"Second Uncle, whatever happened between us in the past, let’s leave it in the past, aren’t we all family? Right? No need for overnight woes in a family, right? Your older brother hasn’t had a chance to have a drink and chat with you for a long time. How about this, tonight come over to the next door for dinner, and let Second Aunt stir fry a couple of dishes to bring over for a simple meal."
Chiang Xiao couldn’t help but feel like laughing as she listened to Ho Laidi’s words.
At the same time, she revisited Chiang Songtao’s shamelessness once again.
He must be looking to ask for something from her grandpa again, right?
Inviting him for a drink and expecting him to bring his own side dishes? Is Ho Laidi now roughly capable of speaking like a human being? Trying to play the family card?
"I won’t be going for drinks; I’ve been drinking less, less indeed," Chiang Songhai said, sounding a bit guilty.
In fact, on the night that he found out about Chiang Xiao’s grades, he had gotten thoroughly drunk with Ge Dejun and Xu Linjiang. Plus, they would often have a few drinks in Osmanthus Alley every now and then.
Life was going smoothly for him as long as he didn’t overdo it, and Chiang Xiao didn’t bother him about it.
In the past, he had longed to have a good drink and talk with Chiang Songtao, just the two brothers, but Chiang Songtao was never keen.
Now, he had no more expectations of Chiang Songtao and had even less anticipation, instantly rejecting the offer without needing any reminder from Chiang Xiao.
Ho Laidi’s eyes bulged, and she almost couldn’t hold back her urge to flare up on the spot, but remembering her own family’s situation and her spouse’s instructions, she managed to suppress her anger.
"Since Second Uncle doesn’t want to drink, then we won’t drink. Just have dinner; what do you think?"
She was actually adopting such a humble attitude.
Chiang Songhai was genuinely a bit unaccustomed to this and also somewhat at a loss for how to refuse.
He looked to Chiang Xiao for help.
This was a big step forward for him. It indicated that he intended to refuse, unlike before when he would feel conflicted, wanting to agree but knowing that Chiang Xiao would not be happy.
"We’re just going to eat at home tonight; it’s been too long since we fired up the stove, and I’m afraid it might lose its spirit," Chiang Xiao said indifferently.
Ho Laidi immediately responded, "Then why not invite your Great-Uncle over for dinner?"
Chiang Xiao was somewhat impressed by Ho Laidi’s persistence.
"Disinclined, unwelcome, is that clear enough?" she said straightforwardly.
"You, Chiang Xiao, you..." Ho Laidi almost exploded, about to burst into a tirade when someone coughed twice outside the door, and she swallowed her words.
Chiang Songtao walked in with his hands clasped behind his back and on entering, scolded Ho Laidi, "The house is full of things to do, and you’re here chit-chatting with the second one! Go back and cook!"
Ho Laidi turned and went out with a cold, angry face.
Chiang Songtao looked at Chiang Xiao and said, "Little is doing well, very promising, bringing glory to our Chiang family."
A scoundrel or a thief, Chiang Xiao thought; now he was going to take the matter into his own hands.
No one responded to Chiang Songtao’s words.
In the past, this would have been unthinkable, as Chiang Songhai would certainly respond to whatever his older brother said.
A fleeting look of oppressive anger appeared in Chiang Songtao’s eyes; then he coughed again and patted his leg.
At this, Chiang Songhai still found it a bit hard to resist, saying to him, "Big brother, why don’t you come inside the hall to talk? Have you caught a cold?"
"Exactly, I’m getting old, and my body is getting weaker," Chiang Songtao waited for just that response and quickly walked toward the main hall.