Xiang Mingzhang pushed Xiang Xingzhao to the main living room. The family was almost together. Cars were arriving in the garden one after another. They were all relatives and friends who came to pay New Year's greetings.
The Xiang family acted harmoniously, with respect for elders and juniors, and were well-educated and well-mannered. After entertaining two groups of cousins, Xiang Mingzhang became tired of laughing and walked out of the door and stood on the steps to slack off.
Not long after, the Chu family's car drove up, carrying a family of three.
Chu Shichen pushed open the passenger door. He had had enough rest during the holiday, and he looked in great shape. His hair had just been trimmed, and he was wearing a neatly tailored suit, looking very elegant.
Xiang Mingzhang greeted her politely: "Aunt, Miss Chu, Happy New Year."
Chu Shihui greeted her generously, and Mrs. Chu said, "Mingzhang, I haven't seen you for a long time. Come to my house for dinner when you have time."
"Sure." Xiang Mingzhang said sweetly when he wanted to coax someone, "I'll come to visit you some other day, from lunch to supper, aunt, please don't think I'm annoying."
Chu Shichen walked over with a gift in his hand and said, "Mr. Xiang, Happy New Year."
Xiang Mingzhang took it. The two silk ropes looked nice but they were tight. He hooked Chu Shichen's slightly red knuckles and said, "You too."
Returning to the main living room, three long sofas surround a large coffee table, and there are two sets of Queen Anne chairs, which shows how lively the place is.
Mrs. Chu brought her son and daughter to pay New Year's greetings to Xiang Xingzhao. After they sat down, Xiang Huan and Mrs. Chu praised each other non-stop. Xiang Mingzhang asked someone to replace the snacks on the coffee table and pushed a dessert cart over.
There were too many people around, and the baby started crying. Mrs. Chu congratulated Xiang Rugang and Miss Qin while going over to tease the child. She stretched out her index finger, which was held by the baby's hand, so she took off the ring and said, "You like it, so I'll give it to you as a gift."
The eldest aunt said quickly: "How can this be possible? It's too expensive."
Mrs. Chu sat back on the sofa, with a ladylike demeanor: "It doesn't matter, as long as the baby likes it."
The baby's crying gradually subsided, and Xiang Kun said with a smile: "Mingzhang, you, as an uncle, have never held a child before, hold it for grandpa to see."
Xiang Mingzhang's first reaction: "She won't pee, will she?"
Chu Shichen pursed his lips and tried not to laugh. He really couldn't imagine whether it would be easy or awkward for Xiang Mingzhang, whose arms were used to fighting, rock climbing, or at the very least driving and typing on the computer, to hold a child.
Xiang Mingzhang took his niece in his arms, his movements awkward and stiff. He held the child in front of Xiang Xingzhao and said, "Grandpa, you have a great-granddaughter now."
Xiang Xingzhao stared at the baby, as if he didn't understand why it was so small.
The child pouted and started crying again. Xiang Mingzhang was at a loss and took a nougat from the plate.
Xiang Rugang was so scared that he took the child away and said, "She is too young to eat. Don't feed her badly."
Mrs. Chu smiled and said, "It seems that Rugang is a daughter slave."
"Being a father is different," said my aunt. "I have become more considerate and attentive, and my temper has improved."
Xiang Kun said: "Mingzhang should hurry up too. It won't be easy to have a child in a short time. Start a family first, let your wife take care of you, and change your temper."
Xiang Mingzhang asked back: "Do I have a bad temper?"
"That depends on the mood of your Vice President Xiang." Xiang Huan said, "Ruxu, you see him every day in the company, you tell me."
Xiang Ruxu was drinking tea quietly. Suddenly, he was called and said, "I'm in the R&D department. I don't see him often. You can ask Xiaochu. He is with Mingzhang every day."
Chu Shichen was caught off guard. Several glances were cast at him, including one from Xiang Mingzhang. He maintained a smile and measured attitude, saying, "I think Mr. Xiang has a good temper."
Xiang Mingzhang extended his own opinion: "It seems that Shichen thinks that I don't need to get a wife."
Chu Shichen was afraid of this man, but he did not deny it. He secretly retorted: "Mr. Xiang has a strong personality and can only be self-disciplined. It is estimated that it is difficult for others to control him."
"That's not necessarily true." Xiang Mingzhang said, "He'll know once he tries."
In front of all the elders, Chu Shichen didn't have the courage to do anything secretly, so he smiled and said nothing.
