Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 207: Marrying While Bringing My Younger Brother

Upon entering, Xie Chenyan clearly felt her palm tighten. She looked down and saw her brother, Xie Chentao, take a step back and hide behind her. This action brought Xie Chenyan back to her senses, and she slowly raised her head to see quite a number of people standing in the courtyard.

Xie Chenyan was somewhat dazed. The courtyard was filled with beauty, and she instantly felt overshadowed. Xie Chenyan used to have some confidence in her appearance, but this moment shattered it. The three young women standing in the courtyard were each more attractive than the last, and there wasn’t anyone in the entire textile factory prettier than them.

The men were also similarly impressive, all three tall, outstanding, and with exceptional temperament, making Xie Chenyan hesitant to step forward for a moment.

"This must be Miss Xie. Come and sit down. It’s such a hot day; have some fruit first," Yi Roujing, as the only married woman present, stepped up to greet Xie Chenyan and led her to sit on a bench under the grapevine.

On the square table in front of her were two plates of fruit—grapes and peaches—along with milk candy and glutinous rice strips. Most importantly, there was actually an electric fan in the courtyard, humming as it blew, with a red electric wire drawn out of the house connected to a black bakelite socket.

"Wow, what a cute little fellow." Looking at Xie Chentao, Yi Roujing praised with a smile, "Youning, why don’t you come play with him?"

Liu Youning nodded and walked over to Xie Chentao, "My name is Liu Youning, I am five years old, how about you?"

"I’m six years old." Seeing a child of the same age, Xie Chentao relaxed, although he still held onto Xie Chenyan’s hand. "My name is Xie Chentao."

"Let’s go play, I have a top, made for me by my third brother, I’ll let you play with it." Liu Youning said, taking out the top with care.

Seeing something to play with, as a child, Xie Chentao followed Liu Youning into the courtyard to play. Liu Youning also took milk candy and glutinous rice strips, and the two sat down to share them when they were tired from playing.

Xie Chenyan was surprised observing Liu Youning’s demeanor. She wasn’t unfamiliar with when Liu Guangmei brought the child to the workshop. Back then, the child was timid and spoke hesitantly. How had he become so improved in such a short time?

"Our Youning has changed a lot, right?" Liu Guangmei, quickly catching onto Xie Chenyan’s thoughts, praised, "It’s all thanks to Weiliang."

Xie Chenyan glanced at the bright and cheerful young man sitting opposite her, her face slightly flushing. He really was handsome, much more so than her male colleagues in the textile factory.

"We’ve found a good teacher for him. Youning spends half his time living with Weiliang. Miss Xie, let me be honest, a boy really needs a man’s influence." Liu Guangmei said.

Xie Chentao’s reserved personality was because he was raised by his sister. Liu Guangmei had also taken care of Liu Youning for a while and truly noticed the difference between her and Yi Weiliang’s influence on him.

"Big sister-in-law, I’m going to the kitchen to start cooking." Anmin sat for a while before getting up to work in the kitchen, followed by Xia Xingchen to help with the fire.

"I’m heading in too. Ancheng, come help me with the fire." Ding Ancheng said to Yi Roujing, calling over Ding Ancheng.

"Okay, big brother."

There was only one stove in the kitchen, but there was also a coal stove. Cooking the beef on the coal stove controlled the heat better because the small pot could be moved easily. Ding Ancheng’s real purpose, however, was just to leave the space for the main people to work freely, as a crowded kitchen can be stressful.

Liu Guangmei watched the Ding brothers head into the kitchen, feeling envious. "Roujing, I’m really jealous of you. My husband has never once bothered with kitchen affairs in all these years. Each of your family’s men can cook."

Xie Chenyan was also quite surprised. In her experience, there really weren’t many men who cooked; unless they were professional chefs.

"Our Weiliang can cook too," Liu Guangmei praised Yi Weiliang, who sat beside her, with a smile.

"Aunt Guangmei, please don’t praise me. I know my own abilities. I’m not skilled in cooking, I just help out occasionally with starting the fire or preparing the ingredients," Yi Weiliang said sheepishly.

Yi Roujing laughed, "That’s quite true. My mom has cooked all these years and her level hasn’t really changed. We didn’t know, before my sisters-in-law arrived, that vegetables could taste so different when cooked the same way."

Liu Guangmei laughed at this.

"I’ve inherited my mom’s skills, so it’s best I stay out of the kitchen work. Thankfully, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are great cooks; otherwise, we’d all lose a lot of weight," Yi Roujing joked, "But though the family isn’t great at cooking, they are hardworking and don’t adhere to old gender roles about staying out of the kitchen."

"Miss Xie..."

"Just call me Chenyan," Xie Chenyan said, blushing.

"Chenyan, do you have any questions?" Yi Roujing asked with a smile. "Our family matters are all decided by ourselves. My parents are understanding, usually approving of us finding our own partners to marry, so feel free to ask anything you want."

"I...I don’t really have any questions. Sister Guangmei has told me about the situation," Xie Chenyan said shyly.

"Oh dear, the seniority is all mixed up," Liu Guangmei laughed, clapping her hands. "Chenyan, in the future, call me Aunt Guangmei."

Xie Chenyan nodded, her neck turning red with embarrassment as she mumbled an agreement.

"Aunt Guangmei, yesterday I brewed some wine. Would you like to come take a look?" Yi Roujing asked Liu Guangmei.

"Sure, sure," Liu Guangmei eagerly agreed, "Once it’s ready, I absolutely must have a taste."

The two headed to the kitchen where the wine jars were kept, leaving the courtyard filled only with the sound of the whirring fan, the joyful whispers of the two children, and Yi Weiliang sitting across the table from Xie Chenyan. They both knew this was an opportunity for them to talk privately.

"I—I don’t really have any other requests, just that I wish to take my brother with me when I marry. When he grows up and starts his own family, then I can let go," Xie Chenyan said softly.

"That’s understandable," Yi Weiliang nodded. "We’re from the countryside. My parents, two brothers, and sister-in-law, you’ve met them. My younger sister is already married. Our family hasn’t divided into separate households yet, but my mom isn’t strict."

"I’m just a temporary worker. I don’t have a house in the town either. Honestly, in terms of conditions, I’m not a good match for you," Yi Weiliang admitted with a humble smile.

"You’re still young. Being a temporary worker is just for now," Xie Chenyan quickly interjected, her face turning even redder as she spoke.

Yi Weiliang sensed a bit of her meaning; she seemed to be content with him.

"Truthfully, I just want to find someone suitable, where we both like each other, and how things go after that depends on the life the two of us build together," Yi Weiliang said, scratching his head with a shy smile.

"I feel the same way," Xie Chenyan responded, her eyes shining with agreement.

"So, why don’t we give it a try?" Yi Weiliang asked softly.

"Okay." Xie Chenyan nodded.