Chapter 752 - 754: Reunion
Chapter 752: Chapter 754: Reunion
No one could sit still any longer. Of course, they didn’t forget to support the old woman as they went out.
Li Cuicui rubbed her eyes, looking at the two people crying and hugging each other. In disbelief, she asked Liu Liu beside her, "Who is Ruyi hugging?" Actually, she already had a guess in her heart, but she just didn’t believe her own eyes.
"Yuan Jin?" Liu Liu was also a little unsure, and could only look to Gu Yuanjin for help.
Gu Yuanjin’s emotions had slowly recovered on the way back, but he was still too agitated and couldn’t help but let out a wail just now. Seeing the mother and son reunite, his eyes grew red again. Liu Liu calling out his name brought him back to his senses. He excitedly walked toward the old woman and said loudly, "Mother, it’s Le Tian. Le Tian is back."
As the first grandson in the family, the old woman truly doted on him and had invested the most affection in him. Hearing that her eldest grandson had returned, her hands trembled with excitement. "Le Tian is really back."
Gu Letian, who had been crying in Xie Ruyi’s arms, pulled back from his mother’s embrace and dropped to his knees with a heavy THUD in front of the elders. "Grandma, your unfilial grandson Le Tian has returned."
How could Li Cuicui bear to let her eldest grandson kneel on the ground? She walked over to help him up and carefully examined him for a moment. "It really is Le Tian. You’ve grown taller, but you’re darker and thinner."
The aunts still had some impression of what Gu Letian looked like when he last left. It was true that he had grown taller, but he wasn’t really darker or thinner. After all, they had been fleeing from a disaster back then, and his appearance had only been even more wretched than it was now. They could understand the old woman’s heartache for her grandson, so they walked over and greeted him as well.
Looking at these familiar yet somewhat foreign elders, Gu Letian felt as if he were in a dream again. These family members who looked like noble ladies made him deeply realize once again that the Gu family was truly different from before.
"Madam Gu, Old Mr. Gu invites you all inside," Luo Gang reminded everyone in a low voice from the doorway. Old Mr. Gu in the west wing had heard the commotion a while ago and sent him out to call them in.
It was no joke that grandparents doted on their eldest grandson. Gu Dashi had many descendants, but apart from his youngest son, the only one he truly looked upon with special favor was this eldest grandson. Now that he no longer worried about Gu Yuanlei, he would still inevitably bring up his eldest grandson during the holidays, worrying that the boy was suffering outside. Hearing his wife vaguely calling for Le Tian from his room, he couldn’t sit still any longer and hurriedly asked Luo Gang, who was tidying up, to call everyone in.
Gu Letian also missed his grandfather, who had always doted on him. In the past, other than his parents, his grandfather and grandmother were the ones who treated him best. Whenever there was anything delicious, they would secretly stash it away to slip into his pockets. However, he was still unfamiliar with this home, so he could only look to his own father for help.
Gu Yuanjin grabbed his son’s hand and pulled him inside. "Your grandfather has been thinking about you all these years. Hurry in and let him see you."
Li Cuicui grabbed his other hand and followed them in, saying, "It’s good that you’re back. It’s good that you’re back. Now our whole family is finally reunited."
Xie Ruyi stood rooted to the spot, wiping her tears. Liu Liu walked over and supported her. "Ruyi, the child’s return is a joyous occasion. We have to add a few more dishes tonight to celebrate properly.
"Think about what else we need, and I’ll have someone prepare it right away. I remember Le Tian used to love fried sugar pastries. Why don’t we add that to the menu?"
"Right, he also loves the sweet rice wine I make. I’ll go back and bring some over right now." Xie Ruyi seemed to have found her purpose again. Without even a glance at her own precious grandson, she turned and ran back to her courtyard.
Liu Liu took the baby from the old servant woman’s arms. "Hurry up and follow her to help." As for the child, she could look after him for a while and hand him over to her nephew’s wife later.
Once the servant woman followed, Liu Liu smiled and said, "It seems this New Year won’t be a quiet one either. Hurry and send someone to call the men back. How can they miss out on such a joyous occasion?"
In the inner courtyard, the Gu family’s emotions had finally calmed down. Meanwhile, Hu Dong had arrived with a few horse carriages.
Knowing that his employers had a joyous event today, Hu Dong dropped off the gifts, politely declined the invitation to stay, and hurried back to town with his men. As he was guarding their main base here, he had to handle many things personally and was becoming increasingly busy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been delayed until Gu Letian showed up before he even arrived at Gaoling Village.
Aside from the unexpected guest, Gu Letian, the Shopkeeper from Lu City had also delivered the account books. According to the agreed date, he should have come a month ago, but due to an accident, he had only managed to arrive yesterday. He was also busy sorting out the account books to quickly deliver them to Mr. and Mrs. Gu.
`「Meanwhile.」`
Gu Wenheng and the Gu family boys also had a lively New Year. Right after the sixth day of the first lunar month, greeting cards and invitations began pouring in non-stop. Jin Qianqian had no idea how her popularity had suddenly improved so much. So many people wanted to visit her privately.
"It seems these people have ulterior motives. They must want something."
Gu Benluo sat to the side, staring curiously at the invitations in Jin Qianqian’s hands.
"You know too much, kid," Jin Qianqian scolded with a laugh. "How do you still have time to come here today? Have you fully understood the essays your father assigned you?"
Gu Benluo slumped on the table and looked at her. "Mom, why do I feel like you’re taking pleasure in my misery?"
"You caught that, huh? I just think your father has let you relax for so many days, it’s about time he gave you more responsibilities."
When Jin Qianqian thought about how the kids had been turning the place upside down these past few days, she felt a headache coming on. She had finally made it through the New Year, and now this boy was loitering around in front of her again.
"Mom, I’m your own flesh and blood. My father oppresses me like this every day, can’t you show a little sympathy?" Gu Benluo looked at Jin Qianqian with a wronged expression, trying to garner some pity.
"You deserve it," Jin Qianqian replied. "During the New Year holidays, you led your brothers and cousins in running amok. Just look at the state you’ve left our back garden in."
The mere thought of the barren back garden, completely blown up by this kid’s homemade firecrackers, gave Jin Qianqian a massive headache. Speaking of which, the real culprit behind this was Gu Wenheng. He had insisted that the New Year was too quiet, yet instead of buying firecrackers outside, he led the children in making their own homemade ones. He had only done it on a whim and washed his hands of it after playing once. But he forgot how playful children could be. Afraid that they would cause trouble outside, they ended up wreaking havoc in the back garden instead.
"You can’t blame me alone for this. You guys wouldn’t let us go out of the estate to play—"
"You boys are already this chaotic on your own. Do you really want to drag all the boys in Yongchang County into your mischief?"
Children were so easily swayed by one another. Such a novel way to play was also quite dangerous. If word spread, the other families would be knocking on their door demanding an explanation.