"Exactly. New Year is just about the lively atmosphere," Zhu Shun Yao said with a grin.
"Alright, you father and daughter, stop whispering. Come help serve the food. It’s time to eat," Xie Xinlian said. Her mood had been bright all day.
"Okay!" Zhu Yanyi replied. She exchanged a smile with Zhu Shun Yao and hurried off to help.
Everyone was familiar with each other. Only Qiu Meiyun and Peng Ming had recently settled in the capital and hadn’t visited the Zhu family before. However, the Zhu family members were all so kind that the strangers quickly felt at home. So, when they sat down to eat, there were no strict formalities.
"Come, come. This is fruit wine I brewed last year. It’s been aging for a year. I tasted a sip last time and it was good. Try it," Zhu Shun Yao said, bringing out a pot of heated fruit wine. He poured it for everyone. Except for Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Zhibin, even Zhu Yanli took a few sips.
"It tastes good," Zhu Yanli nodded in approval.
"See? It’s nice, right? Remember to bring some when you visit your grandfather tomorrow. He likes to drink a small cup before every meal. This wine is healthy and won’t hurt your body," Zhu Shun Yao said, taking a big gulp with a look of pure satisfaction.
"Sure. We’ll bring some back to the capital after the New Year," Zhu Yanli said directly. "My master occasionally likes a small drink too."
"Great. I’ll pack a big jar for you then," Zhu Shun Yao said generously.
Xie Xinlian asked Zhu Yanli, "When do you plan to go back?"
Zhu Yanli replied, "Our university classes start late. They begin after the Lantern Festival. I’m not sure about Ani and Doumiao."
Zhu Zhibin said, "Our school allows flexible start dates. We can choose early or late, which is special. But we can’t go past the twentieth day of the first lunar month."
Zhu Shun Yao and Xie Xinlian looked at Zhu Yanyi. Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "High school is intense. Classes start on the twelfth day of the first lunar month. But since the fourteenth and fifteenth are rest days, we push classes to the sixteenth. However, I’ve already finished studying the high school curriculum on my own. I could have taken a few days off, but mainly, I need to participate in the National Math Competition in mid-February. Also, at the end of February, I’m going abroad for an International Medical Exchange Conference. So, I’ll probably leave around the tenth day. But my sister and Doumiao can leave two days later."
"You’re going abroad for an International Medical Exchange Conference? That’s going overseas!" Xie Xinlian looked surprised, as if it were a huge deal. "Why didn’t you tell us about such good news sooner?"
Zhu Yanyi chuckled. "I’m not going alone. My senior brother will go with me. Also, some top doctors from our country are going. I’m just there to participate."
"My daughter’s medical skills are top-notch," Zhu Shun Yao declared immediately. "I don’t believe they’re just letting you go to fill a spot." Zhu Shun Yao trusted his daughter’s abilities completely.
Zhu Yanyi laughed. "Well, I should proudly say that I am representing Traditional Chinese Medicine from our country. Currently, no one in our country’s TCM field can surpass me. Is that good enough?" She stood up and pointed her finger around, acting like she was directing the world. Everyone burst into laughter.
"But I know Second Sister is very famous in the capital. The Little Divine Doctor who conquered blood cancer. Everyone in our country knows about it," Zhu Zhibin said seriously, chewing on a piece of pork rib.