Yan Zheng looked at Yan Xiaonan with surprise and delight: "Nannan, you can't lie to me. I ate the same canned fruit from the year before last at my grandma's house. I only ate one spoonful, and my brother didn't get a single spoonful."
Yan Xiaonan looked at Yan Ge and said to him, "Brother Yan Ge, I'll give you a bottle to take back and eat too."
Yan Ge shook his head: "Nan Nan is such a good child. Her brother has grown up and doesn't eat this stuff anymore. One bottle is enough for Yan Zheng."
Yan Zheng nodded quickly: "Nan Nan, one bottle is enough. I will share it with my brother."
Yan Ge said to Yan Zheng, "Then, little brother, if you want something in the future, you should tell your older brother. You must never take it by yourself, understand? You must know that this is Grandma's house. If you do that, it will be stealing, and you will be arrested."
Yan Zheng was startled. He stared blankly at Yan Ge, then at Yan Xiaonan, who nodded in agreement. He then turned to look at his uncle, who also nodded solemnly. Yan Zheng started to cry again, this time tears of fear. He vowed never to do it again.
The matter was finally resolved satisfactorily, and Yan Xiaonan felt a little relieved. Her second uncle was a scumbag, her second aunt was short-sighted, and Yan Zheng was still young. Fortunately, they still had Yan Ge in their family, otherwise, well, it would have been a long story.
Cuihua and Xuemei broke the awkward atmosphere in time: "Dinner is ready. Dongnan, go help Xuemei serve the dishes. Beinan and Xixin, go get the bowls and chopsticks. Eldest brother, second brother, dinner is ready. Where is Caimin? Second brother, go see where Caimin is. Dinner is ready."
Following Cuihua's instructions, everyone got busy. Yan Erqiang, now with a way out, ran out to find Cai Min. Yan Xiaonan also helped Yan Zheng put the candy on the table into his pocket. Yan Zheng, however, gave half to Yan Ge: "Brother, you've never had candy before, here, take these."
Yan Zheng tenderly patted Yan Zheng's head: "Brother, no, you put it away. Eat first. You can only have one a day, understand?" Yan Zheng nodded and carefully put the candy into his pocket.
Yan Xiaonan almost burst into tears. What was that scumbag Yan Erqiang doing? Look how much he's making the child drool. It's too much! Grandma Yan also sighed, thinking to herself that it's no good if the family is full of good people. It's too enviable. It's better if a bad one comes along. It balances things out. That's what makes it perfect.
If Yan Erqiang knew how his own mother thought of him, he'd probably just kill himself; there's no point in living. He pushed open the door with Cai Min in tow. Cai Min kept her head down, silent; her heart was broken by Yan Erqiang.
The main room was warm and cozy in winter. The Yan family's meals were really good: wild boar meat, pheasant stewed with mushrooms, spicy rabbit meat, eggs and chives, stir-fried wild vegetables with sausage, a bowl of dumplings, a large bowl of white rice, and a dozen or so steamed buns made from a mixture of flour and water.
This was the first time the three brothers had reunited in more than a decade. They raised their glasses in unison and said to Grandma Yan, "Mother, your sons toast you. You've worked so hard."
Grandma Yan had a lot of tears today, and her handkerchief was almost soaked through. Yan Xiaonan considerately took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her grandmother's tears. Grandma Yan drank the wine in one gulp and then said solemnly, "I raised the three of you. Now you are all married. I am so happy."
"From now on, you can come visit this old woman whenever you have time. If you don't, just go about your own business. I'm living with Qiangzi now, but when Nannan grows up, I'll live with her. Don't nag me, okay?"
Yan Xiaoqiang nodded and said, "Mom, we'll listen to you. When Nannan grows up, the three of us will live with her."
Yan Daqiang looked at Yan Xiaonan curiously and said, "Mother, I don't understand what you're saying. In our hometown, we say that people live with their youngest son, not their youngest daughter. The youngest daughter will get married someday."
Grandma Yan nodded, but before she could speak, Yan Xiaoqiang interrupted, "We don't marry off our daughters, we find husbands."
Everyone looked at Grandma Yan, wanting to see what she was thinking. Grandma Yan nodded vigorously. Of course, she wanted a son-in-law. The little fairy belonged to the Yan family. How could she go to someone else's house? That would be a huge loss.
Yan Daqiang looked at Yan Xiaonan and asked, "Nannan, did you hear what your grandma and dad said? They want to live with you from now on. What do you think?"
Yan Xiaonan hugged Grandma Yan's neck and said, "Grandma, when I grow up, I will take care of you, let you live in a big house, wear nice clothes, and hire an aunt to take care of you."
Yan Daqiang didn't understand. What did it mean to hire an aunt to serve you? Yan Xiaonan was a little stunned. Why were they using modern terms? How should she answer this? She thought and thought but couldn't come up with an answer. However, she was still young, so she didn't need to answer.
Turning to Grandma Yan, he said, "Grandma, I'm hungry, I want to eat."
Grandma Yan was holding back her laughter. This little rascal must have let it slip. She deliberately changed the subject and quickly told Cuihua to serve the little girl some rice. Now the little girl doesn't need to be fed anymore. She eats everything cleanly by herself, which is very convenient.
Yan Daqiang found it amusing to see the little girl change the subject. How could such a young child be so cute and clever? So he decided to tease her.
"Nan Nan, your uncle is going to the capital after the New Year. Why don't you go with him?"
Yan Xiaonan looked at Yan Daqiang seriously and said, "Uncle, when I grow up, I will go to the capital and take Grandma, Dad and Mom with me."
Grandma Yan and Cuihua felt warm inside. This little girl! Yan Xiaoqiang even puffed out his chest, "How's my daughter? Not bad, right?"
Yan Daqiang laughed and then asked Yan Xiaonan, "Did you bring your grandma, your parents, and you to Beijing to stay with your uncle?"
Grandma Yan and Cuihua were taken aback and looked at Yan Xiaonan to see how she would answer. Yan Xiaoqiang was so nervous that he didn't even blink. Yan Xiaonan shook her head. She was two years old this year. When she turned eighteen, it would be 1977, the first year that the college entrance examination was reinstated. She believed that she would have no problem getting into a university in Beijing.
"I want to study hard, go to university, go to Beijing, work and earn money to support my grandma and my parents," Yan Xiaonan said very seriously.
Yan Daqiang saw the girl's ambition in Yan Xiaonan's eyes. He stood up excitedly, walked over and picked Yan Xiaonan up in his arms, saying, "Mother, the Yan family is blessed, the Yan family has hope! You're a good girl, I like you so much. Nannan, study hard, your uncle is waiting for you to come to the capital."
After saying that, he gave Yan Xiaonan a big kiss on the face. This niece was too adorable. Yan Xiaoqiang quickly snatched his daughter away and complained, "Big brother, be gentle. My daughter has delicate skin. What if you kiss her face until it breaks?"
Yan Daqiang looked at his empty hands. How could a kiss on the cheek end up hurting his skin? What was this kid thinking?
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