We'll be spending Chinese New Year at Grandpa Lu's house this year, so we can all get together.
Since the war, Yu Yin had not visited Lu's mother's house. She was either taking the children to stroll around the neighborhood or shopping with Lu's second sister. And sure enough, they managed to get quite a few interesting things.
It wasn't antiques or paintings, but rather handcrafted art pieces—small, yet quite interesting. Occasionally, I'd also go to the port to buy some seafood, many of which were wild species that had become extinct in later generations but are now abundant and worthless.
Yu Yin had a great harvest. Although she couldn't store more fresh seafood in her space, she still stocked up on a lot of common dried seafood such as dried shrimp, dried kelp, dried clams, and dried shrimp.
She bought everything, storing most of it in her spatial storage, leaving only a little outside as a backup. Yu Yin collected supplies little by little, like a hamster, including food and daily necessities, and since it was a big city, many places offered items that didn't require coupons.
In particular, she also visited the department store where her second brother-in-law worked and went to the warehouse. The defective products there were an eye-opener for Yu Yin.
Time passed by in the midst of the shopping spree, and the last day of 1972 arrived.
Early in the morning, Yu Yin dressed Ping An and An An in new clothes, making them look beautiful. She and Lu Shurui also changed into their newly bought clothes, looking quite nice. The whole family looked radiant and pleasing to the eye.
Yu Yin carried the gifts she had bought, and the family of four arrived at Grandpa Lu's house.
This year there are many people: Uncle Lu's family of four, Uncle Lu's family of five, plus Uncle Lu's parents and their family of six, Brother Lu's family of four, and Yu Yin's family of four, making more than twenty people crammed into a space of more than forty square meters, making it feel like it's hard to breathe.
"Oh, Shu Rui and his wife are back. They're such busy people. It's been several days since I last saw them."
Aunt Lu is annoying; she not only favors boys over girls but is also a gossip and always tries to get attention.
"What's wrong, Auntie? Are you in a hurry to give the children New Year's money?"
Yu Yin looked at Aunt Lu with a half-smile, watching how she would react.
From Lu Shurui and the others' conversation, Yu Yin had already sketched out Lu's aunt's personality: she was sharp-tongued, stingy, and a bit timid.
"Um, niece-in-law, let me see if there's anything else to do in the kitchen."
Aunt Lu was surprised that the country bumpkin that Lu's mother and the others had been talking about was so outspoken and not at all shy.
If Yu Yin knew that Aunt Lu had this kind of mentality, she wouldn't even bother to criticize her. Does she really think she's some naive little girl who's never seen the world and can be easily manipulated?
Aunt Lu came in from the kitchen, greeted Yu Yin, and emphasized her gratitude for Yu Yin's care of Lu Shuqi. Yu Yin had always had a good impression of Aunt Lu, and now that she had met her, she was truly impressed.
Aunt Lu didn't come; it seems she was transferred to a different city, not in Shanghai, along with her uncle.
Mr. Lu and his grandfather sat together drinking tea, discussing current national policies and personnel matters at their workplaces. As for the big fight that had taken place in the Lu family yesterday, Mr. Lu was embarrassed to let his brothers know, feeling it was too shameful.
Aunt Lu went to the kitchen and didn't come out, as Grandma Lu had assigned her to do chores. The kitchen wasn't big, and many dishes were prepared in advance, while others were brought by other families. Yu Yin didn't cook; the place was too small, and she didn't know how to cook the local dishes. She bought two large dishes from a small private restaurant and brought them over, which she had already given to Grandma Lu.
"Sister-in-law, I am Lu Shuyun."
"Ah, I've heard your brother mention you, and you're just as I imagined."
Yu Yin remembered that this was Lu Shuyun, the second daughter of Uncle Lu San. Lu Shuqi had mentioned this younger sister a few times. His eldest sister was already married. At that time, his eldest sister should have been sent to the countryside, but when girls reached the age to go to the countryside, they would most likely get married and have children locally.
After discussing it, Uncle Lu and his wife decided to send Lu Shuqi, who had just graduated from high school. Firstly, it was less dangerous for a boy to go out, and secondly, Lu Shuqi was still young and not in a hurry to get married. They would find a way to bring him back later.
Compared to Aunt Lu's preference for sons over daughters, Aunt Lu's love for her daughter is especially precious. Without comparison, there's no hurt; otherwise, Lu Shuxin wouldn't have been so resentful, feeling she was the most pitiful one. There's nothing to be done; being born into the right family is a skill, and if you weren't born into a good family, you shouldn't complain about fate.
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen; the New Year's Eve dinner was about to begin.
Yu Yin and the others worked together to set up two tables, and the twenty-odd people squeezed in to eat.
Grandpa and Grandma Lu sat at one table with their father and other family members' sons, while the others sat at another table.
Yu Yin placed Ping An and An An next to her, served the two little ones their food, and let them eat slowly by themselves.
Over there, Grandpa Lu raised his glass, offering words of encouragement and emphasizing how precious these gatherings were. He and Grandma Lu were getting old, and who knew when they would be able to get together again. Today, he would put aside any unpleasantness and simply enjoy a meal with the elderly couple.
Yu Yin truly admired their shrewdness and maturity. She cooperated fully, completely ignoring them as long as they didn't come near her.
It seems that after Mr. Lu's outburst yesterday, Sister Lu has quieted down, and Wang Mengyao is avoiding Yu Yin's gaze. Yu Yin isn't narcissistic enough to think she feels guilty; someone like her would never admit to being wrong. This current situation is a calculated move to save face for herself.
Yu Yin didn't pay attention to what Lu's mother was like; she was someone who wouldn't reflect on herself. Although they didn't have much contact, Yu Yin still had some discernment. She used to flatter and fawn over her uncles and aunts, so she had a certain understanding of these middle-aged men and women.
After Grandpa Lu finished speaking, the others echoed him, all smiling broadly, enjoying themselves immensely. The adult world is so full of hypocrisy; people may harbor deep resentment in their hearts, yet outwardly they can put their arms around each other and act like brothers.
At Yu Yin's table, according to age, Sister-in-law Lu was the eldest, followed by Sister Lu. However, Sister-in-law Lu didn't want to get involved in her husband's family's affairs and remained silent. Sister Lu wanted to chime in, but who would listen to her?
Previously, Sister Lu's husband was a promising university teacher, and Sister Lu was always arrogant and never really cared about anyone. Now that she's fallen on hard times, Sister Lu, who already wasn't very popular, is even more ignored.
The table next to them were clinking glasses and drinking harmoniously. Yu Yin and her friends were eating in complete silence, almost awkwardly so. Yu Yin didn't care about any of that; taking good care of her two children was her priority for the day.
The two married sisters-in-law of the Lu family remained silent, and the other unmarried sisters-in-law and the next generation of children were even less likely to say anything; they were all focused on eating.
I ate a meal that left me feeling empty.
Finally, the party ended and everyone went home. Yu Yin and Aunt Lu finished up the last part, with Lu Shurui, Lu Shuqi, and Lu Shuyun also playing a major role. Even Ping An and An An had to help, but they were coaxed away by Grandpa and Grandma Lu.
Everything returned to normal, and the two elderly people needed to rest. Yu Yin and Aunt Lu got up to say goodbye and prepare to go home.
Yu Yin and the others are not only going back to the guesthouse, but also back to Yunnan Province. They took a month's leave, but most of their time was spent on the road, so they didn't actually spend much time there.
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