"By the way, your third aunt came by today. She said that this weekend is your grandfather's birthday celebration, and she's going to set up ten tables at a restaurant. She wants you two to come over."
Song Huizhen interrupted the siblings' conversation, feeling uneasy as she thought about how Chang's third sister had come to persuade her to let her children return to the Chang family more often.
"I'm not going. What does the Chang family's happy occasion have to do with me? I don't want to go and hear them say a bunch of bad things about you."
Chang Ling could already imagine the usual questions that would be asked of her relatives and friends without even having to show up.
What do you mean, "Why doesn't your mom come here?" or "What does your mom do for a living now?"... Now that your mom is divorced, you'll probably have to ask, "Why did your mom divorce your dad?"
Asking a question you already know the answer to is utterly hypocritical and a gossip's jerk!
“Chang Ling! You have to go. Even though your father and I are divorced, you are still a descendant of the Chang family. If you don’t go, people will definitely gossip.”
Song Hye-jin did not want her children to be known as unfilial, so her voice became much sterner.
"Mom, don't be angry, I'll bring my sister over for dinner."
Chang Jing knew what they would face in the future, but just as his mother worried, if they didn't go, people would definitely talk about them and gossip.
"Hmph! Chang Jing, you'd better cover my mouth then, or I'll make those gossipy old women nag me to death."
Chang Ling muttered something unwillingly and stopped refusing. After two months of experience doing business together, Chang Ling knew Chang Jing's current personality and temperament well.
"Well, it's good that you understand. I'll prepare a red envelope for you to take with you as a token of your respect to your grandfather!"
"No, Changling and I will prepare the gifts ourselves. It's not appropriate for grandchildren who haven't even started earning money to give red envelopes to their grandparents."
What are you thinking! Giving money? You can just buy a picture frame from a boutique and send it over yourself. Hmm, a wooden pipe would also work.
"Alright then! If you want to prepare it yourselves, then prepare it properly and don't let anyone gossip about it."
"Mom, the stall is packed up, you can go home now. Changling and I are picking out gifts!"
After saying that, he pulled Chang Ling toward the boutique, and carefully explained the gift he had thought of to her.
"You give me the pipe, I'll give you the picture frame, is that settled?"
When Chang Jing offered to give her a picture frame, Chang Ling immediately agreed. She remembered the red envelope with thirty-four yuan that Old Lady Chang had given her family on the day they moved into their new house.
Chang Ling felt an urge to get revenge, and now was the perfect opportunity! The picture frame itself didn't have any special meaning, so why not put a black and white painting inside it?
I hope Granny Chang isn't too stupid and didn't understand!
"Brother, I've made my choice, this wooden photo frame is the one."
Chang Jing also casually picked up a nice-looking handmade pipe and went to the cashier to pay.
"Could you please help us pack this? It's a gift."
"Okay, one package will cost an extra dollar. Please wait here for a moment."
Neither sibling wanted to waste their sincerity. They were already mistreated in the Chang family, and preparing a birthday gift for Old Master Chang was merely a way to avoid giving others something to gossip about.
Time flies, and it's the weekend again. After delivering goods to the clothing store, Chang Jing picked up Chang Ling and took a taxi to the hotel where Grandpa Chang was celebrating his birthday.
In the hotel lobby, Chang Decheng followed his uncle to greet the relatives. He noticed Chang Jing and his sister as soon as they appeared.
My cousins actually prepared gifts?
"Big brother, you've finally arrived! There are so many people here today. Big brother, hurry up and help with registering the wedding gifts! Otherwise, my dad and I won't be able to handle it all."
Registering the wedding gift money! What is Chang Decheng trying to do? This task used to be handled by Chang's younger uncle, so why is he being asked to help this time?
"Big brother, you're the eldest grandson in our family, hurry up and help with the registration! We're really too busy."
Uncle Chang originally wanted to refuse, but when he heard his son say that Chang Jing was their eldest grandson, he changed his mind and didn't refuse anymore.
My older brother just divorced his wife, and Chang Jing went with her. Since the Chang family is having a happy occasion, we should give face to my older brother and let Chang Jing represent the Chang family to register the gift money.
"Xiao Jing, you're your grandfather's eldest grandson, go help register the wedding gifts!"
"Okay, Xiaoling, take the gift inside to Grandpa first, I'll come find you in a bit."
Not knowing what the Chang family father and son were up to, Chang Jing decided to be patient and take a good look.
"Why don't you help out, Sister Xiaoling? I'm afraid my brother can't handle it all by himself."
Chang Ling wanted to listen to her brother and go in first to give the gift, but Chang Decheng wouldn't let her. He pulled Chang Ling and pushed Chang Jing to sit down next to the registration desk.
"Thank you for your help, Brother and Sister Xiaoling. I'll go greet the guests."
After saying that, he ignored Chang Jing and his sister and went to Chang's younger uncle to greet the relatives and friends who had arrived.
Chang Ling felt uncomfortable with such a polite attitude, fearing that the other party might have some kind of trick up their sleeve.
"It's alright, your brother is here." Seeing his sister's unease, Chang Jing comforted her gently, then kept an eye on Chang Decheng to know his next move.
Chang Decheng dutifully received his relatives until all the guests had arrived and the banquet was about to begin.
"Big brother, Sister Ling, the feast is about to begin, let's go in!"
In a small banquet hall, ten tables were neatly arranged. Old Master Chang, who was sitting at the head table, was wearing a dark red brocade Tang suit and looked like a wealthy old man.
"Xiao Jing and Xiao Ling are here. Please sit down and we're about to start the meal."
Old Granny Chang glanced at the brother and sister with her triangular eyes, instinctively wanting to say something sarcastic, but then she remembered that today was a joyous occasion and held back.
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