Chapter 362 Uninvited Guest
These days, when you invite someone to a party, you usually decide how many people will come, since food supplies are rationed, and tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks all need to be arranged in advance.
No family can add extra people on short notice.
Moreover, Mrs. Huo was extremely meticulous in her work; she would never start the meal before all the guests had arrived.
Did they say what their name was?
Guard Li hesitated for a moment. He had been standing guard in the compound for almost ten years. He wouldn't say he had a photographic memory, but he was certainly capable of recognizing these children.
However, since this matter involved the leader's private affairs, he couldn't say it in front of so many people.
Seeing the hesitation on his face, Jiang Si handed the two little ones to Chris and Chi Heng, telling them to follow the main group first.
After everyone had gone some distance, Guard Li then explained the whole story.
The wording was quite tactful, though the children were not very old, they had quite a temper.
They arrived without registering and tried to barge in. Another person stopped them, and the children immediately collapsed to the ground.
Even as he was leaving, the children were still throwing a tantrum on the ground.
Guard Li: "Sorry, we are too..."
“This has nothing to do with you. You were just following the rules,” Jiang Si said. “We are the ones who should apologize. We’ve caused you trouble today.”
Guard Li waved his hand, "And these people..."
After all, they are related to the Huo family, so the Huo family is the one who should decide how to handle things next.
Jiang Si didn't beat around the bush and made a definitive statement: "The elders and guests have all arrived. We didn't invite the others, and we don't know them."
With those words, Guard Li understood the situation.
He didn't linger; after giving Huo Tingzhou a military salute, he turned and left.
Huo Tingzhou didn't think there was anything wrong with Jiang Si's actions. Uninvited relatives, especially unruly children, would only cause trouble for everyone.
Yes, we have two little ones and our nephews and nieces as a reference.
The fact that those children were labeled as "bratty kids" isn't entirely unfair.
But upon further reflection, he found it strange, because Huo Tingzhou went through the list in his mind but couldn't find a suitable candidate.
Not to mention him, even Huo's mother looked puzzled after receiving the news.
"Sisi, who's outside?"
Jiang Si didn't confirm, but she felt it was pretty close, "It should be Yang Tingtao's kids."
What are they doing here?
Two years later, this was the first time they had come to us.
However, Mrs. Huo was only slightly surprised and did not ask any further questions.
When the children first left, she did feel a sense of emptiness in her heart.
He wasn't her biological grandson, but they had lived together for seven or eight years.
To put it bluntly, you develop feelings for a dog after raising it for a long time, let alone a living person!
Fortunately, the children at home are very sweet-hearted, calling out "Grandma, Grandma" every day.
With their company, those days weren't so hard to get through.
Now, all four branches of the family have children, and their grandchildren are incredibly well-behaved and obedient.
Mrs. Huo spends her days happily playing with her grandchildren, leading a busy and fulfilling life. She has no time or energy to think about other people's troubles.
Moreover, these people, of all times, chose to come at this particular moment. What good could it be?
"Let's go, forget about them, the feast is about to start, everyone is waiting for you."
Mrs. Huo didn't want these unrelated people to affect her two grandsons' first birthday celebration.
Jiang Si smiled and took Huo's mother's arm; that was exactly what she meant.
Upon arriving at the auditorium, the guests were already seated.
There are eight tables for the banquet today. Although it is called eight tables, each table is actually made up of two square tables put together, and each table can seat eighteen people.
The seating was arranged by Mrs. Huo. The old men in the courtyard sat at one table, followed by the elders from both sides.
As for the Huo family and Yue family relatives, they can just sit with people they know.
Jiang Si and Huo Tingzhou's table was mostly filled with acquaintances; originally, Third Uncle and Uncle Zhong were also going to squeeze in with them.
But Grandpa Huo refused and pulled the two of them directly to the main table.
As for today's birthday celebrants, Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao, they were naturally brought to the main table and held by the old man and the others.
Jiang Si couldn't help but sigh; the two little ones were quite young, but they certainly had quite the presence.
Keep in mind that everyone sitting at this table is a Chinese player who started playing the game at launch, and their battle records are verifiable.
Since it was a gathering of acquaintances, everyone was quite relaxed and comfortable during the meal.
The guests enjoyed the meal immensely.
After lunch, the first to say goodbye were Grandma Huo and her family.
My uncles all have jobs, and they only took two days off to come here, so they have to catch the last train back today.
