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Zheng Furong had heard about the Wang family’s children from her husband. While the tutoring from Old Chen was crucial, it was equally important for these four children to be diligent and determined in their studies. As parents, their support was vital; without it, nothing would work out.
Speaking of their own children, Wang Zhenhe also expressed pride, “Auntie, please don’t praise them too much. Kids can get conceited.”
As they walked and talked, Zuo Zhanshan and Old Chen followed behind, while Hao Lianchun led his grandson closely.
Upon hearing Wu Lei’s call, the men inside the house quickly emerged. Even those helping in the kitchen stepped out, eager to see what these legendary figures were like.
Wu Changyong introduced each member of their family to one another. The Wu siblings finally met the legendary family, where Wang Zhenhe and Zhang Lan left an impression of simplicity and kindness, contrary to their expectations.
With so many people suddenly arriving, the atmosphere became lively. Wang Qian witnessed the thriving scene of the Wu family. Seeing Old Wu’s stature, she couldn’t help but chuckle. He seemed more capable than Old Zuo. While the Zuo family had only three brothers, Old Wu had two more daughters, not to mention a plentiful household full of children and grandchildren.
Due to the large number of people, the Wu family set up three tables: one for men, one for women, and one for children, creating a lively atmosphere. Wang Qian was placed at the children’s table as per Old Wu’s suggestion to help her bond with the family’s grandchildren. Being new to the capital and lacking friends, he hoped she would get along well with the grandchildren.
Wu Ping’s younger daughter, Wu Xin, enthusiastically served food to Wang Qian. “Qianqian, I’m two years older than you. Grandpa used to mention your family often. Meeting you in person, you’re even more beautiful than he described.”
Impressed by Wu Xin’s warmth, Wang Qian felt obliged and smilingly asked Wu Xin, “Sister Xin, are you older than my younger brother?”
Given that she was only a couple of years older than her, Wu Xin clarified, “I’m actually a few months younger than your younger brother. Here, have some more food.”
Their friendly conversation caught the attention of Wu Yufen’s daughter, Luo Wenyuan, who felt a sense of dissatisfaction. Accustomed to being the most beautiful at home, she couldn’t quite express her jealousy towards someone even more attractive. Seeing her cousin, who usually treated her exceptionally well, paying less attention to her today, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of disappointment and envy.
Noticing Wang Qian’s inattention, Luo Wenyuan shot her a sharp glance, saying, “Cousin, why are you ignoring me now? You usually help me with the food.”
She then put on a look of grievance. Wu Xin chuckled and gently tapped her head, “Oh, come on, we have guests today. Cousin hasn’t even finished her plate yet. Here, let me serve you some food. Take your time, everyone.”
The older boys dined with their Grandpa Wu at one table, while at another table sat Wu Yufen’s son, Luo Haotian, and Wu Yujiao’s son, Kong Lingjie.
Luo Haotian was around the same age as Wang Qian, while Kong Lingjie was slightly younger.
Observing his older sister’s behavior, Luo Haotian couldn’t help but give her a disapproving look. He refrained from commenting on her typical behavior at home but found her behavior towards guests unacceptable. He disapproved of how his sister behaved, acting coquettish even in front of visitors. Being older than her sister, he felt it was inappropriate for her to act that way.
“Sis, can’t you serve yourself? You’re grown up now; mind your manners,” he reproached.
Luo Wenyuan, feeling irritated by her brother’s comment, simply glanced at him. How could he not differentiate between family and outsiders? She was his sister; how could he speak about her in front of others like that?
Reaching out to tap his head, she said, “Little brother, staying silent won’t make anyone think you’re mute. Hurry up and eat; you have classes at the Youth Palace later.”
Wang Qian glanced at Luo Wenyuan, sensing the hostility in her gaze. However, since it was her first visit and she hadn’t interacted much with this young girl, Wang Qian didn’t understand why there was animosity. Considering it was just a guest visit today, and they would leave after the meal, with limited future interactions, she chose not to dwell on the girl’s attitude.
“Xin, you should eat too. Otherwise, the food will get cold. I’m fine with this portion,” she replied, showing kindness to those who treated her well. The other children at the table were engrossed in their meals, and since they weren’t familiar with Wang Qian, there wasn’t much conversation to be had.
“Qianqian, Grandpa mentioned you got into the Foreign Language University, right? That’s really impressive. I’m older than you and still in my final year of high school. I’d love to attend your university, but my grades are a bit tricky,” Luo Haotian remarked with a hint of admiration.
The fact that the Wang children had skipped grades was common knowledge among the Wu family members, so Wang Qian attending university at such a young age didn’t surprise them much.
