Hearing Third Uncle's voice, Jiang Si initially thought she was hallucinating.
It wasn't until his robust call of "Girl Si!" rang out again that she snapped to attention.
Following the sound, she spotted two familiar figures standing beneath the mural.
Though it had only been three months since she last saw them, the sight of the two elderly men huddled together, craning their necks to gaze at her with eager eyes, brought an immediate sting to her eyes.
"Third Uncle! Uncle Zhong!"
"Hey, slow down! Be careful not to trip—Young Huo, grab her quick!"
Third Uncle watched her reckless dash with a mix of fondness and exasperation.
When the two reached him, he poked Jiang Si’s forehead in mock scolding.
"You, you—walking without even watching your step! What if you slipped and fell from that high ladder?"
Then he shot a glare at Huo Tingzhou. "And you! Just letting her act so carelessly?"
"Third Uncle, you’re absolutely right to scold me."
Huo Tingzhou offered no defense, simply taking their luggage and stepping aside to give them space to talk.
Jiang Si sniffled and wrapped her arms around Third Uncle’s arm.
"Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Was the journey tiring?"
"Look at me—full of energy! Do I seem tired?"
Third Uncle smoothed his hair with a proud flourish, his expression practically radiating smugness.
Only then did Jiang Si notice that his once half-gray hair was now glossy and jet-black.
His rosy complexion and lively demeanor reassured her.
Clearly, he’d been drinking plenty of the spirit-spring-infused wine she’d left for him.
Right on cue, Uncle Zhong seized the moment to tattle.
"Miss Sisi, the jar of wine you left last time? The Old Master’s already drunk more than half."
"He was supposed to take just a sip a day, but it turned into a gulp every time..."
"You—you—!"
Third Uncle clapped a hand over Uncle Zhong’s mouth, flustered.
"Quiet! Can’t you let me enjoy this happy occasion without ruining it?"
"Girl Si, don’t listen to him. I only had a tiny bit extra..."
Uncle Zhong said nothing, just shook his head emphatically.
Jiang Si laughed. "Alright, alright, let him go."
Thankfully, the wine was infused with spirit-spring water—otherwise, she’d have been furious.
But for now, she let it slide.
Eager to move past the topic, Third Uncle straightened his quilted coat.
"Zhong, help me take a few photos."
Jiang Si blinked in surprise. Since when did Third Uncle, who usually hated having his picture taken, become so enthusiastic?
Every previous attempt had been met with a pained grimace. Yet now, he was striking poses with ease.
Noticing her confusion, Uncle Zhong adjusted the camera and explained,
"Miss Sisi, ever since the Old Master heard about your banquet, he’s been practicing his smile in the mirror every day."
So that was it.
Warmth bloomed in Jiang Si’s chest. Meanwhile, Huo Tingzhou set down the luggage and took the camera from Uncle Zhong.
"I’ll handle this. Get in position—I’ll take a few shots for you."
Jiang Si nodded and immediately positioned herself between Third Uncle and Uncle Zhong, linking arms with both.
All three beamed brightly.
Jiang Si rarely smiled during work, so this sudden radiance was a stark contrast to her usual cool demeanor.
Her joy drew the attention of many, including the members of the large-scale mural team packing up nearby.
As the crowd gathered, Huo Tingzhou leaned in and murmured,
"Would you like a group photo with your team? As a memento."
Jiang Si agreed at once.
This project had been a spontaneous commitment, and now that it was over, who knew when they’d meet again?
Plus, the team had treated her with nothing but kindness.
Word of the group photo spread quickly, and the mural team buzzed with excitement, smoothing clothes and fixing hair.
Onlookers from other teams couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
"Ugh, why wasn’t I lucky enough to be assigned to the large-scale mural group?"
"Come on, it’s just a photo. There’s a portrait studio right over there."
"Yeah, but you could pay a few coins to get your picture taken anytime."
"Da Pang, is this really about the photo?" The man shot his companion a knowing look.
Da Pang scratched his head. "If not, then what?"
Another interjected sagely before the first could reply.
"You don’t get it. I heard the entire mural’s draft and coloring were handled by Team Leader Jiang alone."
"The rest of the team just assisted—fetching water, passing tools. Easy work, right?"
Da Pang gaped. "Seriously? That’s amazing!"
"Exactly!"
The man gestured toward President Zhou’s group. "See those people next to him? They’re reporters from The National Daily. Mark my words—this mural’s going nationwide."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Someone else piped up curiously,
"You think their bonuses will double?"
"Obviously."
The first speaker shrugged. "But it’s not just about money. This is collective glory—something to brag about for life!"
"Guess we just weren’t destined for it."
The chatter continued, but Third Uncle and Uncle Zhong exchanged uneasy glances.
"No wonder she looked thinner the moment I saw her," Third Uncle muttered.
"She kept calling it a ‘small team,’ but I assumed it was twenty people working together. Who knew..."
He sighed, watching Jiang Si amid the crowd.
"Zhong, why does she push herself so hard?"
Uncle Zhong followed his gaze, then said after a pause,
"I don’t know. But isn’t there a saying—‘You’re not the fish, so how can you know the fish’s joy?’"
"Miss Sisi doesn’t seem forced to me. Look how happy she is right now."
"What are you two talking about? Who’s happy?"
Jiang Si returned just in time to catch the last remark.
"Who else but you, little girl?" Third Uncle chuckled.
"All done? Let’s head back if you’re ready."
Jiang Si hummed in agreement. She’d already said her goodbyes—they could leave anytime.
"By the way, Third Granduncle, during this period, you, Uncle Zhong, and I will stay at the Western Hill Courtyard."
"On New Year's Day, Huo Tingzhou will come with the bridal party to fetch the bride."
At that time, most weddings were held either in the workplace auditorium or at home—extravagant celebrations were clearly out of the question.
But Grandma Huo had already discussed the necessary customs and manageable arrangements with Third Granduncle over the phone.
So he didn’t object.
