On the final afternoon of the year, Lam Minh's small house became livelier than ever.
This year, by unspoken agreement, the entire Lam clan had decided to celebrate Tet together at his house. Aunts, uncles, and cousins from all over flocked in, bringing gifts and resounding laughter. The whole house was packed with people, the atmosphere incredibly warm.
Of course, there were two main reasons for this unusual reunion.
One was to be close to the "living hero" Lam Minh, the pride of the entire clan.
And the second reason, no less important, was that Mrs. Mai had "accidentally" let slip the news: tonight, the clan's "future daughter-in-law" would be coming for a get-to-know-you dinner.
This news made everyone, from young to old, extremely curious and excited.
Ding-dong!
At exactly 6 PM on New Year's Eve, as everyone was gathered in the kitchen preparing the final dishes, the doorbell rang.
"Ah! Sister-in-law is here!"
Little Lam An, the most eager of all, immediately dropped her vegetable-picking task and skipped to the door. In her mind, she had already pictured a beautiful, gentle, and demure sister-in-law.
Click!
The door opened. Lam An looked up, and the smile on her face froze.
"Hello, sister-in-law... uh... you are...???"
Standing before her was not a gentle young woman at all. It was a loli-like girl with vibrant pink hair, big, sharp eyes, and wearing an incredibly striking red dress. In her hands was a box of premium Korean red ginseng.
"Hello, sister-in-law-to-be!" the pink-haired girl winked playfully. "I'm Quynh Nhu, your future sister-in-law. A pleasure to meet you!"
Without waiting for an invitation, Quynh Nhu confidently strode into Lam Minh's house as if it were her own.
[Lam Minh, standing in the corner of the house: Shock +1]
[The entire Lam family and clan: Shock +99]
Quynh Nhu's surprise appearance and domineering "self-introduction" turned everyone in the house to stone.
Lam Minh, who was trying to hide in a corner, felt his head buzzing. "How... how is she here?"
Quynh Nhu completely ignored the strange atmosphere around her. She quickly went over to Mrs. Mai and Mr. Dao.
"Greetings, Auntie and Uncle! I'm Quynh Nhu, a... close friend of Brother Minh. I heard you were having a party today, so I took the liberty of coming to join the fun. This is a small gift, I wish you both a peaceful and healthy new year!"
Her natural, lively demeanor and a mouth as sweet as sugarcane quickly won everyone over. Mrs. Mai, though still bewildered, couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, this child... come in, come in. Don't be a stranger."
Quynh Nhu really wasn't a stranger. After giving the gift, she rolled up her sleeves and ran into the kitchen to help everyone, chatting and laughing animatedly as she worked, making the already lively house even more cheerful.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dao and a few other uncles had pulled Lam Minh into a corner for "interrogation."
"Hey, you," Mr. Dao nudged his son. "Who is this girl? She's not the To Quyen girl your mother mentioned."
"That's right! She's so pretty and sharp!" another uncle praised.
"Don't tell me you're two-timing, are you?" an aunt looked at him with suspicion.
"Brother Lam Minh is 666!" a young cousin gave him a thumbs-up, his eyes full of admiration.
Lam Minh was speechless, not knowing how to explain. He could only move his lips, muttering a sentence as if trying to hypnotize himself: "It's normal for a hero to have three wives and four concubines..."
THWACK!
A rap on the head from Mr. Dao landed. "Watch what you say! Does that To Quyen girl know about this? You'd better watch out, son!"
Lam Minh could only clutch his head and cry foul.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang once again.
"This must be To Quyen!" Mrs. Mai said, hastily wiping her hands on her apron.
Lam An once again trotted to the door. But this time, she was more cautious.
The door opened. It still wasn't To Quyen.
Standing at the door was a petite girl in a baggy hoodie, with a beautiful and delicate face, but a little shy. In her hands was an exquisitely crafted ancient Bat Trang ceramic tea set.
It was Minh Thu.
Her appearance once again shocked everyone, especially Lam Minh.
"How... how did she come too?" he almost fainted.
Minh Thu, perhaps because there were too many strangers, was a little scared. She just stood at the door, not daring to enter, her large, round eyes looking towards Lam Minh for help.
Lam Minh had no choice but to go over and take her hand. "Come in, don't be afraid."
He introduced her to everyone. "This... this is Minh Thu. She's also... a friend of mine."