Luo Wenyuan, feeling distracted, mechanically ate her food. Not only was Wang Qian beautiful, but her academic performance was exceptional as well, stirring genuine envy within her. Despite her jealousy, she struggled to find the right words at that moment, swallowing her resentment along with her meal. She couldn’t help but resent her own underperformance compared to Wang Qian. However, she vowed silently to surpass her academically in the future.
Wang Qian never imagined that a simple meal would inadvertently make her an adversary.
At Wang Zhenhe’s table, the atmosphere was lively, filled with men enjoying the drinks. The camaraderie grew as they drank, becoming more open and relaxed. “Zhenhe, I’m truly ecstatic today. Finally having you all here is a delight. Everyone, let’s dig in without restraint. It feels like home here,” one of the guests expressed warmly.
Zuo Zhanshan had something important to discuss with Wu Changyong, so he tugged at his arm, advising him to go easy on the drinks. “Old Wu, drink less for now. I have something important to discuss with you later.”
Wu Changyong was rarely approached by his old comrade with such seriousness, so he slowed down his drinking and warmly encouraged everyone to enjoy the food.
Mingyuan quietly whispered something in Wu Lei’s ear, causing him to almost choke in surprise. He discreetly asked Mingyuan, “Is what you said true or just a joke? You came up with such a lucrative idea for one night?”
Seeing his disbelief, Mingyuan leaned in closer and whispered, “You’ll find out soon. I reckon Zuo Grandpa will discuss this with your dad later. Listen, Uncle, we’ll be counting on you for this. Make sure you earn well, and we’ll enjoy the benefits with you.”
At that moment, Wu Lei wished he could call Mingyuan his brother, but the age gap made it impossible. He patted Mingyuan’s shoulder firmly and said, “Good lad, I’ll get you some tasty treats later.”
Mingyuan, looking at Wu Lei with a mix of amusement and exasperation, replied, “Uncle, you’re treating me like a kid. For gifts, go for something a bit pricier. If you want good food, I’ll get it for you. Let me tell you, after I graduate, I’ll come help you out, especially if you’ve been working hard all these years.”
Mingyuan didn’t believe that someone like Wu Lei could stay obediently in the military camp. With his assistance down south, it could ease the burden for Wang Zhenhe’s group.
Zhang Lan and Wang Xuan sat quietly at the women’s table, their meal not as lively as the men’s. Everyone was polite. Zheng Furong, in particular, warmly served and encouraged the two women to eat. Since most were meeting for the first time, there was a sense of unfamiliarity, and polite conversation was exchanged.
“Niece, your visit has made your uncle so happy. He often talks about wanting to host you but never had the chance. Now that you’re here, you must stay at your aunt’s place for a few days. I’ll take you around the capital and show you the sights,” Zheng Furong warmly suggested.
Zhang Lan smiled, “Auntie, please don’t be formal. We’ve bought a house here. We can stay there directly. If you have time, come and stay with us. Our house has a garden. If you feel bored at home, come over. When we’re away, the kids are there. We even grow our own vegetables. Feel free to visit and pick some fresh produce for yourself when you want.”
Upon hearing that the Wang family had purchased a house in the capital, the women of the Wu family were taken aback. Their initial reaction was a bit of surprise—could it be that Grandpa Zuo had paid for it? However, if Grandpa Zuo had bought it, it was unlikely that their father wouldn’t have known. If it was indeed the Zuo family’s purchase, it was certain that their family would have contributed a share.
Seeing the curiosity in the eyes of Wu’s eldest daughter, Zhang Lan chuckled and explained, “Big sister, the children in our family bought this house with the money they earned from their business. We’ll find out more once they complete the purchase.”
Wu Yujiao was genuinely curious about the business ventures of the semi-grown children that enabled them to afford a house with a garden. Such a property would likely be quite large, possibly a traditional courtyard-style mansion with a garden, indicating an older, substantial residence. She estimated that acquiring such a property would require a significant amount of money, a feat even she couldn’t afford.
“Sister-in-law, what kind of business they’re in to earn this much money? Buying a house like this must have cost a considerable sum,” she inquired.
Before Zhang Lan could offer an explanation, Wang Xuan began recounting the story of their business ventures, leaving the members of the Wu family in awe and surprise.
“Oh, you’re the ones behind those electronic watches? No wonder you’ve been so successful. I actually bought a few for the kids at home. Xuan, I truly admire all of you. Balancing school and business so well is truly remarkable,” one of the Wu family’s daughters-in-law exclaimed, impressed.
Wu Yujiao almost blurted out her interest in joining their business upon learning about their success. However, she held back, realizing it might seem presumptuous to express such intentions during their first meeting. She felt awkward about potentially coming across as asking for money, especially considering the business’s evident prosperity and multiple stakeholders involved. It was best not to risk creating any unwanted tension.