Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

Chen Tingting's smile froze instantly, and a blush spread all the way to the base of her neck.

She rushed over in three strides and grabbed the old man's arm:

"We don't smoke! We really don't!"

I said this against my will, but I had no choice.

No matter how wild you are outside, you still have to put on a show in front of your elders.

Li Jiaxin quickly stuffed the lighter deeper into her pocket, waving her hands in agreement:

"Yes, yes, yes! We're all good girls, we only drink plain water!"

Lin Xiaoshuang and Zhang Qian rolled their eyes at the back.

Last night I was smoking like a chimney at the Hanting Hotel, I wanted to stuff a cigarette into every nook and cranny. Now I'm pretending to be innocent.

Bai Li quickly went over and pulled her grandfather back:

"Alright, Grandpa, it's cold outside."

Grandpa was pulled back into the house.

Grandma took Chen Tingting's hand and gently patted it in her palm.

"Good children." Grandma's eyes were cloudy, but she saw through people. "Grandma saw you all protecting Xiaoli just now. You girls are dressed in fancy clothes and speak impetuously, but Grandma knows that you have good hearts."

Grandpa tapped his pipe bowl next to him, raising his voice:

"Exactly! Life is for you to live, not for outsiders to see! As long as you truly care for Xiao Li and protect him, that's more important than anything else!"

Upon hearing this, all four girls' eyes welled up with tears.

Having been out in the world for so long, I've become accustomed to hearing all sorts of gossip and rumors.

The way others looked at them was either disgusted or filled with lewd desire.

Where have you ever heard anyone say such heartwarming things to them?

Chen Tingting sniffed, then squatted down beside her grandmother's legs, unusually docile compared to her usual fiery self.

"Grandma, don't worry, from now on, if anyone dares to bully my brother, I'll fight them to the death!"

"Why risk your life?! Run if there's danger! Your life is the most important thing!" Grandpa deliberately put on a stern face.

"Oh, Grandpa~ we were just kidding." Lin Xiaoshuang leaned over and skillfully massaged the old man's shoulders, her sweet voice melting one's bones: "Grandpa, please sit down, I'll get you some water!"

Zhang Qian and Li Jiaxin also joined in.

One person was peeling an orange, while the other was massaging a leg.

This is the "spirited young lady".

They don't have the airs or insecurities that city girls have, nor do they wonder if their elders look down on their background.

Their thinking is extremely simple: If you treat me well, I would give my life for you.

They integrated very quickly and completely consider themselves family.

Bai Jianguo and Wang Xiulian came out of the side room.

Seeing the harmonious scene inside, the elderly couple couldn't help but sigh.

The bad luck caused by my sister-in-law just now has been swept away.

"Alright, alright, are you all hungry?" Wang Xiulian tied on her apron and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll make some more dumplings, and we'll eat in a bit."

"Auntie, let me help you!" The four girls rushed to the kitchen in a swarm, and there was no way to stop them.

Unfortunately, all they could do was mold the dough into various toys, and they were quickly kicked out.

While the dumplings were cooking, Bai Li called them to the backyard.

"Let me show you the room I used to live in." Bai Li pushed open the door of a side room.

The room was simply furnished.

There were yellowed Jay posters on the wall, and some old books and glass marbles were piled up in the corner.

Lin Xiaoshuang moved closer to the bed and patted the hard earthen bed:

"Brother, you used to sleep on this? It's so hard, how did you sleep at night?"

"You'll get used to it." Bai Li sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Li Jiaxin looked around and saw a worn-out wooden box in the corner. Curious, she opened it:

"What is this?"

It was full of marbles, cards, and a few rusty tin frogs.

Zhang Qian picked up a tin frog, wound it up, and the frog started hopping on the ground.

"Brother, you used to play with this when you were a kid? I didn't even have toys when I was a kid, I just collected coal cinders every day."

This statement caused the atmosphere in the room to become slightly somber.

The childhoods of most of these "spiritual young women" were bleak.

Bai Li stood up and ruffled Zhang Qian's blue hair: "Whatever you want in the future, I'll buy it for you."

Zhang Qian smiled through her tears, her eyes slightly red: "Big brother, all I want now is you..."

Taking advantage of the pleasant atmosphere, Bai Li led them to the backyard to feed the sheep, and also showed off her farming skills.

Pushing open the backyard door, I saw two large white sheep bleating.

Bai Li was just about to demonstrate the style of city dwellers going to the countryside and teach these girls how to handle hay.

As a result, Chen Tingting quickly and skillfully jumped into the sheep pen, her movements so swift that it was heartbreaking.

"Big brother, your technique isn't good enough." Li Jiaxin snatched the hay from Bai Li's hand, shook it twice, and spread it in the trough: "The hay needs to be spread out, otherwise it'll be hard for the sheep to eat."

