Chapter 298: Lovely Minggui

Minggui felt naturally drawn to the kind elder and enjoyed the delicious food made by Third Aunt. With older siblings to play with at home, he felt happy and welcomed.

With a warm smile, Zhang Lan gently patted his little cheek, “Sure, you can come over whenever you like, but remember to let your mom know. Otherwise, the adults at home might worry.”

Excited upon hearing Zhang Lan’s permission, Minggui hugged her neck and gave her a big kiss, saying, “Thank you, Third Aunt. I will come often from now on.”

After the meal, Zhang Lan tucked some pocket money into Minggui’s waistband. Feeling bashful, the child hesitated, “Third Aunt, my mom said I shouldn’t take money from you. She said it’s not easy for you to support my siblings’ education.”

Zhang Lan affectionately ruffled the child’s head, “Minggui, it’s okay. Keep this money for yourself to buy some candy in the future. Otherwise, I might get upset.”

Glancing at Wang Zhenhe and his wife, the child blinked his big eyes, pondered for a moment, and then carefully accepted the money, tucking it into his pocket close to his body.

As Mingyuan’s family finished preparing to leave, Wang Zhenhe grabbed a handful of candies and slipped them into the child’s backpack. “Let’s start you off with this, Minggui. We can go around collecting more as we visit each house.”

Leading his young cousin, the family of five stepped out of the house. In previous years, when Wang Minggui returned for the New Year, it was usually Wang Zhenguo who took him out for a brief stroll, unable to play with the local children. This year was different – with his older siblings by his side, Minggui carried himself proudly. Wang Qian and her sister watched behind, finding the scene quite amusing.

“Hey sis, why does it feel like I’ve stumbled upon a political party? Look at him, so dignified and confident, as if he’s about to cross the Yalu River,” Mingcheng remarked, finding Minggui’s demeanor quite amusing.

Wang Xuan sighed softly, “He’s actually quite pitiable. If his mom hadn’t been worried about her mother spoiling him, she wouldn’t have sent him away. Now, Wang Zhenguo’s misdeeds have consequences that this child has to bear. It’s a tough situation for him.”

Thinking about how Minggui hadn’t seen his cousins for so many years, it was clear that the child had faced challenges. Thankfully, his efforts were finally paying off, and he was becoming more responsible.

Minggui held hands with Mingyuan and Mingcheng, feeling comfortable and content with his two older brothers by his side. The siblings, along with the child, went from house to house for New Year greetings.

Upon reaching Wang Juan’s house, they were surprised to see the child from the younger uncle’s family tagging along with them. Wang Juan and her husband were puzzled by this unexpected occurrence, but Wang Qian quietly explained the situation to her mother.

“Oh, I see now… I was wondering,” Wang Juan exclaimed, understanding the situation.

Wang Juan remarked to her mother, “It seems like this time he’s been well taken care of by his grandma. Just look at how he conducts himself, so different from before…”

Wang Juan had only seen her young nephew during meal times and didn’t know much about him. However, based on what her niece shared, she felt that the child was being raised well.

With a cheerful smile, Wang Juan lifted the youngest nephew in the Wang family, Minggui. “Minggui, if you return in the future, come to Auntie’s house to play with your older siblings. You are all siblings, so if anyone dares to bully you, come and tell your big brother. Let your eldest brother stand up for you.”

Though the young child didn’t fully grasp the meaning, he nodded vigorously. “Auntie, I will be obedient and well-behaved. I won’t be a naughty child.”

Even at three years old, there was some wisdom in the saying “observe the old to know the new.” Wang Juan felt that Wang Zhenguo’s family was getting better, no longer resembling those who lacked integrity.

Looking at the older Wang Mingshan, Mingcheng teased, “Big brother, I heard you’re getting married. But I’m not sure if I’ll make it back. If I can’t attend, don’t you dare blame me. I’m serving in a military uniform, under others’ command. I can’t help it either.”

Wang Mingshan, now a grown man, couldn’t help but embrace his brother, who looked dignified in his military attire. “Mingcheng, do your best. In the future, the Wang family will rely on you all to bring honor to our ancestors. If there’s anything I can do to help in the future, don’t hesitate to ask. It would be my utmost pride to assist my younger brother.”

Mingshan truly admired his younger brother. From successfully passing the college entrance exam and secure a place at university in the first year was truly impressive. Despite his young age, he was already garnering respect.

Mingcheng patted his big brother’s back and said, “Brother, rest assured. If I need your help in the future, I won’t hesitate to ask. You focus on raising chickens and pigs at home – I believe you’ll make money in the future. Maybe one day, your younger brother will rely on you for support.”

Amidst the banter, Wang Mingshan reached out to Minggui, the youngest, and pulled him close. “Minggui, it’s been a while since I last saw you. Come here, let big brother give you a hug. Let’s see if you’ve gained some weight.”

