Chapter 174

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"What are you in such a hurry for?"

Fu Nainai didn't like hearing that, and she wasn't going to indulge him, retorting in a bad temper: "It's not like you made it, so why are you sticking your nose in here?"

"What bottled tomatoes?"

Guben laughed helplessly, smoothing things over with a smile: "When did Grandma learn this craft, being able to preserve tomatoes until winter?"

"I learned it from Grandma Huang next door......"

Fu Nainai turned to look at her grandson, instantly changing her expression, smiling so kindly: "You lift that straw mat, and underneath it are the bottled tomatoes."

"Got it."

Guben agreed with a smile, lifted the straw mat, and indeed saw a long row of neatly arranged bottled tomatoes.

The bottles were medical saline bottles, with rubber caps, sealed perfectly, filled with tomatoes cut into small pieces.

The tomatoes were preserved very well, bright red, tender and juicy, looking very appetizing at a glance.

——

"Grandma, how did you do this?"

The learned and talented Provincial Top Scholar was rarely surprised: "I've never seen tomatoes put in bottles and preserved until winter before."

"Isn't it rare? Haven't seen it before, right?"

Fu Nainai took the bottle from his hand, like a child returning to youth, holding up her masterpiece to show off as a treasure.

"It's rare."

"Haven't seen it before."

Guben and Lin Xiyu spoke in unison, giving very enthusiastic support.

"Hahaha....."

Fu Nainai was amused, smiling so much she couldn't close her mouth: "I knew you hadn't seen it, that's why Grandma specially had you come to the vegetable field to show you something new."

"Grandma, stop keeping us in suspense, tell us quickly, how is this done?"

Lin Xiyu aroused Fu Nainai's curiosity, shaking her arm coquettishly, impatient to know the answer.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you."

Fu Nainai very much enjoyed her intimate gesture, feeling delighted in her heart.

"Actually it's not difficult. To store tomatoes, you must use this kind of glass bottle with a rubber cap. After putting ripe tomatoes inside, add some salt, screw the cap on tight, insert a needle, put it in a pot to cook, and pull out the needle while it's hot."

"Oh, oh, I understand......"

Guben, as expected of the Provincial Top Scholar, had a high IQ and immediately understood the principle: "This uses the principle of thermal expansion and contraction to create a vacuum and preserve the tomatoes."

"Won't the bottle explode when boiled in water?"

Lin Xiyu's focus was different from his. Thinking of how nine times out of ten her glass bottles would crack when holding hot water, she looked utterly incredulous.

Fu Nainai gave an embarrassed laugh: "Saline bottles are sturdy, but occasionally one or two might explode......"

"The noise is like thunder, earth-shattering......"

Fu Yeye took up the conversation and seized the chance to interject again.

"What does that have to do with you?"

Fu Nainai's old face turned red: "Do you need to poke your nose in?"

"Grandma, you've worked hard."

Guben decisively laid on the flattery, easing Grandpa's embarrassment: "Just so the whole family can have fresh tomato and egg soup on New Year's Eve, this thoughtfulness alone is very touching."

"My grandson sure knows how to speak......"

Fu Nainai felt delighted in her heart, and incidentally gave her old man a white eye: "Unlike you, who chokes people half to death the moment you open your mouth, not resting even during the New Year."

"Grandpa calls this humor."

Guben helped Grandpa out of the awkwardness: "Saying that on purpose, to give Grandma some face."

"Mm."

Fu Yeye found it pleasant to hear and nodded very seriously.

"Don't speak good words for him, I still don't know him....."

Fu Nainai laughed in anger, scolding both grandson and grandfather: "He's been like this since he was young, can't stand to see me have anything good, always arguing with me......"

"Grandma, that's really wronging Grandpa."

Guben smiled and persuaded: "They say young couples are companions in old age. Grandpa doesn't want you to be lonely, so he deliberately argues with you to make you happy."

"Mm hm."

