"You're not welcoming me. I'm here to visit the elders and, by the way, to see little sister Qin Nian. Aunt Yang doesn't mind me at all."
Lin Hui lifted the bag in his hand.
"You're such a two - faced person."
Shen Xianjun said, but it was all in good fun. Shen Xianjun quickly set up the table.
"Aunt Yang."
Fan Juan also greeted and came out with Qin Nian, carrying the bowls and chopsticks.
"Hey, Xiao Fan, this is Lianxiang. Niannian, this is the niece of your Aunt Guixiang."
"I know, Mom. You take Lianxiang to wash her hands."
Zhou Ang rushed back just in time. Everyone had already put the dishes on the table, and a seat was reserved for Zhou Ang beside Professor Wen.
"Come and sit down quickly and have a meal."
Professor Wen greeted his daughter - in - law.
Hu Zhenghao and several children served the adults with rice.
Shen Xianjun and the other men carried the last dish, the mutton and radish soup, to the table.
Shen Xianjun put a bowl of mutton and radish soup without scallions in front of Yang Yufen.
There weren't many dishes, but the portions were generous.
The main dish was braised fish with vermicelli, potatoes, and pancakes on the side. The vegetarian dish was stir - fried shredded potatoes with vinegar. There was also the roast duck brought by Liao Yuanjie and a large plate of stir - fried eggs with leeks.
Lin Hui opened the cans he had brought, cut the luncheon meat, and there were also fruit cans that the children liked.
Wang Shuo carried two flasks of wine, and Fang Fen brought stir - fried peanuts and deep - fried loaches, all good accompaniments for wine.
"It's really rare to have so many people gathered together today."
Dean Hu sighed.
Hearing this, Qin Nian suddenly got up and went into the house. She soon came out with something in her hand.
"Let's take a photo as a souvenir."
Qin Nian held up the camera in her hand. After taking photos with the children last time, Qin Nian had asked Fan Juan to help her buy it. It had been sitting at home unused since then.
"Let me do it. How do you use this camera?"
Lin Hui stepped forward. Qin Nian wasn't polite and told Lin Hui how to use the camera.
Seeing Lin Hui standing beside his wife, Shen Xianjun suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy. He suddenly realized that this two - faced guy was doing it on purpose! No wonder this guy had deliberately made things difficult for him and set traps for him before!
Just as he was about to step in between the two, Lin Hui nodded, indicating that he knew how to use it, and the two of them immediately moved apart.
"Everyone, get closer. The kids, squat in front of the adults. Yes, very good."
Lin Hui directed and took several photos in a row before he was satisfied.
"Brother, do you know about this?"
Shen Xianjun looked at Hu Jun with a bit of resentment. Hu Jun looked up at the sky and touched his nose.
"My sister is such a wonderful girl. It's normal for someone to admire her. After all, there are still people interested in you like this. You should be glad that you've kept yourself clean and married my sister."
After saying that, Hu Jun looked quite self - righteous.
Everyone sat down to have a meal. After the meal, Shen Xianjun and the others rushed to clean up the dishes and wash them, not giving the women a chance at all.
"Is it not very appropriate to let the men do these chores?"
Lianxiang was quite shocked.
"What's wrong with that? It's just washing the dishes. Which law says it's the women's job? Lianxiang, you have to keep up with the times. Look at Niannian and the others. Go and talk to them more."
Yang Yufen encouraged Lianxiang. Lianxiang walked over. Zhou Ang and the others talked to Lianxiang, chatting from daily gossip to national development. Lianxiang's shock never stopped.
"You can recognize simple characters. You can read more newspapers. Newspapers are about current affairs. They can help you learn more about things."
As the oldest among them, Zhou Ang saw the shock and the eagerness in Lianxiang's eyes and gave her a suggestion.
"You can guess the meaning and ask others more. The more you read, the more characters you'll recognize, and you won't be easily deceived."
Lianxiang nodded.
"I think the noodle shop can subscribe to a newspaper. Some customers like to read it. It can also kill time while they're waiting."
Hearing this, Yang Yufen immediately spoke up.
A newspaper isn't expensive, but subscribing to one every day actually costs a bit. It would be a burden if Lianxiang paid for it, but if the shop paid for it, it would be a way to attract customers, and the cost wouldn't increase much.
In the countryside,
Gui Xiang watched the chaotic scene of her eldest son's family. The two grandsons were running around wildly. Her eldest son was chasing them, and his wife was standing behind, slapping her thighs and trying to persuade them. In such a short time, her eldest son's family had ended up like this.
They had survived the flood, and she had also endured the situations of her husband and Ershun. But at this moment, she felt a burning anger inside.
"Enough! Are you putting on a show for this old woman?"
"No, Mom. It's just that the kids are being naughty."
Xiu quickly explained, and Changshun threw away the stick in his hand.
"It was you who wanted to split the family back then. After splitting up, you've lived like this. Every year, apart from a little grain for our old - age support, your father and I haven't asked you for anything extra. Your Aunt Yufen even persuaded me that all children are equally dear to a mother, so I came back to see you."
Gui Xiang was very disappointed. There was her daughter - in - law's scheming, the two useless grandsons, and her eldest son with his head down, saying nothing.
Forget it, forget it. Even if we gave all the family fortune to the eldest son’s household, they wouldn’t be able to hold onto it. Besides, there’s no such thing as a vast family fortune to begin with.
Family matters shouldn’t be aired in public. Gui Xiang didn’t want to say more. She stepped inside, pushing open the door to what used to be the old couple’s room—now occupied by their two grandsons.
"Mom, we’ve tidied up the room. You’ll stay in this one."
Changshun hurried in after her.
Gui Xiang didn’t respond. She walked in, glanced around, and let Changshun place the burlap sack she’d brought back inside.
At the dinner table, a chicken had been slaughtered for the occasion. A large pot of stewed potatoes with glass noodles simmered, and the half-grown boys devoured it ravenously, shoveling food into their mouths.
Gui Xiang picked at a few pieces of potato and finished the rice in her bowl, but she couldn’t eat any more.
"Eat, eat—don’t you know to leave some for your grandmother? Mom, have some meat."
Changshun couldn’t bear it and scolded the children, then tried to put a piece of meat into his mother’s bowl.
"No need. Let the children eat. After such a long journey, my stomach isn’t feeling well. I’d like to rest."
Gui Xiang stood up and left the table. Under the table, Xiu kicked Changshun’s foot.
"Your mother’s been sulking since she got back. I even killed a chicken for her—something we never do unless it’s a special occasion. And now, without any reason, she’s acting like this?"
"Enough!"
Changshun slammed the table. The two boys flinched, clutching their bowls. When they realized the anger wasn’t directed at them, they resumed eating even faster.
One wrong step leads to many. Changshun looked at his sons, then at the closed door, pulling the towel from his neck to cover his face.
Xiu didn’t dare say another word. Her eyes flicked to the boys before she silently finished her meal.
The next morning, Changshun woke early to find his mother gone—but his wife was in her room, rummaging through the burlap sack.
"What are you doing? Where’s Mom?"
"You startled me! Mom left early this morning. I was just looking. No need to shout."
