Liu Qiang was also particularly well-behaved, and his eating habits made Zhou Shixiong unconsciously eat a few more bites.
After the meal, the five children stayed together with the elderly, which was quite a show of entertaining their parents.
Zhang Shouyi went to work as usual. In reality, that meeting was merely a formality; he had long held real power. Newspapers, television, and radio were all reporting on the transition between old and new leaders. But for his family, nothing had changed at all.
However, no photos of Zhang Hongmei's face were published in newspapers or on television; Zhang Shouyi did not allow it. But there were photos of her from behind.
"Uncle, Grandpa, shall we make our own dumplings tonight?"
Zhou Shixiong and Gu Chuanming had no objections. The children were a little excited. The family gathered in the living room, where the chef was ready. The family started making dumplings at five o'clock.
It was truly a terrible sight. Zhang Hongmei started by rolling out the dough, but looking at the dumplings in their hands, I was really afraid they would all turn into a pot of soup. There was no other way, so Gu Chuanming rolled out the dough, and he had to make some dumplings that wouldn't leak when they were cooked.
Zhenye quickly started to look decent, which drove the second and fourth sons crazy.
Zhang Hongmei taught them step by step, and they were able to wrap it up. Zhang Weiyu, however, didn't lift a finger; he and Zhou Shixiong just watched and laughed at them.
"Third Brother, why aren't you wrapping them?" Liu Qiang asked, playing with the dough on the side.
"My ancestor and I can just wait to eat."
Xiao Si glared at him; Third Brother was the most cunning.
When Zhang Shouyi returned at 6:30, Zhang Hongmei asked the kitchen to cook dumplings, deliberately cooking them separately and putting the poorly wrapped ones together, and then serving them all to Zhang Shouyi.
"Brother Zhang, this is your sons' cooking, would you like to try some?"
The three elderly people watched Zhang Shouyi and smiled.
"Hehe, okay, even though they are dumplings without filling, they are all from my sons' hearts, I'll eat them."
"I'll eat with my dad too," Zhang Zhenye said, and ordered a bowl as well.
Zhang Ruifeng and Gu Yaozu also picked up a bowl.
“I can’t not eat either. We should share the good times and the bad.” Zhang Weiyu also ate.
Liu Qiang looked at Zhang Weiyu beside him and asked, "Third Brother, is this delicious?"
"It's delicious! This is sliced soup. How could it not be delicious? Would you like to try some?"
Liu Qiang glanced at his uncle and his three other brothers, and finally shook his head. "I'll stay and eat dumplings with the elders."
"Hehe, you're not going to give this such a good opportunity a try? There won't be another chance like this. Ancestor, would you like to have a taste?"
Zhou Shixiong laughed, "I don't want to eat that, I want to eat dumplings."
Gu Chuanming and Zhang Xingguo also refused to eat any soup, so in the end, the whole pot was eaten by the five of them.
Everyone enjoyed the meal very much. Afterwards, the whole family went out into the yard, where they had prepared fireworks. The yard was large, so they didn't go outside to set off the fireworks.
Looking at the five cheerful children, Zhou Shixiong said, "Hongmei, our family is missing a daughter. Now that she's born, she'll truly be a little princess."
“Uncle, I also want a daughter. I really like her,” Zhang Hongmei exclaimed.
After the Lunar New Year, time seems to have flown by; it feels like it's already the 30th of the lunar year.
The whole family was still there. Zhang Shouyi was also on vacation, spending time at home with his parents, wife, and children.
"Shouyi, you're lucky. The most important people in your life are all around you," Zhou Shixiong exclaimed.
"Yes, my life has been worthwhile. Boss, if it weren't for Hongmei, I wouldn't have such a warm home."
"Hehe, I only understand now that when it comes to settling down, it should be better to have nothing than something bad. Look at you, you've finally found Hongmei, and you're happy now."
"Yes, I've waited for the red plum blossoms." It took two lifetimes to finally see them.
Zhang Hongmei felt she had gained weight from all the fancy meals she had been eating, so she wanted to go to the kitchen to cook, but Zhang Shouyi pulled her back.
"Wife, you should stay with your great-uncle. There are so many people cooking, you don't need to worry." Zhang Shouyi was worried about Zhang Hongmei, who didn't know she was pregnant yet, but nothing could happen to her.
Tonight, they won't go home for the first half of the night; they'll stay here and keep watch.
As the bell rang twelve times, all five children kowtowed to their elders sitting on the sofa to wish them a Happy New Year. Each of them received a large red envelope.
“Ancestor, it’s been seventy-six years, we’re all ten years old now.” Zhang Weiyu sat down next to Zhou Shixiong and said with a smile.
"Yes, I've lived to be 76 years old."
"Ancestor, you must do your best. I hope you can live to be ninety-six."
"Haha, good, Ancestor, you've done your best. Ancestor still wants to see the four of you get married and have children."
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Zhou family sent someone to pay their respects to Zhou Shixiong. It was the first time the person visiting had seen the sons of a high-ranking official. They thought to themselves, "They truly have the bearing of dragons and phoenixes!"
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Ying and Lu Yue came to pay their respects. Zeng Zhiyu and Cai Qingyang also came to wish Zhou Shixiong a Happy New Year and received lucky money.
And so, people came to see Zhou Shixiong every day. Most of them were elderly people, so all five children benefited greatly.
After seeing off the guests on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Weiyu held a stack of red envelopes in his hand and said, "Grandpa, look, I've made a small fortune this New Year."
"Hehe, keep them all for when you get married in the future."
"If you're still this healthy ten years from now, I'll definitely get married."
"Third son, I'm actually most worried about you. Although you're always laughing and joking, I know that among the four of you, you're the most sentimental, and you're even more thoughtful than Zhenye."
A child like you is prone to suffering in relationships because you are too sentimental. So remember what our ancestors said: let go of the past and understand that all relationships are predestined.
Don't be too fixated on it. I hope everything goes well for my family's third child in the future.
Zhang Weiyu was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself that experience truly matters.
“Ancestor, I will remember what you said, and I also know that everything depends on fate. I will not force it.”
"I'm glad you understand. Everything will go smoothly for my third son."
"Hehe, as you said, I will definitely do that in the future."
Zhou Shixiong patted Zhang Weiyu's head. He was biased; he had saved all the good things for this child.
Having lived for over ninety years, I'm most capable of understanding people's hearts, so I cherish this child's innocent heart immensely. Besides, he really does resemble my aunt by about seventy percent. Looking at him reminds me of the time I spent with my aunt.
I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend my life with my aunt. Back then, I always followed behind her; no other relative in the family could compare to her.
Zhou Shixiong glanced at Zhang Weiyu's beautiful almond-shaped eyes again. He recalled how he had once sat side by side with his aunt in the same way during the first month of the lunar year.
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