The贺老爷子 on the opposite side raised his eyes, "Forget it, if the child doesn't want to eat, don't force it."
"Qingqing, what does Mommy always tell you? Who knows that every grain in the dish comes from hard work. How can you waste food? That's not a good child." Zhu Shasha said, nudging her son, signaling him to quickly go back and finish his meal.
"I don't want to eat. Grandma's steamed egg custard is disgusting. I don't want to eat it."
Qingqing was a little afraid of his grandparents, but his mother always told him to be sweet-mouthed around them and not to go against their wishes. When his parents weren't around, he was a bit timid and didn't dare to speak. Now that both parents were present, especially Zhu Shasha who always doted on him, Qingqing seemed to have found support and complained with a little pout.
Zhu Shasha's face changed when she heard his words. She had to sternly reprimand him, "Qingqing, have you forgotten the principles I've taught you? Grandma works so hard to take care of you and even makes you steamed egg custard. How can you be so ungrateful?"
Qingqing, being young, didn't understand why Zhu Shasha's face suddenly changed. He pouted and burst into tears.
"If the child doesn't like it, then that's that. I thought it might be a bit bland, as too much salt isn't good for children,"贺母 said lightly.
贺老爷子 shifted his gaze from the newspaper in his hand, "Have the elder couple said when they'll be back?"
贺母 stood up, "They said they would bring Qiqi over early this morning. They're not here yet, so I'll call and ask."
Zhu Shasha was left standing there, her pupils shrinking, but a faint smile remained on her lips.
In a military compound in Kyoto, a burly man in his forties, wearing a military uniform, hung up the phone and turned to look at the two people sitting on the sofa. His brow furrowed involuntarily.
"Mom called again, asking when we're going back."
The girl to his right was seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore a high-necked sweater and a pair of fitted gray pants. Her face bore a slight resemblance to the man's. She wasn't particularly good-looking, nor was she unattractive.
"Dad, that woman will be there too, right? I don't know what my second uncle is thinking, to abandon his original second aunt and get involved with that shameless woman."
"Qiqi!"
贺铭琪 was called by the woman next to her. She said resentfully, "Anyway, I've already made plans with my uncle. As long as that woman is there, neither of us will go back."
贺子丰 frowned, "Why is Ziyu going along with this nonsense? He's not coming home during the New Year, where else could he go? Qiqi, be good. Your grandparents miss you."
贺铭琪 insisted, "My uncle and I have formed an alliance. I can't betray my ally."
贺子丰's patience ran out, and he began to glare. "Let him try not to come back. See how Grandpa deals with him. Then your mother and I will go over. You just stay home and don't be afraid."
Meanwhile,贺子豫 had just finished a surgery. His eyes were slightly red from prolonged intense concentration.
A nurse who was still on duty in the department saw him enter and quickly said, "Doctor He, your home phone has rung at least four or five times. I told them you were in surgery, and your mother said she would call again in half an hour."
The nurse was full of admiration for 贺子豫, who was still on duty during the New Year and had even performed surgery on an emergency patient.
贺子豫 nodded, "I know, thank you."
Within half an hour, 贺母's call came again. After picking up, 贺子豫 directly said, "I'm on duty today and won't be back until late tonight. Don't wait for me at home."
"It's New Year's Day today, are you deliberately trying to make me and your father unhappy?" 贺母's voice was filled with suppressed anger.
"You and Dad forced me to this. I'll go back when that woman leaves, but otherwise, I won't."
She had bullied his second sister-in-law away and even wanted to usurp her place. His second brother was foolish, and he couldn't swallow this.
贺母 knew her younger son's temper very well. She said helplessly, "After all, she gave birth to Qingqing. Even if not for her, at least consider the child."
贺子豫 was indifferent, "My second sister-in-law also gave birth to Ruirui."
贺母's hand holding the phone trembled violently.
贺子豫 also realized he had said the wrong thing. As the saying goes, the youngest son and grandson are the most cherished. He knew very well how much his parents doted on Ruirui, but he was unwilling to admit his mistake.
"Tell that unfilial son that if he doesn't come back today, he's not welcome back ever again!" 贺老爷子's roaring voice came through the receiver.
"If I don't go back, I don't go back. Mom, tell him not to regret it!" 贺子豫's stubbornness flared up. He hung up the phone after saying this.
If his father hadn't agreed, his second brother wouldn't have brought the person back.
贺母 listened to the busy tone in the receiver and shook her head helplessly at 贺老爷子, whose brows were almost furrowed into a knot.
"Uncle, Auntie, this is a small token of my appreciation," Zhu Shasha said, handing over the gift she was holding as she saw the two of them come out.
贺母 did not take it. "Just put it on the coffee table. I'll go cook with Xiao Zhou."
Zhu Shasha's smile faltered for a moment, then she followed, "Auntie, let me help you."
贺母 replied, "No need, you're a guest. Go sit with Zinian."
A guest?
Zhu Shasha's smile was somewhat forced. She unconsciously clenched the fingers by her side.
They all looked down on her. She was the one who gave birth to the only grandson in the He family. Just you wait and see, the entire He family would belong to her son in the future.
New Year in the countryside was always very lively. Unlike later generations that emphasized environmental protection and discouraged the use of fireworks, there were no such concerns now. Early in the morning, the crackling sound of firecrackers could be heard from outside the window.
Fortunately, the two children were not sensitive to noise when they slept. When Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong got up, they were still sound asleep.
After washing up, Gu Xingdong and his three brothers went to the river to catch fish for lunch.
Chen Lishu, on the other hand, took out the new clothes for Ruirui and placed them under the bedding, so that when the child woke up, they would be warm and not feel the cold.
After everything was done, she went to help Li Xiulan with breakfast.
Before long, the children started to wake up one after another. Only on this day did everyone put on new clothes, from the inside out.
Li Xiulan had already boiled a pot of hot water. After everyone washed up, the boys were eager to go out and set off firecrackers. The girls were timid and cherished their beautiful new clothes more, staying in the house.
"Stay away from those who are setting off firecrackers. Those things are dangerous. If you really want to play, go buy some of those small popping firecrackers."
Chen Lishu said, taking out a dollar and handing it to Ruirui. The children immediately cheered and ran off.
Liu Yuemin, standing beside them, chuckled and said, "Third sister-in-law is truly generous, giving a whole dollar. Unlike us, who have to spend every penny carefully."
Chen Lishu, tending the fire, said without looking up, "Earn some, spend some. Don't earn, don't spend."
Liu Yuemin pouted. She wanted to say something, but then she thought of something and turned to Zhang Xiaoju, "Fourth sister-in-law, when are you planning to go into the city? Your fourth brother will be working, and you'll be managing the shop alone while looking after Panpan. Will you be able to manage?"