After saying goodbye to her in-laws, Grandma Huo said, "Alright, you don't need to see us off. We can take the bus to the train station ourselves."
The banquet hasn't ended yet, what kind of behavior is it for everyone to come out like this?
That's what they said, but how could they really not see him off? The two sides struggled for quite a while.
Mrs. Huo said, "If I can't take you to the train station, I'll take you to the door to catch your train. Is that alright?"
The old lady also had some private things to say, so she readily agreed.
To everyone's surprise, as soon as they stepped out of the auditorium, Mrs. Huo took the old lady's arm and said, "Mom, why don't you and Dad stay here for a few days?"
"No, no, I have too much to do at home."
Grandma Huo was also a very energetic person, mainly because they were used to living in a single-story house.
There's no place like home, no matter how luxurious it is. Letting them live in this kind of tiny villa, they can't even poop in peace!
Besides, they still have chickens and ducks at home. They've been gone for two days already, and they won't feel at ease if they don't go back and see them with their own eyes.
"Listen to your mother."
Grandpa Huo had a couple of drinks at noon, and his face was flushed. "In another half month, when Xiaodoujiang turns one month old, we'll come over again, won't we?"
He shouldn't have spoken, because the moment he did, the old lady's gaze fell on the old man's hands. "What is this?"
When he arrived, he was only carrying his luggage; I didn't see him bring anything else.
Why did you suddenly have a large canvas bag in your hand when you left?
Don't let him get drunk and steal someone's bag!
If someone sees this, the daughter and son-in-law will lose face big time.
Seeing the old lady's stern face, Huo's mother, who knew her daughter best, immediately said, "Mom, what are you thinking? Is my dad that kind of person?"
"Exactly!" With his daughter's support, Grandpa Huo felt more confident. "We're sitting together, and the whole table is full of family. Have you forgotten?"
The old lady hadn't forgotten, "Then where did you get this bag?"
“Mom,” Mrs. Huo said with a smile, “Sisi knows that Dad sometimes likes to have a drink or two, so this is a special gift for him to show her respect.”
Upon hearing this, the old lady waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Coming to eat and drink is a happy occasion, how can you take things along with the food? It's not appropriate, it's not appropriate! Return it immediately."
“Grandma,” Jiang Si said with a smile, “Grandpa only has this one hobby. It’s no problem for him to drink a little bit. This is a small token of our appreciation from Tingzhou and me. Please don’t refuse.”
"Well..." Before the old lady could finish speaking, Huo's mother interrupted, "Mom, this is the heartfelt wish of Si Si and her husband, so don't keep pulling this around."
"By the way, Sisi loves chestnuts, so bring some more next time you come."
"I understand, I understand." The old lady nodded repeatedly and wrote down all the details.
At this moment, Huo's mother slipped a small roll wrapped in a handkerchief into her hand.
"Mom, this is a gift from Zhendong and me to show our respect to you. We're usually too busy to go back home."
"Keep this money. Eat and drink as you please. Don't be stingy with your money."
"No, no!"
The old lady accepted the wine.
But the old lady refused to accept the money no matter what.
His hand almost left a blur as he waved it. "Your father and I are in very good health. We earn enough money to last us all year round, and you've given us plenty of filial piety over the years. We have money in our hands, so take it back quickly."
"No, Mom, you have to keep this money."
Normally, it's his older brothers who take care of their parents, and last time they were sick, it was his sisters-in-law who took turns looking after them.
As a daughter, how could she neither contribute money nor effort?
"Why not? You're trying to make decisions for me?" the old lady glared.
The mother and daughter were talking back and forth, each one louder than the last; anyone who didn't know better would think they were arguing.
Seeing this heartwarming and lively scene, Jiang Si nudged Huo Tingzhou's arm.
"Have Mom and Grandma always been like this?"
Huo Tingzhou remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.
Jiang Si then realized that in his more than thirty years of life, he had spent very little time at home.
Perhaps he had never seen such a situation before.
Jiang Si had never understood why Huo Tingzhou was so tolerant of the two children.
He almost always grants requests, as long as they don't involve matters of principle.
Looking at his envious yet complicated gaze, Jiang Si finally understood something.
It is said that it takes a lifetime to heal the unhappiness of childhood. Behind this seemingly indulgent love, isn't it also a way for him to make up for the past?
Thinking about all this, Jiang Si felt a slight pang of sadness.
Jiang Si squeezed his large hand hanging by his side, speaking in a voice only they could hear.
He asked, "Do you remember what I said to you on the phone that time?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
