The next day, Ouyang personally delivered various medicinal herbs to the Zhuo family. Grandpa and Grandma were receiving guests, and there was a round of applause. Aunt Ouyang led Ouyang into the living room. These people were probably some distant relatives of the Zhuo family. As for what day it was, she was a little unclear, at least Uncle Zhuo hadn't told her. The person at the piano stood up. It was Jin Lu, whom I had seen a few days ago. Why was he here too?
Grandma stepped forward and asked, "Where's your Uncle Zhuo?"
This made her come to her senses: "On the way." Today is Grandpa Zhuo's birthday. No wonder he asked her to deliver a gift but she didn't show up in person. I guess he didn't want to see his grandparents.
Grandpa put down his teacup and said unhappily, "Is he on the road or always on the road?" I don't know when he became so humorous.
"Grandpa," she said, stepping forward with various herbs in her hands, "we are indeed on the way. Look, these are what Uncle Zhuo asked me to bring to you." She showed him carefully what ginseng, cordyceps, ganoderma lucidum, deer antlers, and so on.
Grandma called her aside, probably sensing something was up: "Why didn't your uncle come with you? Your grandpa wouldn't even let me call him."
"Grandma, don't worry, I'll go out for a while." When she walked out of the house, everyone in the house looked at her, as if she could invite Zhuo Qiang on the road back when she came back next time.
Grandpa continued chatting with others. Today wasn't a big birthday celebration; they had simply invited some relatives. Of course, Wang Yao's family was also invited, but they politely declined, allowing Jin Lu to attend as their representative. However, Jin Lu had arrived early and had already played two pieces.
Sitting in the car, Ouyang first called Uncle Zhuo, then called the office. His secretary answered: "Hello? Hello, Mr. Zhuo is in a meeting."
"I'm Ouyang," she said, "Let him answer the phone. If he doesn't answer, tell him he's not my uncle anymore."
"But!"
"It's nothing." She said firmly.
The secretary came into the meeting room and told Zhuo Qiang Ouyang's phone number.
"Ouyang?" the voice on the other end of the line said, "I'm in a meeting."
"I know, your secretary told me," Ouyang tapped the steering wheel. "Grandpa Zhuo's birthday is today. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you knew," he said. "Didn't I ask you to bring a gift?"
"I've gone upstairs," Auntie came out of the house and saw Ouyang talking on the phone in the car. She looked over and lowered her voice. "I can't get into the house if you don't come. I'll give you an hour. If you don't come, I'll go to your office in a while."
"What are you doing here?" Zhuo Qiang said, "Grandpa's birthday is today, you have to spend some quality time with them."
"Twenty minutes!" Ouyang hung up the phone and rolled down the window.
Auntie came over and asked, "Miss Ouyang, why don't you go in?"
"Oh," she said, "I'll wait for Uncle Zhuo. We'll go in together later."
"Oh." The aunt turned around and went back. In her opinion, Ouyang and Zhuo Qiang were like mice in the house, playing hide-and-seek with the two old people all day long.
Zhuo Qiang had no choice but to surrender to such threats. If he didn't go, it meant Ouyang wouldn't be able to explain herself, and if she couldn't explain herself, she naturally wouldn't go in. After all, she was so confident and never let herself be taken advantage of. He asked his secretary to call off the meeting and discuss the cooperation with Sheng Group tomorrow.
As Ouyang waited, a car pulled up and a woman got out. She had never seen this woman before either. She looked mixed-race and was about thirty years old. Her reasoning suggested that this person was most likely one of the daughters-in-law her grandparents had chosen.
"Last time it was me, this time it's Uncle Zhuo's turn," she thought to herself, "If this person can become my Aunt Zhuo, that wouldn't be bad either, at least she won't have to be alone between three elders.
The other person saw her in the car and smiled slightly, which was considered a greeting.
Ouyang checked the time. It was almost half past ten. She wasn't too anxious, though, because she knew her grandparents wouldn't come out. If they let her out, it meant they were using her as bait to bring Zhuo Qiang back.
Lying in the recliner, thinking about the good old days of living here, the blink of an eye suddenly dawned on her. She didn't know why, but this family, with no blood relationship at all, had become so close. The trees in the distance began to shed their leaves, drifting to the ground one by one. The gentle breeze seemed in no hurry to let them all fall. Two or three people walked along the road. The residents here were mostly elderly people around the same age as grandparents. Although they walked with a steady pace, one day, like the dead branches and fallen leaves, they too would blend into the soil, and then, with the power of the earth, give birth to new life.
Zhuo Qiang's car finally drove in, and the driver slowly stopped beside her car. He got out and knocked on Ouyang's car, signaling her to get out.
She came to her senses from her deep thoughts and got out of the car: "Less than twenty minutes?"
"Okay," he asked, "what's going on in there?"
"Let me put it this way," she leaned against the car door, "besides some relatives, there's also a woman in her thirties. Obviously, she's for you."
Zhuo Qiang knocked her head: "Are you making fun of your uncle?"
"Believe it or not," Auntie said, moving closer to them. "First of all, I want to remind you that you shouldn't use me as a shield anymore."
"Mr. Zhuo, Miss Ouyang," the aunt called, "Why don't you come in." Her voice was always just right, not only allowing those who wanted to hear to hear, but also reminding those who should hear not to be too unrestrained.
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