"Senior Sister, I heard that in the past you often had these kinds of case summary meetings?" Chen Dongmei scooted over to Xu Yino’s side.

Xu Yino nodded. "Back then we had fewer patients and more time, and Teacher Liu would just gather everyone up, say a few words and that was the summary. There was no such thing as fixed time or place—whenever it happened, it happened."

"Now it doesn’t work anymore. We have so many patients here, and so many interns and residents. It’s really hard to find a time when everyone can get together, so we have to cherish it."

"But I heard from Teacher Shi that we still have to find time to keep having these meetings. At least once a week; it’s really meaningful." Su Wenhao said.

"Yeah, even the director praised it back then. It’s just that we’ve really been too busy lately. I actually quite like this kind of little activity." Liu Yiqing said with a smile.

"Yiqing, want me to help you take care of one chicken drumstick?" Xu Yino leaned next to her.

"Sure. Anyway, even if you don’t eat it, Teacher Liu will assume you ate along with us." Liu Yiqing said.

That left Xu Yino completely exasperated, while everyone else was thoroughly amused.

Over on Liu Banxia’s side, he had more or less finished up the things at the hospital and was hurrying all the way home.

You could say he missed his wife, but mainly his mom was coming over today. When it came to this daughter‑in‑law Qiaoqiao, his own mom was very "uneasy." She was very worried that her three meals a day were all casually thrown together. Even if they told her not to bother, she still had to come over.

As soon as he got home, he smelled the fragrance of chicken soup simmering. Qiaoqiao was sitting properly on the sofa, looking at him pitifully.

"Where’s Yanzi?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Yanzi went to watch a movie with a friend. She said she’s finally free of shackles now and has to celebrate properly for a couple of days. She’ll be back a bit late today." Qiaoqiao said.

"Mom made chicken soup for us. Do you think she’ll just make me drink the soup and not give me any meat? I’m afraid I won’t be able to drink that much. I want some meat."

That really amused Liu Banxia; he’d thought she was brooding over something big, but it turned out she was thinking about such an "important" matter.

"Don’t worry, I’ll go into the kitchen and scout out the situation first." Liu Banxia said.

"Hurry, hurry, then come back and help us in the kitchen. She won’t let me in there at all." Qiaoqiao urged.

Liu Banxia nodded, scraped the tip of her nose, and then strolled into the kitchen.

"Off work already? Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. The meat just finished boiling. In a bit I’ll steam a plate of braised pork belly for Qiaoqiao, she said she’s craving that." Peng Xiuqin said with a smile.

"You don’t have to make so many dishes. Were there a lot of people on the road? My dad’s fine being home alone?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Not many people on the road. What could he be doing? He’s really into learning to drive. He goes every single day. The instructor even told him he doesn’t have to come that often." Peng Xiuqin complained.

"Even if he gets his license now, he can still drive for a few years—just for fun. Anyway, it’s easier than riding a motorbike or an e‑bike, and cars aren’t that expensive. Is the chicken from home?"

"Yeah, we’ve got quite a few at home. Next time when your dad comes over, we’ll slaughter them fresh and bring them." Peng Xiuqin said.

"Home‑raised chickens are the best, way better than those white‑slaughtered chickens. Those are all pumped with hormones. How could they compare with the ones we raise? I don’t even use feed, just corn, cornmeal, and soybean cake."

"Heh, this time I can really have my fill. Need me to do anything? Any other dishes to make?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Don’t need you. Just mix some cucumber with sesame paste and we’re done. Go keep Qiaoqiao company, otherwise she’ll be bored on her own." Peng Xiuqin said.

Seeing Liu Banxia stroll out from the kitchen, Qiaoqiao’s face was full of curiosity.

"Don’t worry. I just checked—what’s in the pot is stewed chicken with mushrooms, not clear chicken soup. She’s also steaming braised pork belly for you. Then there’s cucumber with sesame paste, plus some soy‑braised beef." Liu Banxia hurried to report.

Qiaoqiao was immediately happy. Don’t look at how this was just a small matter; she’d really been worried.

Because they’d talked about it before, she knew her mother‑in‑law was bringing chickens over. At the time, Yanzi had threatened her, saying she’d definitely force her to drink chicken soup like crazy. She’d been fretting over it for days.

"Oh right, how exactly are they going to operate on Chu Wanting’s dad?" Qiaoqiao asked.

"They still haven’t decided. They’ll wait until all the family members are here and discuss it." Liu Banxia said.

"I’ve just given them this convenient option: let him stay in the hospital for now—his blood pressure needs adjusting anyway. The day after tomorrow that Captain Shen from the criminal police squad seems to be treating me to a meal. I’ll go out and have some fun on my own then, and you just stay home."

Qiaoqiao pouted. "You make it sound like I enjoy going out with you. Home is great—anything I want to eat is right here. You guys just eat and drink anyway. In that case, don’t drive, just hail a car."

"We’ll see. Maybe it’ll just be a simple chat with no drinking." Liu Banxia said casually.

"I’m pretty strict with myself about drinking now. Even on my days off I won’t really cut loose. If there’s a surgery that needs me, it would be such a delay if I’d been drinking. Right?"

"You spend all day thinking about surgeries. The day after tomorrow you need to take Tang Dou and its puppies out for a proper walk." Qiaoqiao reminded him.

