"People, why haven’t they arrived yet?" Han Kuang was getting a bit anxious, peering around. If his two sons weren’t sitting next to him, he would have already taken his cane to check outside.
"Dad, don’t worry. It’s not time yet," Han Shouxin said from the side.
"Is everything ready? Did you buy the beef?" Han Kuang had heard from his eldest son and daughter that his youngest son’s tastes were entirely inherited from the Han Family, so he had people purchase it according to his own preference.
"Yes, yes, a piece of brisket is currently stewing on the stove. Dad, didn’t you smell it?" Han Shouzhen said with some impatience.
It was really because the old man was being quite annoying today; this must have been the umpteenth time he’d asked.
Han Kuang’s nose twitched, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yuzhi and Dong Fei felt a bit uncomfortable listening from the side. Despite Han Kuang being a high-ranking official, the household situation wasn’t all that great. Han Kuang’s monthly salary, allowances, and benefits were substantial, but he had to give a large part to his eldest son and daughter. Those staying at home ended up with the leftovers. And that little bit of money was mostly spent on socializing and Han Kuang’s benevolence toward his subordinates.
Beef was something everyone in the Han family, except for the daughters-in-law who married in, loved to eat, but it wasn’t often they got to enjoy it. Even if it was bought, it was mostly Han Kuang alone who ate it. When Han Shouyi wasn’t at home, even Longlong could only get a couple of pieces to sate his craving, and they, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, did not get a share.
Of course, the treatment was different when Han Shouxin and Han Shouzhen returned, and now there was also the additional Han Shoulv.
"Grandpa, can you stop making noise? I can’t hear the TV," Nuonuo, who was watching television, complained from the side.
"Alright, alright, Grandpa won’t make noise, won’t make noise," Han Kuang hurriedly begged for mercy.
Liu Yuzhi and Dong Fei’s faces grew even uglier. In this family, there was supposedly only one grandson, Longlong, whom they also took pride in, but in truth, they were well aware that, although Han Kuang was good to Longlong, he couldn’t compare to Nuonuo and Xu Ji.
Now that Han Shoulv was added, he also had a son, and their Longlong was no longer the only one.
As much as they felt frustrated, they dared not show it outwardly. Didn’t they see Han Shouyi watching them like a hawk?
If they showed even a bit of dissatisfaction, without Han Kuang needing to say anything, Han Shouyi would give them a piece of his mind.
In fact, Han Shouyi’s expression was not looking good.
He had been urgently summoned home by his father only yesterday, arriving home in the middle of the night. He hadn’t even had a chance to catch his breath before he was dragged by his father and brothers to be informed of the truth of the past and his mother’s and wife’s actions over the years.
Those words were like a bolt from the blue to him, toppling his world. Even after returning to his room, he couldn’t come to his senses; he spent a dazed night with a cluttered mind, not having closed his eyes once. Up until now, with two dark circles under his eyes and his mind still not back in place, it would have been strange if his complexion looked good.
Yet when he looked at Liu Yuzhi and Dong Fei, his gaze was particularly chilling. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, upon seeing it, how could they not understand what was going on?
They were both angry and resentful inside, but helpless and could only behave to avoid catching his eye.
"I hear a car, Uncle and Auntie must be here," all of a sudden, Xu Ji stood up and ran outside.
Nuonuo had just finished watching an episode of a cartoon and, hearing this, also ran out.
Xu Ji had been in school for only a few days but his interaction with peers had made him much more lively.
"Slow down, slow down, Ping’an, don’t run!" Han Shouzhen watched with a frightened heart, continuously shouting from behind.
Before long, Xu Ji and Nuonuo came in leading Little Niangao, followed by Shen Chi and Lin Xiaoguai, a couple.
"Sorry for the disturbance, Mr. Han."
"Hello, Grandpa Han."
Han Kuang’s heart was full of excitement, but before he could express it, he was doused with cold water by the detached greetings of "Mr. Han" and "Grandpa Han."
A dead silence fell over the scene; not just Han Shouzhen and the others, even Liu Yuzhi and Dong Fei were somewhat stunned.
"Please sit down, sit down. We’ll be eating soon." In the end, it was Wan Quan, the honest man, who came out to mediate.
Everyone came back to their senses, and Han Shouzhen quickly offered hospitality, "Right, does Little Niangao want some seeds and candy?"
Han Kuang felt unbearably stifled inside but couldn’t make a scene, and he stole a glance at his youngest son, who wasn’t even giving him an eye. Just as he was feeling aggrieved, he heard his daughter’s words and grasped the opportunity to shift his attention to his grandson.
"Little Niangao is a milk name, right? What is your full name?"
Little Niangao looked up and replied clearly, "My full name is Shen Yinian, the Yinian of a bountiful harvest year."