In an instant, the lively atmosphere in the courtyard came to an abrupt end.
All eyes turned to Zhao Guodong. For a moment, the entire courtyard was so quiet that only a few firecrackers could be heard from afar, their sound seeming particularly abrupt at this moment.
Xia Jianguo silently added firewood to the stove. His hand paused for a moment, but he didn't look up, as if he didn't want to get involved in the dispute.
He sighed inwardly, wondering what quarrel the young couple had gotten into this time, and just hoped that things would calm down soon.
Xia Xiong sat on a chair to the side, quietly smoking his pipe. The rising smoke blurred his expression, but his eyes revealed a deep meaning that was hard to fathom.
He pondered in his heart that there must be some hidden story behind this, but he couldn't figure it out for the time being.
This caused Zhao Guodong, who was already feeling guilty and extremely uneasy, to instantly have his forehead covered in a dense layer of cold sweat.
He subconsciously raised his hand and wiped his forehead hard with his sleeve, his movements hurried and flustered, as if he could erase his tension and unease.
He secretly resented Xia Shuhua's willfulness, wondering why she couldn't cooperate at this time and instead caused him so much trouble.
Just hours earlier, he was beaming with pride about a "successful" gathering he had with several leaders before the Lunar New Year.
At the gathering, the leaders' praise and promises made him feel that his position in the company was more secure and that the future was bright.
He had even started to imagine the wonderful life after his promotion, thinking about moving to a bigger house and giving his family a better life.
But now, facing the Xia family's questioning and scrutiny, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. His previous smugness vanished instantly, replaced by endless anxiety and unease.
Lunchtime finally arrived, and the family sat around the table laden with delicious dishes.
The table was covered with dumplings, symbols of family reunion. Each dumpling was round and plump, with a thin skin and a generous filling. They were carefully prepared by the family, and each one was filled with deep love.
The golden and crispy fried fish has an enticing sheen and is garnished with bright green scallions, making it look incredibly tempting.
The braised pork belly is fragrant and glossy red, rich but not greasy. Just smelling its aroma is enough to whet your appetite.
There are also various carefully prepared home-style dishes, each one brimming with the flavor of the New Year and embodying the heartfelt wishes of family members.
Xia Wan, her father Xia Jianguo, and her grandfather Xia Xiong sat in the main seats, while Xia Shuqin and her husband, and Xia Shufang and her husband sat on either side. Zhao Guodong was "isolated" on the far side, looking particularly cramped.
His posture was stiff, his hands awkwardly placed on his lap, as if he were nailed to the chair, afraid to move easily.
Even when she occasionally reached for the chopsticks, she was very careful, not daring to make the slightest movement. Her eyes would occasionally stealthily observe the expressions of others, as if searching for a chance to escape.
He silently prayed that this awkward dinner would end soon so he could escape this suffocating atmosphere.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
