Before they knew it, it was Tang's father's birthday. Tang Xiaoxiao booked the entire second floor of Wang's Restaurant, setting up eight tables in total. Apart from some close relatives and Tang's father's colleagues, most of Tang's relatives, except for those who lived too far away to come, also attended.
Tang's mother's family had seven siblings, with Tang's mother being the fourth oldest. Tang Xiaoxiao had more than a dozen cousins, making her a large and prosperous family. Today, apart from her third aunt and uncle's family, who were present in their entirety, the other families were unable to attend for various reasons, but each sent a representative from the younger generation.
As for Tang's father, Tang Xiaoxiao had consulted him when drafting the guest list.
Tang's father, Tang Yuanzhou, was the eldest son in the family, with a younger brother and a younger sister. Tang Xiaoxiao's grandfather passed away early, and her grandmother was a woman with bound feet. After losing her father, Tang Yuanzhou took on the heavy burden of the family, being filial to his mother and taking care of his younger siblings. However, people's hearts are unpredictable, and no one could understand how such a kind-hearted person as Tang Yuanzhou could have two ungrateful siblings.
Tang Xiaoxiao's aunt, Tang Yuanxiu, married into a family surnamed Liu in the next town. She had chosen the man herself, and their life was relatively harmonious after marriage. However, perhaps due to her cold nature, Tang Yuanxiu gradually drifted apart from her family after marriage. Although they lived very close by, she rarely visited them and ignored her own mother.
Uncle Tang Yuanxu was frail from childhood and, in those days, couldn't do farm work or have any skills. He also lacked ambition, eventually becoming a live-in son-in-law in City A through a matchmaker. Tang Yuanzhou always doted on his younger brother. Even after he got married and started his own family, Tang Yuanzhou would still bring large bags of gifts and local specialties to their home every year during holidays. Whatever the Tang sisters had, Tang Yuanxu's children would also have a share. Yet, despite Tang Yuanzhou's efforts, Tang Yuanxu's family remained indifferent to them, rarely showing up even on Grandma Tang's birthday or during the New Year.
Although Tang Yuanzhou was disappointed in his two younger siblings, he didn't interfere much; he felt it was enough that he had fulfilled his responsibilities as an older brother. What Tang Yuanzhou found unbearable was that last year, when their grandmother passed away, Tang Yuanxiu, their only daughter, made inflammatory remarks during the funeral rites. She repeatedly accused her sister-in-law, Xu Xiumei, of failing to take good care of their elderly mother, saying that their grandmother had suffered her whole life in the Tang family and hadn't even enjoyed any happiness in her final moments. Xu Xiumei was nearly driven to a frenzy by her words. Fortunately, their grandmother had lived in the Tang family for over thirty years, and the neighbors had witnessed how Xu Xiumei treated her, so no one took Tang Yuanxiu's claims seriously. But such words were still incredibly hurtful, and Tang Yuanzhou, as her older brother, directly pointed at Tang Yuanxiu's nose and told her to get out, declaring that he would treat her as if she never existed.
Uncle Tang Yuanxu, however, arrived late on the second day of the mourning period. After a few dramatic cries, he claimed to be feeling unwell and asked to return home that evening. He refused to show up again until the seventh day after his grandmother's death, no matter how many times Tang Yuanzhou called him.
This behavior completely broke Tang Yuanzhou's heart. He could tolerate his younger siblings' coldness and disregard for family ties before, but he never expected them to go this far even after their mother's passing. They truly disregarded all sense of propriety and affection. From that moment on, Tang Yuanzhou completely severed all ties with them and never mentioned them again.
On his birthday, Tang Xiaoxiao asked him if he wanted to inform the other party. Tang Yuanzhou remained silent for a while before shaking his head.
Tang Xiaoxiao understood Tang Yuanzhou's feelings and didn't say much. In fact, she also didn't want to have any more contact with those two families.
After her grandmother passed away in her previous life, her aunt's family seemed to disappear. Tang Xiaoxiao had almost never heard any news about them. As for her uncle, he had once called Tang's father for help because his daughter wanted to study abroad, but they couldn't afford much money and wanted Tang's father to lend a hand. However, Tang's father refused. If it weren't for what happened at her grandmother's funeral, Tang's father would have tried his best to fulfill this request. However, everyone has their limits, and Tang's father was a filial son; his limit was his grandmother. The bond between the brothers was completely severed when her uncle refused to offer incense at her grandmother's grave.
The two families closest to Tang's father by blood were not notified, but many distant relatives from the same clan came. Tang's father wore a festive dark red Tang suit, and Tang's mother next to him was also wearing a matching red Tang suit. The two sat in the main seat with beaming smiles. Tang Xiaoxiao and Tang Xinxin greeted the guests at the door. If anyone offered a red envelope, they refused to accept it, only inviting people in and firmly refusing to accept the red envelopes.
Since it was a sixtieth birthday, and there was a local custom of celebrating a sixtieth birthday, no one criticized the Tang family for showing off. The whole banquet was filled with joy, and the dishes drew praise from everyone when they were served. Tang Xiaoxiao heard many people asking if Wang Ji had hired a new chef, and why the dishes suddenly tasted so good.
The only thing that Tang Xiaoxiao found hard to resist was the relentless pressure from her relatives to get married.
Tang Xiaoxiao graduated from university, which, in other people's eyes, meant she was at the age to get married, regardless of her own abilities. At that time, most people still believed that women had to get married sooner or later, and not getting married was considered a failure in life. Not only Tang Xiaoxiao, but even Tang Xinxin was not spared. She had been divorced for many years and remained single. Although she had a child, she was still attractive and had many suitors.
Right now, an older woman whom Tang Xiaoxiao didn't recognize was holding Tang Xinxin's hand tightly, her old face beaming with smiles, her eyes crinkling as she repeatedly said, "Good girl, my son's workplace has good benefits, and he's good-looking too. You two will definitely get along well. You have a daughter, and my son has a son, wouldn't that be perfect family! Let me tell you, my son has a good personality, is filial, and listens to me the most. If I said I wanted you to be my daughter-in-law, he wouldn't object at all..."
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