CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 71: DO YOU HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER?

The table on the kang was quite large. As the family had many members, they made the table themselves, really big.

Everyone squeezed in, and Bai Dajiang and his wife both sat down.

Bai Ruxue went out to fetch bowls and chopsticks, while Bai Daliang poured a drink for Bai Dajiang.

"Come on, let’s have a couple of drinks, just the two of us!" Bai Daliang put the glass in front of his brother as he spoke.

"I was just here to say Happy New Year, now I’m eating too! And this fine liquor!" Bai Dajiang said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Second Uncle, when you’re at our place, it’s your home! What’s there to be polite about?" Bai Ruxue liked this second uncle quite a bit.

"This wine smells so good! I haven’t had a drink since the year before last! Smelling it makes me a bit greedy!" Bai Dajiang took the glass and smelled it.

"Drink up! There’s plenty of wine today!" Bai Daliang, already having drunk one glass, was slightly tipsy, not being very tolerant of alcohol.

The two brothers clinked glasses and started chatting while sipping the wine.

"Zhaodi, eat! Don’t be shy! The kids made all this, and it’s really delicious!" Wang Cuihua also served Wu Zhaodi some food.

The little ones ate quickly and soon finished, getting down from the table.

Zhang Yuan and Bai Ruxue couldn’t leave the table, so they sat on the side accompanying them.

As Bai Daliang and Bai Dajiang were enjoying their drinks, Bai Dahe and Li Guihua came over.

As soon as they entered, they smelled the aroma of meat and wine, and quickly walked into the inner room.

Their daughter was right, the elder brother’s house truly had all the good stuff!

Thinking this, Bai Dahe improved his attitude.

"Big Brother and Sister-in-law, ah, Second Brother and Sister-in-law are here too? Eating, right? As the third brother, I’ve come to pay my New Year’s respects!" He said as he squeezed up to the table, "Just in time, caught at dinner! Let me drink with you guys a bit!"

"Elder Sister-in-law, you’re really living well! Eating all these delicacies while resting during confinement, with three daughters taking care of you, living like an empress dowager!" Li Guihua also squeezed onto the kang.

The two of them just got to the table, Bai Ruxue rolled her eyes, but it’s New Year, it’s hard to turn guests away once they’ve arrived.

She had to step down to get bowls and chopsticks.

Since the two younger sisters on the north kang were already rolling their eyes.

The two younger brothers were even more annoyed, Bai Ruchuan went out and would not entertain these two.

"Xiao Xue is really sensible! I have to say, Xiao Xue of ours—so sensible and pretty!" Li Guihua had apparently forgotten about the recent dispute, spilling out compliments generously.

"Of course! Otherwise, how would she catch the eye of a young intellectual from the Capital City? True words!" Bai Dajiang also flattered alongside his wife, not forgetting to reach for the previously set glass on the table, saying, "Big Brother, pour me some wine."

Bai Daliang could only take the bottle from beside him and pour him the wine.

Bai Dahe, afraid of not getting a full pour, quickly used his other hand to press down Bai Daliang’s hand. Not missing a beat, he took a gulp, squinting with enjoyment.

Watching this, Bai Ruxue and Zhang Yuan exchanged looks. Bai Ruxue signaled Zhang Yuan subtly, and they quietly slipped off the table.

But Bai Dahe called them back.

"Young intellectual...no, Xiao Yuan! Third Uncle wants to have a chat! Come here, come here! Sit down!"

Zhang Yuan’s face was cold, but looking at Bai Ruxue, he didn’t refuse immediately.

"You say you’re drinking with us, but why chat with the juniors? Let the kids have a rest!" Bai Dajiang spoke up to stop it.

"No, I just want to say a few words casually, we have to know about where our niece is going to marry, right?" Bai Dahe always had something to say.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan sat back where he was, picked up the bottle next to him, and poured full glasses for Bai Daliang and his brothers.

