Chapter 29

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Hahaha."

Everyone present was amused by his witty and humorous tone; the Cameraman very obligingly zoomed in the camera, giving him an enlarged facial close-up.

"Hehe."

Cousin looked at the camera, grinning stupidly: "I guess this counts as being on TV, right?"

"Absolutely."

Li Yan smiled and played along, not telling him there would still be editing in post-production.

Whether it would be cut was another matter.

"Yay."

Cousin danced excitedly, striking out fantastical dance steps in front of the camera.

—

"The photos are here."

Female Cousin came and went like a gust of wind; in no time at all, she ran back from the north room holding an old photograph.

"Let me see..."

Li Yan reached out and took the photograph first.

"This is my father."

Aunt Da stood beside her, pointing at a family portrait of three with eyes full of nostalgia: "I was three years old then; it was taken during New Year when Mom and Dad held me together."

"The old man really wasn't bad-looking..."

Li Yan widened her eyes as she looked: "But I feel like his age seems much older than Daniang's; probably because he had a beard, he looks a bit weathered."

"You're not wrong..."

Aunt Da covered her mouth and laughed: "He really was eight years older; my mother married at sixteen, and my father was already twenty-four. Back then they hadn't separated the household; there were many people in the family, and with so many brothers, it just hadn't been his turn to marry a wife."

"So your family definitely wasn't landlords."

Li Yan suddenly understood, smiling and teasing: "When has there ever been a landlord family's foolish son who couldn't marry a wife?"

"Hahaha."

Laughter filled the yard.

Li Yan took the opportunity to ask again: "What year was that? Had Daniang already come to Jinan by then?"

"She had."

Maternal Grandmother counted on her fingers: "It should be 1947, taken before liberation. I came to Jinan at thirty, gave birth to the eldest daughter at thirty-two; the eldest is five years older than the second, and the youngest is even further apart, eleven years younger than the second sister."

Li Yan's eyes showed surprise: "Why is the gap so big?"

Maternal Grandmother's gaze dimmed: "I miscarried one in between, a male fetus, couldn't keep it."

"Sigh."

Li Yan was choked up, not daring to ask further, and sighed along with her.

For a moment the atmosphere was oppressive; Lin Xiyu's family all remained silent.

Uncle and Maternal Aunt, thinking of their own childlessness after many years of marriage, felt even more low-spirited.

"It's already eleven-thirty; time for lunch..."

The assistant director's eyes rolled, seizing the opportunity to break the silence.

"I really am a bit hungry."

"What's for lunch?"

"Where are we eating?"

"Is there anywhere nearby selling boxed meals?"

Speaking of food, everyone became interested, and the atmosphere instantly livened up again.

"Let's just eat at home."

Maternal Grandmother recovered and warmly greeted everyone: "I bought eggplants this morning; I'll make you eggplant noodles."

"Sure, thanks, Daniang."

Li Yan took up the conversation smoothly: "Can Xiyu cook? Let her show off a bit for everyone."

"I can."

Lin Xiyu helped Maternal Grandmother stand up, smiling and agreeing.

"I can cook, I'll help too."

Female Cousin rolled up her sleeves, ready to put on a good show.

"Three eggplants might not be enough, and there isn't much meat left either."

Maternal Aunt felt a bit guilty and was about to ask Uncle to go buy more vegetables when Director Du spoke first: "Little Sun, you go buy some noodles, then go to the Vegetable Market and buy some meat, eggs, and vegetables."

"Okay, I'll go right now."

The assistant director agreed very readily.

"We have noodles at home..."

Wang Daniang had been watching the excitement in the yard all along; she seized the opportunity to volunteer: "Fresh noodles pressed at home taste better than bundles of dry noodles."