"My Jian Guo can't drink much, please spare him for my sake, big brothers! Don't force him to drink; if he really gets drunk, I'll have no way to get him back to the military," Guo Cuiping suddenly spoke up just as Zhao Jian Country was about to reply. She looked at Fu Guanglei and Zheng Guohui with a smile that seemed to seek assurance they wouldn't force drinks, but inexplicably, it also made those present extremely uncomfortable.
It's normal to drink a bit at such gatherings, but Zhao didn't speak, and Guo Cuiping stepping in to speak first seemed somewhat inappropriate and disrespectful.
Fu Guanglei and Zheng Guohui clearly hadn't expected Guo Cuiping to say that. Both were taken aback, but quickly responded, "Sister-in-law, don't worry, we definitely won't force him to drink." The words came from Fu Guanglei, but his tone was noticeably colder than Zheng Guohui's when inviting Zhao Jian Country, and although Fu Guanglei was naturally more steady than Zheng Guohui, he wasn't usually this indifferent.
Zhao Jian Country and them were comrades-in-arms, familiar with each other's temperaments, knowing Guo Cuiping's words were inappropriate, yet he only frowned and did not speak.
"That's good, Taotao, go and sit with your dad at the table. Ask your dad to help you with the food, and remember, you can't let your dad drink, okay?" Guo Cuiping nodded and then pushed Shi Tao beside her, intending him to sit with Zhao Jian Country as an obvious attempt to supervise him.
However, the table where Fu Guanglei, Zheng Guohui, and the others sat was full of tough men, Xu He Ping was a military man, Han Dan, Chief Han were there without saying, purely compelled by Cai Qiufen to join the fun, simply let their subordinates be free and unrestrained.
But knowing that when men, especially military comrades gather, drinking was inevitable with retired soldiers like Chen Hualong, Cai Bo, and others, these infrequent meetings among old acquaintances were bound to be lively! Thus, Xu Xiuxiu had intentionally separated men and women when arranging the seating.
Now, Guo Cuiping pushing Shi Tao next to Zhao Jian Country, signaling him to join the men's table, actually made everyone quite uncomfortable, since how could they freely eat, drink, and be merry with a child among them?
"Cuiping, take Taotao to your table, it's inappropriate here with just men. Nannan, lead your brother to the table, be good, and watch him closely," Zhao Jian Country said, not looking great, but he spoke directly to Guo Cuiping.
"Yes." Facing Zhao Jian Country's order and request, Zhao Nan silently complied. Recently, Zhao Nan had grown a lot taller than before, and his once bright and hearty demeanor seemed somewhat gloomy.
"If Taotao wants to follow you, what can I do? He's just a child, sitting at the same table isn't a big deal." Guo Cuiping spoke with a hint of resentment, but perhaps due to many people watching, she had to take Shi Tao's hand and sit down at the women's table with a huff, seeming to deliberately ignore and leave Zhao Nan where he was.
Xu Xiuxiu brought the dishes to the table and was about to call Nannan over, frowning as she did so.
"Nannan brother, have you eaten? My mom made your favorite sweet and sour ribs today!" Song Chengguang rushed over to Zhao Nan and, taking his hand, pulled him toward Xu Xiuxiu, "Mom, I want sweet and sour ribs, and also boiled fish." Song Chengguang looked anxious, fearing that Zhao Nan was hungry.
Zhao Nan stood silently behind Song Chengguang, his gaze fixed on the small hand Song Chengguang held.
"Aren't you calling me 'Aunt' anymore, Nannan?" Xu Xiuxiu leaned slightly to meet Zhao Nan's gaze, having not seen him for a while due to her previous pregnancy and the considerations it necessitated. She truly hadn't expected that in just seven or eight months, Zhao Nan had grown so much taller and seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight.
"Hello, Aunt Xiuxiu," Zhao Nan finally spoke in a soft voice upon Xu Xiuxiu's prompt.
"Nannan is still so well behaved," Xu Xiuxiu said warmly, smiling as she ruffled Zhao Nan's hair. "Chengguang, take Nannan brother to sit by your Aunt Yan, and let her help you with whatever you want to eat." There weren't many women at the table since Cai Qiufen and Su Juan were busy at Sichuan Pavilion, so given enough seats, Xu Xiuxiu preferred not to restrain the children.
"Come, come quickly, sit next to auntie." Yan Molin heard what Xu Xiuxiu said, knowing Xu Xiuxiu still had soup and small greens to stir-fry. They had to wait for the men's table to finish most of their food and drinks before starting, so she immediately smiled and beckoned Song Chengguang and Zhao Nan to sit beside her.
Song Chengguang joyfully bounced to Yan Molin's side holding Zhao Nan's hand. Then, he kept asking Yan Molin to help Zhao Nan with ribs, then boiled fish slices, then chicken wings. "Nannan brother, eat more; you've gotten so skinny." Song Chengguang pouted, looking at the now taller but leaner Zhao Nan, his eyes filled with reluctant pity. The M|V|LE&MPYR team worked hard on this chapter.
Brother Nannan has gotten taller and leaner, not as good-looking as before!
Pfft! Yan Molin couldn't help but chuckle hearing Song Chengguang's words. It was really amusing, indeed. A little boy of only three or four years old was caring for and even criticizing the much older Zhao Nan for being too skinny. However, although amusing to Yan Molin, Guo Cuiping might hear it as if laden with mockery.
Was this little devil openly criticizing her incompetence as a stepmother? Guo Cuiping was already dissatisfied with Zhao Nan and was simultaneously making excuses for her own insecurity. She had never considered whether Song Chengguang would actually say such things, always feeling that Xu Xiuxiu might have instigated it, thereby hinting that she was a wicked stepmother mistreating Zhao Nan. Her expression turned solemn, feeling a bit upset: "Ah, my Zhao Nan! He and my Shi Tao are not close at all! Ahh, children from different bellies just can't bond that well! However, Zhao Nan and Chengguang really do get along as if they were real brothers! If you didn't know, you'd think they were related!" Guo Cuiping looked sad but then content as she watched Song Chengguang and Zhao Nan.
But as soon as these words came out, the dining table fell silent again, and Yan Molin put down her chopsticks with a displeased look, experiencing a tasteless meal.