These days Tang Dou’s life had been a bit rough—no one was properly taking it out. Qiaoqiao couldn’t move around easily, Yanzi was a bit half‑hearted about it, and Liu Banxia was its biggest hope.

Just then Peng Xiuqin also came out of the kitchen.

"Mom, hurry up and sit down and rest, you haven’t stopped since you got here." Qiaoqiao called out happily.

"I’m used to it at home too. Think about what you want to eat tomorrow, I’ll keep cooking. Can’t compare with restaurant dishes, but at least you get to eat something hot. Anyway it’s better than the sloppy stuff you and Yanzi throw together, you’re both lazy girls." Peng Xiuqin said.

"Tomorrow I want steamed flatbread, buy big marrow bones, I want to suck the marrow fat." Qiaoqiao said.

"Then we’ll make that, it’s not even much work." Peng Xiuqin agreed very readily.

"Mom, how come you’re not asking what I want to eat?" Liu Banxia asked helplessly.

"Whatever Qiaoqiao eats, you just eat along with her, that’s it." Peng Xiuqin said.

"Oh right, today’s chicken drumsticks: one for Qiaoqiao, and save the other one for Yanzi. She’s been taking care of Qiaoqiao for so long, it’s been hard on her too."

"Hehe, I’ll tell her right now." Qiaoqiao said happily, then picked up her phone to notify Yanzi.

Happy, this was real happiness.

Her relationship with this mother-in-law, Peng Xiuqin, had always been pretty good. The only reason she hadn’t let her come over was because she was afraid she’d wear herself out taking care of her.

Now she couldn’t be stopped anymore. Before she came she’d been asking nonstop what she wanted to eat. Back then she was craving braised pork belly, and now she’d been given a little chicken stewed with mushrooms as a bonus, the kind where you actually get to eat meat instead of just drinking the broth.

And she even saved the precious chicken drumstick for Yanzi, not even leaving a piece for Liu Banxia. That was to thank Yanzi, and also to give her some face.

"Tang Dou, today you and your babies will just gnaw on dog food, you can gnaw on bones tomorrow." Liu Banxia pulled Tang Dou into his arms.

As for what it ate, Tang Dou didn’t care that much. What it cared about most was fooling around with Liu Banxia.

Right now it was rubbing its big head against his chest nonstop. The twice‑a‑day happy walks had now been cut down to once a day.

"Hahaha, I’ve already made Yanzi drool, she’s hurrying back now." Qiaoqiao said cheerfully after hanging up the phone.

"She’s a greedy girl too, it’s not like I ever shorted her when I cooked before." Liu Banxia muttered.

"You want the truth or something nice?" Qiaoqiao asked with a straight face.

"Of course the truth." Liu Banxia said.

"That’s because there was really nothing else to eat, so we just made do. Your cooking, well, there’s no comparing it with Mom’s." Qiaoqiao said.

"If it weren’t that I don’t dare eat too much at night now, I’d have to really go to town on a meal. And tomorrow we get to eat steamed flatbread, my favorite part is that ring right next to the edge of the pot."

That made Peng Xiuqin laugh too. Her daughter‑in‑law could be a bit naughty sometimes, but personality‑wise, there was absolutely nothing to pick on.

She’d never been petty about anything, and that alone beat everything.

"If you’re not too hungry, then wait for Yanzi to come back and eat together. It’s really not that long anyway." Peng Xiuqin said.

"Okay, then we’ll wait for Yanzi. Just in time for me to take Tang Dou and her pups outside to play for a bit. Go get your leash yourself, we’re going out." Liu Banxia said.

That did it, Tang Dou was over the moon, half running half scrambling off to find the leash.

"Mom, I’ll go out and walk a little loop with him too, okay? Then I can eat a bit more tonight." Qiaoqiao asked tentatively.

"Why not, but you need to be careful with your body. You’re heavy now, don’t strain yourself." Peng Xiuqin said.

Qiaoqiao was happy too. In terms of happiness, she was no worse than Tang Dou, she just couldn’t romp around like Tang Dou.

"Hehe, at first I was worried I’d be nervous once Mom came over. But now it’s nothing, it’s really nice." Qiaoqiao said as they walked out of the house.

"Mom’s easygoing, and you’re the same way. For you two to want to have any conflict, that’d be pretty hard." Liu Banxia said, and lengthened the leash a bit.

"Honestly I feel like I’m really blessed. I don’t have to worry about family conflicts like other people do. My father‑in‑law treats me really well, you and Mom get along great, and Auntie Tong and Xiaoyu are truly good to me too."

"Hey, how come you’re not complimenting me? I’m carrying two babies for you." Qiaoqiao gave him a slap.

"Of course, that’s a given. That’s why you’re the supreme empress of our household. Isn’t our family menu all decided by you now?" Liu Banxia said.

"You’re making me sound like a total foodie. Think about it, we should get a little cart, and later have Tang Dou’s kids help pull the cart and haul our kids around." Qiaoqiao said.

Liu Banxia nodded with a smile and glanced at the carefree little North, South, East, and West. Don’t think I don’t see you bouncing around now—sooner or later you’re all going to be helping haul the babies.

He’d worked all day and was tired, but with his arm around Qiaoqiao, walking the dogs, and thinking about the meal his mom was preparing at home, he felt the day’s fatigue melt away.

That’s the effect a mom has: even just one person coming over makes this home feel that much more secure. To her, Qiaoqiao wasn’t just a daughter‑in‑law, she doted on her like her own daughter.