Chapter 49 "Since he's so popular with Uncle Wang, then if..."
He rubbed the gloves in his pocket a couple of times, sighed, and said honestly, "Even if we do nothing, they'll explode on their own."
On the other hand, the eldest son's side had already lost many supporters due to Pei Hengzhi's drunk driving and reckless driving, which led to a serious accident and injuries, coupled with the boss's improved health.
Moreover, there are rumors that the boss is about to take over as head of the family.
How could the eldest son's wife not be anxious?
There has been no official announcement yet regarding Pei Hengzhi's awakening. "We're just waiting for the right opportunity, like tonight's Lunar New Year's Eve, or at the latest, tomorrow's Lunar New Year's Day, then it'll explode."
Chen Zhao had been a secretary for so many years; how could he not know the connections the eldest son's family had?
"I bet the reporters have already been found, just waiting to publish it." He could guess the content: "Pei Hengzhi wakes up on this joyous day of universal celebration, may he be blessed with good fortune and longevity."
Luo Yunqing scoffed: "Anyone actually believes such a fallacy?"
“You know what,” Chen Zhao said, holding up a finger and waving it from side to side, “this trick is especially effective on the elders of the Pei clan. They’re older and they believe in this.”
Seeing his still disgusted expression, Chen Zhao's eyes lit up: "You don't believe me? Let's make a bet."
"No." Luo Yunqing completely deviated from the expected approach, refusing decisively.
He had heard this kind of rhetoric many times before. Whenever it started with this kind of statement, it meant that the person was 100% certain.
Having been in the Pei family for so many years, Chen Zhao must know the Pei clan better than he does.
Since the eldest son's family has their own ideas, let them have them, so he won't have to find someone else to expose them.
Hopefully, when Song Xuechen wakes up and sees the trending topic explode on social media, she'll still be able to sit still.
Luo Yunqing changed her mind and decided to remain on the sidelines.
It's quite amusing to watch them fight like dogs.
Just in case, since the fire wasn't burning too brightly, he took out his phone and sent a short video to Chen Zhao's phone.
Chen Zhao didn't click on it, but judging from the main image of the video, it was clearly two men embracing intimately.
He asked cautiously, "What is this?"
"If necessary, add fuel to the fire."
Luo Yunqing blurred the video. His old phone didn't have a high resolution, so it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night, or where he was. Only the sound was recorded clearly.
"The rest is up to you."
Luo Yunqing became a hands-off manager.
Returning to the house leisurely, Pei Yanli was still wearing the red sweater he had knitted by hand, with a white shirt underneath and a black overcoat on top.
They looked ready to leave.
"Husband, you wouldn't be planning to..." Luo Yunqing looked him up and down, then pointed a finger at the conspicuous red on his clothes, "wear this to have New Year's Eve dinner with Dad?"
The Pei family has an unwritten rule that they must have a reunion dinner together in the elders' courtyard on New Year's Eve.
In previous years, Pei Yanli was abroad and couldn't come back for a while, which was fine. But this year, not only did she come back, but Luo Yunqing was also there, so she definitely had to go.
Upon hearing this, Pei Yanli glanced down at the object and asked, "Is it not allowed?"
He was already dressed and even put on his outfit, so what could Luo Yunqing say? Of course, he just wanted to make him happy.
"It will be very cold at night."
A wool sweater, and a coarse one at that, not as warm as cashmere or camel hair. Luo Yunqing thought for a moment, then went to the dressing room and found a pure white scarf for him, and changed the blanket on his legs to match the color of the coat.
"My leg isn't fully healed yet, it can't get cold."
"I checked the weather forecast. There's no wind tonight, so that little bit of road won't be a problem." Pei Yanli said she wasn't cold, but when she saw him coming over with a scarf, she still consciously raised her neck and let him wrap her up tightly.
"It's cold even without wind! Don't underestimate winter."
"Yes, wife."
After wrapping him up, Luo Yunqing cupped his face in her hands and said, "When we go out later, you need to wear a hat and earmuffs! Oh, and don't forget the gloves."
Pei Yanli couldn't help but think of that fully armed and imposing figure, and turned her head away, unable to look directly at him.
Soon, it was turned back again.
Luo Yunqing said, word by word, "I need to keep warm."
"Okay~ I'll listen to my wife." Pei Yanli reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her head in his chest. "Wife."
