Liu Liushi followed Liu Duo. Several times she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

It was then that Liu Ran exited the outhouse in the backyard. When he saw Liu Duo carrying Little Huzi, he washed his hands by the well and quickly ran over to her.

He dragged Liu Liushi to the front and introduced them. "Mom, have you seen Uncle Li's baby? Wait till he grows up, I'm going to teach him how to read!"

He held Li Wazi's instructions close to his heart. This little brother would be his future 'student.'

"Oh, if that's the case, Ran Er, you'll have to study hard or you won't be able to teach him well," Liu Liushi said, overjoyed by her son's statement. The cautious and constraining nervousness she had as she trailed behind Liu Duo seemed to have relaxed.

She gave Liu Duo a sideways glance and said, "After your sister gives birth, you'll have to play the role of the uncle too and teach her child."

Liu Ran was excitedly looking forward to becoming an uncle, but Liu Duo did not respond to her as she speculated about the intention behind their visit. Are they here to pressure me on giving birth?

She eyed Liu Liushi from the corner of her eyes but chose not to confront her.

She wanted to avert her gaze, but Liu Liushi beat her to it.

Liu Liushi bore an appearance quite similar to 'her' own, but with a face that told stories of bitter experiences yet filled with concern, worry, and maybe even trepidation towards everything her daughter was going through. Liu Duo imagined her own mother, the one who stayed by her bedridden self in the hospital with the same look of concern, worry, and trepidation.

There was a brief moment when Liu Duo considered inviting the couple to stay with them and not be kept away, but the thought came and went.

If they had not been foolish enough to sell off their daughter in the name of filial piety, dooming her in the process, she would not be who she was now.

Shaking her head, Liu Duo carried Little Huzi and sat down next to Ye Yang. The rest had been waiting for them to return so that they could begin the meal.

"Everyone's here, let's eat! Dad, mom, you don't visit every day so eat as much as you want, don't hold back. Otherwise, don't blame us for not welcoming you next time! Haha…" Ye Liu chuckled mischievously.

He picked up his chopsticks and passed the couple some of the side dishes. Ye Ling did the same.

Ye Mo hummed and mumbled silently, They are already not welcome! There better not be a next time!

Ye Yang, who had good hearing, shot an unwavering look at his brother. Ye Mo, upon receiving it, stopped mumbling and carried on eating obligingly.

Ye Yang retracted his line of sight and returned to his food. He passed the first piece of side dish he picked up into Liu Duo's bowl. "Eat more."

"Yang, you should eat more too." Liu Duo smiled and returned the favor.

"Yes, Brother Yang, it must be tough working on the farm, so you have to eat much more." Liu Ran grabbed some food for Ye Yang too. "Like the old saying goes: He heaves his hoe in the rice-field under the afternoon sun, onto the soil his streaming sweat beads run. Ah, don't we know it? That bowl of rice we eat; each grain and granule, the fruit of his labor done."

He might agree that literature scholars deserved respect, but the hard workers who grew food should be even more deserving of it!

Other than Ye Yang and Ye Mo, those around the room were quite dazzled to see Liu Ran's suave performance.

"Looks like Ran Er's schooling paid off. He can even recite poems now," Aunt Li praised him.