Chapter 175: 90: A Family by the Spring, Chapter 175: Between Half-Dream and Half-Wake, She Pushed Him Off the Bed

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Everyone in the family is here today, so I'll take this opportunity to announce something publicly. Your grandmother and I saved for most of our lives and have little savings; the only thing we have is this old house. Don't accuse me of favoritism. I've already written the will. Afterward, the old house goes to Xiao Bin. As long as it isn't demolished, no one is allowed to scheme for the old house."

"This old siheyuan is the root of the Gu Family. Where the root is, there the people are."

"You must also remember not to forget your roots. No matter where you go in the future, whether studying abroad or developing domestically, always remember you are Chinese and always keep a patriotic heart. If I ever hear anyone mocking their compatriots or looking down on the place that gave them birth and raised them, I will treat them as if they were never my child, and they need not come back."

In the living room, Grandfather had a grim expression and was scolding Third Cousin.

None of the family dared to speak; only Eldest Cousin looked unusual, her eyes holding a hint of resentment.

The old man favored sons over daughters. Not leaving an inheritance to his three granddaughters was one thing, but he actually forgot there was still a grandson who valued daughters over sons.

She gave birth to a son, after all; the old house should include her son's share.

"Grandfather, don't worry. I'll take good care of the old house and let the children and grandchildren of the Gu Family pass it down forever."

Guben entered the door, sat beside Grandfather, and very dutifully stroked his back to help him breathe easier: "Your heart isn't good, don't get angry anymore. It's the New Year; our whole family should be happy..."

"Later, open a bottle of Moutai and drink something good. Your granddaughter-in-law's drinking capacity hasn't been seen by Eldest Uncle and the others yet. We can't let Southerners look down on us. Even if Shandong isn't as developed as Guangdong, we can't lose in momentum at the drinking table. Tonight, we must get Eldest Uncle and Second Sister's Husband drunk under the table. If I can't outdrink them, I count as losing, and I'll willingly give the old house to them..."

"Hehe..."

Grandfather was old and cunning; how could he not hear what he was planning?

Grandfather had seen Lin Xiyu's drinking capacity himself. Never mind outdrinking Eldest Uncle and the cousins' husbands; even if their whole family went up together, she could still get them drunk under the table.

"That's what you said..."

Eldest Cousin didn't know the inside story. Her mind stirred, and she was the first to lose patience: "If you lose drinking, you'll really give the old house to us?"

"A word is a bond."

Guben spoke with conviction: "Grandfather and Grandmother, be my witnesses. If my wife loses, bring out the will and destroy it on the spot."

"Good."

Eldest Cousin was thrilled: "Xiao Bin is straightforward. Dad, Brother-in-law, it's up to you two. You can't deliberately let her just because the younger sister-in-law is a woman."

"Cough, cough."

Eldest Uncle felt his daughter was roasting him over a fire.

Although he had some complaints about the old man favoring sons over daughters, as an elder, was it too beneath him to drink against his nephew's wife? Winning was fine, but if he really lost, wouldn't he lose both face and substance?

"I have to drink too?"

Second Sister's Husband pointed at his own nose, laughing and crying at the same time.

He was just a spectator eating melons; why was he innocently dragged in?

He had long heard that Shandong people were fierce at the drinking table; only an idiot would want to drink against them.

Was Eldest Sister out of her mind? Her husband didn't come, and she pushed him into the fire pit.

"Yang Li, drink."

Second Cousin rarely opened her mouth, backing her own sister.

"Brother-in-law, I support you in spirit."

The three cousins were of one mind, all very dissatisfied with Grandfather's actions, and took the opportunity to cause trouble.

"Fine."

Second Sister's Husband was forced onto the stage. Under the expectant gazes of the three sisters, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree.

The facts proved that being roasted over a fire would get you grilled, and forcing a duck onto a perch would only turn it into roast duck.

Before the annual Spring Festival Gala began, the two old gentlemen were unfortunately drunk under the table.

Lin Xiyu once again proved with her strength that a woman who dares to admit she can drink at the wine table is no ordinary drinker.

If you can't outdrink the other party, you can only fall down yourself!

"Hahaha."

Grandfather looked at his granddaughter-in-law and grew more satisfied, smiling so broadly he couldn't close his mouth.

—

The clock struck midnight, and every household set off firecrackers.

Fireworks shot into the sky, their colorful brilliance illuminating the entire night sky.

Guben also accompanied Lin Xiyu in setting off fireworks in the small courtyard. Each held a sparkler, chasing and laughing, playing very happily.

"So fast, another year..."

Grandmother pushed open the window, watching the children set off fireworks, full of regret written on her face: "In the blink of an eye, the children have all grown up, and we two have grown old."

"What are you talking about, old..."

Grandfather had drunk a little wine and was very content: "I don't feel old at all. You're so much younger than me. Why say you're old? You're still very young."

