Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Daughter-in-law, Happy New Year**

Fu Mingxue instinctively shrank her neck after being yelled at.

“Mom, don’t shout! I was just thinking, since your son-in-law is here, we should make something nourishing for him. Look how skinny he is—”

Qin Wenhuo happened to be walking through the front gate into the courtyard just in time to hear this. He couldn’t help but glance at his little wife.

Fu Mingxue also heard the door open and looked over on reflex.

Their eyes met.

Fu Mingxue: …?

Why is the timing so perfect? How much did he hear?

Judging by those deep black eyes—she had a feeling he’d heard everything.

She gave an awkward, embarrassed smile and quickly looked away.

Mother Fu also saw her son-in-law had come home.

She couldn’t keep scolding her daughter with him there.

“Son-in-law, you’re back.”

Her gaze fell on what he was carrying, and she realized he was holding a chicken too.

“Son-in-law, why did you buy one of these as well?”

Qin Wenhuo walked forward calmly. “Mingxue’s a bit thin, so I bought a chicken to help her build up her strength. After all—studying is hard on the brain.”

Fu Mingxue: …?

Mother Fu immediately beamed. “Oh, you’re absolutely right, son-in-law. Her brain really isn’t—well, I mean, studying does use up a lot of brainpower. Look at you two, you’re thinking of her, she’s thinking of you, that’s how a young couple should be.”

Fu Mingxue: …?

Qin Wenhuo: …

He glanced at his little wife and saw her stunned expression—he couldn’t help but let the corners of his lips curl up just a little.

Then he looked away. “Mom, I’ll go slaughter it then.”

“Alright,” Mother Fu quickly added, “Just one is enough.”

One chicken would be more than enough for them.

They could bring the other one to Beijing later.

“What are you standing there for? Go put that chicken in the coop, then come help boil water.”

Fu Mingxue: …?

Ever since Qin Wenhuo came to stay, she felt like he was her mom’s real child.

It was New Year’s Eve.

Mother Fu had prepared all sorts of dishes, and even made dumplings.

A big table full of food—this was the most lavish New Year’s Eve dinner she and her daughter had ever had.

Mother Fu picked out a big chicken drumstick for Qin Wenhuo. “Son-in-law, here, eat more. You’ve worked hard today.”

“Mom, I can help myself. You should eat too. You’re the one who worked the hardest today.”

Qin Wenhuo looked cold and distant, but his words were anything but.

What he said made Mother Fu very happy.

After dinner, the three of them cleaned up together, then stayed up to see in the New Year.

For Qin Wenhuo, it was actually his first time staying up for the New Year, and he found it quite novel.

When they were heading back to their rooms, Qin Wenhuo called out to Fu Mingxue.

“Wife—”

The word “wife” made Fu Mingxue’s skin break out in goosebumps.

“W-what is it?”

“This is for you. Happy New Year!” Qin Wenhuo handed her a red envelope.

Fu Mingxue stared in surprise as she took it.

Before she could open it, Qin Wenhuo had already gone into his own room.

Fu Mingxue squeezed the red envelope. It was pretty thick.

Goodness, was he giving her New Year’s money?

She hurried back to her room, a little excited, and opened the red envelope—there was actually two hundred yuan inside.

Holding the money, she felt all sorts of complicated emotions.

On the first day of the new year, Fu Mingxue was the last one in the house to get up.

When she got up, her mom was nowhere to be seen.

She only saw Qin Wenhuo sweeping the floor.

Thinking of the red envelope he’d given her last night, she beamed and called out, “Good morning, hubby!”

That one greeting startled Qin Wenhuo so much he froze on the spot.

He almost dropped the broom in his hand.

By the time he looked up at the culprit, she had already sashayed away, leaving him with just her retreating back.

Qin Wenhuo’s eyes grew even darker—"

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