Chapter 30 New Year's Eve
morning.
Gu Jianjun, the second eldest son of the Gu family, returned with his wife Zhang Xiufen and their two sons. The eldest son, Gu Gang, is fourteen years old and has a robust and lively appearance; the younger son, Gu Qiang, is ten years old and has a clever and quick-witted look.
Before Gu Jianjun had even fully stepped inside, his booming voice filled the room: "Dad, Fifth Brother. We're here. This snow is making the roads incredibly difficult to walk on!"
Behind him followed Zhang Xiufen, who was slightly plump, with short hair reaching her ears, wearing a navy blue cotton-padded jacket that was neither new nor old, clutching a cloth bag in her hand, and looking reserved.
Then, two boys, like little calves, squeezed in from behind.
Almost simultaneously, the fourth brother, Gu Weimin, and his family entered the house. He was dressed in a woolen military uniform, standing upright with a calm smile on his face.
Fourth Sister-in-law Wang Juan, an actress in the performing arts troupe, is in her early thirties, with fashionable curly hair, wearing a fitted maroon wool coat, and exquisite makeup. Her daughter, Gu Pan, nicknamed Nannan, is eight years old and dressed in brightly colored clothes.
Behind Wang Juan, a young soldier in military uniform was carrying several beautifully designed cardboard boxes printed with foreign letters.
All eyes were on Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi in the living room.
Gu Xiao wore a casual gray turtleneck sweater, which accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs. His cool and imposing aura was concealed beneath the casualness of home, yet he was still impossible to ignore.
Nan Zhiyi stood beside him, wearing a beige cashmere sweater, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, a gentle and graceful smile on her face, like a quietly blooming magnolia.
"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Fourth Brother, Fourth Sister-in-law." Gu Xiao stepped forward to greet the guests.
Nan Zhiyi smiled, but her palms were slightly sweaty.
She then called out to the people one by one.
"Fifth brother!" Gu Jianjun patted Gu Xiao on the shoulder, glanced at Nan Zhiyi, and nodded, "Sister-in-law."
Gu Weimin smiled more politely: "Fifth brother, sister-in-law, Happy New Year."
Wang Juan looked Nan Zhiyi up and down, a smile playing on her lips: "This is Fifth Sister-in-law? She's really pretty."
She smiled and handed a beautifully packaged flat box to Nan Zhiyi, her movements affectionate. "Fifth sister-in-law, take a look! Do you like it? It's a silk scarf that just arrived from Shanghai for our cultural troupe. The pattern is perfect for your figure!"
Nan Zhiyi took the box and said gently, "Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law, this is too much trouble."
Gu Weimin handed a thick kraft paper envelope to Gu Xiao: "Fifth brother, this is a little something for you to buy some things for your wife." He then turned to Nan Zhiyi, "Zhiyi, don't be shy, we're home."
"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Gu Xiao took the envelope.
Nan Zhiyi thanked Gu Weimin, took out the red envelopes she had prepared, walked to the children, squatted down, and said in a soft and gentle voice: "Come on, Qiangzi, Gangzi, Nannan, take these, Aunt Wu is giving you red envelopes, buy candy and firecrackers to play with."
The children's eyes lit up instantly.
Qiangzi hesitated for a moment, glancing at his parents, but Gangzi couldn't help but reach out and take it, calling out crisply, "Thank you, Auntie Wu!"
The little girl hid behind her mother, her face flushed.
Wang Juan smiled and nudged her daughter, saying, "Quickly thank your fifth aunt!"
Gu Xiao also took out several red envelopes and distributed them to the three children: "Take these."
Second sister-in-law Zhang Xiufen handed Nan Zhiyi a cloth bag containing several pairs of thick cotton socks: "I knitted these myself, don't mind them."
Nan Zhiyi thanked her softly.
The atmosphere in the living room instantly became lively.
The guards and young soldiers helped to organize all the luggage, big and small.
The maid poked her head out of the kitchen and greeted her with a smile, "Commander, dinner is ready!"