"Third Uncle, what do you want to ask? Just ask quickly, Zhang Yuan still has things to do back at the intellectual point!" Bai Ruxue was worried this Third Uncle might be reckless! Originally, she didn’t want Zhang Yuan to stay, but since Zhang Yuan sat down, she couldn’t stop him.

"Xiao Yuan, how old are you this year? Who’s in your family?" Bai Dahe asked like a caring elder checking out a potential son-in-law.

"19, my mother passed away early!" Zhang Yuan answered succinctly.

Bai Ruxue found out Zhang Yuan didn’t have a mother, he never mentioned it, nor did she think to ask.

"Oh... no mother, huh... Do you have brothers?" Li Guihua interjected.

Everyone was stunned, what relevance does having brothers have?

"No, I mean, do you have siblings?" Seeing everyone looking at her, Li Guihua gestured to explain.

"I have an elder sister!" Zhang Yuan replied to Li Guihua’s gaze.

"How about cousins? You ought to have cousins, right?" Bai Dahe asked urgently.

"Third Uncle, what’s the meaning behind you two asking about brothers? Are you thinking of marrying Bai Ruyu to Zhang Yuan’s brother?" Bai Ruxue made a teasing remark, originally not serious, but Bai Dahe’s next words shocked her.

"So Xiao Xue thinks it would be good! Sisters marrying brothers is quite nice, eh? They can take care of each other!"

"Pfft..." The two sisters on the north kang burst into laughter.

Bai Ruxue couldn’t hold back either, she laughed out loud, "It’s pretty good, then you could send bicycles, sewing machines, maybe even a tractor to you! How stylish!"

"Is Xiao Yuan’s family really that wealthy?" Bai Dahe widened his eyes, full of longing, and asked loudly.

"Third Uncle, maybe you should take a nap!" Bai Ruxue smiled faintly as she spoke, exchanging a glance with Zhang Yuan, seeing Zhang Yuan trying hard not to laugh made her feel gleeful.

"Third Uncle isn’t tired, Xiao Xue, you tell Third Uncle, does Xiao Yuan have a cousin close to Xiao Yu’s age?" Bai Dahe didn’t understand why Bai Ruxue told him suddenly to take a nap, asking eagerly.

Beside him, Li Guihua also put down her chopsticks from wolfing down food, raising her head with eyes full of brightness.

Wang Cuihua and Wu Zhaodi were a bit restless, this couple seemed to have come specifically to embarrass themselves in front of Zhang Yuan, this made Xiao Xue seem quite lacking in dignity before Zhang Yuan.

"I mean... anything is possible in dreams! Third Uncle, maybe you should take a nap and have a dream! In dreams, you’ll find sons-in-law, bicycles, sewing machines, maybe even find mountains of gold and silver, beauties as far as the eye can see!" Bai Ruxue light-heartedly teased, finished speaking, and the little ones along with Zhang Yuan couldn’t hold back, laughing heartily, their stomachs aching from the laughter.

"Dahe, just drink your wine, stop asking silly questions. Xiao Yu is still young, and you’re already inquiring about her potential match?" Bai Dajiang offered Bai Dahe an out.

But it seemed unnecessary, thick-skinned people never need others to offer them a way out, Bai Dahe continued smiling and jesting.

"I’m just thinking about Xiao Xue’s well-being! When Xiao Yuan returns to the Capital City, the sisters being nearby, wouldn’t they be able to look after each other?"

"Right, right!" Li Guihua agreed.

"Right, nothing! Eat your food!" Bai Dahe, however, wasn’t accepting his wife’s support, giving her a look.

Li Guihua understood instantly, lowered her head, and began to eat voraciously once more, where else would one find such tasty dumplings and meat?

Holding the bowl from elder brother’s house isn’t easy, one has to eat enough at once.

Bai Ruxue and Zhang Yuan turned and went out, no longer paying attention to Bai Dahe’s prying.