Chapter 137 Reunion Dinner and Lucky Money
As night falls, the last rays of sunlight sink into the darkness.
The Marshal's Mansion was brightly lit, with candlesticks and electric lights shining in the spacious hall.
Lou Hongjian and his brothers spent the entire day decorating the spacious hall into a party venue, while the kitchen served up a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner that had been prepared all day.
The maids arranged the plates neatly, and Lou Hongjian carefully selected a film and put it into the phonograph.
Upbeat music flowed through the room, becoming the background music for New Year's Eve, and people gradually took their seats.
"Come and have your New Year's Eve dinner... Where's Mao Mao?" The First Madam looked around and asked her youngest son, who was sitting opposite her, "A-Sui, have you seen Mao Mao?"
Before Lou Yansui could answer, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the stairs.
Mao Mao was carried upstairs by her mother, and now she was dressed in a new outfit and ran downstairs.
The newly made red little jacket had a snow-white fur trim around the edge, its fluffy fur framing her fair and adorable round face. The third aunt had braided her hair again and coiled it into a little flower bud on her head. When she shook her head, the little bells on the hair tie jingled.
Accompanied by the clanging and jingling sounds, Mao Mao ran all the way over.
She ran to the crowd, raised her little hand, and happily twirled around in place, her skirt blooming like flower petals.
Like the little golden boy in the New Year's painting who fell to earth.
"Mao Mao is beautiful!"
The older brothers echoed in unison, "Mao Mao is so pretty!"
"Mao Mao, come sit here with me."
"I'll be sitting with my older brother tonight."
"Mao Mao usually plays with you guys, it's my turn today."
Lou Dashuai glared at his sons and said in a deep voice, "Don't fight over it, Mao Mao, sit with me."
Madam Lou: "Ah Chun, move Mao Mao's chair over here."
Unable to wait for anyone else to hold her, Mao Mao eagerly asked her mother to carry her to a seat, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the sumptuous feast on the table.
The first wife smiled and said to the maid, "Today is a good day, go and open a few bottles of wine."
As Madam Lou picked up her chopsticks, the New Year's Eve dinner began.
Xia Xiaoxiang first picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, removed the fish bones, and fed it to her youngest daughter, whose mouth was wide open: "Mao Mao, eat fish, may you have abundance every year!"
The third concubine was not to be outdone, and put a piece of chicken into Mao Mao's small bowl: "Mao Mao, eat chicken, may you have good fortune and happiness."
One bite from your chopsticks, another from his, and soon, a small mountain of food was piled up in Mao Mao's little bowl.
On this once-a-year occasion, the chef put in all his effort, using all his culinary skills to make every dish both delicious and beautiful. Even the big white cat's bowl was filled with a sumptuous cat meal made with beef and seafood.
The two of them, one human and one cat, ate without even lifting their heads, their heads almost buried in their small bowls.
The eldest wife served food to the old lady of the house, saying, "Mom, you should eat more too."
Lou Hongjian, in a brotherly and respectful manner, picked up a shrimp for his younger brother: "A-Sui, after the New Year, your leg will be fully healed, and you can finally go back to school. It won't be a waste that you studied at home for so long."
Lou Yansui took the bowl and said, "Thank you, Third Brother."
Lou Hongjian beamed with joy: "Great! I can finally sleep with Mao Mao again! Ever since I promised you I wouldn't fight you for Mao Mao, I haven't slept with Mao Mao at all—Mao Mao!"
He turned to his younger sister, whose face was buried in her small bowl across the table, and invited her, "How about sleeping with your third brother tonight?"
Lou Yansui: "Oh no!"
Lou Hongjian chuckled, "Ah Sui, don't be so petty. It's the New Year, arguing isn't good."
"..."
Lou Yansui stared at him for a long time, then suddenly pressed down on the shoe of the person next to him under the table.
Caught off guard, Lou Hongjian's face contorted in pain, and he nearly broke the chopsticks in his hand.
Lou Yansui smiled and said, "Third Brother, look how well my foot has recovered."
Lou Hongjian: "..."
The people at the table watched the two brothers bickering with smiles on their faces.
With a table full of delicious food, everyone was in a great mood.
Halfway through her meal, the second concubine noticed that someone had added a bowl of soup to the table, and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? You've cheered up?"
The first wife said with a smile, "Of course we should be happy during the New Year, so that we can be happy all year round."
This was said by their little lucky star.
The first wife turned her head and asked, "Would you like some crab? I'll get it for you."
"Yes, yes," the second concubine quickly picked up the bowl to receive it.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, the most anticipated part of the night begins.
Grandma Lou sat calmly in the head seat, watching her grandsons line up in front of her.
Mao Mao also followed behind her brothers as their little tail, her head held high, her eager little face peeking out from behind her brothers' long legs.
Her mother tutored her all afternoon, making many cheat sheets. Now, besides the dinner she just ate, Mao Mao's belly is also full of auspicious words.
As the eldest brother, Lou Fengju was ranked first.
"Grandma, wishing you good fortune, happiness, and good health in the new year, may your smile last forever!"
"Hmm." Old Madam Lou nodded and handed him a red envelope: "Fengju, in the new year, you must always be diligent and not slack off."
"Thank you, Grandma."
Lou Fengju accepted the red envelope, put it in his pocket, and continued to wish Commander Lou a Happy New Year.
The red envelopes weren't big; they were just pocket money for the kids and a token of the elders' goodwill. Even though he was already the renowned Young Marshal Lou of Haicheng, he was still joining his younger siblings in exchanging New Year's greetings and receiving red envelopes, not missing a single one.
After the eldest brother finished his prayers, it was Lou Heming's turn.
It was Mao Mao's turn after all four older brothers had taken their turn.
Xia Xiaoxiang stood to the side, confident and composed.
She had never read so many books in her life, and after learning them for a whole day, she taught them all to Mao Mao.
At this moment, Mao Mao, who carried all of her mother's hopes, stood up with her little head held high and a confident look on her face, calling out in her clear, sweet voice, "Grandma!"
Grandma Lou smiled and replied, "Yes, Grandma is here."
As everyone knows, Mao Mao learned a whole bunch of auspicious sayings today, and she's just waiting for the little one to tell them to her.
Mao Mao: "Happy New Year, Grandma! Mao Mao wishes you... um... happiness... um... happiness..."
Huh?
What did her mother teach her?
Mao Mao looked at Old Madam Lou with an adorable expression.
Grandma, Mao Mao forgot!
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