Lunch was served at the restaurant.
The long table was covered with a white cloth and filled with bowls and plates, chicken, duck, fish and meat, a rare feast.
Commander Gu was in the main seat, with Gu Xiao and Nan Zhiyi next to him, his second brother's family on the left, and his fourth brother's family on the right.
The guards and maids quietly served the dishes.
The commander picked up his chopsticks and said a single word: "Eat."
The superficial noise in the living room had settled down at the dining table, leaving only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks and the sounds of chewing food.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Qiangzi and Gangzi wolfed down their food, and Zhang Xiufen would occasionally whisper reminders to them to slow down and watch their table manners.
Nannan was being looked after by Wang Juan, and she ate the fish meat that had been carefully picked out of her bowl in small bites.
Gu Jianjun picked up a large piece of braised pork with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing a few times, he asked, seemingly curious and straightforward, "Fifth brother, is your sister-in-law's family background really okay? The political review is not easy to pass."
He glanced at his father, who sat in the head seat, as if seeking confirmation.
Commander Gu didn't even lift his eyelids, focusing intently on eating the winter bamboo shoots.
Gu Xiao put down his spoon.
"Second brother, Zhiyi is now a member of the Gu family. Her file has been re-verified by the organization. She is a patriotic child who actively seeks to align herself with the organization. There are no problems. Dad personally oversaw the matter."
Gu Jianjun choked for a moment, then met Gu Xiao's gaze. He didn't dare voice his inner turmoil again, only mumbling a couple of "Oh," before lowering his head to eat his rice: "That's good, that's good..."
“Exactly,” Wang Juan chimed in with a smile, “Second brother, you always worry too much. Zhiyi is beautiful and sensible. Nannan, look how much Fifth Aunt loves you, she even gave you a red envelope.”
She changed the subject.
Gu Weimin smiled and raised his glass: "Dad, Fifth Brother, Second Brother, Sister-in-law, it's New Year's, let's have a drink."
The commander finally looked up, picked up the small wine cup in front of him, and everyone followed suit.
The glass and the ceramic wine cup gently clinked together, barely qualifying as a ritual of reunion.
The meal was finished amidst a facade of liveliness and an undercurrent of polite formalities.
The children's laughter was the only warm color.
Nan Zhiyi remained composed throughout, responding appropriately to her sister-in-law's probing and the children's occasional displays of affection.
Gu Xiao didn't talk much, but Nan Zhiyi would occasionally look up at him and their eyes would always meet.
Under the tablecloth, he gently patted her knee, in a comforting gesture.
Nan Zhiyi lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat calmer.
After the meal, the commander said, "Everyone take a break. We'll make dumplings and stay up all night to welcome the New Year."
Upon receiving the order, the children cheered and rushed upstairs to the second floor.
Soon, Qiangzi and Gangzi were probably fighting over some toy, and the faint sounds of their argument penetrated the floorboards.
The adults would go to the guest rooms to rest, or sit on the sofa in the living room, chatting idly in low voices.
Nan Zhiyi followed Gu Xiao upstairs.
"Are you tired?" Gu Xiao asked her.
Nan Zhiyi shook her head. "It's alright."
Gu Xiao then held her on his lap, and the two read a novel together.
The sound of clanging and banging came from the kitchen downstairs; the maid was preparing the tools for making dumplings.
The sound of the washbasin hitting the cutting board came through clearly.
Nan Zhiyi: "I'll go downstairs and help make dumplings."
Gu Xiao put his arm around her waist: "Rest. You don't need to go."
"How can that be? Everyone's busy down there, and I'm the only one taking it easy. I feel really bad about it."
She reached out her hand, hooked her fingertips around his little finger, and shook it. "Let me go, Fifth Brother? I...I'll give it a try."
Gu Xiao looked down at her slender, fair fingers, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"When I cook it, I'll only eat the ones you make. I don't care how they're wrapped."
Nan Zhiyi smiled and said, "Then you wait."
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