Chapter 24: My name is An Yan. From now on, you may also call me Xia Yan.

After the An family left, the atmosphere in the house noticeably improved, though Xia Jun still looked sulky.

“Nephew Lin, sorry you had to witness that,” Xia Guoliang apologized to Lin You, his face full of embarrassment. For such an incident to happen when a prospective son-in-law visited was indeed awkward.

“Second Uncle Xia, it’s nothing. Honestly, if Jun hadn’t spoken up just now, I probably would have said something myself. Now I feel fortunate that the one I’m marrying is An Yan, not An Xin.”

Hearing Lin You’s words, Xia Jun finally remembered his own sister. The anger faded from his face, replaced by a goofy grin. “So you’re really my sister?”

“Yes, my name is An Yan, but from now on, you can call me Xia Yan…” After An Xin’s outburst earlier, An Yan felt that, now that she had returned to this family, her name should change too. In her previous life, her mother’s surname had also been Xia.

(PS: From here on, An Yan will be called Xia Yan.)

Upon hearing this, Xia Guoliang and his wife were visibly moved. Yes, the girl before them was their true daughter; An Xin was not.

“Wife, what are you standing there for? Go make a meal for our girl!”

“Yes, I’m going right away.” Lin Adi wiped her tears and headed for the kitchen, while Xia Guoliang and Xia Jun pulled Lin You aside for tea and conversation.

Xia Yan gathered Nuannuan, Big Wa, and Er Wa to play together. The two children eyed the treats spread across the bed, most of them in packaging they’d never seen before.

“Go ahead and eat if you want.”

“Mom, can we really eat these?” The two children looked longingly at Liu Juxiang, who stood at the door.

“Sister is here, so she should get the first taste,” Liu Juxiang replied.

“It’s fine, sister-in-law, let the kids eat if they want.” Xia Yan picked up a tin of biscuits, opened it, and took out three pieces—one for each. “Big Wa, Er Wa, let’s just have one each for now. If we eat too much, we won’t be hungry for lunch.”

“Aren’t you going to thank your aunt?” Liu Juxiang prompted them.

“Thank you, Auntie,” the two children chimed, their faces lighting up with innocent smiles as they tasted the biscuits.

“Brother, you and the others can have this. Nuannuan wants to sleep,” Lin Nuannuan said, handing her biscuit to Big Wa.

Xia Yan picked up the little one; after getting up early and sitting through a long journey, it was no wonder she was tired.

Liu Juxiang stepped in to clear things off the bed and spread the quilt. The Xia family’s house was shabby and old, but remarkably clean—something she’d noticed as soon as she entered, and she had no doubt it was thanks to her sister-in-law.

“Big Wa, Er Wa, eat here and help Auntie watch over your sister. Don’t let her fall off the bed, all right?”

“Okay, Auntie.” Big Wa broke his biscuit in half and gave a piece to his brother.

The little one was truly sleepy; she fell asleep not long after lying down. Xia Yan and Liu Juxiang quietly left the room.

Seeing Lin Adi working alone in the kitchen, Xia Yan walked over. “Mom.”

“Yan Yan, what are you doing here? Go out, or you’ll get your clothes dirty.” Lin Adi wiped her hands and smiled.

“It’s fine. I’m used to cooking at home. You can go out—leave the kitchen to me and sister-in-law.”

When Lin Adi hesitated, Xia Yan added, “I just heard Dad talking to Lin You about the wedding. If you have anything to say, go and tell them.”

Lin Adi wavered—she did want to listen in on her husband’s conversation about the wedding. In the countryside, it was usually the mother who arranged such things. Xia Guoliang and Xia Jun were clueless about it.

But with her daughter home for the first time, she didn’t want her to cook, afraid it would tire her out. “There’s nothing much for me to say. I’d rather just cook. You go listen, and if there’s anything you want, tell your father. Our family may be poor, but we’ll give you what you deserve.”

“Mom, what could I possibly figure out with no experience? Besides, Lin You loves my cooking. Now you all can try it, too.”

Hearing this, Lin Adi finally untied her apron. “Put this on—don’t get your clothes dirty.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. When it comes to cooking, I have plenty of experience.”

Xia Yan smiled, took the apron, and gently nudged Lin Adi out of the kitchen. “Sister-in-law, you should go rest, too. I can handle things here.”

Liu Juxiang protested, “But you just asked me to help.”

“If I hadn’t said that, Mom wouldn’t have left. Leave this to me. I can tell you’re the one who usually runs the house. You deserve a break, too.”

Liu Juxiang was momentarily stunned. She couldn’t help comparing Xia Yan to An Xin. Usually, with her mother-in-law working in the fields, she was the one who cooked. An Xin never entered the kitchen; every time she was asked, she used studying as an excuse.

Especially in the past couple of weeks—An Xin seemed to have changed, always nitpicking after the meal was done.

But Xia Yan, having just come home, volunteered to cook and insisted her sister-in-law rest. Liu Juxiang was genuinely moved.

“I’ll just stay here and help you,” she said.

“All right.” Xia Yan didn’t insist. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Every step—washing vegetables, slicing meat—was deft and swift, and when it came to the meat, each piece was cut evenly.

Her brisk, capable manner left Liu Juxiang in awe—her sister-in-law was truly a skilled cook.

“Sister-in-law, could you light the stove for me?”

“Oh, sure.”

Soon, the aroma of cooking filled the house. Xia Yan had wanted to make several dishes, but there was barely anything in the pantry.

A small head poked in at the kitchen door. “Mom, what are you making? It smells so good.”

“It’s your aunt’s cooking. Your mom’s not that skilled.” As the usual cook, Liu Juxiang could tell from the smell alone that Xia Yan’s dishes would far surpass her own.

“Auntie, you’re amazing!” Er Wa chimed in with perfect timing. Xia Yan basked in the praise and picked up a piece of meat from the pot. “Er Wa, come help Auntie taste the food.”

The little boy was overjoyed. He blew on it twice and popped it into his mouth. “It’s… it’s delicious!”

“Careful not to burn yourself.”

With the dishes ready, Lin Nuannuan woke up, lured by the delicious smells. She and Big Wa ran hand in hand to the kitchen door. “Sister, Nuannuan’s hungry.”

Hearing the little one call her sister, Liu Juxiang finally asked what she’d been wondering. “Why does she call you sister instead of mom?”

“It’s just a form of address, sister-in-law. Right now, I’m friends with the three kids.”