Gu Dongxing also felt a bit awkward. He didn’t know that his loud laughter could drive people away.
All he could do was shout for everyone to take their seats: "Sit down, let’s eat, let’s eat!"
Although they were divided into three tables, with the men at one table and the women and children at two others, each table was filled with chicken, duck, fish, and meat, so everyone still had a good meal.
During the meal, everyone mentioned Jiang Mengyu, and occasionally someone would call her "sister-in-law." Unlike usual, Jiang Mengyu didn’t correct them but responded vaguely.
Hearing this, Gu Dongxing felt very pleased. Indeed, treating guests was the best way to connect with people. Although they were seated at separate tables, after the treat, Jiang Mengyu seemed to blend more into the family circle.
He felt that Jiang Mengyu seemed more like a family member now.
Although so much food had been prepared, it was all eaten in the end, especially at the men’s table; they could really eat. Over a hundred pancakes were not enough. Jiang Mengyu had to knead more dough later and make noodles for them.
However, everyone was full and greasy, and their initial unfamiliarity with Jiang Mengyu turned into a good impression.
The next day was Sunday, and Jiang Mengyu got up early to prepare a birthday gift for Hai Xue.
"Brother Gu, what do you think I should buy as a gift for your aunt?"
Gu Dongxing patted her head: "You yourself are the best gift."
He wasn’t just saying this because his mother always worried about his lifelong matters since he wasn’t married.
Previously, he had always focused on work, without time or energy to engage in a relationship, and he didn’t want it arranged officially, so it had always been postponed.
He wasn’t in a rush, but his mother was. Bringing Jiang Mengyu home today, his mother would definitely like her.
Jiang Mengyu rolled her eyes at him: "It’s my first visit, how can I go without a gift? Your aunt will think I’m ill-mannered."
Gu Dongxing smiled slightly: "Either way, she will like anything you bring."
Suddenly, Jiang Mengyu asked, "Will your childhood sweetheart be there?"
Gu Dongxing’s good mood was spoiled when his childhood sweetheart was mentioned.
He frowned: "Why bring her up?"
Jiang Mengyu sighed, "If she goes there with a gift and I come empty-handed, what will your mother think?"
She suddenly remembered the jewelry brought from the Jiang family: "What if I take one of the pieces of jewelry gifted by Li Baoxiang?"
Gu Dongxing objected: "Not good."
Jiang Mengyu was puzzled: "Why not?"
Gu Dongxing sighed: "Because of my mother’s background."
He then began to talk about his family.
It turned out that Hai Xue was originally a member of the Cultural Troupe. When young, she and another woman, Yang Meixiu, both fell in love with Gu Dongxing’s father, Gu Ming. Three years later, Gu Ming married Hai Xue while Yang Meixiu married someone else.
However, a year after Yang Meixiu’s marriage, her husband died. She approached Gu Ming crying, and somehow they ended up in bed.
Later, Yang Meixiu got pregnant, but she didn’t use it to blackmail Mr. Gu into a divorce; this made Mr. Gu feel guilty.
Yang Meixiu eventually gave birth to a son, claiming it was her late husband’s posthumous child.
Hai Xue discovered the affair between them and that Yang Meixiu had her husband’s child, which greatly upset her, leading to a complicated childbirth. After giving birth to Gu Dongxing, she was injured and remained infertile for many years.
During the Cultural Revolution, Hai Xue was denounced for concealing overseas relations and was expelled from the troop. Gu Ming divorced Hai Xue; she wanted to take six-year-old Gu Dongxing with her, but thinking of a better future for her son with the Gu family, she left him behind.
Hai Xue returned to her hometown heartbroken, only to find out she was pregnant again.