On the morning of the Lantern Festival, Liu Daneng personally went to the Xu family.
When the servant came to report, Liu Fang's heart skipped a beat. She thought that Old Lady Liu's health had worsened again.
After all, over the years, the Liu family has visited the Xu family very few times, or more accurately, entered the Xu family's gate very few times.
Because they always came like they were begging for money, which was extremely annoying, Liu Fang told the gatekeeper that when she and Xu Genshan were not home, the Liu family should not be allowed to come in.
Even if they are at home, a servant must come and announce their arrival first.
In the first year or two, the Liu family made quite a fuss, but they exhausted their efforts and lost face, and there was no reaction, so they finally calmed down.
Liu Fang had just gotten up, quickly washed up, and asked the gatekeeper to lead the person to the front hall to wait.
Every time Liu Daneng entered the Xu family mansion, he felt a sense of novelty, because every time he entered, he felt that he had not seen enough, and sometimes he even fantasized.
First published on: Tower > Read Novels
How wonderful it would be to have such a large house of my own!
Unfortunately, such wonderful things never happen in dreams.
When Liu Fang arrived, he was staring intently at the teapot on the table. The teapot was such a beautiful color; it probably wasn't cheap.
Liu Daneng looked around and found that only the maid was standing at the door. He picked up the small teacup, drank the tea in one gulp, and then put the cup into his sleeve.
Anyway, there are five teacups on the table, so one more won't make a difference.
He still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking that the Xu family wouldn't find out.
Just as I hid the cup, I heard the maid at the door call out, "Greetings, Madam."
Liu Daneng, looking guilty, put the hand that was hiding the cup underneath and covered it with his other hand.
"Great power." Liu Fang was in a hurry and didn't notice his actions.
"Sister," Liu Daneng called out.
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"How is Mother's health?" Liu Fang asked as soon as she opened her mouth. She really couldn't think of anything else that would make Liu Daneng come to the Xu family so early in the morning.
"Mother's health is alright. Xiaohua used the ginseng you brought back to make soup for Mother, and Mother's spirits have improved a lot now."
Liu Fang felt much relieved after hearing this. She chatted with her younger brother for a few more minutes before asking him what had brought him here.
“Sister, isn’t today the fifteenth?” Liu Daneng rubbed his hands together. “Mother said that you’ve been married for so many years and haven’t been back to your parents’ home for the fifteenth of the lunar month. This year, she wants you to go back and spend the Lantern Festival with her.”
Liu Fang never expected that Liu Daneng would come for this matter. She had been married for many years and her children were all grown up, but Old Lady Liu never asked her to come back on any holiday.
Has she changed her mind this year?
After a moment's thought, Liu Fang said, "I've been busy in town these past few days and almost forgot that today is the Lantern Festival."
"I've prepared all the gifts for you, and I was planning to have them delivered today."
"It's perfect that you're here. We'll have someone take you back with us later."
After thinking it over, Liu Fang concluded that it was because the gift was delivered late this year that Liu Daneng had come to her door.
"Sister, that's not what I meant." Liu Daneng quickly waved his hand, and perhaps because the movement of raising his hand was too large, the teacup in his sleeve fell out.
It rolled and rolled until it landed at Liu Fang's feet.
The bright white teacup was quite eye-catching. Liu Fang looked at the five teacups on the table, and then at the one on the ground.
"This, this~" Liu Daneng felt that the charcoal fire in the Xu family's house was burning too brightly. He was sweating profusely and didn't know what to say.
Liu Fang understood everything, but she didn't intend to expose him. Her younger brother was nearly forty, so she decided to save him some face.
She bent down to pick up the teacup, called over a maid, and had a new tea set brought up.
Seeing that she didn't ask about the teacup, Liu Daneng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly tried to distract Liu Fang by talking to her.
"Sister, no need for any gifts. Mother just wants the whole family to go back and celebrate the Lantern Festival together."
"Mother said her health is like this, and she doesn't know when it will end, so..."
Liu Fang was somewhat skeptical of this statement. Just the day before the Lunar New Year, the old lady had been yelling at her, saying she was incredibly lucky. How could she suddenly feel like she was dying so soon?
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Actually, Old Lady Liu didn't say this; it was Liu Daneng who added it on his own initiative because he was afraid Liu Fang wouldn't go back.
"Mother is in good health and will definitely live to be a hundred." To be honest, Liu Fang didn't really want to go back.
Liu Daneng leaned forward slightly, "Sister, I know you have a problem with Mom, but that's just how she is. She's always been stubborn her whole life."
"They definitely won't say anything nice, but don't worry, Xiaohua and I talked to Mom for a long time this time. Today, we're just having a nice family meal together."
