Chapter 392 - What Matters (2/2)
The two elder kids were good and clever to thank the elderly with appreciation and best wishes, while Nao Nao, the youngest, ran to the courtyard soon after she received the lucky money, lest her parents might take it away from her.
Both Qin Sheng and Qin Ran received the lucky money from their uncle and aunt. Qin Ran felt a bit ashamed because she had been accepting their favors for years. In the beginning, Qin Ran was reluctant because she thought she was too old to take money from them. But they told her that she would always be their child as long as she stayed unmarried. Knowing that it was a new way of urging her to get married, Qin Ran finally took the money; anyway, it was meant for her.
A brand new year had just begun. The entire Zhu Family had to leave for home after an unforgettable reunion at the siheyuan of the Qin Family, since they would have quite a lot of things to do the next day, and were not able to stay the night there at the Qin Family place, though the host had enough guest rooms for each of them.
Qing Changan, together with Qin Sheng and Qin Ran, had a little chat with the guests, telling them to be careful, and then went back to the siheyuan after seeing them leave.
On the way back to the house, Qin Ran talked with a funny tone, “Dad, what did you do to invite my uncle over to our place? Does that mean your relationship is less intense?”
Qin Changan was not that stupid and would not play games with the general, for there might be a good chance that he would lose both ends. Therefore, he just told his daughter honestly, “It wasn’t me. Your uncle called me first, and I was surprised, too. However, it’s obvious that your uncle was doing this for you two kids, not me.”
Qin Ran finally had her facts straight, and said thoughtfully, “Well, I got it. Uncle Zhu was really working hard on this.”
Qin Sheng certainly didn’t figure out the ins and outs, but at some point he would figure out that he was the key to make things right for the two families.
Back in the living room, the servants, as Gongsun arranged, were cleaning up the mess from the dinner table since the real busy days wouldn’t start until the next day and would end when the Lantern Festival was over. During the next two weeks, their siheyuan would be crowded with people. Important people, of course.
“Uncle Gongsun, happy new year. You must be tired.” Qin Ran walked towards him and smiled. She had never treated Gongsun as someone else, so did her father, who had been receiving him as his own brother. And Uncle Gongsun had done so much for the family all those years.
Qin Sheng had been back for quite a while, knowing clearly about the man’s special place at home, so he said with a smile, “Happy new year, Uncle Gongsun.”
Gongsun took out the lucky money prepared beforehand and said, “It’s my job. Don’t say that. Here are your shares. Merely my best wishes for you.”
“Thanks, Uncle Gongsun.” Qin Ran took it without hesitation as she did in any other year, for she knew it was a token of his love.
Qin Sheng somehow found it inappropriate to take the money, but Gongsun just stuffed it into his hands. He was supposed to give the money to them earlier after dinner, yet still waited until then when the others had left.
Qin Sheng looked at his sister, and the latter nodded with a yes. He then took it in and thanked him with a smile, “Thank you, Uncle Gongsun.”
The night wasn’t young, and Qin Changan said to them, “Go and have some rest now. You two will have things to do tomorrow morning.”
There were things that Qin Ran knew for sure while Qin Sheng didn’t, yet he didn’t ask. Then they went upstairs for bed after a short conversation with the servants.
Lying on the bed, Qin Sheng couldn’t find peace. Things were swarming in his brain. It was definitely one special Spring Festival that he would never forget, with so much joy, as it had never happened before. The same time last year, by contrast, he was sick in bed; the only luck he had was Lin Su’s care and company that lessened his loneliness. The moment her name flashed across his mind, Qin Sheng began wondering whether Lin Su was thinking about him as he did for her. Being away from her for so long, he missed the girl even more and couldn’t help waiting to get her back sooner.
With all those thoughts in mind, Qin Sheng gradually fell asleep.
The next day came soon as the first day of the new year. When Qin Sheng finally got up and went downstairs, everybody was already waiting for him. Dumplings had been prepared all night and were served on the table that day, according to Qin Family’s ritual, while people in northern China would have that food the day before, on New Year’s Eve.
After breakfast, Qin Changan asked Gongsun to take out what had been prepared and then told Qin Ran, “Ran Ran, these are gifts for the Song Family. Take Qin Sheng to pay your Grandpa Song a new year’s visit this year. I’ll pass.”
Qin Ran listened and quickly figured out the purpose of that movement. The New year’s visit had always begun with the Song Family each and every year; only it was her turn to take the lead while their father did it in person in former years. For one thing, the Song Family had been an old family friend to the Qin Family, and aside from that, their house was located in an alley just a few blocks away from the other. Moreover, her father wouldn’t have reached so far without their help.
The main task for the day was the one thing that mattered to both families. Knowing that she wasn’t in a place to judge, Qin Ran just did as she was told by her father and left Qin Sheng worrying about the rest.
Qin Sheng didn’t refuse the arrangement. So long as he had accepted his identity as the only son of Qin Changan, he knew clearly that he would inherit everything from his family, including all those resources. And that day was just a beginning.
The moment Qin Ran set out to visit the Song Family with his brother, an independent young woman was sitting at the table with her chin resting in her hands, wondering about the man she was going to meet soon.