Everyone busied themselves unloading the things piled in the trunk and the back seats of the cars, carrying them down one item at a time.
Each box was beautifully packaged. Fish maw, bird’s nest, dried abalone, Moutai, Longjing tea, Zhonghua cigarettes—everything was an impressive New Year gift.
The courtyard was packed with people.
Under her parents’ and brother’s eager gazes, Yu Xiang sighed inwardly. She took a thick red envelope from her bag and, in front of all their relatives and friends, handed the money to her father.
“Dad, Happy New Year.”
There had to be at least twenty thousand yuan inside. Yu Xiang’s father accepted it with a broad smile. “Having you here is more than enough. Why bring gifts?”
Yu Xiang smiled. “I haven’t been able to come home and show filial respect to you and Mom all year. It’s just a little something from me.”
The relatives and friends around them kept praising her, saying what a good and filial daughter she was, but their heads kept turning toward the entrance.
The elderly couple knew their son-in-law couldn’t make it, so they did not offer any explanation. Instead, they ushered their daughter and three grandchildren inside to sit down for the meal.
After carrying the New Year gifts into the courtyard, Sister Zhou and the others, who had accompanied Madam here many times before, knew the place like the back of their hands. Besides, when Madam had paid to renovate the courtyard, she had also set aside rooms for them to rest in.
Sister Zhou called Xiaoqiu over to take a break.
Jiang Chuling tightened her grip on Sister Xiaoqiu’s hand. “No need, Auntie Zhou. Sister Xiaoqiu is staying with me.”
Uh…
Sister Zhou had originally wanted to say a few words of persuasion. She had suffered a fair amount of humiliation at that aunt-in-law’s hands.
But then she thought about how capable Xiaoqiu was. If they ran into each other, it was hard to say who would come out worse off. So she decided not to interfere.
Qiuyun followed the young miss from the courtyard into the main hall.
The main room was spacious, with five banquet tables set up inside.
Everyone gathered around Yu Xiang, making polite conversation. As expected, she was seated at the head table.
The three young masters and misses were seated at the children’s table, and Qiuyun sat with them.
“Sis, where’s your husband?” a neatly dressed middle-aged man at the same table asked as soon as Yu Xiang sat down. “Why didn’t he come?”
Yu Xiang answered, “He had gallstone surgery a few days ago and can’t get out of bed.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the middle-aged woman beside him—a woman in a black suit and white blouse—sneered. “I knew it. Drinking too much at all those business dinners is bad for the body. He really should take better care of himself.”
Jiang Chuling tugged at Qiuyun’s sleeve and whispered, “Those are my uncle and aunt. Their whole family is incredibly difficult.”
Qiuyun understood.
Over on the other side, Yu Xiang merely smiled at the remark and did not respond.
Someone nearby began flattering her. “But come on, how could a big boss like our brother-in-law personally drink at business dinners? It’s always the secretary who drinks for him, right?”
“By the way, Xiao Xiang, was that news about your husband during National Day true? Did he really cheat on you?” someone else asked curiously.
Yu Xiang could only explain, “It was fake. The nanny was trying to extort money from us. She’s already been arrested and detained.”
Someone beside her advised, “Still, I’m telling you, with a big boss like your husband, it’s perfectly normal for him to have a mistress or two. You already have children, so don’t take it to heart.”
“That’s right. Hey, big nephew, did your dad really have gallstone surgery? Or did he simply not want to come, and your mom felt too embarrassed to say so?”
Throughout the entire Yu family, if there was anyone who had risen like a rocket into the heavens and crossed into an entirely different social class, it was undoubtedly Yu Xiang.
She had come from a poor farming family, and getting into university had already brought her tremendous prestige among the clan. Who could have imagined that she would date a rich young heir during college—and even marry him?
Every man and woman in the family was consumed by envy.
Even Yu the Third, who had originally lived an ordinary life, had relied on his daughter to build the most grand and impressive house and courtyard in the surrounding villages. He had even managed to marry his son to a civil servant.
