Chapter 294 Chen Siyu
The Chen family is celebrating a happy occasion, and the villagers offer their congratulations.
It was the auspicious first day of the lunar new year, and neighbors were constantly visiting each other.
Whenever they arrived at the Chen family's residence, people would come over to offer their congratulations and ask for a cup of tea.
After seeing the villagers off, Wan Qiqi was greeted by all sorts of relatives from the Chen family, who chattered on and on like they were at a market.
Wan Qiqi was so overwhelmed with headaches that she had no choice but to bring out Chen Yongnian and Chen Yongliang to fend off these people.
Unexpectedly, this person came specifically for the two of them.
Uncle Chen, leaning on his cane, sat at the head of the table, looking at the two of them with a bright smile on his face. "Yongnian, I heard you work in the county government?"
"Yes, Uncle," Chen Yongnian replied, sounding somewhat uncomfortable.
In previous years, these relatives never came to our house for the Spring Festival. If they did come, it was to Old Chen's house. They had never come here before.
"Good job, young man. The Chen family will be counting on you in the future." Uncle Chen laughed heartily, his wrinkles resembling the bark of an old tree.
Wan Qiqi swore that this must be the oldest person she had ever seen in Lotus Village.
His face was covered in wrinkles, his hair was white, most of his muscles had atrophied, and his face was even covered with age spots.
But his eyes were quite bright, and coupled with the way he used a cane, he had the air of an elder.
After looking at Chen Yongnian, Uncle Chen's gaze lingered on Chen Yongliang. "Yongliang, how old are you this year?"
“Uncle, you’ll be sixteen in a month!” Chen Yongliang said, rubbing his head.
He felt a little uneasy being watched by so many elders.
"Sixteen? Are you married?" Uncle Chen asked again.
"Not yet, but my sister-in-law said that a man should establish his career before starting a family, so there's no rush." Chen Yongliang agreed with Wan Qiqi's words.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Chen tapped the table twice and said, "Nonsense! One must first settle down and have children before establishing a career! Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important, and having no descendants is the greatest tragedy."
Thank you so much!
Wan Qiqi was practically rolling her eyes at Uncle Chen!
He can't even support himself, yet he's getting married and having children. Whose daughters are he planning to ruin?
Do you still think some girl is foolish, seeing that you have nothing, and still wants to marry you and suffer?
Uncle Chen continued, "Look at your eldest brother, didn't he settle down before building his career? And your second brother, he also settled down first, and now he has children..."
When the topic turned to children, Uncle Chen finally remembered what he wanted to ask and said, "Has the second son's child been named yet?"
Wan Qiqi realized that these people were really relentless.
First, there was Old Mrs. Chen stopping Li Chongniang from giving birth, and now there's Uncle Chen vying to name her!
Thinking about all the names in the village gave Wan Qiqi a headache.
She couldn't let Li Chongniang's daughter be harmed as well, so she immediately replied, "Uncle, my elder brother has helped me think of a few, and we plan to let my second brother and sister-in-law choose one!"
"Nonsense!" Uncle Chen slammed his cane on the ground and said, "How can outsiders name the descendants of the Chen family?"
Chen Yongnian frowned and said, "Uncle, my wife's brother is a teacher at Hefeng Academy. His choice of a name will surely sound better than ours."
Although Uncle Chen had been out of touch with the outside world for a long time, he still knew about Hefeng Academy.
They also knew that the teachers at Hefeng Academy were all talented scholars who had passed the imperial examinations.
His expression immediately changed, and he asked, "Master? Is he at home?"
Chen Yongnian replied, "I'll rest in the room."
Uncle Chen immediately stood up, straightened his patched clothes, and said, "Quickly, please invite the teacher over so I can meet him..."
Before Chen Yongnian could leave, he added, "Wait! I will go see him myself!"
The Chen family members who came along were also curious about what the teacher was like, so they followed Uncle Chen out of the main room and headed to the house next door.
Wan Qiqi didn't follow, and neither did Chen Yongliang.
After the man left, the two of them plopped down on the stools.
Wan Qiqi stared at the doorway and murmured, "The first day of the lunar month is indeed an inauspicious time for everything; all sorts of strange and monstrous things can be found there."
Chen Yongliang couldn't help but laugh when he heard Wan Qiqi's description, but then reminded her, "Sister-in-law, keep your voice down, don't let Uncle hear you, or you'll get another scolding."
Wan Qiqi rolled her eyes.
This has absolutely nothing to do with her, so what's so scary about it?
However, she came to see these people for who they really were.
When you're infamous, nobody will think of you.
Once you're doing well and have some fame, all sorts of people will come knocking on your door to maintain this inexplicable relationship.
She rubbed her head and asked, "Did you go in to see your second sister-in-law's child?"
Chen Yongliang shook his head and said, "It's all been my second brother taking care of me; I haven't had a chance to go yet."
"Once they leave, let's go see your second sister-in-law together and prepare a gift for the child." Wan Qiqi wondered how much money would be appropriate.
In modern times, it basically starts at a few hundred.
If it's a close relationship, it can be several thousand or tens of thousands.
But everyone here is destitute, and she really doesn't know how much to give.
"A gift for meeting?" Chen Yongliang's eyes showed a hint of doubt.
He had only heard of the celebration ceremony, the three-day celebration, and the full moon celebration, but he had never heard of any greeting ceremony.
Wan Qiqi also looked puzzled, "Does the addition of a new member to the family mean we don't need to send congratulatory gifts?"
Chen Yongliang then understood Wan Qiqi's meaning and said, "Sister-in-law, you forgot, we only send congratulatory gifts to the baby after the third day. At that time, your family will also need to come and send auspicious eggs and other gifts for the baby's third-day celebration..."
He suddenly stopped, a look of apology on his face, and said, "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry, I forgot that no one from your family came when Pingping and An'an were born..."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