Lin Xiaoshuang leaned over and professionally scratched the lamb's chin, making the lamb wag its tail.

"Brother, you told us to go home and visit our elders a while ago. I was the one who fed all those sheep. What's wrong? You've been in the city for so long, you've even forgotten that?"

Bai Li coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.

I almost forgot, these girls all come from impoverished backgrounds, and they probably did more farm work than he did back in their hometown.

My attempt to show off failed, and I really lost face.

"The dumplings are ready! Come and get the plates!" Wang Xiulian's clear voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Here they come!" The four girls quickly patted the grass clippings off their hands and rushed into the main room.

The table was filled with plates of steaming pork and scallion dumplings.

The Bai family doesn't have many rules; there's no need to separate men's and women's tables. Once you sit at the table, you're all family.

The elders didn't look at their colorful hair and tattoos with strange eyes, nor did they show any disgust.

Bai Weiguo specially took out a vinegar pot and poured vinegar for each of them.

"Eat quickly, eat it while it's hot." Wang Xiulian said with a kind smile.

"Big brother, let me feed you!" Lin Xiao's eyes were quick and her hands were nimble. She picked up a dumpling, blew on it twice to cool it, and handed it directly to Bai Li's mouth.

"Your skin is almost torn!" Chen Tingting forcefully pushed Lin Xiaoshuang's chopsticks away: "Big brother, eat mine, I dipped it in chili oil, it's flavorful!"

"Big brother, eat mine, I have more meat!" Li Jiaxin retorted, shoving a dumpling directly onto Bai Li's chin.

Zhang Qian was extremely anxious. Her chopstick skills were so poor that she dropped the chopsticks on the table with a "thud" while trying to pick them up.

In a moment of quick thinking, she picked up a broken dumpling from the table, put it in her mouth, and mumbled as she snuggled closer to Bai Li.

"Big brother, I'll chew it up and feed it to you..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Bai Li got goosebumps and quickly leaned back. "I have hands and feet, you guys eat!"

Seeing the girls fawning over his son, Bai Weiguo beamed with delight, holding his wine glass, and mercifully protected them:

"Girls, if Xiao Li bullies you in the future, just tell your uncle and aunt, and I won't let him get away with it!"

"That's right, we only care about reason, not kinship!" Wang Xiulian chimed in.

Bai Li's hand, which was holding the dumpling, trembled.

Bullying them?

These few troublemakers almost worked him to death at the Han Court last night; he should be grateful they didn't bully him.

Comrade Lao Bai, you really can't see the situation clearly.

However, the atmosphere at the table subtly changed as the elderly couple openly favored him.

The four usually boisterous and energetic young women, who were picking at the dumplings in their bowls, slowly stopped.

Chen Tingting and Li Jiaxin lowered their heads, using the act of eating dumplings to hide their reddened eyes.

They were left-behind children from a young age. Their memories of the Spring Festival were either spending the whole night in a cold internet cafe eating instant noodles, or a few of them huddled in a dilapidated rented room, just staring blankly.

The concern of elders?

A family sitting together in a lively atmosphere, enjoying a hot meal?

For them, that was something that only happened on TV.

Zhang Qian's tears fell incessantly, mixing into the vinegar dish.

Her family was a bloodsucking den; she never heard a kind word from them growing up, only endless arguments and beatings.

Lin Xiaoshuang sniffed, her voice thick with nasal congestion, sounding exactly like a wronged kitten:

"Auntie's dumplings are so delicious... Can we come here to eat them all the time?"

"Silly girl," Wang Xiulian said tenderly, stroking her blond hair. "If you want to eat, I'll make you dumplings every day! This is your home!"

very nice.

I'm so happy.

There was no warning, no planning.

Because of Bai Li, they actually found a true haven in this cold world.

At this moment, familial love and romantic love intertwined, transforming into the purest emotion that broke down the defenses in their hearts.

The four maids secretly glanced at Bai Li, who was chewing garlic with gusto, their eyes filled with tender affection.

At the same time, the long-lost notification sound of affection value rang in Bai Li's mind.

[Ding! Target: Chen Tingting. Affection Points +6. Current Affection Points: 85 (Passionate Love - Willing to Give Everything for You).]

[Ding! Target: Li Jiaxin. Affection Points +6. Current Affection Points: 85 (In Love - Willing to Give Everything for You).]

[Ding! Target: Zhang Qian. Affection +5. Current Affection: 85 (In Love - Willing to give everything for you).]

[Ding! Target: Lin Xiaoshuang. Affection Value +5. Current Affection Value: 85 (Passionately in Love - Willing to Give Everything for You).]

[Detection indicates that Chen Tingting and Li Jiaxin's affection level has exceeded 80; phased rewards are being distributed...]