Mrs. Chu thought he was embarrassed and helped him out, saying, "Mingzhang is a child of destiny. Sooner or later, he will find his true love. You are so lucky to have such a big family together."
Xiang Huan said: "You are really something to be envied. It is the most rare thing to have both a son and a daughter."
Mrs. Chu put down her tea and said that it was not appropriate to stay long after paying New Year's greetings, meaning that she was ready to leave. Finally, she said, "The Xiang family has four generations living under one roof. How can I compare with them?"
As soon as Chu Shichen finished speaking, he was about to get up and say goodbye. Xiang Xingzhao, who had been listless, suddenly became excited and shouted in the middle of the sofa: "... Less, less!"
Everyone was shocked and gathered around. Xiang Kun asked, "Dad, what did you say? What's missing?"
Xiang Xingzhao's throat was hoarse: "Xiang Long..."
The atmosphere suddenly froze. The family didn't allow anyone to mention Xiang Long, for fear of upsetting Xiang Xingzhao. No one expected that the old man would say it himself.
Everyone observed Xiang Xingzhao's emotions, which were relatively stable. Xiang Huan said sadly, "Dad is conscious and knows that the family is not together."
"Dad misses Xiang Long." Xiang Kun sighed, "I miss him too. Although Xiang Long is useless, we are brothers after all. Blood is thicker than water."
My uncle said, "There is no news about a living person. I don't know how he is doing out there."
"It's definitely not as good as home." Xiang Huan said, "You haven't come back for so many years, and you don't care about me. You didn't even know that dad was sick."
Chu Shichen heard the hidden meaning. Everyone seemed to be concerned about Xiang Long, but in fact their words were full of blame. They probably didn't want Xiang Long to come back, and hadn't looked for him.
With a large family and a huge business, Xiang Mingzhang monopolizes the most trust from Xiang Xingzhao. If Xiang Long returns home, the father and son are expected to get more benefits.
Xiang Kun was considered the oldest elder, so he consoled him: "Okay, it's New Year's Day, don't mention him."
The eldest aunt chimed in: "Don't tell me anymore. It makes Dad feel bad, and Mingzhang feels uncomfortable too."
Three or four people were standing there. Xiang Mingzhang moved to the empty sofa on the side. He had no special reaction and didn't say a word from beginning to end. Only when the aunts had talked enough and mentioned his name did he suddenly speak.
"I'm fine." Xiang Mingzhang said gently, but he dropped a real bomb, "It's just that Xiang Long can't come back yet."
Chu Shichen was surprised in his heart, and watched the Xiang family's reactions coldly. They were shocked and looked at each other, and then they all stared at Xiang Mingzhang, not even caring about worrying about the old man.
Only Uncle Qi was sitting behind Xiang Xingzhao on the sofa, his face also looking solemn.
Xiang Mingzhang's emotions were hard to tell: "He is my father after all."
"Where is your father?" Xiang Huan asked, "Why doesn't he come back?"
Xiang Mingzhang said in general terms: "He has been in the United States. He is sick."
Suspicions abounded, but Xiang Mingzhang would say it openly and it didn't seem like he was lying. Everyone fell silent for a moment, and no one cared what disease Xiang Long had or whether it was serious.
No one mentioned the concern just now for a moment.
After a while, the aunt asked, "Mingzhang, does your mother know?"
Chu Shichen knew that Bai Yongti was Xiang Mingzhang's Achilles' heel. Whenever he mentioned her, things would get tense. He looked over worriedly. Fortunately, Xiang Mingzhang was emotionally stable and said, "He left home for so many years because he didn't want to live with my mom anymore. There's no need for my mom to know."
The elders present here are all at the age of knowing the destiny, and they can guess that it is impossible for a man to be single after being away from home for more than ten or twenty years.
Xiang Huan said: "The couple is only in name only. Even if Xiang Long comes back, Yong Ti will not live with him."
Xiang Kun said: "It's probably going to be another trouble."
Xiang Xingzhao opened his eyes confusedly, as if he was listening, but he didn't know if he could understand. He uttered "ah" hoarsely a few times and began to call Xiang Long's name again.
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Grandpa, Xiang Long is not here."
Xiang Xingzhao paused, his eyes widened, his cloudy eyeballs were a little wet, everyone hurriedly said something else to distract attention, Xiang Kun picked up a piece of cake: "Dad, try this."