"Um?"
"Is there anything in particular you'd like as a New Year's gift?"
“A gift…” Luo Yunqing tilted her head and murmured.
Before the snow fell, Pei Yanli donated winter and New Year's supplies to the orphanage in their names, and also bought many books and toys for the younger siblings.
The investment for the Speed Club has been finalized, and they've also covered the drama club's expenses for the next year, including advertising, costumes, props, and so on.
Besides these, what else is there?
He can't think of anything right now.
"You decide for yourself." As soon as the words left her mouth, Luo Yunqing regretted them and quickly added, "No strawberry-flavored condoms!"
He doesn't hate strawberries, but he hates everything that tastes like strawberries.
The phrase "in a hurry" immediately made Pei Yanli laugh.
Luo Yunqing: "What are you laughing at?"
"Why would my wife think I would give this as a New Year's gift?" Pei Yanli asked him in return.
He was speechless when asked the question.
"Don't worry." Pei Yanli withdrew one hand and poked his stiff lips. "It definitely doesn't taste like strawberries."
Luo Yunqing: So, you mean, one case of each of the other flavors?
…………
As it approached seven o'clock, after getting ready to leave, Luo Yunqing rubbed her lower back, which was starting to ache.
"What's wrong, ma'am?"
Chen Zhao went to eat with them. He glanced at the old man and saw that he looked like he was about to be taken to the execution ground to die a heroic death. Then he saw that they were almost at the old man's courtyard and instantly understood: "The family's rules for eating together have been there for a long time."
Even if he really didn't want to see Pei Hengzhi, there was nothing he could do.
But thankfully, it'll just be tonight's meal.
"Please bear with it."
Luo Yunqing remained silent, only glancing at the person in the wheelchair several times, both openly and secretly, before finally turning her gaze away once they reached the old man's courtyard.
My gaze shifted and I was startled to see that familiar red mark on the old man's neck.
The eldest son's family had already arrived.
Since her son woke up, Wang Manshu seemed to be in much better spirits. She changed into a cheongsam that she had asked the tailor to make a few months ago, with a tassel shawl over it, and held a bottle of red wine in her hand.
"Knowing that Father has a habit of having a drink in the evening, Wenxian specially went to the auction house to bid for this Château Lafite Rothschild from 1869. I hope Father will like it."
"Lafite, it's quite good." The old man chuckled softly.
As in previous years, the butler took it, repackaged it in a wooden box, and had a servant deliver it to the wine cellar.
Wang Manshu then sat down and saw the three people who came in through the door. She glanced at their hands one by one and found that none of them were carrying gifts. She then gently touched her husband.
Pei Wenxian frowned and shook his head silently.
It's Lunar New Year's Eve today, let's keep things quiet.
Wang Manshu, however, did not agree to his request. She cleared her throat and asked, "It's almost New Year's, what does Second Brother plan to give Father?"
One sentence instantly froze the otherwise harmonious atmosphere.
Pei Yanli removed her gloves, earmuffs, and hat one by one. She didn't want to say much to her, nor would she let the atmosphere remain tense. In short, she said, "I can't compare to my sister-in-law."
What do you mean by "incomparable"? Did they send it away a long time ago?
Wang Manshu wanted to ask more questions.
Just before she could speak, Pei Hengzhi, who was sitting to her right, pressed her down, robbing her of the opportunity to ask further questions.
Pei Yanli led Luo Yunqing and Chen Zhao to sit down opposite each other.
The old man couldn't help but grin as soon as they came in, until he noticed his youngest son's chunky knit sweater and then looked down at the scarf around his neck, at which point he immediately withdrew his smile.
Half complaining and half joking, she said to Luo Yunqing, "You're quite good at favoring one over the other."
“This…” Luo Yunqing scratched her cheek and quickly said, “I will knit one for you in the future.”
The three people opposite quickly noticed that Pei Yanli's sweater and the old man's scarf were exactly the same in color and pattern. Combined with their conversation, they understood what was going on.
Is it possible for the second wife to present such a worthless item?
Wang Manshu couldn't help but chuckle to herself, but her hands were slowly clenching.
The old man was very happy!
“Xiao Luo must be exhausted from knitting all this in just a few days.” Pei Yanli immediately grasped Luo Yunqing’s hand. “Let’s talk about it again next year.”