Fu Yeye was happy to hear it and nodded vigorously again.

"Don't try to fool me....."

Fu Nainai said she disliked him with her mouth, but in her heart she was already delighted.

"I really don't dare to fool you, Old Man....."

Guben put on a bitter face to complain: "I truly envy you old couple, going through bumps and arguments, spending a lifetime like this, and in old age enjoying the blessings of children and grandchildren, a harmonious family, enjoying your declining years."

"In our time, divorce wasn't a thing."

Fu Nainai pretended to dislike him and gave her old partner a white eye: "Otherwise, I would have long......"

"Cough, cough."

Fu Yeye coughed twice, cutting off what Fu Nainai was about to say.

"What are you coughing for?"

Fu Nainai couldn't get a word out, and it made her very uncomfortable.

"Grandma, you absolutely must not think that way!"

Guben found it amusing, and added: "Xiyu and I still want to take you and Grandpa as our example......"

"Xiyu has such a good temper; as long as you don't cause trouble, you can't even start an argument."

Fu Nainai now found her granddaughter-in-law more and more pleasing to the eye.

"Grandma, why are you so sure it's me causing trouble?"

Guben pretended to complain: "You're so biased, it's too absurd; I'm your own grandson......"

"I just think Xiyu is good......"

Fu Nainai waved her hand in dislike and ordered him to work: "Stop the nonsense, hurry up, go to the kitchen and get a plastic bag, pack some tomatoes for Xiyu to take home, and let Qinjiayi taste them too."

"Okay."

Guben agreed readily and turned to leave.

Lin Xiyu grabbed him: "Bring the gift I gave Grandma along too."

"Mm."

Guben understood, agreed with a smile, took long strides, and walked out of the vegetable shed in a few steps.

—

He was tall with long legs and big steps, and walked fast; soon he returned, indeed carrying a bag, inside which was the gift box Lin Xiyu had carefully wrapped.

"Grandma, I didn't think it through....."

Lin Xiyu opened the gift box and smiled sheepishly: "I didn't expect so many aunts to come; I only brought a gift for you alone. Just now in the living room, seeing so many people, I didn't feel comfortable taking it out......"

"You being able to come makes Grandma very happy; why buy gifts?"

Fu Nainai said words of refusal, but her eyes were stuck on the clothes, unwilling to look away.

Lin Xiyu picked out a bright red cardigan sweater for Fu Nainai, embroidered with blooming peony flowers, a profusion of flowers, very pleasing to the eye.

"When people get old, they just like wearing red; it's festive....."

Fu Nainai liked it more the more she looked, took out the sweater herself, and held it up against her body.

"Handsome."

Lin Xiyu deliberately coaxed Grandma to be happy: "Grandma wearing bright red looks especially spirited; at a glance, you really look like an old artist, especially like a star......"

"Hahaha."

Fu Nainai was happy to hear it, laughing until she couldn't close her mouth.

"Grandma......"

Guben took the chance to wheedle Grandma: "This sweater is this year's new style; Xiyu specially bought it back from Shanghai for you. Just for this filial piety, you can't not show some appreciation, right?"

"You have so many tricks."

Fu Nainai laughed and scolded: "Look how honest Xiyu is, not like you; even giving a piece of clothing, you have to squeeze some benefit out of Grandma's hands....."

"Grandma, don't listen to him......"

Lin Xiyu hurriedly expressed her stance: "He's joking, just wants to make you happy, there's no other meaning."

"You only give gifts to Grandma; there's no share for Grandpa?"

Fu Yeye looked on with envy, poked his cane hard a few times, showing his presence.

"Grandpa must have one too......"

Guben pulled a Zippo windproof flip lighter from his pocket, and like a magic trick, flicked it a few times with his hand.

The lighter's lid flipped up and fell with his movements, the flame lit and went out accordingly; the movements were smooth like flowing clouds and water, very pleasing to the eye.

