Chapter 471 - 411: Mine
Chapter 471: Chapter 411: Mine
Tang Yaxuan was thrilled to receive Gu Shaoling’s invitation to her birthday party. She lost all interest in shopping and rushed home, beaming the entire way. She had to go back and check her closet; she was sure she could find an outfit suitable for the party.
When she got home, however, she found the shoes Wu Xiaowen had worn out that morning scattered by the door. Her overcoat and scarf were also on the coat hook. This meant Wu Xiaowen was already home.
Tang Yaxuan couldn’t quite figure out the situation. ’Wasn’t she on a date with Tang Qingyun? Eating Western food and drinking red wine at the International Hotel... you’re supposed to savor it slowly and speak in hushed tones. That should take a lot of time. Even if they had Chinese food, they’d get tea or coffee afterward. How could she possibly be back so soon?’
Tang Yaxuan tiptoed to Wu Xiaowen’s door, where muffled sobs could be heard from behind the ajar door. Tang Yaxuan froze. Her eyes darted back and forth for a moment before she decided to pretend she hadn’t heard a thing. She quietly backed away, opened the front door, and went out again.
She had promised to buy rice, oil, and other household supplies, and had even taken money from Wu Xiaowen to do it. With her mother in such a bad mood, if Wu Xiaowen discovered she had come home without doing as she was told, she would definitely fly into a rage.
Her mother might seem gentle most of the time, but she was terrifying when she lost her temper, especially when she was in a foul mood. Later, she even picked up a new trick from Wu Xiaorui—throwing things at people. Tang Yaxuan had been on the receiving end before. During the few days after Wu Xiaowen signed the divorce papers and was being scorned and chewed out by her own parents, Tang Yaxuan was scolded and had things thrown at her almost daily.
「At the Tang residence」
The family was gathered around the table for lunch. The brothers, Zheng Shaolian and Zheng Shaojin, had come over, so Xiao Man had specially added a few dishes that her two older "brothers" loved. Not to be outdone, Hao Hao also requested two extra dishes. Grandpa Tang said, "So many extra dishes! It’s a wonderful sight. Today, your grandpa gets to enjoy this feast thanks to you all. Tomorrow, it’ll be my turn to pick the dishes, and you can all enjoy the feast thanks to me."
Just as everyone was laughing, Tang Qingyun came in from outside. He washed his hands and sat down at the dining table. Lately, Grandma Tang had gone back to doting on her younger son. There was only one bowl of the silverfish soup Xiao Man had prepared for each person, and Grandma Tang pushed hers directly over to Tang Qingyun before she had even taken a sip.
Tang Qingshan glanced at the grandfather clock. "You weren’t out for long. It’s already this time of day; I thought you were taking someone out for lunch."
Tang Qingyun grabbed a bowl, divided the silverfish soup in two, and returned half to his mother. He took a sip, smacking his lips in satisfaction. "That was the plan," he said. "We sat in a coffee shop for a while first, but we just couldn’t find any common ground, so we went our separate ways."
He didn’t want to speak ill of Wu Xiaowen in front of the kids. But she had really gone too far this time, sobbing and causing a scene in public, making it look as if he had bullied her. There were even foreign guests in the cafe. One of the "foreign devils" walked right over, shot Tang Qingyun a reproachful look, and then gently asked Wu Xiaowen, "Ma’am, are you having some kind of trouble? Do you need any help?"
Wu Xiaowen just started crying even louder. Tang Qingyun was both furious and amused. ’Having my character questioned by a foreigner in my own country... what a fucking awful feeling.’
How could they possibly sit at the same table for a meal under those circumstances? It was a miracle he didn’t just abandon her right there. The fact that he managed to end things on a relatively good note by coaxing her out of the hotel and taking her home was already going above and beyond.
Grandma Tang said, "Good that you parted ways. The food outside is expensive, and it doesn’t taste nearly as good as our home-cooked meals anyway."
Tang Qingyun finished the soup in a few slurps and nodded. "Exactly. I’ve gotten so used to eating at home lately that I can’t even get my fill when I eat out... Hao Hao, can you get your dad a bowl of rice?"
"I’ll get it, I’ll get it." Ai Wenli quickly moved to stand up, but Tang Qingyun waved her off. "Sister-in-law, you stay seated. Just let one of the younger ones get it."
Zheng Shaojin, who was sitting closer, reached out. "Second Uncle, I’ll get it for you."
Tang Qingyun stiffened. The two Zheng boys used to call Tang Qingshan "Mr. Tang" and him "Uncle Tang." But after hearing Manman call him Second Uncle, they had switched as well.
’Second Uncle. I’ve never realized how grating those two words could sound. It was one thing when it was just Manman, but now these two silly kids have joined in. It’s like a dagger to the heart. And the worst part is, I can’t even tell them to stop.’
