"My dear Xue'er," Qin Lifen said, holding Shen Xue's small hand, "Let me tell you, in this world, no duck can survive leaving our Jinling city."
"Everyone knows how delicious Beijing roast duck is, but they don't realize that Jinling's roast duck, cured duck, and salted duck are all superb."
"Last time you came, everything was so rushed, your father and I didn't get to properly treat you. Today, we'll have them one by one. First roast duck, tomorrow salted duck, the day after tomorrow cured duck."
Qin Lifen, the mother-in-law, was very enthusiastic.
"Grandma, grandma, I want to eat too."
The little one had just put the red envelope from his aunt into his pocket, and hearing about good food made him even happier.
"Yes, both of you will have some. How could I forget my precious grandchildren?"
Before Chen Hao could even chime in, Qin Lifen had already gathered the two little ones into a hug, showering them with kisses and embraces.
"Mom, what about me, what about me?"
Chen Yu, hearing from inside the house that they would be eating duck for several consecutive days, was ecstatic. No one from Jinling didn't love duck.
But in ordinary families, who could eat duck every day? Even with her parents' status as a dual-income couple from state-owned enterprises, it was a good year if her parents took her out for duck a few times.
Even more so now that her parents were retired, their financial situation was certainly not as good as before.
Her brother had made a lot of money from his business, but her parents would never ask their son for money. A few months ago, they had even sent him money for his travel expenses with their own salaries. Sudian Novel Network
Her parents were proud people. If they weren't truly without income, they would never bow their heads to ask their children for money. Therefore, Chen Yu, this little girl, hadn't eaten duck for quite a while.
"You, go find somewhere cool to hang out."
Qin Lifen glared at her daughter. This mischievous girl had just said she wanted to study diligently, and less than two minutes later, she was already thinking about eating duck.
"Mom, you can't be so biased."
"Your daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter all get to eat, but I, your daughter, don't. This is unfair."
Chen Yu wailed, but Qin Lifen completely ignored her.
When there was good food, how could she be left out? It was just that Chen Yu's mischievous personality often led to playful squabbles between mother and daughter.
Chen Yu knew that her mother wished she would study hard. However, while her grades weren't bad, she always acted playfully and contrary to her parents' wishes.
Given this, it was no wonder Qin Lifen didn't have a good temper with her.
"Yangyang, didn't you ask me and your mother to come back to see Zhang Weiyang's father for you a while ago? We went last time."
"We also met Baoguo. That young man, they say he's getting married soon. He kept calling me 'Uncle' when he saw me. He told me that the matters you entrusted him with are almost completed, and he's preparing to return to Wan Province after the New Year."
Chen Liming was happily playing with his grandson. After chatting for a while, he finally remembered meeting Lei Baoguo last time.
"Okay, Dad. I'll go to the hospital tomorrow to see Weiyang's father, and I'll also meet Li Jing. I wonder how far along Baoguo and her relationship is."
What Chen Yang had asked Lei Baoguo to do was naturally to find bodyguards.
After the New Year, they would also be expanding some of their business, which would inevitably involve more travel. Having someone with them would certainly be safer than going out alone.
"Alright. Your great-uncle and I have arranged to visit your maternal uncle's house on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. Tomorrow, your sister and brother-in-law will also be back from Shanghai, and we'll all go together."
"Your eldest uncle will also be back this year. Your uncles and aunts want our family to go back for a visit."
"They missed your eldest sister's wedding, so this year's New Year is a good opportunity for the family to gather."
Chen Liming rattled off the details. Now that he was retired, he had nothing else to do but think about these family matters.
He was the third of five siblings: eldest brother, second sister, himself, fourth sister, and youngest brother. The Chen family's ancestral home was in Pengcheng, and he had siblings.
His eldest brother had joined the army and gone to Beijing. Although he had retired from the military, he hadn't returned to his ancestral home but stayed where he was stationed. It was unclear where he was working in Beijing now, and he rarely came back.
Chen Yang was not very familiar with his eldest uncle's family. In his previous life, his eldest uncle had not returned for the New Year. Because his eldest aunt was a native of Beijing, and his eldest uncle's son and daughter had already settled and started working in Beijing, their social circles were all there, so they came back less often.
Later, when Chen Yang went to college and then abroad, there were even fewer opportunities to meet. Chen Yang only returned to China in the 1990s, by which time his eldest uncle had already passed away.
As for his two paternal aunts and youngest paternal uncle, they were all in their hometown of Pengcheng. His youngest uncle was a village cadre, and his two aunts' families were ordinary farmers.
Except for his youngest uncle, who could read, his two aunts couldn't even recognize a single character. They had learned to write their own names in literacy classes. Therefore, Chen Liming could only write letters to Chen Yang's youngest uncle.
When his eldest sister got married before, his youngest uncle, as the village party secretary, hadn't finished harvesting the second crop of rice and couldn't leave the village to come to Jinling. His two aunts, being illiterate and unfamiliar with the roads, were even more afraid to go out.
That was how things were in those days. If you were illiterate, you wouldn't even dare to leave home, so they all missed their eldest sister's wedding.
Now that his eldest uncle was returning, the family could finally have a reunion.
"Alright. When my sister gets back, we'll go to my maternal uncle's house to pay our New Year's respects first."
"How are Brother Zhugen and Sister Hongmei's jobs? Are they going smoothly?"
They definitely had to visit their two maternal uncles for the New Year, and they also had to visit their maternal aunt's family.
"They're doing well. Your Sister Hongmei is diligent and hardworking. My apprentices all praise her for her efficiency."
"That boy Zhugen, I don't know what kind of spell that woman has cast on him. He's been dejected every day and has almost made mistakes several times. If it weren't for your father's reputation, they would have fired him long ago."
"Now he seems to be a bit better. I don't know if he's finally come to his senses. They say he voluntarily asked to work overtime this year to let others rest. I hope he can change his ways and not let my and your father's efforts go to waste."
Qin Lifen clearly paid more attention to her nephews and nieces, as they were her elder sister's children. She had helped them secure their jobs, so of course, she cared about them.
"When we go home for the New Year, I'll go and take a look."
In his previous life, Zhang Zhugen had lost his life in a black coal mine because his maternal uncle had tried to arrange a marriage for him. His maternal aunt had also passed away from excessive grief, and only then had he pulled himself together.
Later, a deaf-mute cousin gave him children, and he worked even harder to take care of his wife and children.
In this life, Chen Yang would not allow the tragedy of his maternal uncle's family from the previous life to be repeated. Whether Zhang Shugen could figure things out, Chen Yang was unsure.
After all, a devoted admirer can become deeply mired.
Just like when Xiao Yueyue said goodbye, he said, "Yanzi, you must be happy!" and in the next second, he was crying on his knees, howling with heartbreak, "Yanzi, how can I live without you!"
This matter required his attention. He must be careful not to save his maternal uncle and aunt only to have Zhang Zhugen fall into a mental abyss again. That would be a headache.