Maternal grandfather Feng family

Chapter 58: Grandfather Feng Family

Chu Huaibei stood up with the help of his uncle, looking up and carefully examining his grandparents. His mother had described his grandfather as a person of sternness, pedantry, and integrity, but today he was just a thin, withered old man. When she knelt, he subconsciously raised his hand, then clenched his fist and nodded at her.

His gaze had been on her since she entered the room, as if he was trying to find some other shadow in her. His gaze finally stopped at her eyes, a pair of eyes that had experienced the vicissitudes of life and remained pure, twinkling with stars. For the first time, Chu Huaibei felt a pity for not looking like his mother.

His mother's words to his grandmother were nothing but gentleness and kindness, telling Chu Huaibei not to worry, as the old lady would be delighted to see him. He could sense the old lady's kindness towards him from the moment he knelt down to pay his respects. After he stood up, the old lady was still happily wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

"Huaibei, come forward and let grandma take a good look at you." The old lady put away her handkerchief and waved to Chu Huaibei.

"Yes, grandma." Without hesitation, he took three steps forward and stood directly in front of the old lady. He squatted down and placed his hands gently on her knees.

The old lady had never seen such a well-behaved grandson before. She was so fond of him that she held Chu Huaibei's face in her hands, touching his face, touching his head, and hugging him in her arms. She kept sighing, "Oh, my dear grandson, he is so handsome. His eyes look like Ning Niang's. He is so strong like his father..."

The three grandsons sitting on the right were almost unable to contain their gentle and elegant expressions. They seriously suspected that their grandmother had taken some kind of elixir for breakfast today, which caused her to become so gentle and kind at this moment.

Master Feng on the opposite side glared at the three brothers, signaling them to behave themselves and not to spoil the atmosphere.

They, the younger generation, had rarely witnessed the affection their grandmother showed their aunt, but he, the second oldest brother, still remembered it vividly. His mother treated his younger sister differently than she did him and his older brother. She would sternly admonish him and his older brother, saying, "You are the pillars of the family. You must always remember the family rules and observe etiquette. You must behave properly when you are out and about. You must do as your father taught you."

When it was my younger sister's turn, I told my mother what my youngest mother wanted. She would agree to anything she could, and even get my father to agree to anything she couldn't. She would talk about my youngest mother all day long, even praising her for the first time she picked up chopsticks to eat by herself as a child. She would say things like, "Our youngest mother is so capable. She can eat by herself at such a young age. Oh, my dear, how can I bear to let you get married in the future?"

Fortunately, my younger sister did not grow up astray due to her mother's doting. Perhaps it was also related to the fact that her father taught her the Four Books and Five Classics at an early age. My younger sister was smart at an early age and learned things quickly. She grew up to be a talented lady famous throughout the city, and was then married to Chu Yanting, a shameless warrior.

My mother was quite dissatisfied with this, but since it was my younger sister's own choice, she could only cry for a while and then send my younger sister to the bridal sedan.

"My dear grandson, please stay at home during your return to Fengjing. Don't stay in the inn. Grandma wants to be closer to you."

Seeing his wife's talk getting more and more outrageous, Feng Jijiu coughed and said, "Huaibei has his own considerations. He can live wherever he wants. Don't delay the child's important matters."

"Grandfather, Huaibei has no important business to attend to in the capital this time, and will probably leave for the northern border the day after tomorrow. Grandmother cares about Huaibei, so Huaibei is naturally willing to stay in the mansion. I would also like to trouble my uncle to arrange for my entourage." Chu Huaibei expected that the emperor would let her leave after the morning court tomorrow. It would be nice to stay in the Feng Mansion for these two days.

"Oh, my dear grandson still understands my feelings. You men can chat, I'll go back to the backyard to prepare." After the old lady said this, she patted Chu Huaibei's hand and got up to walk to the backyard. Chu Huaibei helped her, but the old lady looked down on him and told her not to worry about her, as she was in good health.

Chu Huaibei was relieved to see the servants coming to serve the old lady as soon as she left the main hall. He turned back to the main hall to greet his second uncle and several cousins. The old lady's previous actions had made Chu Huaibei not have time to greet anyone.

"Huaibei has met his second uncle and three cousins."

"There's no need to be so polite with family members." Mr. Feng raised his hand to signal Chu Huaibei not to be polite.

"Hello, cousin." The three of them stood up and saluted Chu Huaibei as a peer.

"Huaibei, you just said that you might go back to the northern border the day after tomorrow. How do you know that the emperor won't keep you for a few more days?" Uncle Feng asked.

"Besides calling me here to receive the reward, the most important thing is to let me instruct the Ministry of Works on how to manufacture weapons. Of course, I will be released after I have given the instructions. At this time, who knows what trouble the Mongols might cause. How dare they leave me in Fengjing?"

"Huaibei, have you ever considered that the emperor might take this opportunity to grant you a marriage?" Uncle Feng asked, prompted by his father and brother's glances. If Huaibei wanted to follow his father's example and find a girl from an aristocratic family in Fengjing, they would have actually helped him find a candidate.

"Alas, isn't it obvious what I have shown? I have a favored concubine in my palace. Who would be willing to let their daughter come to my house to suffer?" Seeing them raise this question, Chu Huaibei knew that at least more than just their family had considered this issue. What was going on? This noble family from Fengjing wanted to enter her palace?

"Then you won't marry a wife?" the eldest cousin exclaimed.

