Aunt Wang Caixia was very moved, and Tian Xiaolan nodded in agreement.
“It’s really nice to look at the lights from home, and it’s safe too. Do you remember when our whole family went to look at the lights before, and we brought the kids along? We were so worried about our eyes.”
Every year during the Lantern Festival, children are abducted. It's a terrible tragedy.
The two aunts began to discuss the various drawbacks of going out to see the lanterns.
The younger children in the family trembled with fear upon hearing this.
I never knew that looking at a light could mean never being able to go home again. That's terrifying.
Da Ya stubbornly clung to Da Bao's clothes and refused to let go, while Da Bao held onto Zhao Qingyi tightly.
This left Zhao Qingbei completely bewildered.
"What are you two little rascals up to? Are you afraid of getting lost in your own yard?"
Da Bao nodded. "Uncle, have you gone out to see the lanterns before?"
Zhao Qingbei nodded, and Da Bao continued, "Then why didn't you get lost?"
Zhao Qingbei was very surprised. How could her nephew ask such a stupid question?
“I’m riding on my father’s, your third grandfather’s, shoulders. Do you think I could get lost? Who can snatch a child away from your third grandfather?”
Da Bao thought about it and realized it made sense. His eyes lit up.
"Does that mean if I ride on my dad's shoulders when I go out to see the lanterns, nothing will happen?"
Zhao Qingbei patted his nephew's head.
"Young man, you're overthinking it."
With so many people, anything could happen. Your dad doesn't know any light-body skills, and his martial arts aren't that great either.
I'm already lucky if I don't get squeezed myself. And I'm dragging you along as a burden.
You're not exactly young anymore, you should take better care of your dad's frail body.
After saying that, Zhao Qingbei promptly left, refusing to take responsibility for the matter of educating children.
"Big cousin, your son wants to go outside to see the lanterns and also wants to ride on your shoulders."
Zhao Qingbei decisively sold off little Da Bao.
Everyone in the yard was watching little Da Bao.
Since starting school, Da Bao has learned a lot more, and he felt a little shy being watched by the whole family.
Zhao Qingshan did indeed come over, but did not scold his son for having the idea of going out to see the lanterns.
Instead, she scooped up her son and let him ride on her shoulders.
"Hey kid, hold on tight, I'm going to pick up your sister."
Sure enough, Da Bao hugged Zhao Qingshan's head with both little hands, and Zhao Qingshan squatted down and hugged Daya in his arms as well.
Alright, one rode on the shoulders, the other hugged them. Perfectly balanced, the two children giggled with delight.
Zhao Qianci even picked up his own youngest son.
Although my son has grown quite a bit taller, he's still just a child.
Zhao Qingbei never expected to receive such treatment. Her face flushed red; she was incredibly excited.
Zhao Qingyang glanced at his younger brother, who was grinning like an idiot, and sighed.
She thought to herself how much better it would be if she hadn't grown so tall.
However, the thought was fleeting.
"Pah! How can you not grow tall? That would make you no man."
While the family was enjoying the lanterns, fireworks suddenly burst into the sky in the distance.
Although it lacks the variety of later generations, it is still a rare sight in this time and space.
The occasional colorful bursts of fireworks drew gasps of amazement from the Zhao family members.
"Oh my, whose family is this, spending so lavishly? I heard that one firework costs ten taels of gold, it's very expensive. Just a few shots and several thousand taels of silver are gone."
"That's such a waste of money." Madam Huang felt very sorry for the person who spent that much money.
They all come from humble backgrounds, so regardless of whose money it is, they must feel bad about wasting it like this. But this is a free bargain, so why not take a look?
They waited outside for another fifteen minutes before going inside, all wanting to see if that spendthrift son would set off fireworks again.
The result was naturally disappointing.
Back inside, the cook in the kitchen brought out some sweet dumplings.
The Zhao family members ate a few as a token gesture and then went back to their rooms to rest.
At this moment, the gatekeeper came to report that the heir of the Duke of Protectorate had arrived.
The Zhao family members, upon receiving the notification, looked at each other in bewilderment.
What's with the heir of the Duke of Protectorate coming over in the middle of the night?
The women who had gone back to their rooms did not come out again, but Zhao Qianci, Zhao Minggeng, and Xu Dongsheng naturally had to come out to greet the guests.
Xu Dongsheng, in particular, was quite puzzled to see his elder brother arrive so late.
"You've grown quite a bit taller, kid."
Did you see the fireworks just now? Those were set off by your older brother to welcome you back to Beijing.
"Isn't it beautiful? Do you like it? If you do, I'll set it off for you again next year, and I'll prepare even more beautiful fireworks."
Han Xuri spoke with great enthusiasm, while Xu Dongsheng looked at his brother as if he were a fool.
"So this is where the spendthrift is."
Brother, I know you welcome me back, but you don't need to spend so much money.
If you have so much money to see the light of day, why don't you just give me that silver?
I'll buy my wife a couple more outfits; if she's happy about it, she might marry me sooner.
Zhao Qianci and Zhao Minggeng's gazes towards Xu Dongsheng changed; it turned out this kid was up to something.
After the two brothers finished speaking, Han Xuri realized that he had overlooked the Zhao family father and son.
"My dear in-laws, I apologize. It's been so long since I've seen my brother, so I got a little carried away. Please don't mind."
Zhao Qianci had a blank face.
"I understand, I understand. You two brothers can chat for a while. Your uncle and I will go back to our rooms first."
"Dongsheng, there are still some glutinous rice balls in the kitchen. Remember to ask the cook to cook a bowl for Young Master Han."
After saying that, he left the living room with Zhao Minggeng's help.
Han Xuri frowned.
"Your father-in-law and grandfather don't seem very happy. Do they not like you living in their house, or do they not welcome me?"
Xu Dongsheng shook his head.
"How could that be? My father-in-law and his family have always treated me very well. They've taken good care of me in every way, from food and clothing to shelter and transportation."
In our daily interactions, I treated him without any mistreatment, and he was treated the same as all the brothers in my family.
Your complexion didn't seem too good just now, let me think...
I know what happened. It must be because I just said I wanted my little wife to marry me soon.
Those two must be very reluctant to part with them.
Han Xuri was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this, once again experiencing the dilemma faced by families raising daughters.
The two brothers chatted for a while longer when the old woman in charge of the kitchen came knocking on the door with a tray on which were two bowls of glutinous rice balls.
Upon seeing the two bowls of glutinous rice balls, Xu Dongsheng smiled.
Place the glutinous rice balls on the coffee table.
"Come on, this must have been instructed by my father-in-law and the kitchen staff to cook it."
It has black sesame filling, and it tastes pretty good. Brother, you should try some.
Han Xuri ate one and felt that it tasted really good, with a moderate sweetness and not greasy.
"Young brother, now that you're back in the capital, would you like to see your father?" Han Xuri asked.
Xu Dongsheng shook his head.
"No need. I've always been surnamed Xu, so there's absolutely no need for us to acknowledge each other."
Besides, there's no benefit for me to acknowledge him; he'll definitely interfere in my life.
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