Seeing the chaotic scene, Ning Zhiheng noticed that Xiao Wan was timid and hesitant to speak to strangers. Fearing she might feel uncomfortable, he arranged for a kind-looking maid to take her to a guest room to rest and have something to eat. He then went to the dining room with his family to wait for his father's return.
The servants quickly prepared the dinner. Mother Sang Su'e said she wouldn't wait for Father Ning Liangcai, but Ning Zhiheng dared not.
The Ning family has been a family of scholars for generations and is one of the most prominent families in Hangzhou. Although Ning Zhiheng’s family is one of many branches, the old rules must be followed.
Ning Zhiheng's elder brother, Ning Zhipeng, married and had children three years ago. He bought a courtyard behind his family's restaurant and has already moved out. Someone has been sent to inform him, and he is expected to return to see Ning Zhiheng later.
Not long after, the second concubine, Madam Zheng, heard that Ning Zhiheng had returned and rushed over to see him. Madam Zheng was in her early thirties. She had been very beautiful when she was young, but after more than ten years in the family, her appearance had faded into the background. She was still considered a pretty woman.
To be honest, she only benefited from being young. Her mother, Sang Su'e, was also very beautiful when she was young, no less so than Zheng.
Zheng was a concubine and did not hold a high position in the family, especially since Sang Su'e was a very powerful first wife. Upon seeing the mistress, Zheng quickly greeted her, and Sang Su'e gestured for her to sit down.
"I hope you are well, Auntie!"
Ning Zhiheng had never been particularly close to this concubine since childhood, and only gave her a polite greeting.
"Zhiheng has changed a lot since he came back this time. How come he suddenly seems like a grown-up! It's only been a few years, wow!" Aunt Zheng exclaimed with admiration.
She was sweet-talking and sensible, and never caused trouble. Of course, this was largely due to Sang Su'e's strong-willed approach, so the atmosphere at home was relatively harmonious.
At this moment, the third brother Ning Zhiming and the youngest sister Ning Zhen also came over.
The third brother, Ning Zhiming, is fourteen years old. He has a handsome appearance and an introverted personality. He is growing very fast and is almost as tall as Ning Zhiheng.
The youngest sister, Ningzhen, is twelve years old. She is pretty and charming, and looks a lot like her mother, Zheng. She is lively and cheerful, and is the joy of the family. As the only girl, everyone in the family loves her very much.
Ning Zhiming was shy by nature. After entering the house, he simply nodded and called out "Second Brother" to his second brother, and then said nothing more.
His personality is quite similar to Ning Zhiheng's. Ning Zhiheng was reserved and introverted since childhood and didn't talk much. It was only after the memories of his two lives merged that he became more cheerful.
Ning Zhiming was more reserved around him than around his elder brother Ning Zhipeng.
Ning Zhen, the younger sister, had a very good relationship with Ning Zhiheng. She skipped and hopped over to him, grabbing his arm tightly: "Second brother, did you bring me a gift when you came back?"
Ning Zhiheng affectionately patted her hair: "You won't be shortchanged. I'll get it for you after you finish eating."
Ning Zhen pouted, annoyed that he had messed up her hair, shook her head and shook off his hand, and said coquettishly, "I want Qin Liying's album. It's the most popular one right now, and many of my classmates have it at home."
Ning Zhiheng was taken aback. There are already fans of celebrities in this era!
"I didn't bring any with me. I'll go shopping tomorrow and buy you as many as you want!"
Aunt Zheng was pleased to see Ning Zhen chatting warmly with her second brother. In this family, the eldest son, Ning Zhipeng, was kind and generous, befitting an elder brother.
He treated Aunt Zheng and her two younger siblings fairly well, and did not treat them as outsiders.
However, the second son, Ning Zhiheng, had a completely different personality. He was quiet and introverted from a young age, not easily getting close to others, but he was very opinionated and always kept his distance from Aunt Zheng. He was much colder in personality than the eldest son, Ning Zhipeng.
Therefore, Aunt Zheng didn't dare to speak too casually to Ning Zhiheng on ordinary days. Later, after he applied to military academy, she even tried to ingratiate herself with him when they were together.
I always felt that the second son wasn't a good match!
"Zhen'er, don't keep bothering your second brother as soon as you come back. Girls should be more quiet and gentle; you can't stay lively all day long," Aunt Zheng said, feigning reproach.
Ningzhen wasn't afraid of her mother at all; instead, she made a face at her mother and completely disregarded her words.
It was only then that Sang Su'e, the mother, remembered that her son was still in military school. How could he have suddenly returned?
She asked, "Zhiheng, aren't you still studying at military academy? Why did you suddenly decide to come back this time?"
Ning Zhiheng rubbed his head somewhat embarrassedly. He had been so busy since graduating more than ten days ago that he had even forgotten to send a telegram home to let his family know that he had graduated.
He said somewhat awkwardly, "Mother, I graduated from the Army Officer School two weeks ago. This year's cadets graduated six months early."
"What? You've already graduated? You didn't even tell us! Which unit did you get assigned to?" Sang Su'e's heart jumped.
His son had always been disobedient, stubborn, and unwilling to listen to advice. He abandoned his studies to join the army and insisted on applying to the Army Officer School.
She was strongly opposed to it. As the saying goes, good iron is not used to make nails, and good men do not become soldiers!
In those chaotic times, warlords fought amongst themselves. Joining the army meant going to war, and what mother would want her child to risk their life to go to the battlefield?
However, Ning Zhiheng insisted on his own way, running away from home despite family pressure, and applied to a military academy with his classmates. He only informed his family after he was accepted, and his family, seeing that their persuasion was ineffective, reluctantly accepted it.
Unexpectedly, her child graduated and was about to join the army. How could she not feel at ease?
"Mother, don't worry. My teacher has arranged a good job for me after graduation. I'll be working in the logistics department of the military government in Nanjing, and I won't have to go to the battlefield!"
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