After finishing their New Year visit at Wang Juan’s house, the family promptly moved on to Wang Zhenjiang’s residence, not lingering there for long, indicating a quick visit.

Wang Mingshan, Mingcheng, and Minggui went to the old house to pay respects to the elderly grandmother. It was more of a formality, as they were aware that their grandmother’s affection was primarily for a few select individuals. It seemed that their grandmother did not exhibit the same level of affection for her grandchildren across generations, except for Minggui, as they understood the principle of loving everything associated with one’s home.

“Big brothers, my bag is full. What should I do?” Minggui, lacking experience, was unsure how to handle the bag full of items.

Mingyuan cheerfully replied, “Little brother, when you return home, empty your bag. Later, I’ll take you out again, and maybe you’ll gather even more.”

Wang Yu chuckled and patted his younger cousin, “Mingyuan, why aren’t you carrying a bag now? I remember you used to pack a lot of things before.”

Reminiscing about their childhood, everyone looked at Mingyuan, recalling how resourceful and savvy he was as a child. He would bring a bag for the New Year visits, and every household would generously offer him candies. Now, it was his turn to teach his young cousin the same tradition.

Reflecting on the past, Mingyuan scratched his head sheepishly, “Sis, you still remember those days? I’ve grown up now, and it’s no big deal for the little one to carry a bag. Right, Minggui?”

Understanding the situation, Minggui nodded, “I’m a kid, so it’s okay if I don’t do everything like the adults, right?”

Observing her clever little brother, Wang Qian couldn’t help but agree with the old saying that children are smart before marriage. Seeing Minggui’s behavior, she realized that he was indeed a bright child.

In the morning, Ma Fenqing hesitated about whether to go and visit her sister-in-law with her family. She had heard about her husband’s actions before their marriage and felt genuinely sorry for the family.

She pondered over the dilemma – visiting might put her sister-in-law in an awkward position. After all the trouble her husband had caused, although there were no direct confrontations, the family simply ignored them. Correcting mistakes, especially when there was no sign of remorse or regret from her in-laws or husband, seemed incredibly challenging. Ma Fenqing realized she might have misjudged them, but being a wife and a daughter-in-law, some decisions were beyond her control.

Sighing heavily in her heart, she decided not to burden her sister-in-law’s family. She found solace in the fact that her child had grown closer to his uncle’s family, providing her with some comfort. The child’s good upbringing reassured her that her initial choice was not wrong.

“Mom, Mom, I’m back!” Minggui shouted as he entered the courtyard, tightly hugging a bag of treats and rushing inside. “Mom, look, this is from someone else. It’s a lot! Brother asked me to empty it and then he will take me out again. Please help me empty it quickly before they leave.”

Ma Fenqing, amused by her son’s excitement and the bag full of goodies, couldn’t delay him from spending time with his siblings. She quickly poured the contents into a bag, ensuring her son didn’t miss the chance to bond with his brothers and sisters.

“Son, when you go out, don’t ask for things from others. Only take what they give you, okay? And don’t bother your older siblings,” she advised, emphasizing the importance of manners and gratitude.

The young child, eager to go outside, nodded hastily, “Mom, I understand. I won’t misbehave; Grandma told me not to.”

Ma Fenqing brought her son to the elderly lady’s room to greet Wang Mingshan and his siblings.

Wang Qian warmly greeted Ma Fenqing, viewing her as someone who had changed for the better. Since she took the initiative to speak, the younger generation had no reason to hold a grudge. Ma Fenqing wasn’t the one with animosity, and there was no need to quarrel with this woman. She had been deceived as well, albeit uncertain if she regretted anything now. However, allowing her child to bond with them indicated her growing acceptance of their family. While she didn’t expect much, having one less enemy and one more friend was a positive step.

Ma Fenqing couldn’t help but sigh as she observed the elderly lady staring blankly at the children. She wondered what had gotten into the old lady’s head. These children were so well-behaved, far better than Wang Zhi and the others, yet the old lady seemed oblivious to that fact.

“Qianqian, make sure to spend time playing with your younger brother. If Minggui does something wrong, it’s your duty as older siblings to guide him; a tree needs nurturing to grow straight,” Ma Fenqing advised.

Rolling her eyes, Zhu Qiyu retorted, “Minggui is doing just fine. He doesn’t need any guidance.”

The siblings brushed off Zhu Qiyu’s comment, treating it like a passing remark. “Aunt, we’re taking Minggui to visit other families.”

Reluctant to stay any longer, the siblings greeted Wang Deshan and departed.

As the grandchildren left, Wang Deshan directed a stern gaze at Zhu Qiyu. “Old lady, don’t overstep your boundaries. Those are our grandchildren. You’ve lived for so long, yet you still haven’t learned. Our grandchildren have great potential. If you can’t see that, you’ll have no one to rely on in your old age.”