The fat man didn't seem to care and continued to grin foolishly, "It's nothing, it doesn't hurt at all."

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Nuan said, "I can't let you kowtow for nothing. How about this, if you don't have a name, I'll give you one. Once you have a name, I'll give you a courtesy name later."

"I don't have a name," the fat man pleaded ingratiatingly. "Fifth Aunt, could you give me a name?"

His parents died early and didn't have time to give him a formal name. He never wants to mention his nickname, Gou Dan, in his life.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Nuan said, "Huang Yi, from now on you will be called Huang Yi, which means courage, perseverance and determination."

“Hey,” the fat man pondered the two words carefully, and instantly smiled even more broadly, “Thank you, Aunt Wu, I really like this name.”

"Mother, you're being unfair," Huang Xiaosi accused Jiang Nuan, "You didn't even give me a name."

He couldn't wait to come and find the fat man, only to discover that his mother was naming the fat man.

I'm unhappy!

His own son doesn't even have a name.

"Xiao Si, you don't have a name?" Jiang Nuan asked in surprise. "How come you don't have a name?"

"Is that strange?" Huang Xiaosi pouted. "Children are called by their nicknames first, and then they are given their formal names when they turn fifteen."

Jiang Nuan felt a little guilty. "Is it inappropriate for me to choose a name now?"

She had learned in the afternoon that it was fine as long as the elders chose the names for the male offspring; she hadn't expected there to be so many rules involved.

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Huang Xiaosi explained, “Those people don’t come up with good names because they can’t think of any. Some people just use their nicknames as their formal names because they really can’t think of any. If Mother can think of a name, why can’t we choose one in advance?”

"So that's how it is!" Jiang Nuan touched her nose, speechless.

She thought of many reasons, but this was the only one she couldn't think of.

Is this the gap created by knowledge?

"Little Fourth, you're clever but not steady enough. How about I name you Huang Hou?"

"That sounds awful!" Huang Xiaosi curled his lip in disgust. "Why doesn't Mother just call herself Huang Bo?"

These words infuriated Jiang Nuan. "You brat! What do you know? This word is excellent."

After calming down, Jiang Nuan explained, "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement; as earth's nature is receptive, a gentleman should cultivate virtue and bear all things with magnanimity. The meaning of practicing righteousness and cultivating virtue is so superficial in your words!"

“Mother, I was wrong,” Huang Xiaosi immediately changed his mind after hearing Jiang Nuan say such profound but incomprehensible words. “Huang Hou, that sounds wonderful.”

Beside him, the fat man smacked his lips and hesitated before saying, "Fifth Aunt, isn't it a bit inappropriate to have the same name as an empress in the palace?"

"Oh, right," Jiang Nuan realized and slapped herself.

The Qing Dynasty perished long ago; she had forgotten that emperors even existed.

"Huang Hou won't do. From now on, you can be called Huang Kun. Different paths lead to the same destination, it's about the same meaning."

"Kun? Mother, how is it written?" Huang Xiaosi asked hurriedly.

Picking up a twig, Jiang Nuan wrote two characters: Kun and Yi.

"The one on the left is Kun from Xiao Si, and the one on the right is Yi from Xiao Pang. You two take a stick and trace it to learn your own names first."

As Jiang Nuan spoke, she wrote another yellow character above it: "You can go play as you please, just remember to come back for lunch."

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll definitely study hard."

Xiao Si jogged back to the room and brought out two sand trays, one for each of them. "Fatty, practice your calligraphy in the sand tray. It's so convenient. After you finish writing, shake it to flatten it and continue writing."

"Thank you." The fat man excitedly took the sand table and traced the words on the ground with trembling hands. "Little Si, I never thought that one day I would learn to read."

"Who told you to be my brother?" Huang Xiaosi said with great enthusiasm. "I'm telling you, you really hit the jackpot by being my brother. There aren't many literate people in the village."

I heard that the clan chief spent three years in school before he could barely write the clan members' names. My mother is different; listen to what she just said, I bet even the clan chief couldn't say them.

“I think so too,” the fat man nodded in agreement, “Our mother is even more capable than the clan chief.”

“Right, right,” Huang Xiaosi paused for a moment, then suddenly realized, “No, who’s your mother? That’s my mother.”

“But,” the fat man blinked pitifully, “didn’t you say you’d give me half?”

"I was just trying to coax him..." Before he could finish speaking, Huang Xiaosi saw that the fat man's eyes had already turned red, and he dared not continue.

However, I was still unwilling to accept it.

He snorted coldly and said, "I'll only give you a small half. Remember, a small half." As he spoke, he clutched his chest. "I'm already feeling the pinch with just a small half. You can't push your luck."

“Hmm,” the fat man’s eyes lit up instantly, “A little bit is enough. I’m not greedy. My mother is so kind. Just a little bit is enough for me, let alone a little bit.”

"Shut up," Huang Xiaosi thought, increasingly tempted, and then regretted his words. "If you say that again, I'll take back what I said before."

Seeing that Huang Xiaosi had been provoked into a rage, the fat man dared not provoke him any further and quickly agreed.

That evening, the family gathered again to discuss the family reunion banquet.

The fat man did not step forward because he had not yet formally acknowledged his relatives.

"We're having a family reunion banquet at your grandfather's house the day after tomorrow. Eldest and second eldest, take a break from work for the next couple of days so we can prepare for the banquet."

“Alright,” Huang Laoda asked with a smile, “Mother, how many dishes should we prepare for the family reunion banquet? Nine or twelve?”

"Nine dishes will suffice," Huang Lao Er replied. "Our family isn't well-off, there's no need for extravagance."

The Lunar New Year has just passed, and it's a time of food shortage. Nine dishes already require a lot of thought and effort; twelve dishes would cost significantly more.

Besides, the family reunion banquet is just a formality, so there's no need to put too much effort into it. Just be nicer to Xiaopang in the future.

“Let’s keep the twelve dishes,” Jiang Nuan said, feeling a little reluctant, but for Huang Yi’s sake, she decided not to skimp on the three dishes. “The family reunion banquet represents how much our family values ​​Xiao Pang. We can’t let others think we’re just letting the kids play house.”

“Mother is right,” Huang the eldest nodded and continued, “Twelve dishes, plus two catties of wine, is already very respectable. Even the most picky person wouldn’t be able to find fault with it. Mother, do you think this is appropriate?”

“I trust you to do things,” Jiang Nuan instructed. “You two brothers will also accompany them for drinks, sitting next to your uncle. Since your father isn’t here, you brothers will have to hold the fort. Be respectful to your elders, don’t talk back, and don’t panic if you encounter unreasonable people. With your grandfather and uncle here, they won’t let you suffer.”

“Mom, we know,” Huang Laoda said, feeling a warmth in his heart. “Don’t worry, these uncles have all taught us, we won’t cause any trouble.”

Huang Lao Er chimed in, "It's a pity Xiao San isn't here. He's a good drinker and has a silver tongue, so he could easily handle these situations."