Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Mid-Autumn Gathering

After Gu Qinghuan left in the morning, it wasn’t long before Xu Huaizhi arrived.

Xu Huaian politely invited him in, and the two sat together for a while.

Xu Huaizhi’s intention was clear: “There are no parents who are truly at fault.” After all, their parents gave birth to him, so he hoped Xu Huaian could let bygones be bygones and forgive their parents for how they’d treated him in the past.

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now that Xu Huaian was doing better, it was only right for the family to have a reunion dinner together.

Xu Huaian, however, had long since lost all hope in his parents, Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang. They’d used every trick to exploit him, and once he was no longer useful, they’d kick him aside without a second thought. There was no going back to how things used to be.

Still, Xu Huaizhi had a point: if their family wanted to live peacefully in the village, they couldn’t afford to be saddled with a bad reputation. Otherwise, just the villagers’ gossip would be enough to drown them.

Xu Mingshan could claim he no longer recognized this son, but Xu Huaian couldn’t be the one to turn his back on his parents.

Yesterday, things had gotten heated and he’d let his emotions get the better of him.

As a rational adult, he knew he should handle these matters with more tact.

So, after thinking it over for a moment, he readily agreed.

For one, he already had a plan for dealing with his parents: just turn a deaf ear and mind his own business.

For another, he was curious to see what new scheme the old fox Xu Mingshan was cooking up.

He was no longer the stubborn, naïve Xu Huaian of the past. Life had worn down his rough edges and forced him to learn how to navigate things more smoothly.

Xu Huaizhi thought his little brother had been talked around and left in high spirits.

Xu Huaian went to pick up Gu Qinghuan and brought her home. The two discussed the situation and were basically on the same page.

Gu Qinghuan knew full well that old fox Xu Mingshan would never let go of such a fat piece of meat as Xu Huaian.

In short, from now on, they’d keep their distance from the old house—polite on the surface, but keeping to themselves behind closed doors.

As for being invited over? If they invited them, they’d go. Who wouldn’t enjoy a free meal?

So, the two of them got ready to take the kids and go mooch a meal.

As for a Mid-Autumn gift, they just grabbed a basket of wild greens on the way out. No point giving anything nice to those ingrates—it’d just be a waste.

Let them look down on it. The more they disliked it, the less likely they’d come bothering them in the future.

Zhong Zijun would just make do with lunch, and when they got back in the afternoon, the family would prepare their own Mid-Autumn feast.

Gu Qinghuan had brought back plenty of good ingredients today, and the two kids were already looking forward to dinner.

“When we get there, remember: talk less, eat more. Eat as much as you can and don’t worry about what they say. We’re just there for the food, nothing else. And don’t feel guilty—your grandma tricked a lot of money out of your dad over the years. That’s more than enough to cover you eating your fill every day,” Gu Qinghuan instructed the kids.

“Got it, Mom!” The two of them looked like they were heading into battle, united against a common enemy.

Xu Huaian couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at? You remember too—just listen and let things go in one ear and out the other. Don’t meddle. I heard your little sister is getting married soon. I bet your dad is up to something again. Inviting us over right after a fight? It’s obviously a trap—a real Hongmen Banquet. Stay alert, don’t let yourself get sold off without even knowing it,” Gu Qinghuan warned.

Xu Huaian nodded quickly. “Yes, yes, yes, we’ll all listen to you. I’ve been kicked out with nothing to my name, so I’m relying on you to take care of us. I can’t do anything even if I wanted to!”

“That’s more like it! We’ll act pitiful to outsiders and quietly make our fortune,” Gu Qinghuan said, snapping her fingers and tossing another wild green into the basket.

“A basket of wild greens is plenty. Let’s get going—if we’re late, all that’ll be left are scraps.”

As soon as the family reached the door, they heard Xu Huaiyu complaining loudly inside, “Dad, when are we eating? Why aren’t the crazies here yet? I’m starving!”

Xu Huaian pushed open the door with a bang. “Xu Huaiyu, you want a beating?”

Xu Huaiyu was startled by his sudden appearance and quickly hid behind Xu Mingshan. “Dad…”

Xu Mingshan put down his pipe, coughed twice, and said slowly, “You’re here? Let’s get ready to eat.”

“Dad, it’s the holiday today. Our family’s struggling, so we don’t have much to offer you—just some wild greens. Hope you don’t mind!” Gu Qinghuan said cheerfully, holding up the basket without a trace of embarrassment.

Xu Mingshan was disgusted, but since he still needed them for something, he forced himself to swallow his displeasure. “Just put it there.”

Xu Huaiyu, who had no filter, looked at them with open disdain. “Second brother, is your family so poor now? You actually brought wild greens as a Mid-Autumn gift? What a joke.”

Xu Huaiyu’s words echoed Xu Mingshan’s own thoughts, so he didn’t stop him, letting the brothers face off.

Xu Huaian looked at Xu Huaiyu, hurt. “All these years, haven’t you spent enough of the money I earned? Now that I’ve fallen on hard times, you’re looking down on me? Let me ask you—what have you done for the family these past few years, just lazing around at home?”

Xu Huaiyu was at a loss for words. He really hadn’t done anything—just slept in or hung out with his no-good friends all day. He didn’t work, thought farm work was beneath him, and did nothing but rely on Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang’s favoritism. He was always asking Liu Guifang for money, and as for earning any? Please, he was still “just a kid.”

Xu Huaizhi heard the commotion and hurried out from the kitchen. Today, only Lin Xiaomeng was cooking, so he had to help out, even if it was just washing vegetables.

“Second brother, you’re here? Both of you, enough arguing—it’s a holiday.”

Xu Huaiyu snorted and walked away.

Xu Huaian couldn’t be bothered with him either.

Gu Qinghuan saw Lin Xiaomeng running around in the kitchen like a spinning top and, after dawdling a bit, went in to help.

Lin Xiaomeng turned and saw her come in. She wasn’t as hostile as yesterday, and even whispered, “The old man is plotting to use both our families. Make sure your man watches what he says today—don’t let him get dragged in.” Otherwise, everyone would suffer.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend—a temporary tactical alliance.

“Got it!” Gu Qinghuan thought Lin Xiaomeng was pretty impressive—flexible and adaptable.

The two of them brought the dishes to the table.

Since it was a holiday, Liu Guifang had only given them a few coins for groceries—stingy as ever. Lin Xiaomeng had to chip in herself, so they managed to buy a pound of meat and two blocks of tofu.

They made a big bowl of braised pork with vermicelli, another of braised tofu, plus stir-fried shredded potatoes and boiled cabbage. For the staple, they steamed a big pot of mixed-grain buns.

All in all, not a bad meal.

Liu Guifang, supported by Xu Huaiyu, came out with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot, glaring fiercely at Xu Huaian’s family.

If it weren’t for her husband’s arrangements, she wouldn’t want to see this family at all.

With so many people today, they ate in the main hall.

The Xu family had strict hierarchy: only after Xu Mingshan, the family patriarch, picked up his chopsticks could everyone else start eating.

As soon as the meal began, the whole hall fell silent, with only the sounds of chopsticks and chewing filling the air."