestowed upon me.”

Yang Qing smiled, a genuine and joyful smile, and replied gently, “Meeting you was the greatest fortune for me and the little ones as well.”

He spoke with sincerity and seriousness, for it was indeed true.

If he hadn’t met Qin Xue that day, he didn’t know if he would have awakened again. If he hadn’t, he couldn’t imagine what fate awaited Qiuer and the others.

Without her, perhaps he wouldn’t exist either, nor would he possess this system that seemed to cheat fate.

Without the system, perhaps someday that terrifying thought—once snuffed out—would return, and he might...

He didn’t dare imagine.

Qiuer’s eyes shone as she gazed at Qin Xue, truly grateful and fond of her.

In her little heart, Qin Xue was not only her brother’s savior but the savior of their whole family.

And after meeting Qin Xue, their lives suddenly improved, a life she had never dreamed possible.

“Sister, we really like you too. Thank you.”

Xiaochun stood up and said, “Thank you for saving brother, and thank you for buying us backpacks and clothes.”

“Mm mm!” Xia’er stood up and continued, “Sister, thank you for taking us to the aquarium and the zoo. We’ll always remember your kindness and love.”

“Mm... mm! Thank... thank you all.”

Qin Xue was deeply moved by the little ones' innocent and sincere words, her eyes wet with tears.

“Oh, enough now,”

Seeing this, Bai’s mother spoke up, “We’re all one family, no need for formalities. If you keep going, Jin’er will start crying. Come, let’s all have a toast!”

“Haha... Cheers! Sister, I’ll drink bear with you, don’t cry, be good!”

Upon hearing “cheers,” Xiaoxi, who had been diligently eating, bounced up and called out, even comforting her teary-eyed sister in a grown-up manner, making everyone laugh.

Tan Jin was completely disarmed by her sister’s antics and smiled helplessly, “Have you finished your two bowls?”

Xiaoxi, teary-eyed: “...Can Xiaoxi owe one bowl?”

“Haha... Come, cheers!”

Everyone laughed, raising their glasses again.

“Cheers with bears!”

The little ones clinked their bear bottles, while Dong’er alone sipped her bear drink through a straw.