"You behave yourself. Don't lose your temper so much anymore."

Grandmother smiled and scolded affectionately: "Being angry with the children isn't as good as taking care of your own health and staying with me a few more years."

"Fine, I won't get angry anymore."

Grandfather agreed readily: "However long you want me to stay with you, I'll stay with you that long. Even if Yanluo Ye comes and tells me to leave, I won't leave..."

"That's what you said yourself..."

Grandmother smiled with her eyes and brows: "No going back on your word."

"I won't go back on it."

Grandfather let out a wine hiccup. The alcohol went to his head, and he began to doze off.

"It's getting late, go to sleep."

Grandmother smiled and urged him: "You have to get up early tomorrow, people will come to pay New Year's calls at the crack of dawn."

"Sleep."

Grandfather obediently leaned back, fell onto the bed, and was snoring in no time.

"Sleeping without a quilt, aren't you afraid of catching a cold......"

Grandmother smiled helplessly, covered him with the quilt, closed the window herself, and lay down to rest.

"Grandmother and Grandfather are both asleep."

Lin Xiyu saw the light in the room go out, lowered her voice and said softly: "I should go back too, I still have to go to Hu Nainai's house to pay New Year's calls tomorrow."

"It's so late, don't go."

Guben threw away the fireworks and pulled her into his arms: "Just sleep here, I'll go with you tomorrow."

"I can't stay here."

Lin Xiyu blushed and her heart raced: "My mom will definitely be anxious if she sees I haven't gone back."

"She's not unaware that you're at my house."

Guben didn't care: "What's there to be anxious about, can I lose her daughter?"

"I didn't make it clear to her when I left, she doesn't know I'll be staying overnight, she'll definitely worry."

Lin Xiyu didn't want to be seduced by him, suppressing the palpitations in her heart, and found her own excuse.

"Just call your grandmother's house and say something......"

Guben pretended not to understand her meaning and gave her an idea.

"Calling at midnight, at this hour, Grandmother is already asleep......"

Lin Xiyu tried to struggle a few times, wanting to break free from his embrace.

"I don't want to let you go......"

Guben acted shamelessly, holding her and refusing to let go.

Lin Xiyu smiled helplessly and coaxed him in return: "It's only a few hours apart, won't we see each other again when we go to Hu Nainai's house......"

"I don't want to be apart from you for even a few hours."

Guben was like a child who hadn't grown up, rubbing against her cheek and acting coquettishly.

"How about neither of us sleeps......"

Lin Xiyu tried to communicate with him: "Go to the Moat, find a place to sit for a night?"

"Hiss, so cold."

Guben shook his body, just thinking about it made him feel very cold.

"Hehe."

Lin Xiyu almost laughed out loud: "Stop being affected, hurry up and take me home, if we don't go now, I'll go back alone."

"I take you back, then have to come back, running back and forth, too much trouble."

Guben wanted to act shameless again: "How about I stay at your house, your bed is small, but I don't mind the crowd."

"Pfft, wishful thinking."

Lin Xiyu's face turned red: "Sleeping at my house also means sleeping on the sofa, who let you on the bed?"

"Sleeping on the sofa is fine too."

Guben agreed casually: "As long as I don't have to run back and forth, I don't care."

"You really want to sleep on the sofa?"

"It's you bullying me, not letting me on the bed."

"So now I'm bullying you again?"

Lin Xiyu laughed in anger: "Your talent for reversing right and wrong, I'm speechless."

"It's settled then, I'll stay at your house tonight."

"Who agreed with you?"

"Don't you feel sorry for me?"

Guben rubbed against her cheek again acting coquettishly, his little gaze full of resentment, just like a bullied young wife.

"Forget it, you can stay if you want to."

Lin Xiyu's heart softened, and she gave up the plan of taking him seriously.

—

It proved that one cannot be too soft-hearted in life.

After returning home, she regretted it, someone acted shameless again, taking advantage of everyone being asleep, using the excuse that the sofa was too hard, and forcibly squeezed onto her bed.

In the night Xu Yi got up to urinate, scaring her so much her heartbeat almost stopped, and she subconsciously pushed hard.

"Damn it!"

Guben was pushed off the bed by her while half-asleep.

"Thud."

A muffled sound woke Chen Xiulan up.

"What happened?"

She reached out to the side, saw Xu Yi was gone, and mistakenly thought her son had fallen off the bed.

"So old, still not sleeping honestly."

Her son had been mischievous since childhood, had already fallen off many times, she didn't care too much, muttered a sentence, turned over and continued to sleep.

"It wasn't me......"

Xu Yi came back from the toilet, and just as he was about to explain, the door to the room next door opened, and someone dragged him inside.

"Ah? Brother Bin, why are you in my sister's room......"

Xu Yi's poor little heart was greatly startled.

"Shh."