"If your mother says another word to you, just leave. We will absolutely not blame you."
Why is he protecting her like this? Liu Fang looked at Liu Daneng strangely. She had never heard him say such a thing in all these years.
Liu Daneng met Liu Fang's gaze frankly and openly, "Sister, I'm scared. Don't be fooled by Mother's ability to talk now; they say that when an old person gets sick, it's like a mountain collapsing."
“I’m afraid that my mother will not be able to hold on any longer and will pass away. When I think about it, our whole family has never had a meal together. It’s such a pity.”
When he got emotional, Liu Daneng even wiped his eyes, his eyes slightly red.
Liu Fang kept scrutinizing him. It was rare that her unreliable younger brother could still understand things at this age, which at least gave Liu Fang some comfort.
However, as pleased as she was, Liu Fang knew Old Lady Liu well enough not to directly refuse Liu Daneng's filial piety.
"How about this, Man'er and the others have made plans to celebrate the Lantern Festival with some friends tonight. I'll take the kids over there around noon."
"Then I'll come back in the afternoon to prepare for the Lantern Festival tonight."
I went to Liu's house at noon, just for a short while, which gave me an excuse to come back early.
Liu Daneng seemed a little hesitant, but after thinking for a while, he said, "Okay, I know you guys have a lot of things to do, then come and have lunch together at noon."
Before leaving, he kept telling Liu Fang, "Don't eat lunch, come to my house for lunch."
Liu Fang verbally agreed, but in her heart she had mixed feelings. She thought the food at the Liu family's house might not taste good, so she decided to eat well first before going over.
After seeing Liu Daneng off, Liu Fang told her family about the matter, and Grandma Xu nodded in agreement.
"It's good to go out for a meal, so as not to give people something to talk about."
They can say anything and everything in the village. They don't care how Old Lady Liu treats Liu Fang, they only know how Liu Fang treats Old Lady Liu.
In this day and age, the pressure of filial piety can be so immense that it can be suffocating.
Xu Genshan went to town and couldn't accompany Liu Fang back at noon. Xu Yi also spent the morning working at the guard post.
Only Fu Man'er and Xu Maoneng from their main branch of the family went with Liu Fang.
Liu Fang thought it was a good idea. Liu Mao was a gentle and honest boy, and he was easier to talk to than Yi'er.
If Xu Yi went, Liu Fang would worry from time to time that one of his words might hurt Old Lady Liu's feelings.
As for Man'er, she just needs to go there and not say a word. She should just sit quietly for a while and then leave.
"Mom." On the way back to the backyard, Xu Mao ran up to Liu Fang and said shyly, "I have something to do at noon, so I can't go to Grandma's house with you."
"Huh?" Liu Fang asked in surprise, "It's already the fifteenth today, and you still have things to do?"
Not to mention that the busy winter farming season is over, and today is a holiday, the Xu family's day laborers have long since gone home to celebrate.
Xu Mao became even more uncomfortable, not daring to look Liu Fang in the eye. "This isn't a family matter; it's my own business."
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He was still thinking about how to phrase it more appropriately when Liu Fang patted him on the shoulder, looked up at him, and said, "Go ahead, just don't miss dinner."
The youngest son was not as outstanding as the eldest son, and he was usually quiet, but Liu Fang loved all her children very much.
Xu Mao is a steady and sensible person, so the reason he was allowed to go out must be for something more important.
"Thank you, Mother." Xu Mao smiled happily, exchanged a few words with Liu Fang, and then left.
The original trip of three has now become a mother and daughter going together. "Man'er, if you don't want to go, you can stay at home at noon. I'll go by myself."
Liu Fang knew that Fu Man'er also disliked the Liu family, a dislike that had existed since she was a child.
“I’ll go with Mother.” Fu Man’er took Liu Fang’s arm and leaned affectionately on her shoulder.
In Fu Man'er's heart, the Liu family was a den of wolves and tigers. How could she bear to let her mother go into danger alone? She had to protect her mother.
Liu Fang patted her daughter's hand affectionately, "Alright, let's go and come back quickly, and finish this quickly."
It is clear how perfunctory Liu Fang was about going to the Liu family.
The mother and daughter strolled along, and Liu Fang muttered to herself, "I wonder what could have gotten into your second brother that made him go out even during the holiday."
"This child is just too good at keeping secrets. He doesn't tell his family anything, but fortunately, his family doesn't have to worry about him much."
Liu Fang seemed to be muttering to herself, and Fu Man'er's eyes flickered as she listened.
Looking at her mother's serene face, she thought to herself, "Never mind, I'll wait and see what happens."
It's rare for my mother to have some peace and quiet, so I shouldn't spoil that peace.
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