Chapter 157: The Heads of the Two Families

Page (1/3)

Zhong Yuxiu did not know how to respond. Yan Ruyshan took her hand, the warmth of his palm bringing her a sense of peace.

“Yuxiu is simply too sensible. She bears everything on her own.”

Zhong Yuxiu blushed.

Song Man agreed wholeheartedly. “You used to rely only on yourself, but from now on, you can lean on us from time to time. One person’s shoulders are too slight; there is only so much weight they can bear.”

“Mm.” Under everyone’s gaze, Zhong Yuxiu gave a gentle nod, accepting her words.

The young girl was so sweet and docile, her head bowed with a hint of shyness. No matter how one looked at her, she tugged at the heartstrings. Song Man reached over and pinched her arm. “Good girl, you all play. I’m going to help in the kitchen. The meal will be ready soon. If you get hungry, have a few snacks from the table to tide you over, but don’t eat too many, or you won’t be able to eat lunch.”

It was a special day, and there were plenty of good dishes. Not eating one’s fill would practically be a loss.

After Song Man left, Yan Hejun followed her into the kitchen.

“Mother likes you very much.” Yan Ruyshan squeezed her hand, then turned to the old man. “Grandfather, where’s your meeting gift?”

The old man pointed at him with his index finger and laughed. “You silly boy. I might forget anyone else’s meeting gift, but how could I forget Yuxiu’s? I prepared it long ago.”

It was just that neither his son nor his daughter-in-law had given her anything. If he presented his gift too hastily, he would make them lose face.

He had guessed from the beginning that the two of them would be too preoccupied to remember the meeting gift.

Yan Guofeng took a large red envelope from inside his coat and handed it to his eldest grandson. “Yuxiu, this is your meeting gift, and also your New Year’s money. It isn’t much, just a token of your grandfather’s affection.”

“Thank you, Grandfather Yan. I’ve already received red envelopes from Uncle and Aunt Yan. I can’t take yours as well.” Zhong Yuxiu shook her head with a faint smile. The envelopes from Yan Ruyshan’s parents were truly substantial, thick with money.

“If Grandfather gives it to you, accept it. Just this once.” Zhong Yuxiu was being polite, but Yan Ruyshan had no intention of being polite on her behalf. Why be so formal with family? It would only make everyone uncomfortable.

She shot him a glance, looking rather embarrassed. “No…”

“Put it away.” Without giving her a chance to refuse, Yan Ruyshan tucked the envelope into the pocket of her coat. Only the pockets of this wool coat were large enough to hold it. “A gift from an elder must not be declined.”

A flicker passed through Zhong Yuxiu’s eyes before she quickly concealed it. Turning to the old man, she smiled lightly. “Then thank you, Grandfather Yan.”

At worst, she could prepare more good things for the old man in the future.

The two red envelopes together amounted to no more than a few hundred yuan, hardly comparable to her dividends or nearly so. But they represented the affection of her elders. Who would have thought that at twenty, she could still receive such a large New Year’s gift?

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Yan Guofeng nodded in satisfaction and was about to speak when several voices sounded outside. He had no choice but to swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.

“Guests have arrived. Dashan, go and welcome them. Yuxiu, come sit here—beside Grandfather.”

“All right.” Yan Ruyshan settled Yuxiu beside Yan Guofeng before walking toward the main gate.

Four men approached from outside: two in military uniforms and two in Sun Yat-sen suits. All of them were dressed in new clothes.

“Dashan, it’s been a long time. I heard you passed the university entrance examination and returned to the city. I haven’t even congratulated you yet.” One of the tall men in uniform spoke first.

Yan Ruyshan’s expression softened slightly. “Happy New Year, Uncle Lin. I haven’t seen you in ages either. You look younger and more vigorous than ever.”

“Good lad—you certainly know how to flatter people.” The man addressed as Uncle Lin threw back his head and laughed.

“Boy, do you still recognize me? I haven’t returned to the compound in three or four years.” The man beside him spoke up.

“I recognize you. You’re Minglang’s father. Happy New Year, Uncle Cheng.” Yan Ruyshan nodded to them. “Happy New Year to both of you.”