Guben coaxed him with a serious face like he was coaxing a child: "I'm just like you, came back from the toilet and walked into the wrong door."

"I didn't walk into the wrong door, you pulled me in......"

Xu Yi was sharp and not easy to fool.

"Want to eat candied hawthorns?"

Guben activated the coaxing mode.

"Want."

Xu Yi's little gaze lit up.

"Brother Bin will buy them for you tomorrow."

Guben continued black-belliedly: "As long as tonight's matter isn't let outsiders know, you can eat as many skewers as you want."

"Only candied hawthorns?"

Xu Yi caught on and started bargaining: "I also want to eat grilled lamb skewers, grilled sweet potatoes, popcorn, sugar figures,......"

"Fine."

Guben readily agreed: "Tomorrow I'll take you to the temple fair and let you eat your fill."

"Deal."

Xu Yi bared his little tiger teeth and chuckled, solemnly giving him a high-five.

"Good boy."

Guben had achieved his goal and kindly rubbed his little head: "Hurry back to sleep, get up early tomorrow, don't sleep in."

"Okay."

Xu Yi kicked along in his slippers on the way back, and just before leaving, he abruptly turned back and said: "Brother Bin, don't worry, I won't tell my mom that you fell off the bed."

"Cough cough."

Guben almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

"You go too, go back to your sofa......"

Lin Xiyu's cheeks flushed red, and she shoved him hard, pushing him out of the room.

Xu Yi found it amusing, covering his mouth and chuckling.

"Laugh again and you won't go to the temple fair tomorrow."

Guben narrowed his eyes, threatening the child.

Xu Yi stopped laughing, decisively admitted defeat, and sneaked back to his own bedroom.

—

At five in the morning, the corridor became lively, neighbors got up one after another and started making New Year calls.

Grandmother had always been amiable and got along well with the neighbors; Chen Xiulan had benefited from her mother's reputation, and some people also came to their home to make New Year calls.

Guben slept in the living room and was forced to get up early, helping his mother-in-law receive guests.

Chen Xiulan had such a son-in-law to uphold the family's face, and she beamed with joy, unable to stop smiling.

From five to seven, people making New Year calls came in waves, and only after it was fully daylight did they gradually thin out.

"Xiao Bin, you've worked hard."

Chen Xiulan had prepared breakfast and warmly received her son-in-law: "It's the custom of old Jinan to make New Year calls before dawn, with everyone getting up earlier than the next."

"It's nothing....."

Guben helped set the bowls and chopsticks very diligently: "My grandfather's house is the same; someone comes to make New Year calls early in the morning, and I'm already used to it."

"Your grandfather educated you well."

Chen Xiulan laughed and praised: "Unlike those two in my family, who pretend not to hear when guests come and just sleep in."

Guben was very considerate: "They stayed up late last night; let them sleep a little longer."

"Xiao Yi was spoiled by me."

Chen Xiulan was a bit puzzled: "I don't know what's wrong with Xiyu; she hasn't gotten up either."

"Cough cough."

Guben coughed twice, feeling unusually guilty.

He didn't dare say it outright; it was because he had tossed and turned at midnight, causing both of them to sleep poorly.

—

Yongquan Hutong No. 2 Courtyard.

At 8 a. m., Xu Yi finally crawled out of bed reluctantly.

Lin Xiyu had finished breakfast and took him and Guben to Hu Nainai's home first to make New Year calls.

Hu Nainai was very happy to see them, grabbed a handful of candy for Xu Yi, and took out her treasured window paper-cuts to give to Lin Xiyu.

The window paper-cuts had just been cut before the New Year, inspired by Jinan's spring water culture.

The gushing of Baotu Spring, the lotus ponds of Daming Lake, the ripples of the spring water seemed to be flowing, leaping onto the paper, vivid and lifelike, making people exclaim in amazement.

"Paper-cutting is not only a craft, but also a way of telling stories."

Hu Nainai said with deep feeling: "The charm of our Jinan paper-cutting lies in its unique history and culture; spring water merges into history, and a pair of scissors cuts out a thousand years of stories."

"Grandma Hu, you put it so well."

Lin Xiyu praised her enthusiastically: "This sentence can be written into a textbook."

"Heh heh, this isn't what I said......"

Hu Nainai smiled and waved her hand: "It was said by a Writer who came to the Youth Palace to see our paper-cutting. She's a cultured person, and everything out of her mouth is refined and literary—those four-character phrases she said, I couldn't understand a single one......"

"A Writer?"

Lin Xiyu was delighted upon hearing this: "Someone came to interview you? Are they going to write your paper-cutting craft into a book?"

"Seems like it......"

Hu Nainai thought for a moment, then said: "He said he wants to record this craft of paper-cutting in written form, so that people won't forget it......"

"That's truly wonderful......"

Lin Xiyu was genuinely happy for Hu Nainai.

"Speaking of which, I really should thank you all......."