"Xiao Luo has already agreed." The old man chuckled and complained to the housekeeper, "Look at him, he gets all the big stuff, but what we get are all small things."
The butler, both amused and exasperated, chimed in, "You've got a good deal; mine is even smaller."
"That won't do!" The old man didn't hide anything from him and offered his advice: "Tell him that next year, he must knit us a big one."
That's what she said, but her eyes were actually fixed on her youngest son.
“How about this?” Pei Yanli said, “I’ll weave it.”
"You said it yourself!" The old man's voice suddenly rose eight octaves. "No cheating! This time next year, it'll be one for you, Uncle Zhang, and one for me."
Pei Yanli nodded: "Okay."
Chen Zhao, who was sitting on the far outside, chimed in, "What about me?"
"You want me to knit it for you too?" Pei Yanli turned her head and glanced over.
Chen Zhao quickly retracted his audacious request and waved his hand, saying, "Never mind, just give me a bigger year-end bonus."
A few people and a few words were enough to warm up the somewhat tense atmosphere, making the three members of the eldest son's family seem even more out of place, like outsiders.
…………
At 8 p.m., before the New Year's Eve dinner officially began, after the butler had taken his seat, the old man made a few symbolic concluding remarks.
"The biggest achievement this year isn't how much the Pei family made, but rather—Yanli, at 29, finally got married, and her health is slowly improving. And Xiaoheng, after such a big incident, has also woken up. In any case, as long as everyone is safe and healthy, that's good." At this age, the old man only asks for these things. He sighed and raised his glass: "May next year bring peace as well."
As he finished speaking, everyone raised their glasses together.
Not long after he put the cup down, Pei Hengzhi poured another one.
Seeing this, Wang Manshu quickly stopped her, saying, "Your injury hasn't healed yet."
“Mother.” Pei Hengzhi pressed down her hand and looked across the round table. “This cup is for… Second Aunt. Not only did she bring good luck to Second Uncle, but I also woke up as soon as we returned to the old house. She truly deserves to be called… a lucky star. Thank you, Second Aunt.”
If Luo Yunqing had felt pleased to hear the term "Second Aunt" before, now she felt a sense of unease, as if she were surrounded by venomous snakes.
What does he want to do?
Why would you toast yourself for no reason?
Luo Yunqing refused to accept the high praise he was giving her, saying, "You should thank the doctor."
"No matter what, we have to toast Second Aunt." Pei Hengzhi glanced around out of the corner of his eye. "It's the New Year, Second Aunt, aren't you going to give us face?"
“Your second aunt can’t hold her liquor, I’ll drink for her.” Pei Yanli poured a full cup without another word and drank it all in one gulp. “Is that alright?”
"good."
Pei Hengzhi readily agreed.
He didn't say anything after that, only occasionally glancing at the person opposite him, until the New Year's Eve dinner was over.
Back in the courtyard, Wang Manshu began to complain: "Why did you offer him a toast?"
“Mother.” Pei Hengzhi gripped his numb knees tightly, exhaled heavily, and said in a low voice, “He is a lucky star.”
"What lucky star?" Wang Manshu scoffed dismissively.
Then I heard him mutter, "Didn't my second uncle get better day by day after marrying him?"
That cannot be denied.
Since meeting Luo Yunqing, Pei Yanli has been unexpectedly lucky.
"Xiao Heng, don't worry." Wang Manshu patted his hand to comfort him, "Your father has already sent your birth information to Nanyan Temple, and they will soon find someone to bring you good luck."
"Why can't it be Luo Yunqing?"
Wang Manshu froze, as if she had misheard. "What did you say?"
"Since he's so good to Uncle Wang, what if we snatch him away from him!" Pei Hengzhi gradually went mad.
Especially when I think about how happily they were having a snowball fight in the yard during the day, a fire fills my chest, ready to burst forth.
Luo Yunqing had never smiled at him so happily before.
He grabbed his mother's hand and pulled her closer, "If Luo Yunqing were gone, would Second Uncle still be the same as he is now?"
"Xiao Heng!" Even Wang Manshu thought he had gone mad. "Luo Yunqing has already been married once, and it was Pei Yanli's man. How could you... Listen to me, and Mom will find you someone better."
"There's no better one, I want him!"
He wanted that person to smile at him too.
Smile only at him!
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