Xiang Xingzhao's voice became louder and louder with excitement, and he shouted incoherently, sounding like an old man crying. He was wearing the watch given to him by Xiang Mingzhang, and he raised his hand and knocked over the cake plate.
With a "bang", the porcelain plate fell to the ground and shattered, and the exquisite cake fell to pieces. It was the first time Miss Qin had experienced such a scene. She was so scared that she covered her mouth and screamed, and the baby started crying loudly.
Xiang Huan shouted, "Aunt Qian!"
Uncle Qi walked around the sofa and controlled Xiang Xingzhao. Xiang Kun and his wife tried their best to comfort him. The younger generation went to pull the wheelchair. Aunt Qian led people to clean the floor. The nanny who was waiting next door ran over to hold the child. The whole living room was filled with crying and noise, and it was a mess.
Xiang Mingzhang stood up from the sofa and stepped back indifferently.
On the first day of the new year, the perfect comedy did not have time to end and turned into a farce in the blink of an eye. I don’t know whose fault it is.
Mrs. Chu stood up, holding her chest, and was frightened by the show.
Xiang Xingzhao refused to get on the wheelchair and struggled among the layers of encirclement, waving his hands. A piece of frosted cream got on the dial of Zhuang Zhou Mengdie's watch, which was rubbed off and blurred the old lines on his skin.
Xiang Kun said anxiously: "Ming Zhang! Think of a way!"
Xiang Mingzhang finally showed an unhappy look: "Get out of the way."
The people surrounding the sofa moved aside. Xiang Mingzhang picked up Xiang Xingzhao and held him horizontally, hooking his shoulders and legs to control him. He raised his chin slightly to avoid Xiang Xingzhao's swinging fists.
Xiang Mingzhang strode out holding Xiang Xingzhao, and said without looking back: "Others don't need to move, Shichen, Uncle Qi, come and help me."
Chu Shichen got up and followed him to the treatment room in the bedroom. Xiang Mingzhang laid Xiang Xingzhao flat on the bed and asked, "Is Doctor Sun here?"
Uncle Qi said, "Doctor Sun is taking a break today and is going home for the New Year."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Tell him to come here immediately."
Uncle Qi went to make a phone call, and the only sound in the room was Xiang Xingzhao's drawn-out moans. Chu Shichen took a tissue to wipe Xiang Xingzhao's hands, and when he got closer he realized that he was crying.
Xiang Mingzhang reached out to wipe away the tears from Xiang Xingzhao's eyes and asked, "Grandpa, who are you sad for?"
The doctor and the nurse arrived quickly. After the examination, Xiang Xingzhao gradually calmed down, and the entire Jingpu mansion fell into silence.
Xiang Mingzhang took Chu Shichen to the side hall. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window was the main road of the garden, which was blocked by seven or eight cars. The guests who came to pay New Year's greetings tactfully turned around and left.
Outside the temple in Ningbo, Chu Shichen remembered Xiang Mingzhang saying that family affairs are dirty things.
At Xiang Xingzhao's birthday party, in the hospital ward, and at every gathering of the Xiang family that seemed to be harmonious but actually alienated...
Although Chu Shichen didn't know the whole story, he could already guess a little bit of the hidden truth. He asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Xiang Mingzhang said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."
Chu Shichen said: "When I mentioned your parents, I got a little nervous and wanted to walk over to you and hold your hand."
Xiang Mingzhang's coat was stained, so he took it off and was only wearing a shirt, which was not warm. He had crossed his arms, but he opened them after hearing her words: "I've mentioned so many things today, a handshake is not enough, can you hug me?"
Chu Shichen stepped forward, put his arm around Xiang Mingzhang's shoulders in a protective manner, and said, "Fortunately you didn't lose your composure."
Xiang Mingzhang bent his back slightly and put one hand around Chu Shichen's waist: "I dare not."
Chu Shichen asked: "Why?"
"Didn't you give the order?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "With my personality, I can only be self-disciplined."
Chu Shichen choked: "That was just idle chat."
"So it can't be taken seriously?" Xiang Mingzhang raised his head, "Then do you want to care about me?"
Chu Shichen said reluctantly: "You and I are equal, I can't control you, but since you asked, I will satisfy you once."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "What?"
Whenever something happened in the Xiang family, Xiang Mingzhang would go to a place afterwards. Chu Shichen thought about what he was thinking and decided, "I'll accompany you to Manzhuang tonight."
(End of this chapter)