With Leader Li’s wife present, could Xia Xiaolan put on airs?

Gao Fei’s face was flushed.

She was doing this for her husband and child – there was no shame in that.

“Ah, this is…”

Leader Li’s wife tried to smooth things over, but Xia Xiaolan remained silent.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t being unforgiving; she just found it amusing.

What kind of person did they take her for?

A cruel, hot-tempered fool?

Even without Zhou Guobin’s reminder, Xia Xiaolan could handle this situation. She truly didn’t need to hold anything against Gao Fei anymore – Zhou Cheng’s departure for advanced studies wasn’t solely Gao Fei’s fault.

“Why apologize out of the blue? Even teeth sometimes bite lips – should I hold a small stumble against you forever? Please sit down, sisters, let me get you some water.”

Xia Xiaolan’s natural attitude completely surprised Leader Li’s wife.

It also surprised Gao Fei.

She had expected Xia Xiaolan to embarrass her, to mock and humiliate her.

She never expected Xia Xiaolan to treat her so well.

Was Xia Xiaolan truly forgiving her, or was she deep and calculating, putting on a show in front of Leader Li’s wife, waiting to make things difficult later?

Gao Fei felt uneasy.

She was overthinking it – if Xia Xiaolan or Zhou Cheng had held grudges from before, how could Gao Fei have gone two years without any consequences?

After the incident, the Zhou family wanted Zhou Cheng to remember this lesson well.

It was a lesson not just for Zhou Cheng, but also for Xia Xiaolan.

To make Xia Xiaolan remember deeply and never act conspicuously at the unit again.

The Zhou family hadn’t made things difficult for Gao Fei and Fang Shizhong – forget about doing anything to Fang Shizhong at the unit, Gao Fei was a doctor, and Guan Hue worked at the Health Ministry… In these two years of Gao Fei’s marriage, childbirth, and transition from intern to full-time hospital staff, no one had ever given her trouble!

Zhou Cheng temporarily stepped out, leaving space for the three women.

Xia Xiaolan poured water for both and pushed a cup into Gao Fei’s hands:

“Just drink at ease. I was also young and impetuous then. If we had both stepped back at the time, it would have remained a small matter.”

Ah, why had Gao Fei made things uncomfortable? Wasn’t it just because she had developed feelings for Zhou Cheng?

Thinking carefully, Xia Xiaolan felt Fang Shizhong was the most pitiful…

But times had changed, and Gao Fei probably had no feelings for Zhou Cheng now, having married Fang Shizhong and had a daughter.

Gao Fei was surprised.

Had Xia Xiaolan let the matter go so lightly?

Leader Li’s wife clapped her hands: “Oh my, now I can relax! You’ll be seeing each other often, and if you two weren’t on good terms, none of us would know what to do.”

Be lenient when you can – with Zhou Cheng promoted to full battalion commander, Xia Xiaolan didn’t use her position to settle old scores, but instead turned the page gently, earning Leader Li’s wife’s increased respect.

This was indeed the mind of someone who could enter a prestigious university – so clear-headed.

Zhou Cheng had found a good match – beautiful, well-educated, and socially adept.

Xia Xiaolan smiled:

“Sister, please come over for dinner tonight. I had someone buy some meat; I’m planning to make dumplings. My cooking is just average, please don’t mind the taste – let’s just enjoy the liveliness.”

Was this to celebrate Zhou Cheng?

No, this was to solidify Zhou Cheng’s relationships.

Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t throw money around anymore – no more sending Donglaishun roast lamb. She wanted to personally host these family members, and host Zhou Cheng’s colleagues.

She had Little You prepare various ingredients in the city and arrange transport to the unit’s gate for pickup.

Zhou Cheng’s place allowed cooking, with a shared kitchen on each floor.

Even if Xia Xiaolan were skilled, Leader Li’s wife wouldn’t let her prepare so many dumplings alone. She brought several other wives to help early. Some kneaded dough, others chopped filling – everyone working together made it interesting.

The other wives weren’t impressed with Xia Xiaolan’s cooking skills.

Her filling seasoning wasn’t great, her dough kneading was poor – Leader Li’s wife said her arms were too thin, lacking strength.

Even when rolling dumpling wrappers, she was slow.

A wife from Shandong Province was quick and skillful, dividing the dough into small portions, her rolling pin flying, producing a pile of wrappers in no time.

Each wrapper was uniform in size and thickness, as if machine-made.

“She won first place in last year’s unit dumpling-making competition!”

The Shandong wife became embarrassed at the praise. Xia Xiaolan laughed heartily, “Sister is amazing.”

The unit’s recreational life was quite rich, even having dumpling-making competitions.

Only Xia Xiaolan and Gao Fei were the least skilled.

While Gao Fei tended to her daughter, Xia Xiaolan was sent to watch the children. This building had many kids, and Xia Xiaolan’s dumpling dinner invitation turned her into Teacher Xia… None of the winter holiday homework brought by the children could stump her.

What else could she do? She couldn’t just watch others work.

The finished dumplings filled large containers – who knows how many were cooked, but they filled four tables of men, women, old, and young.

Even Fang Shizhong came.

He probably also gathered his courage, raising a wine glass to Zhou Cheng:

“Commander Zhou, previously I was—”

Zhou Cheng didn’t let him finish, downing his drink.

“Old Fang, you’re drunk. Tonight we don’t discuss other matters, just eat and drink.”

“Good! Zhou Cheng is straightforward! Old Fang, don’t dwell on past small matters – are you a man or not?”

“Old Fang, quickly sit down, everything’s been cleared up now.”

Everyone appreciated Zhou Cheng’s directness.

Fang Shizhong also tilted his head back and finished his drink.

Now he finally believed what Gao Fei had said – Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan weren’t holding onto the past.

That matter was over, they had apologized, and their relationship should turn a new page.

This meal was quite enjoyable.

Leader Li even praised Xia Xiaolan’s cooking.

Xia Xiaolan, sitting at the next table, chuckled – Leader Li was lying, she didn’t believe he couldn’t tell it was his wife’s cooking.

After everyone finished, some wives stayed to help Xia Xiaolan wash dishes.

Leader Li’s wife was curious:

“When are you and Zhou Cheng planning to get your marriage certificate?”

Xia Xiaolan pretended to be embarrassed, “It depends on school regulations – they don’t support students marrying while in university.”

“That’s true, studies come first, studies come first…”

Leader Li’s wife mumbled.

Her impression of Xia Xiaolan had truly changed. Watching her all day, Xia Xiaolan’s actions were flawless – they didn’t seem fake.

Indeed, not only had Zhou Cheng risen quickly, but his partner had also changed greatly!

Xia Xiaolan looked at Gao Fei.

Gao Fei happened to look up.

Hearing Leader Li’s wife mention Zhou Cheng and Xia Xialan’s marriage, Gao Fei felt a moment of confusion but truly felt no jealousy.

She was thinking about Old Fang taking their child home alone – with his rough hands, would he know how to care for the child?!