"You kid, stop showing off; hurry up, hand it over for Grandpa to see....."

Fu Yeye's eyes lit up, he also became interested, snatched the lighter, and flicked it a few times himself.

The lighter's lid didn't move at all, not even a single spark.

"Uh."

Fu Yeye was embarrassed, his old face visibly turned red.

"Hahaha."

Fu Nainai found it funny, laughing bent double.

"Hmph."

Fu Yeye was unconvinced: "I just don't believe I can't play it well."

"Grandpa, I'll teach you, play it like this......"

Guben personally demonstrated, teaching Fu Yeye to play with the lighter.

Fu Yeye gradually figured out the trick, like an old child, click-clack, tirelessly flicking it over and over without stopping.

"Fine, he's finally addicted to playing with it."

Fu Nainai stopped laughing, her head hurt from the noise of the lighter.

"Grandma, it's almost mealtime; let's go back."

Lin Xiyu held back a smile, supporting Fu Nainai as they walked out of the vegetable shed.

An old person and a young one walked in front, the click-clack sound of the lighter followed behind.

Fu Nainai rubbed her brow with a headache; for the sake of her granddaughter-in-law, she gave up the idea of arguing with her old partner.

—

Before the banquet began, Second elder cousin led the way, setting off firecrackers in the yard.

Fourth Uncle's two sons were exactly at that lively, energetic age; the two brothers were frolicking wildly. After setting off a few strings of small firecrackers without satisfaction, they took out a string of long, thick double-kick firecrackers and hung them on a tree branch outside the yard.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

The firecrackers were lit, sounding like rolling thunder; one by one they fell from the tree, followed by two loud bangs that shook people's eardrums until they ached.

"Good grief, these firecrackers are really loud..."

Eldest Cousin stood at the doorway watching the excitement, rubbing his ears as he retreated several steps.

"Ouch."

Lin Xiyu stood not far behind him; he bumped straight into her, her body tilted, and she fell backward.

Guben was quick-eyed and quick-handed, catching her, pulling her into his arms, and covering her ears for her.

"Tsk tsk."

Eldest Cousin watched with gritted teeth, forcing back a "sorry" that he swallowed down.

"Brother Lei..."

Guben smiled and teased him: "You're no longer young; it's time you married a wife."

"What? What did you say?"

Eldest Cousin used the firecracker noise to pretend he couldn't hear.

"If you still don't marry a wife..."

Guben smiled black-belliedly and continued to provoke him: "Later, after you have children, you'll have to call my son 'elder brother'."

"You kid, stop talking nonsense here..."

Eldest Cousin glanced at his hand covering Lin Xiyu's ears, turning the tables on him: "You wanted to have a son as soon as you started university; if you're capable, take your hand away and say it in front of your younger sister-in-law."

"She's timid..."

Guben continued black-belliedly: "The firecrackers are too loud; I'm afraid of scaring her."

Eldest Cousin laughed in anger: "Are you afraid the firecrackers will scare her, or that your own thick skin will scare her?"

"Naturally the firecrackers."

Guben, in the posture of an experienced person, taught by word and deed: "What face do you need when chasing a girlfriend? If your skin isn't thick, you won't be able to chase a girlfriend."

"You're something."

Eldest Cousin was defeated by his thick skin and helplessly admitted defeat.

—

Gu Yuelan had her eldest son accompanying her; for once she didn't put on airs, and the reunion dinner was eaten in a harmonious atmosphere.

After the banquet ended, she gave Guben a gift box, saying it was something someone else had entrusted her to deliver to Grandfather, asking him to take it home for her.

Guben felt it was somewhat heavy when he took it; seeing "Puer tea" written on the outer packaging, and thinking it was a gift for Grandfather, he didn't ask further, smilingly agreed, and together with Eldest Brother saw her out, watching the car drive away before turning back.

