Chapter 44: A Bustling Family Gathering
“You messed up the situation the past two days. If word gets out, it’ll ruin your reputation.” Zhu Guifu wouldn’t lecture his wife in front of their children; he only spoke to her privately when it was just the two of them.
“Word getting out? Who dares?” Gan Juhua didn’t believe the younger generation would dare spread the news. “Besides, I wasn’t wrong. Those two sisters are nothing but debt collectors. I had planned to keep those fish for the New Year, and now they’re all gone.”
Zhu Guifu took another drag of his cigarette. “If they’re gone, they’re gone. Why are you still holding a grudge against the younger generation?”
“Hold a grudge against them?” Gan Juhua sneered. “They’re not under my authority anymore. It’s just that whoever is raising them now has let them grow up without any respect for elders.”
Zhu Guifu tapped his cigarette twice. “Since the children weren’t raised by us from a young age, it’s natural that there’s less intimacy. filed it away without dwelling. After all, we aren’t their parents. The eldest couple will have to reap what they sow later on; it’s not our concern. Just remember this: we’re going to build a house for the second son at the start of the year. Once this decision is made, we stick to it. Don’t pick fights with the eldest, or he might come asking us for money.” He hadn’t forgotten that Zhu Shunyao had mentioned wanting to build a house at the start of the year as well.
“Would he dare?” Gan Juhua said fiercely. Then she turned to Zhu Guifu and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. At most, I won’t even greet the eldest’s family until the house is built. Besides, everyone is busy these days, so there’s no time for pleasantries anyway.”
“Mhm.” Zhu Guifu was quite satisfied with his wife’s tact.
Zhu Enfu was celebrating his eightieth birthday. In Gǎn’ēn Village, seventy percent of the population shared the surname Zhu, and most were related in some way, big or small. As the celebration for the eldest patriarch, the event was naturally lively. Twenty tables of banquets were set up, and due to lack of space, they borrowed the production team’s drying yard and erected some temporary structures. Fortunately, the weather was perfect—clear skies, bright sunshine, and not a breath of wind. Even without the temporary shelters, it would have been fine, which only added to the festive atmosphere. The children were especially excited; for them, being able to feast at such a banquet was a source of great joy. Children in this era had simple demands: enough food to eat heartily, and warm, comfortable clothes were sufficient. They had no expectations for toys or such luxuries.
Zhu Shunyao had brought Xie Xinlian and their three daughters over early in the morning. She and Xie Xinlian were there to help out, while Zhu Yanli and Zhu Yanyi played with other children on the drying yard.
“Sister An’nan, An’ni, let’s play ‘Three Strikes Against the White Bone Demon.’” A little boy approached. It was Zhu Zhican, the eight-year-old youngest son of Zhu Chanyao.
“Zhican, you don’t actually want to play Zhu Bajie, do you?” Zhu Yanli teased. Zhu Zhican came from a relatively well-off family, living in a high single-story house and eating well. As a result, the eight-year-old boy was unusually fair and chubby, looking particularly adorable.
“I’m going to play Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.” Zhu Zhican kept his fingers together, placing them on his forehead as if mimicking a monkey’s gaze. He actually looked somewhat convincing.
Zhu Yanyi burst out laughing. “Brother Zhican, you’re so fair and chubby. I think you’d be better suited as Tang Sanzang. Many demons would love to eat Tang Sanzang’s flesh.”
“Then you can play the demon.” Zhu Zhican’s small eyes sparkled, clearly finding the game fun.
Zhu Yanyi laughed again. “If you’re Tang Sanzang, and you don’t have Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, or Sha Wujing to protect you, you’re just a lone commander. If I were the demon, I’d gobble you up in one bite.”