He forced a smile. "No, no, you’re an adult now. Hao Hao’s just a kid, let him do it."
Tang Haocheng slowly shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, followed by a piece of vegetables. Then he made a show of putting down his bowl and chopsticks. He was utterly speechless at his father’s behavior. ’If you want Sister to get your rice, just say so! What’s the point of all this? Last time I took him at his word and eagerly ran to get his bowl, and he ended up nagging me about it afterward...’
Xiao Man had already stood up. "I’ll get it, Second Uncle."
"Ah, wonderful."
Tang Qingyun took the rice bowl from Xiao Man’s hands, beaming with satisfaction. "Our Manman is such a good girl."
The saying that a daughter is a parent’s "little padded jacket," keeping them warm and comforted, was especially true in the countryside. Whether it was in Gongdao Village or others, in families with daughters, it was typically the daughter who served her parents soup and refilled their rice bowls. At Grandpa’s house, he had watched Xinghua or Qiuyan respectfully present bowls to Grandpa and Mo Jiabao with both hands. He had seen the very same thing at the homes of Secretary Mo and Liang ManCang. The daughters were respectful and filial, and the fathers were kind and gentle, wearing proud expressions as if having a daughter made their lives complete. Tang Qingyun had never thought much of it before, but after losing his own biological daughter, he became green with envy—impossibly, desperately jealous.
Xiao Man also served rice for Grandpa and Grandma Tang before returning to her seat.
Tang Qingshan shot his younger brother a teasing look. The rice cooker was just on a low table right behind him; all he had to do was stand up and turn around to get it himself. Yet he insisted on having Xiao Man personally serve him. Tang Qingshan really didn’t know what to make of him.
Ai Wenli picked up the serving chopsticks to place a couple of helpings onto Xiao Man’s plate. Tang Qingshan then served both Ai Wenli and Xiao Man. He leaned in and murmured something to Xiao Man, which Ai Wenli also heard. Smiles bloomed on all three of their faces simultaneously. No matter how you looked at it, they were the very picture of a happy, harmonious family of three.
Tang Qingyun watched this unfold, his heart filled with frustration. He desperately wanted to shout at his big brother and sister-in-law, ’Don’t get too carried away! That’s my daughter, mine!’
After lunch, everyone moved to the main hall to sit and chat. Xiao Man washed and sliced some fruit and brought it out on a platter. Grandma Tang said to her, "It’s perfect that you’re on vacation. Tomorrow, Grandma will take you shopping for some new outfits. Gu Shaoling is throwing a big birthday party in a couple of days, and we’re going to go dressed to the nines."
Xiao Man had no desire to go shopping. "It’s her birthday, so why do *I* have to get all dressed up? Wouldn’t that be stealing her thunder?"
Grandma Tang said, "With anyone else, it wouldn’t matter. But with that Gu Shaoling girl, you *have* to outshine her! If people say we’re stealing her thunder, then so be it! You need to be better than her in every single way. That way, when you marry into the Gu family in the future, she won’t dare to give you any trouble!"
Xiao Man was speechless. "..."
’Having such a domineering and assertive grandma... it’s actually pretty great,’ she thought.
Tang Qingshan, Tang Qingyun, and Grandpa Tang were discussing the weather; Tang Qingshan and Ai Wenli needed good weather to fly to Wancheng. Zheng Shaolian and Zheng Shaojin drifted over to join the conversation between Grandma Tang and Xiao Man. Zheng Shaolian said, "No need to buy clothes. I had some shipped over from Country Y; they’ll be delivered to the house tomorrow. Two of the large suitcases are for Shaoling, as her birthday present from me. Manman, you also have two large suitcases. I guarantee all the clothes are gorgeous, and none of the pieces are repeats."
Hearing this, Grandma Tang beamed and patted Zheng Shaolian’s shoulder. "Good boy. You’re so thoughtful."
"It’s my pleasure, Grandma. Manman is my little sister."
Zheng Shaojin smiled. "All girls like having birthday parties. Manman, why don’t you have one in July? You’ll be turning sixteen, so we can make it even more grand and spectacular. Brother Shaojin can arrange everything for you. What do you think?"
Zheng Shaolian added, "I’ll be free around then, too. I can help out."
Xiao Man shook her head. "No, thank you. I... I don’t like celebrating my birthday. Throwing a party is extravagant and wasteful, and it’s exhausting to have to entertain everyone. It’s completely unnecessary."
She had been about to say, ’What’s there to celebrate about my birthday? The day I was born was practically the beginning of *Les Misérables*.’ But then she remembered that the birthdays of the Zheng brothers, Zheng Shaolian and Zheng Shaojin, were also somber affairs, so she rephrased her response.