When Xie Chen and Qin Tingxue arrived at Xie Zhilan's home, many people were already there.
Everyone greeted Xie Chen with great enthusiasm.
Xie Chen told Qin Tingxue that these were all people he was close to.
After Qin Tingxue greeted them with a smile, she was led to a warm room by their wives.
Perhaps having received instructions from their husbands beforehand, their attitude towards Qin Tingxue was polite yet not distant, everything was just right.
From her conversations with them, Qin Tingxue quickly learned some things about the Xie family that she didn't know.
As expected, the larger the family, the more unknown matters there were.
"You all should say less," Xie Zhilan's wife, Wang Yue, placed a plate of crystal-clear pastries in front of everyone. "Don't scare sister-in-law! Although sister-in-law is now part of the Xie family, and speaking of these things isn't airing dirty laundry, sister-in-law has just arrived, so we must give her time to adapt."
"Brother Xie Chen said that we are not allowed to hide anything from sister-in-law. If we tell sister-in-law now, isn't it to prevent those with ulterior motives from causing trouble for her?"
"Yes, yes, we are not tarnishing the reputation of our elders; we are just sharing intimate words with sister-in-law. Besides, everyone here is family."
Wang Yue chided them, "If you don't shut your mouths with food, then none of you will eat today. Give them to sister-in-law; I made these specifically for her."
The square pastries were cut into small pieces, and miraculously, each piece contained a lifelike peach blossom. The pastries themselves had no color, but the peach blossoms inside gave them a faint pink hue.
They were very pleasing to the eye.
"Sister-in-law, please try them. Do they suit your taste?" Wang Yue asked solicitously.
"Is this water chestnut cake?" Qin Tingxue asked.
It looked somewhat similar, but she wasn't entirely sure.
"It is water chestnut cake. Brother Xie Chen had someone send over your taste preferences long ago," Wang Yue said. "Brother Xie Chen truly cherishes sister-in-law."
Blushed by such direct teasing, Qin Tingxue pointed at the peach blossoms inside and asked, "Where are there fresh peach blossoms at this time of year?"
"These are salt-preserved peach blossoms that I made. I put in a little effort, and after preserving them, their color hasn't lost its original delicate pinkness," Wang Yue replied.
Qin Tingxue ate a piece and praised, "The sweet and savory taste is very rich, and it's delicious. I like it very much."
"Sister-in-law, aren't you just saying pleasant things to make me happy?" Wang Yue asked.
Qin Tingxue took another piece. "How could I? I've never been one to coax people; I say what I mean."
"I just like sister-in-law's personality," Wang Yue said, giving a thumbs-up. "Not roundabout, but straightforward."
"You all eat too," Qin Tingxue gestured to the others.
Those women glanced at Wang Yue in unison, looking as if they dared not act until someone else spoke.
"Today we are benefiting from sister-in-law's presence. Thank you, sister-in-law."
They all said this in unison before each taking a piece of pastry.
Before the plate of pastries was finished, a maid walked in, looking at Wang Yue as if she had something to say but hesitated.
"What is it that makes you so hesitant to speak?" Wang Yue asked, not bothering to conceal anything from those present.
"Madam..."
"Speak."
"Miss Song has arrived. She said she wishes to pay her respects to Madam Xie." The maid's eyes were directed at Qin Tingxue as she spoke, clearly indicating that the Madam Xie she referred to was her.
"Which Miss Song is it?" Wang Yue asked instinctively.