He recognized the current head of the Cheng family, though they were not close. When he was little, he had often gone to the Cheng household to play and seen him there, but at the time, he had been only a child and the adults had paid him little attention. Once he grew up, the head of the Cheng family rarely returned to the compound, and over the years they had gradually grown distant.

The other two men were unfamiliar to him, and Yan Ruyshan did not know them.

Cheng Minglang’s father laughed heartily. “I heard that not only did you get into university, but you even skipped grades ahead of schedule. Once you reach the required age, you’ll be able to receive your diploma?”

The sons of the several families were close, and the families had long-standing ties. It was only natural that certain news would pass among them; there was nothing strange about their knowing the details so well.

“Yes. The president, leaders, and professors at Huada University encourage the students to study diligently. When it comes to students who are confident in their abilities, they treat them in the appropriate manner.”

In other words, they did not force students to remain at school and study by rote.

“We’re desperately short of talented people!” Uncle Lin shook his head with a sigh. The shortage was truly severe.

Cheng Minglang’s father felt the same. “Let’s not talk about that today. Come, let’s pay our respects to Old Master Yan first.”

Yan Ruyshan led the group into the main room, where Cheng’s father and the others greeted the old man one by one.

“Dashan, Yuxiu, let me introduce you. These two are the heads of the Lin and Cheng families here in the compound. You may call them Uncle Lin and Uncle Cheng. They are also the fathers of those two boys, Cheng Minglang and Lin Kai.” Yan Guofeng then pointed to the two men beside them. “These two are from the research institute. They were transferred here from the local offices only last year, but they already carry considerable influence at the institute. They were the ones who handled the liaison work with me before. This is Comrade Deng Kun, and beside him is Comrade Wei Chengmeng.”

“She is my Dashan’s beloved, Zhong Yuxiu.”

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Deng Kun and Wei Chengmeng looked toward her at the same time. Both of them immediately thought of the research prodigy Zhong Yuxiu, whose reputation was well established throughout the institute.

Deng Kun quickly composed himself and said respectfully, “Comrade Zhong Yuxiu, it is a pleasure to meet you. I have long admired your name.”

“Comrade Zhong, it is my honor to meet you in person.” Wei Chengmeng bent slightly at the waist, bowing even more deeply than Deng Kun.

“Greetings, Comrades.” Zhong Yuxiu returned the courtesy with a slight nod.

Yan Guofeng’s eyes were filled with amusement. “Come, everyone, sit down. Dashan, serve the tea and ask your father to come out and keep our guests company.”

“All right. Please sit for a moment.” Yan Ruyshan glanced at Zhong Yuxiu before turning toward the kitchen. When he returned, he was carrying several cups of tea, with Yan Hejun beside him.

“You’ve come quite early!” Yan Hejun’s manner toward the heads of the Lin and Cheng families was relaxed and casual.

Zhong Yuxiu’s heart paused for the briefest instant. A trace of thought flickered through her eyes, vanishing almost at once as she carefully concealed it.

“Old Yan, it’s been a long time.” Uncle Lin greeted him with a smile.

“It hasn’t been that long.” Yan Hejun sat down on the sofa opposite Yan Guofeng. “Have a seat. Since you’ve come specially to offer New Year’s greetings, why not stay and have a meal with us?”

Uncle Lin shook his head. “I’m afraid we can’t. We still have to visit several other families.”

“All right, then. Go about your business. We’ll gather again whenever we have time during the New Year holiday.” Yan Hejun did not press them. He chatted with them about ordinary family matters, never uttering a word about anything related to the army.

After the four men had left, Yan Guofeng explained everything to Yuxiu. “The Lin and Cheng families have been somewhat weakened these past two days. The upheaval was too great, and each family was affected to some degree. Our family severed its ties early on, so we suffered comparatively little.”

Zhong Yuxiu was puzzled. The Yan family had suffered less than the others, but why had no one from the Lin or Cheng families been sent to the countryside? As far as she knew, neither Lin Kai nor Cheng Minglang had gone to the countryside. They had not joined the army either, but at least they had managed to live reasonably well in the city.

She would not ask these questions aloud. If Old Master Yan wished to tell her, he would. If he did not, she could not bring herself to pry relentlessly.

Page (3/3)