Without the pressure of the future mother-in-law, Lin Xiyu was even happier; she played mahjong with Fu Nainai and several aunts for an entire afternoon, until dusk when the sky was about to darken, before bidding farewell to Guben and leaving.

Fu Nainai couldn't bear to part with her well-behaved and sensible granddaughter-in-law, and vented a great deal of resentment at Grandfather.

If it weren't for him meddling in the middle, her precious grandson and granddaughter-in-law ought to have eaten the New Year's Eve dinner at home before leaving.

Guben took the blame for Grandfather again, coaxing Grandmother for a long time before finally making the old lady happy, successfully extricating himself, and returning to Grandfather's house smoothly before the New Year's Eve dinner began.

—

Wangfu Pool West Street.

On New Year's Eve, Guben's Eldest Uncle also brought his three female cousins back from Guangdong to celebrate the New Year with the two elders.

The three golden flowers were all older than Guben; the eldest, Gu Xiaohua, was twenty-eight years of age, already married with a child, and had a son.

The second daughter, Gu Xiaoyan, was twenty-five years old, newly married this year, and deliberately brought her husband back to meet the two elders.

The third daughter, Gu Xiaohui, was twenty-one years old, two years older than Guben, studying in Britain, speaking with a pure British accent, her hair permed in big waves, wearing a wool short skirt, leather boots, revealing half of her snow-white, pink thighs, looking very avant-garde and fashionable.

Eldest Uncle's three daughters: the eldest daughter was scheming and loved to calculate.

The second daughter was introverted, had a good temper, and didn't like to talk.

The third daughter had stayed abroad for a long time and inevitably had some bourgeois sentiments; she liked playing the guitar, drinking coffee, and would occasionally throw out a few English words when speaking, thinking it sounded very high-class.

Grandfather was an old revolutionary and didn't like those foreign things; he originally favored boys over girls, and looking at the third daughter, he found her increasingly displeasing to the eye.

When Guben and Lin Xiyu entered the door, Grandfather was losing his temper because of a careless remark from his third granddaughter.

The cause was Gu Xiaohui joking with Grandmother, imitating a female classmate from Shanghai who had studied abroad with her, making fun of people from Shandong.

"We Shanghainese have the scent of coffee on us; you Shandong people have the scent of corn cobs on you..."

"What's wrong with the scent of corn cobs? I just love eating corn cobs!"

Grandfather hadn't waited for his third granddaughter to finish before he became displeased; with a slap on the table, he startled everyone into changing their expressions.

"Speak more quietly..."

Grandmother snapped displeasedly: "What are you shouting about on New Year's?"

"Nowadays young people go abroad; how many still truly love their country? They've all been assimilated by foreign devils, looking down on their own compatriots..."

Grandfather was in a bad mood and began a stern lecture.

The living room was deathly silent; the previous liveliness was gone.

—

"What's this? So quiet on New Year's, not even anyone setting off firecrackers..."

Guben and Lin Xiyu returned home; as soon as they entered the door, they felt something was off. Other families were lively and bustling during the New Year, with firecrackers and fireworks shaking the heavens.

Only Grandfather's house was quiet as a funeral, filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Xiao Bin is back?"

Grandmother Gu, hearing her grandson's voice, breathed a sigh of relief as if unburdened, and personally came out to welcome him.

"The tea leaves my mother asked me to bring back; she said someone entrusted her to deliver them to Grandfather..."

Guben raised the gift box in his hand, deliberately stressing the two words "my mother."

"Set the tea aside for now, hurry inside and say a good word for your third cousin..."

Grandmother had no mind for the tea, urgently urging him on and pushing him into the room.

After Guben entered, he casually set the gift box in the corner and forgot all about it.

After New Year, Grandmother saw the tea was unsealed, casually put it in the cupboard, and paid it no more mind.

At that very moment, no one in the family could have imagined that it was precisely this box of tea that would bring down a calamity in the not-too-distant future, leading to endless upheaval and the ruin of the family.