With that, the family had completely changed its status and become a household with someone employed by the government.
Because their home was so spacious and grand, the clan held its annual ancestral rites and New Year’s Eve feast at Yu the Third’s house every year.
Now, their family had finally provided everyone with something to laugh at. Although no one wanted to offend them openly, nobody was willing to miss the chance to make fun of them under the guise of concern—offering sympathy on the surface while belittling them underneath.
The more one said, the more one could get wrong. Explaining too much would only make it seem as though she was desperately trying to deny something.
Faced with everyone’s enthusiastic advice, Yu Xiang could only smile and nod, pretending to take their words to heart.
Qiuyun, however, couldn’t stand watching Madam being mocked because of her husband. Jiang Chuling was equally indignant, but she had no choice but to hold it in. Her mother had warned her not to make things difficult for Grandma in front of the relatives.
She lowered her head and whispered to the young miss, “Should we rescue Madam?”
“How?” Jiang Chuling hurriedly asked.
Qiuyun smiled mischievously. “Why not make a video call to Sir?”
If Madam came forward to defend herself, it would seem unnecessary—as though she cared deeply about what her relatives and friends thought of her. That would only put her at a disadvantage.
But if a child called her father to wish him a happy New Year after arriving at her maternal grandparents’ home, what could be wrong with that?
Jiang Chuling understood at once and immediately called her father.
“Hi, Daddy! We’ve arrived at Grandma and Grandpa’s house!”
Her clear, childish voice rang out. The enormous dining room fell silent in an instant, as though someone had pressed the pause button.
Jiang Yihua’s voice came through the phone. “You’re there already? How’s your mother? Was she uncomfortable after sitting in the car for so long? I told her flying would be more convenient. We have a helicopter at home, after all. Applying for a flight route is no trouble at all.”
“Oh, come on, Mom brought so many New Year gifts, and there are so many of us. We’d have needed two or three helicopter trips.”
Jiang Chuling stood up and walked over to her grandmother. “Dad, since you had surgery and couldn’t come, wish Grandma and Grandpa a happy New Year!”
Jiang Yihua was leaning against the headboard. He greeted the elderly couple, saying, “Mom, Dad, I had a minor operation a few days ago and am still recovering, so I couldn’t come in person to wish you both a happy New Year. Please forgive me.”
How could the elderly couple possibly hold it against the wealthy son-in-law who had helped their family leap into a better life? They hurriedly urged him, “You should have told us you were ill sooner! Xiao Xiang should have stayed home to look after you. How could she leave you all alone during the New Year?”
“It’s all right,” Jiang Yihua said. “The chefs and domestic staff are here to take care of everything, so there’s no problem. Besides, you only get to see each other once or twice a year. How could I let you miss your daughter and grandchildren?”
“That’s right, that’s right. Good boy, take good care of yourself and focus on recovering.”
“A relative brought over some ginseng a few days ago. I’ll have Xiao Xiang bring it back for you to help replenish your strength.”
The elderly couple continued fussing over him for a while. Jiang Chuling casually ended the call and returned to her mother.
Yu Xiang knew perfectly well that her daughter had been trying to help her out of the awkward situation. She gave her daughter a helpless yet affectionate look, then said to the person on the phone, “All right, you get some rest and be careful not to overexert yourself.”
Facing his wife, Jiang Yihua’s voice softened instinctively. “Mm. You too. I’ll wait for you to come home.”
After the call ended, Yu Xiang returned the phone to her daughter. “You said you were hungry on the way here and wanted Grandma’s crispy pot stew. Go sit down and wait for dinner.”
Grandma immediately fussed over her. “Oh, our Ling’er is hungry? Quick, serve the food, serve the food! Old man, pick up your chopsticks!”
As the host, Yu Xiang’s father picked up his chopsticks and symbolically selected a piece from the cold dishes in front of him. Everyone began urging one another on.
“Eat, eat! Don’t be shy, everyone.”