Quynh Nhu, who was in the kitchen, heard this and ran out. Seeing Minh Thu, she narrowed her eyes. "Oh? 'Little Sister IT' has come to join the fun too?"
The whole family once again fell into an awkward silence.
Ding-dong!
And just as the atmosphere was at its most tense, the doorbell rang for a third time.
Everyone, by unspoken agreement, held their breath and turned to look at the door.
Everyone had the same question in their mind.
Is it To Quyen this time?
Or is it yet another "female friend" of this casanova hero?
...
The small Lam family house was submerged in an expectant silence. All eyes were fixed on the main door, hoping there would be no more surprises this time.
Lam An scurried over, and despite some hesitation, she still opened the door.
Click!
"Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true, peace and prosperity, big bro!"
It wasn't To Quyen.
Ly Thien Ba, with a wide grin, holding two flashing electronic firecrackers, boomed out New Year's greetings to everyone's astonishment.
Lam Minh could only facepalm. "How... how did you get here too?"
"Haha, come on in. How did you know the address?" he asked, his heart full of suspicion.
"I invited him!" Diep Chi, beautiful in a floral dress, appeared from behind Ly Thien Ba, giggled, and entered the house hand-in-hand with her boyfriend. "I thought the more the merrier for Tet, right?"
The arrival of this young, energetic couple quickly broke the tense atmosphere. Everyone cheerfully welcomed them, although a big question mark still hung in their minds about Lam Minh's "guest list."
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang once more.
This time, little Lam An resolutely did not volunteer. She was afraid her "heavy jinx" would bring yet another uninvited guest.
Mrs. Mai, seeing the situation was a bit... unstable, had to personally open the door. She thought to herself, this time, it must be the future daughter-in-law she had been waiting for.
Click!
The door opened. Standing before her was a beautiful, gentle young woman in a jade-green Ao Dai, holding a pair of elegantly wrapped red wine bottles. Her face was delicate, her smile kind.
It was To Quyen.
"Ah! To Quyen! You're here!"
Only then did the whole family truly breathe a sigh of relief. The "main character" had finally appeared. Everyone shook her hand and greeted her warmly, surrounding To Quyen with kind inquiries and endless praise, which made her blush and bow her head shyly.
But when she stepped into the house, the smile on her lips froze.
She was stunned to see the presence of Quynh Nhu, who was glaring at her with dagger-like eyes, and also Minh Thu, who was sitting quietly in a corner, but whose gaze was not friendly either.
She immediately turned her head, her eyes glaring at Lam Minh.
"Didn't you only call me?" she asked, her voice full of accusation.
"No... I swear I only called you!" Lam Minh quickly raised his hands in surrender. "I don't know why they're here either!"
To Quyen narrowed her eyes, looking at him with suspicion. He had never felt so wronged. What had he even done?
Three girls, three beauties, three personalities, stood staring at each other. The atmosphere in the small house suddenly felt like a high-voltage current was running through it, with invisible "zapping" sounds.
Just then.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang again, this time more insistently.
All three girls blurted out in unison: "THERE'S MORE?!"
"I... I don't know..." Lam Minh stammered, his face pale.
The whole house fell into an unprecedented silence. All eyes, from accusatory and suspicious to curious and admiring, were fixed on Lam Minh.
The implication was clear: "Go on, open the door, son. You made your bed, now lie in it."
Lam Minh dragged his heavy feet towards the door, his mind still trying to rack his brain for any other "female friends" he might have. "I'm sure that's all of them..."
Click!
THWACK!
The moment he opened the door, a strong, muscular hand rapped him hard on the head.
"You monkey! What's with the dawdling like a girl? The mosquitoes out here almost drained me dry!"
Lac Long Quan, in very "rugged" casual clothes, grumbled as he walked into the house, even though no mosquito would dare bite through his skin.
Only then did the family realize that the final guest was the legendary "Silver-Haired God of War." Everyone rushed to greet him. Mr. Dao was especially delighted, pulling Lac Long Quan to the sofa, personally pouring him tea, and starting a "heart-to-heart" talk about current affairs.
The atmosphere finally returned to normal.
Everyone was laughing and talking happily. But they didn't realize that lightning bolts were still silently forming in the kitchen.
