Chapter 178 Reunion
Nan Zhiyi had already prepared the bathwater.
Gu Xiao placed Xiaoman into her special bathtub, and he happily splashed water.
Nan Zhiyi rummaged through the clean cotton onesies and diapers, and smiled knowingly as she listened to the sounds of the father and son playing in the bathroom.
A short while later, Gu Xiao came out carrying Xiao Man in a large towel.
After taking a bath, Xiaoman smelled of milk all over, like a soft, fluffy glutinous rice ball.
A call to have dinner served came from downstairs, and Gu Yan, having changed his clothes, knocked on the door.
Seeing Xiaoman's refreshed appearance, he felt a strong urge to hug her, but first cautiously asked, "She won't wet herself this time, will she?"
Only after receiving reassurance did she take the child, unable to resist kissing her chubby cheeks repeatedly, and finally gently biting Xiaoman's cheek: "Ah! So delicious!"
Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but laugh, and Gu Xiao also shook his head and chuckled.
When the three of them went downstairs, two tables of food had already been set out in the restaurant.
The adults sat around the long dining table, while the children huddled together at a small table next to the coffee table.
Aunt Wu came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of steamed egg custard. Seeing Xiaoman, she beamed, "Oh my, our Xiaoman has gotten so chubby! Give Xiaoman to me, I'll feed him."
Gu Yan reluctantly handed the child over to Wu Ma.
This was the first time Xiaoman had ever seen such a lively scene. His eyes widened, and he babbled, attracting everyone's attention.
Commander Gu coughed lightly and said, "Let's eat." His gaze kept drifting towards Xiaoman.
Aunt Wu happily carried Xiaoman to the sofa and carefully blew on the steamed egg custard to cool it down.
The children all peered curiously at chubby Xiaoman, and Nannan exclaimed on tiptoe, "My little brother has grown big!"
Gu Qiang leaned closer, reaching out to touch her, but Wu Ma gently stopped him, saying, "Qiangqiang, hurry up and eat. Your little brother wants to eat."
Hearing the commotion from across the table, the second sister-in-law immediately called out, "Gu Qiang! Eat your food!"
Gu Qiang shrank back and lowered his head to pick at the rice in his bowl.
The long dining table was packed full, with a dazzling array of chicken, duck, fish, and meat on display.
The second brother got up and poured everyone a glass of white wine, while the eldest sister-in-law poured orange soda for the women.
As everyone raised their glasses, the eldest brother, Gu Weiguo, said in a loud voice, "Dad, would you like to say a few words? It's a rare occasion for us to be together."
Commander Gu raised his glass and simply said, "It's good that everyone is safe."
The eldest brother added, "Wishing Dad good health and that our family will always be harmonious and happy. It's a rare opportunity for us to reunite this year; both the fifth and sixth brothers are back. The addition of new members to our family is a joyous occasion."
He raised his glass to Gu Xiao, "Fifth brother is doing a great job in Beijing, making his father proud!"
The second brother immediately chimed in, "Come on, everyone, let's clink glasses!"
The clinking of glasses immediately livened up the atmosphere at the table.
Commander Gu picked up his chopsticks. "Let's eat."
Gu Xiao's first chopsticks were used to pick up a piece of fish belly meat, cleaned of all bones, and placed it in Nan Zhiyi's bowl. He then ladled out a bowl of chicken soup and left it to cool beside her.
Gu Min smiled: "Fifth Brother is still so caring."
Wang Juan picked at the rice in her bowl: "Indeed, Fifth Sister-in-law is so lucky."
Zhang Xiufen thought to herself, "When I was pregnant, I came back here specifically to rest and recuperate. I ate bird's nest every day. Not to mention how many things that kid Gu Yan gave to the two of them, this time when he came back from the south, he gave each of his older brothers and sisters a little bit of local specialties, and carried countless bags of things into the fifth brother's room."
Gu Yan slammed down his wine glass and sneered, "I'm happy to give things to my own brother and nephew, does my second sister-in-law have a problem with that?"
"Damn it!" Commander Gu slammed down his chopsticks. "We're all family!"
