Chapter 184: The New Year’s Eve Dinner

"What’s wrong with her!" Aunt Liu exclaimed as she gestured to Shanzi. "Quick, carry your mother to the bed."

Shanzi carried his mother to the bed. Shanzimama closed her eyes, unwilling to speak. Aunt Liu figured the two of them must have had some sort of falling-out, so it wasn’t her place to say much. She offered a few words of comfort and then left.

The moment Aunt Liu was gone, Shanzimama rolled over, turning her back to him.

Shanzi stood by the bed. "Mother, I—"

Shanzi didn’t know what to say. He didn’t think he had done anything wrong.

However, he also knew that he couldn’t bring this matter up with his mother again right now. He had to wait.

He stood by the bed for a while, thinking to himself. ’In the future, when I earn Copper Coins from driving carts in the city, I’ll only give Mother half. Once I’ve saved up several taels of silver, I’ll ask someone to go to Xing’er’s family and propose marriage.’

...

On New Year’s Eve, just past noon, the families of Gu Zhong, Gu Rong, and their eldest aunt all arrived in the courtyard of Gu Fei’s home.

In previous years, the three brothers had always celebrated the New Year together at the home of the eldest, Gu Zhong, because the old matriarch lived with him.

This year, Gu Zhang had taken the initiative to host, so naturally, no one had any objections.

Ms. Qian hadn’t even made lunch; her family came with empty stomachs.

They were hoping to save their appetites for the fine food that evening.

The main hall, which usually seemed large and empty, was now packed with people.

Mrs. Chen was also generous today, setting out several plates of pastries from Zhang Ze on the table. There was also a tiered snack box and some other treats bought from the city yesterday. The eight-immortals table was piled high.

Bao’er rushed straight for the table as soon as he came in. No one reprimanded him, as the food was put out for people to eat.

Hu Zi, on the other hand, glanced at his mother and only walked over to the table to get something to eat after Ms. Li nodded.

In all her life, Ms. Qian had never seen a family put out so many snacks for the New Year.

She marveled internally, ’The second brother really has struck it rich!’ while hastily grabbing a piece of crispy candy and stuffing it into her mouth.

She hadn’t forgotten that Gu Zhong had also skipped breakfast, so she grabbed a plum blossom cake and pushed it into his hand.

The whole room was buzzing with voices, bustling with excitement.

By the time the sky turned dark, the reunion dinner was ready.

Mrs. Chen had led everyone in making dumplings all night yesterday, and today she had prepared many substantial dishes.

Two tables were set up in the main hall: one round table, and another square table with a round tabletop placed on it.

Both tables were laden with food. There were two large basins of dumplings with pork and cabbage filling, as well as roe deer venison, swan meat, braised pork belly, cured chicken, smoked duck, and a whole fish.

Gu Rong clicked his tongue in amazement. "Second Brother, even the old Emperor probably doesn’t eat this well for the New Year."

Bao’er couldn’t wait and reached out to grab a piece of the braised pork belly, but Gu Sanlang seized him by the collar and pulled him back.

The old matriarch, sitting at the head of the table, saw Bao’er dangling like a chick in Gu Sanlang’s grasp, his hands still stubbornly reaching for the braised pork belly. She quickly spoke up, "Sanlang, put your cousin down! It’s New Year’s today, just let him be!"

Gu Fei glanced at the old matriarch and said with a smile, "Bao’er, there are rules for eating. Until the adults are at the table and have picked up their chopsticks, the children can’t eat first."

"Also, you have to use chopsticks to get food, not your hands. Just think about it, your hands touch everything. How dirty is that? You’ll get a stomachache if you eat like that."

Gu Zhong, who was standing nearby, heard Gu Fei’s words, and his face flushed a deep purple with embarrassment.

The old matriarch looked at her eldest son standing there helplessly, as if Gu Fei wasn’t scolding Bao’er, but Gu Zhong himself.

The old matriarch was displeased. ’Little Fei is just a slip of a girl, and from a different branch of the family at that,’ she thought. ’What right does she have to lecture my precious grandson!’