Rebirth: The Courtyard Bride Is Cool and Radiant

Chapter 506: Chapter 506: Good for Nothing but the Best at Skipping Out

Jiang Jingya hugged Lu Fengning and laughed heartily. ”Our Fengning isn’t thick-skinned at all! Unlike your little aunt, who’s become incredibly thick-skinned. Is it any fun to pick on a child?”

Upon hearing her grandma’s defense, Lu Fengning stuck her tongue out at her little aunt, Huo Jiayuan. ”Haha, Grandma’s right!”

Huo Jiayuan raised a fist and waved it playfully at her niece, warning through gritted teeth, ”Don’t get too cocky.”

Jiang Jingya gently pulled Lu Fengning from her embrace. ”Alright, that’s enough acting; you’re overdoing it. Have you two eaten yet?”

Huo Weiyu walked over with a smile. ”Is there any food left?”

Right, that told her the mother and daughter hadn’t eaten. Jiang Jingya then shouted toward the kitchen, ”Auntie Zhang, please make a bowl of noodles for them. They can have it with the side dishes.”

Auntie Zhang came out of the kitchen. ”I made some meat sauce this afternoon; it’ll be perfect with the noodles.”

Huo Weiyu’s eyes lit up when she heard there was meat sauce. ”Oh, that’s wonderful!”

By now, Lu Fengning had already sat down. ”Uncle, I heard I’m going to have a new auntie soon?”

Huo Jingrui, who was in the middle of picking up some food, paused. ”How did you know?”

Lu Fengning turned her head to look at her mother, jerking her chin in that direction.

Huo Jingrui glanced at his own mother. His mother and eldest sister were so close; she must have told her. It wasn’t surprising his niece knew. ”Yes,” he confirmed, ”but we’ll have to wait until next year.”

With that said, he resumed eating the food from his bowl.

Huo Weiyu looked up at him. ”Little Four, what’s taking so long? Haven’t you won the girl over yet?”

Huo Jingrui knew his eldest sister’s temperament. If he didn’t explain clearly, she’d likely pester him endlessly for details. ”Yi’er,” he clarified, ”won’t turn eighteen until the ninth month of the lunar calendar next year.”

At the dining table, the four women simultaneously tutted. Lu Fengning was the first to speak up, ”Yi’er? Oh my, Grandma, the way my uncle calls her name is so mushy!”

Before Huo Jingrui could say anything, Huo Jiayuan, who was sitting opposite him, interjected, ”What do you know about ’mushy’ at your age?”

Lu Fengning retorted indignantly, ”Why wouldn’t I know? Just the other day, I heard Uncle Du call you Yuanbao!”

At that, the room instantly fell silent.

Huo Weiyu glared at her daughter, mouthing silently, ”You just had to bring up the sorest subject.”

Lu Fengning seemed to realize she’d blundered and instantly shrank back, not daring to make a peep.

From the kitchen, Auntie Zhang called out, ”Weiyu, Fengning, your noodles are ready. There are also a few meatballs; do you want some?”

She had set these meatballs aside for her own lunch. The family had initially asked her to join them at the table, but she had politely declined. However, the lady of the house was kind-hearted. Seeing Auntie Zhang’s reluctance, she insisted that Auntie Zhang keep some of every dish for herself. If she didn’t, the madam said, Auntie Zhang would have to eat with them at the table. That’s why she felt truly at ease working for the Huo family. She had, of course, heard the conversation outside and spoke up now to break the awkward silence.

Lu Fengning darted off, even faster than her mom. ”Grandma Zhang, yes, please! I want some!”

Huo Weiyu followed her into the kitchen. ”Useless at everything else, but number one when it comes to escaping.”

Lu Fengning rolled her eyes at her mom. ”What else was I supposed to do? You slipped away too!”

Then, she turned to Auntie Zhang with a grateful smile. ”Grandma Zhang, you’re the kindest! But I won’t take the meatballs; there are plenty in the dishes out there. You should keep these for yourself.”

Auntie Zhang chuckled and gently tapped Lu Fengning’s forehead. ”You clever little minx.”

Huo Weiyu snorted softly. ”She’s just a little troublemaker. How is that clever?”

Lu Fengning picked up her bowl. ”Weren’t you the one who just said I’m number one at slipping away? Are you taking it back now?”

Her words not only made Auntie Zhang and Huo Weiyu chuckle in the kitchen but also brought laughter from everyone in the dining room.

Hearing the laughter from outside, Lu Fengning patted her small chest. Phew, I finally dodged that bullet.