Chapter 490: Introducing Someone to Dad

Half an afternoon.

Wu Yingwei returned.

Upon learning that Wu An bought a lot of fireworks, he was also impulsive: "Since we're going to have a proper celebration, then, Mei Yueqin, you give your parents… never mind, I'll make the call myself."

Wu Ping watched Wu Yingwei walk aside and asked, "Dad, what are you going to do?"

Mei Yueqin said irritably, "Dad wants to invite his in‑laws over for drinks."

Wu Ping hesitated, "Is this appropriate?"

Mei Yueqin replied, "What's inappropriate about that?"

"Anyway, eating at home is still eating; isn't it better for our whole family to gather together?"

"What are you worried about?"

Wu Ping said, "I'm not worried; it's just that we've never done this before."

Mei Yueqin didn't continue the conversation, turned and walked into the kitchen.

It never happened before.

It wasn't that it was impossible, but that we couldn't manage it.

First, the family's circumstances were poor; the celebration is nice but costly. In the past, during festivals we'd only add a few extra dishes, and the idea of buying fireworks to set off was never even considered.

Not to mention Mid‑Autumn; even during Spring Festival we only watched other households set off fireworks.

They called it "saving money while still enjoying the spectacle."

That's true, but fireworks set off by others are inevitably different from those we set off ourselves.

Moreover, there's no one at home who can bring the whole clan together for a lively gathering.

Now it's different.

To be realistic, when a poor, broken‑down household is willing to visit, our own family still feels awkward.

The poor live in bustling towns unnoticed; the rich live in remote mountains with distant relatives.

Mei Yueqin hasn't read many books, but she understands the cold and warm of society better than Wu Ping does.

Wu Ping's mind works a bit slower; perhaps because he teaches and preaches grand principles, there are things he can't grasp and doesn't wish to contemplate.

A short while later.

Wu Yingwei finished the call, walked into the kitchen, saw Wu An stoking the fire, and said, "Mei Yueqin, come over this evening."

Wu Ping added, "Dad, I've invited Aunt Juan, and A Qing will celebrate with us tonight. By the way, why isn't Lao Meng at home? I can't reach him by phone."

Wu Yingwei said with a smile, "Oh, Lao Meng went over to his boss's place."

"That kid won't return, so the elder will go."

Wu An nodded, "That's fine; reunion is reunion wherever it is."

Wu Yingwei asked, "A An, have you called Anran and the elderly lady?"

Wu An replied, "I did, but the elderly lady doesn't want to come. I heard Gu Jianfa is detained at the Police Station, and she wants a peaceful Mid‑Autumn Festival."

Wu Yingwei didn't say anything further.

He is also aware of the Gu family's situation.

……

Afternoon.

The Meijia whole clan arrived early; there's an evening event in the village, so having an early dinner makes it easier to join.

In the past, Wu Yingwei could either attend or skip.

But this year is different; without him it really wouldn't work.

Elder Mei sat at the head of the table, everyone sat down in order, Wu An personally took charge of the kitchen, and finally sat together with Mei Xiaoxiao. After sitting, he noticed Wu Yingwei and Aunt Juan sitting together.

He was slightly startled, shook his head to keep himself from overthinking.

Three rounds of wine passed.

Elder Mei set down his cup and said, "Yingwei, we're in‑laws; I'm older than you, so I won't beat around the bush—let me speak to you directly."

"What's the matter? Speak."

"A Ping's mother passed away early; it's been many years. Someone asked me to tell you, would you consider finding another one?"

"No need."

Wu Yingwei replied without hesitation.

Elder Mei was taken aback, nodded, "Alright, then we'll leave it at that."

Wu Yingwei raised a cup and said, "Brother, I've troubled you."

"All these years, I've long been used to being alone."

"I truly have no thoughts in that regard, and won't have any in the future."

"Here, I toast you with a cup."

After drinking a cup, Elder Mei's gaze swept over Mei Yueqin.

Mei Yueqin let out a sigh.

Then.

Mei Yueqin had a drink with Aunt Juan, then leaned close to her ear and said something unknown; Aunt Juan quickly shook her head, her face instantly flushing red.

Wu An saw this and guessed that Elder Mei's sudden words were probably prompted secretly by his sister‑in‑law.

Because there was an evening event, everyone didn't drink much.

After eating and drinking, they couldn't bother to clean up and hurried to join the village's activity.

In the square.

Villagers gathered together; as the fire grew larger, under the elders' lead, everyone sang folk tunes and mountain songs in celebration, and the children followed suit.

Besides singing, there's also dancing.

Wu An sweated profusely from the games, exhausted beyond measure, and dragged A Qing, the big brother, Mei Wu and Mei Xiaoxiao to his house to fetch fireworks.

He laid the fireworks out on the beach in a single line.

Wu An tried to light them with a lighter, but the sea breeze was too strong and he failed several times.

A Qing smoked.

One person held a cigarette, the three of them together set off more than a dozen barrels of fireworks at once.

Very quickly.

Accompanied by "Bang—Bang—Bang" sounds, the fireworks blossomed in the sky.

The fireworks were dense.

One display hadn't finished when another began, layer upon layer, and the night was painted with the brilliant, multicolored bloom of fireworks.

Everyone looked up at the sky.

The fireworks reflected in the heavens, and their dazzling colors fell into each person's eyes.

"Wow, this is unbelievably beautiful."

"Who set off the fireworks?"

"It's Yingwei's second son; they say he made a fortune catching fish at sea, and it looks true."

"How much money's worth of fireworks is this?"

"Tsk tsk, the village is livelier today than during the New Year."

"Yingwei, you should be the village head; look how well this year's Mid‑Autumn Festival was organized, far better than before."

Everyone praised with kind words.

Wu Yingwei modestly said the children just love to play.

After Wu Yingwei left, the conversation shifted in tone.

"Lao Wu Jia is really something now; I, as village head, hold all the power, my son makes money like it's a game—just look at this show‑off."

"Exactly."

"It just shows how great he is; he can do it."

"What's the big deal? If I wanted, I could also afford it, just showing off."

"The two elders working together make money without difficulty."

"That's true, we can't match them."

"Hmph, I'm telling you, sooner or later something will happen…"

Everyone grew more heated, their tone downright sour.

Duan Dajie, who had wanted to chime in, caught sight of Mei Yueqin out of the corner of her eye, inhaled deeply, placed her hands on her hips, and began to speak: "You bunch of damn idiots, shut your filthy mouths."

"Can't stand others doing well when one's own life is bad."

"Wu An has the ability to make money, and Uncle Yingwei needs no introduction; think of all the work he's done for the village, laboring without complaint—his becoming village head is well deserved."

"You can afford fireworks, but are you willing to spend them?"

"I advise you to accumulate some virtue in your words."

"Learn more from Shen Nan; when it comes to speaking ill, he's the one you should target. How come he doesn't act like you? That's the big picture, that's the magnanimity."

Shen Nan: "……"

"Don't click!"