"If she doesn't marry him, so what? The palace already has an heir, so now is the best situation. If there is another one in the backyard, it will be troublesome no matter who it is."

"This... Since Huaibei has made up his mind, we shouldn't worry about it." Uncle Feng saw that his father frowned and looked like he was about to lecture him, so he immediately spoke up and made the final decision, reminding his father that it was a rare opportunity for him to come home, so he should not cause trouble.

This sentence choked the old man's reprimand, which was about to come out of his mouth. The old man tried hard to swallow the words, his facial features slightly distorted. The three brothers' pupils dilated slightly. It was amazing that his father/uncle had actually defeated his grandfather in a head-on confrontation!

Then the three of them all turned their eyes to the cousin they met for the first time. The cousin was more powerful, which made the grandfather hesitate.

Chu Huaibei guessed something from the expressions on everyone's faces. It was likely that his grandfather wanted her to marry a woman from an aristocratic family and return to the Northern Territory to look after the palace, just like her mother had done. His eldest uncle, who often corresponded with his mother and likely knew more, wanted to follow her wishes and not force her to marry. His remaining three cousins ​​likely didn't understand the situation in her family; in their eyes, marrying a principal wife was a must.

The main hall suddenly fell silent. Chu Huaibei was at a loss for words to explain to his grandfather. While he was trying to organize his words, a smiling voice came from the main hall door: "Dad, Uncle, Second Uncle, Huaibei, Mom asked me to call everyone to the dining hall for dinner. Today is a rare reunion. Mom said we should just set up two tables and not separate them. This will also give Huaibei an opportunity to recognize everyone."

"Huaibei, this is your aunt." Uncle Feng explained the identity of the visitor and decided to thank his wife in person tonight, breaking the originally awkward atmosphere.

"I hope my aunt is well." Chu Huaibei stood up and saluted.

"Hey, hey, stop being polite. Huaibei, come with your aunt to the dining hall to meet your sisters and younger generations." Luo, the mistress of the Feng family, was a cheerful person. She took Chu Huaibei's hand and walked towards the dining hall.

Don't think she didn't notice the atmosphere in the main hall just now. It was obvious that she didn't know what these gentlemen had said before she arrived. Her father didn't look happy, and the nephew who came from afar was also thinking with his head down.

If she were to ask him, she would say that this nephew was very capable. What the old man thought was good might not necessarily be a good thing for the nephew. Only when one is in the other's position can one know what he really needs. Don't waste your time worrying about it. If her family can help in any way, all the nephew needs to do is ask.

Chu Huaibei was led to the dining hall by his aunt's slender and capable hand. He temporarily put aside the questions in his mind and became curious about the remaining relatives.

The Feng family's house was not big, and it only took a cup of tea to reach the dining hall door.

"Mom, my daughter-in-law brought Huaibei here first!"

"Well done. Mother knows you are the one who can do it. Huaibei, come in quickly. Grandma will take you to meet some people." The old lady knew her husband's temper too well. She chose the right time to let her eldest daughter-in-law go and call people. It turned out to be the right thing to do.

"This is your eldest aunt. I think you already know her. This is your second aunt, Huang." The old lady pointed at the woman standing in front of her and said.

"Huaibei has met my second aunt."

"Hey, you're welcome. Stand up! This nephew is so handsome." Huang looked at him and praised him sincerely. He looked so majestic and impressive, even more impressive than the three brothers. The difference between military commanders and civil officials was quite big.

"This is your eldest uncle's wife, Nuan Niang. She is thirteen years old and had a son in her old age. This is your cousin Huaibei."

The old lady pointed to the young lady sitting in the first seat on her left.

"Huaibei has met my cousin." Chu Huaibei discovered that this cousin inherited the good looks of her parents, with double eyelids, big cat eyes, a straight nose bridge and the Feng family's unique oval face, bright and generous.

"Nuanniang greets cousin." She stood up and knelt down to Chu Huaibei.

"Your second uncle's daughter Yunniang married into the Imperial Censor Kang's family two years ago. She's already sent word that she'll be back tomorrow. These are your eldest cousin's sons, De'er and Xin'er. This is your second cousin's son, Hong'er. This is your third cousin's son, Bai'er."

The old lady called out the names of all the boys sitting on her right at once.

"Nephew greets his uncle." Four children stood in front of him and respectfully performed the etiquette of being a junior.

"You're welcome, family."

"Um, Grandmother, have you received the gifts my mother sent? His Majesty summoned me urgently this time, and it was inconvenient to bring anything along with us on the journey. I selected some gifts in the North and asked my mother to arrange for them to be delivered separately."

"Don't worry, as long as you're thoughtful, the things will be delivered eventually." The old lady saw Chu Huaibei's embarrassment and helped to smooth things over.

As soon as he recognized the people, my grandfather brought my uncle and others into the dining hall. The timing was just right, and it was hard not to think that this was time specially set aside to ease the awkwardness in the main hall before.

No wonder her mother told her not to worry. This stubborn old man is paired with a room full of delicate hearts. No wonder both the servants and the masters in the mansion act with moderation and appropriate relaxation.

"Now that everyone is here, please take a seat. Don't let our Huaibei go hungry. The court officials can only eat dry food for breakfast. I'm afraid Huaibei didn't eat well today." The old lady quickly asked everyone to take a seat and ordered the servants to ask the kitchen to serve the dishes.

Chu Huaibei was really hungry. He ate two pieces of the dry biscuits given by the angel in the morning and couldn't eat any more. He had to swallow them dry without water, which was really embarrassing.