Quynh Nhu and To Quyen, after the initial greetings, had tacitly declared war on each other. Both rushed into the kitchen, turning the ingredients upside down.
"Let me show off my Thai-style green mango salad with shrimp and pork, guaranteed to be tongue-numbingly spicy but unforgettably delicious!" Quynh Nhu declared.
"In that case, I will make imperial spring rolls with phoenix pâté, a royal dish that demands subtlety and skill," To Quyen retorted, not to be outdone.
Minh Thu, after observing for a while, seemed to realize she had fallen behind. She took a breath, her shyness seemingly vanishing. She also rolled up her sleeves and dived into the kitchen. "I... I will make five-colored floating rice cakes. Each color... has a different flavor."
The scene in the kitchen at that moment could be summed up in one word: CHAOS.
Three girls, three styles, each occupying a corner of the kitchen, none yielding to the others, all wanting to show off their talents to "prove themselves."
The rest of the clan looked in from the outside, then looked at Lam Minh with a mixture of admiration and pity. "Not bad, kid. A worthy direct descendant of the Lam family."
Finally, the kitchen battle ended. Three beautiful dishes were brought out.
First was To Quyen's "Imperial Spring Rolls with Phoenix Pâté." Each spring roll was skillfully wrapped and fried to a golden crisp. The pâté was carved into the shapes of peacocks and phoenixes with incredible finesse. The dish was not only delicious but also a work of art, showcasing the subtlety and skill of its creator.
Next was Quynh Nhu's "Green Mango Salad with Shrimp and Pork." The green of the mango, the red of the shrimp and chili, and the white of the pork blended together, creating a visually stunning dish. The aroma of herbs and the pungent spice of the chili assaulted the senses, powerfully stimulating the appetite. This dish, just like her personality, was explosive, direct, and full of passion.
Finally, there was Minh Thu's "Five-Colored Floating Rice Cakes." Five rice cakes in five natural colors: green from pandan leaves, red from gac fruit, yellow from turmeric, purple from magenta leaves, and the traditional white. The sweet soup was clear and light, with a hint of warm ginger. This dish, much like her, had a simple, quiet appearance, but concealed a rich, sweet, and surprising depth within.
The family began to gather around the sumptuous dinner table. Lac Long Quan and Mr. Dao, as the eldest elders, were given the honored seats in the center.
Mrs. Mai, however, was "honored" with a special seat. In front of her were three small plates, each with a serving from the three girls' dishes.
She had become the reluctant judge of the "Lam Family's Master Chef" competition.
Three pairs of eyes, from To Quyen, Quynh Nhu, and Minh Thu, were expectantly staring at her.
Mrs. Mai smiled, slowly picked up her chopsticks, and began to try the first dish.
"To Quyen's spring rolls," she nodded. "Very crispy, very fragrant. The dipping sauce is also well-balanced. The presentation is flawless. It shows the skill and subtlety of a family woman. Very good."
To Quyen smiled happily.
She then tried Quynh Nhu's salad. "Quynh Nhu's salad has a very rich flavor, a perfect blend of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet. The shrimp and pork are fresh. This dish is very appetizing and shows great passion and a strong personality. Very good."
Quynh Nhu lifted her chin, looking proud.
Finally, she tried Minh Thu's sweet soup. She scooped up a rice cake, tried it, and then took a sip of the soup. She closed her eyes, savoring it.
"Minh Thu's sweet soup," she opened her eyes and said. "It's not overly elaborate, but it has great depth. The cake is chewy, the mung bean filling is soft and smooth. The soup is light and sweet, warmed by the taste of ginger. After eating it, you feel light and serene. It's like a quiet love, not ostentatious, but incredibly warm and sincere. Very, very good."
Minh Thu lowered her head, her cheeks blushing.
After finishing her commentary, Mrs. Mai looked at the three girls, then at her son who was "sweating bullets." She smiled kindly.
"Today, there are no losers. All three dishes are wonderful, each with its own charm. To me, all three of you deserve first prize."
She looked at Lam Minh, her eyes full of hidden meaning. "It seems my son's fortune is not small."
Her words were like a form of "acknowledgment," breaking the tense atmosphere. The three girls looked at each other, then burst out laughing together.
The New Year's Eve dinner, despite being a bit "unstable," finally concluded with laughter and the warmth of family.
And Lam Minh, for the first time since his rebirth, had a complete Tet.