Chapter 463 Sweater

Once her sisters-in-law had calmed down a bit, Nan Zhiyi took out two small, well-packaged gift boxes from her luggage and handed them to Li Xiuqin and Wang Juan respectively. "Sister-in-law, fourth sister-in-law, these are specially prepared for you. They're facial skincare products; I heard they're quite moisturizing. You should try them."

Wang Juan accepted the gift box, feeling a little better, but still couldn't shake off her resentment. She muttered, "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Li Xiuqin accepted it and thanked her, but her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

She thought of her son, Gu Yong, who was studying at university in Beijing. Her fifth sister-in-law had actually been quite concerned about him, often calling to ask about Gu Yong's situation and even inviting him to their home for dinner on weekends.

But Gu Yong, that kid, has a simple and honest yet proud spirit. He always says he's busy with his studies and immerses himself in the blueprints and experiments of mechanical manufacturing, and doesn't want to visit his fifth uncle and aunt's house much.

Li Xiuqin was quite anxious in private. Why didn't this child understand that if his fifth uncle could say a few words to him when he was assigned a job after graduation, his future might be very different?

But she couldn't say it directly; she could only sigh in her heart, thinking that her son was simple-minded and didn't understand the intricacies of human relationships.

Li Xiuqin wanted to help tidy up the luggage, but Nan Zhiyi stopped her: "Sister-in-law, don't bother, I can tidy these up myself later. Let's go downstairs, it's rare for the whole family to be here."

"That's fine," Li Xiuqin said, remembering something. "Oh, right, I was bored at home, so I knitted a new sweater and a scarf for Xiaoman. The yarn is pure wool, bought through a friend, and it's very warm. I'll show it to you later, see if you like it?"

The three sisters-in-law went downstairs together.

Li Xiuqin went back to her bedroom first, and soon came out with a cloth bag, which she opened to show Nan Zhiyi.

A thick, maroon wool cardigan with fine, even stitches and simple patterns on the collar and cuffs; a long, soft scarf in the same color garter stitch.

It's obvious that a lot of thought and effort was put into it.

Nan Zhiyi took it and touched it, praising, "It's so well woven, thick and beautiful. Thank you, sister-in-law, for your trouble."

Wang Juan stood to the side, smiling on the surface, but inwardly she was unimpressed: What kind of family is the Fifth Brother's now? Do they still care about a hand-knitted sweater? This hand-knitted sweater looks almost identical to the machine-knitted ones sold in department stores. It's just a superficial gesture of goodwill. But she didn't say it aloud.

Li Xiuqin, unaware of Wang Juan's thoughts, pointed to the sweater sleeves and said, "I knitted them a little longer on purpose, and added extra length. The child grows quickly, so he can wear them for a while next year."

Nan Zhiyi nodded: "Sister-in-law is very thoughtful. I'll have Xiaoman come over later to thank Aunt properly."

As they were talking, a commotion came from the foyer. Gu Min and Zhao Zhigang had returned. They had just heard from their elder brother that they had gone to visit an old friend.

Seeing that Nan Zhiyi and Gu Xiao had arrived home, Gu Min smiled and quickly walked over: "Fifth brother, Zhiyi, you're back! Was the journey smooth?"

Zhao Zhigang greeted him with a smile and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Nan Zhiyi also took out the gifts she had given to her third sister and her husband, and handed them to her third brother and sister-in-law.

Gu Min took it, and was about to say something...

Zhao Zhi said from the side, "Honey, didn't we also bring things for Fifth Brother's wife and Xiaoman? Take them out quickly."

Gu Min suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly said, "Look at me, I was so busy talking." As she spoke, she went to get it.

Zhao Zhigang quickly stopped her: "No rush, you can get it after you finish eating."

Nan Zhiyi smiled and chimed in, "That's right, Third Sister, let's talk first."

After a few brief pleasantries,

Zhao Zhigang turned around and huddled among the men, whispering with Gu Xiao and Gu Yan.

Nan Zhiyi and her sisters-in-law went to help set the table, clear the table, and arrange the dishes.

While busy, Nan Zhiyi still hadn't seen Chen Anna.

She found a moment to sidle up to Gu Xiao and whispered, "Where's Gu Yan's wife? Didn't she say she was back earlier?"

Gu Xiao turned his head and lowered his voice as well: "She came over for the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve. But Anna's family is particular about this, saying that since she hasn't officially married into the family, it's not appropriate for her to stay overnight at the groom's house for the New Year. Gu Yan couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he stayed with her at a hotel for one night. On New Year's Day, she went back to the south, and will come back with her parents on the fifth day." He didn't say what Gu Yan was talking about, saying that it was the modern era and that she was engaging in such feudal superstitions.

Nan Zhiyi nodded and didn't ask any further questions. Customs vary from place to place, and some families who are particular about these things do indeed follow these practices.

Dinner was served at two tables as usual, one for adults and one for children, and the food was exceptionally plentiful.

Commander Gu sat in the main seat, and Gu Xiao sat to his father's left.

He poured Commander Gu a cup of freshly brewed hot tea: "Dad, please have some tea."

Commander Gu chuckled and raised his teacup to the table full of his children and grandchildren: "I know, no alcohol. Come on, let's celebrate this family reunion with tea instead of wine!"

Gu Weiguo raised his glass first and said a few words of blessing for a happy reunion. Gu Weimin added with a smile that his third brother-in-law, Zhao Zhigang, had the loudest voice at the dinner table tonight, trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Gu Xiao and Gu Yan, on the other hand, at most raised their glasses to Commander Gu and said a few words.

For a moment, glasses clinked lightly, and laughter filled the air.

As Nan Zhiyi raised her glass with everyone, her gaze inadvertently swept over her second brother and sister-in-law at the table.

Gu Jianjun and Zhang Xiufen spoke very little, only managing to maintain smiles to avoid appearing awkward, nodding in agreement as the others laughed and joked. Upon closer inspection, a lingering bitterness was etched between Zhang Xiufen's brows, and Gu Jianjun looked much older than she remembered, with the gray hair at his temples clearly visible under the light.

Those years in the Northwest must have been truly difficult.

Just then, Gu Xiao placed a piece of glossy eight-treasure duck on her plate. "This duck is stewed to perfection. Aunt Wu must have been thinking about your return and made it especially for you. Have another piece."

Nan Zhiyi gently pinched his thigh under the table, signaling him not to be too obvious. He picked it up and ate it himself; it was indeed tender, juicy, and delicious.

Halfway through the meal, she glanced worriedly at the children's table.

Gu Zhao was sitting next to Nannan, eating and talking animatedly. She ate quickly from her small bowl, seemingly adapting well.

Nan Zhiyi relaxed and focused on the food in front of her and the casual conversation at the table.

After the meal, Nan Zhiyi helped clean up the dishes, and then took a moment to deliver the prepared gifts to Wu Ma and Sister He in the kitchen.

The two thanked her repeatedly, and Aunt Wu even held her hand and kept talking to her.

Nan Zhiyi took Wu Ma's arm, "Alright, Wu Ma, don't be so polite with me. I'll be so happy if you make me a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls tomorrow morning."

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Aunt Wu quickly interrupted her, her face serious. "It's the New Year, 'pto' it away, it's bad luck!"

Nan Zhiyi followed suit and spat twice, then laughed and said, "Okay, okay, I've spat it out."

Aunt Wu smiled and leaned closer to her, "Don't worry, I've already prepared everything. Not just glutinous rice balls, I'll make whatever you like to eat these next few days."

Nan Zhiyi replied softly, "Okay."