The older brother quickly tried to smooth things over: "The sixth son is just being childish, Dad, don't get angry."
Fourth Brother Gu Weimin also raised his glass: "Why bother with these things between brothers? Let's drink!"
After Gu Yan finished the last few bites of rice, he threw down his chopsticks and slipped to the sofa to watch Xiao Man eat.
The little guy was eating steamed egg custard mixed with rice, his cheeks puffed out, with rice grains sticking to the tip of his nose. He would smack his little mouth from time to time, looking utterly adorable.
Gu Yan reached out to pinch his cheek, but Wu Ma slapped his hand away.
Nan Zhiyi had almost finished eating, while Gu Xiao was still drinking with his brothers.
He noticed her gaze, turned to her and whispered, "Shall we go keep Xiaoman company first?" Seeing her nod, he added, "I'll be done soon."
Nan Zhiyi stood up and smiled at everyone: "Dad, brothers and sisters-in-law, please enjoy your meal. I'm going to check on Xiaoman."
When she walked to the sofa, Xiaoman had already finished eating, and Aunt Wu was wiping his face.
"Zhiyi, you two watch over Xiaoman. I'm going to the kitchen." Aunt Wu patted Xiaoman's little hand again before leaving.
Gu Yan hugged Xiao Man tightly, as if she were a doll.
"Zhiyi, I bought some new clothes for Xiaoman, and I've put the milk powder in your room. There are also some for Fifth Brother and you; they're all the latest styles from the South."
Nan Zhiyi thanked her softly, "You're always so generous."
Gu Yan clicked his tongue: "Why are you being so formal with me? I'll get angry if you say thank you again."
He pinched Xiaoman's chubby little feet. "I'm happy to buy things for you, especially for Xiaoman. This little bit of money is nothing."
The lamplight illuminated his smiling face, and Nan Zhiyi secretly speculated that this kid had really made a name for himself in the South.
She asked, "Is everything going well in the South?"
"More than smooth sailing!" Gu Yan's eyes lit up, but his voice was very soft, as if afraid the others would hear, "Over there... they bought the digital watches for ten yuan and resold them for thirty!"
As they were talking, Xiaoman started blowing bubbles.
Nan Zhiyi wiped the child's mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Anping has gotten her marriage certificate. They'll have a wedding banquet in the capital on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, and then another one in Jian'an."
“Then I can’t attend her wedding banquet. I have to leave after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.” Gu Yan held Xiaoman on his lap. “I’ve left the watch in your room, and a radio too. Please take it to her for me.”
Seeing Nan Zhiyi raise an eyebrow in disapproval, he scratched his head. "I originally wanted to give her a watch, but didn't you say you wanted to give her a watch... so I just picked something random..."
"You gave Zhengping a radio, and now you're giving one to Anping?" Nan Zhiyi chuckled. "Do those siblings need something from you?"
"What can we do then! We can sell the radio since we don't listen to it anyway," Gu Yan wailed. "We can't just give away the TV, can we? The Overseas Chinese Store requires foreign exchange certificates..."
Nan Zhiyi glared at him, "How could Anping and Zhengping possibly sell the gifts you gave them??"
"Then...then I'll think about it for the next few days?" Gu Yan said awkwardly.
Nan Zhiyi: "You broke up with your previous boyfriend. Have you been doing anything about it lately...?"
He didn't want to talk about relationships with Nan Zhiyi, so he hurriedly picked up Xiaoman and said, "Oh dear, it's time to change her diaper!" and ran away as if fleeing.
At this moment, Gu Xiao stood up from the dining table, his steps slightly unsteady, and looked at Nan Zhiyi.
She quickly went over to support him, letting him put his weight on her shoulders.
Gu Xiao steadied himself and nodded to everyone: "If you really can't go on, you all drink."
The eldest brother laughed and slapped the table: "Fifth brother's alcohol tolerance isn't what it used to be!"
The second brother chimed in, "Is it because your wife is too strict with you?"
Gu Xiao didn't speak, but smiled at his brothers, sisters-in-law and third sister, and then followed Nan Zhiyi up the stairs.
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