After Laba Festival, it's almost time for Damao's wedding. Zeng Ruixiang and Shen discussed that others wouldn't go, he would just go alone, and return home after dinner.

  "I just don't know how much gift money Big Brother has prepared over there. If we give too little, it won't look good when the time comes," said Shen Shi.

  Zeng Rui Xiang immediately found a sedan chair at the street corner and sent a message to Zeng Rui Qing, who replied that he would give two strings of cash as a gift and 50 cents in silver. Zeng Rui Xiang didn't say anything after hearing this, but prepared 250 copper coins without mentioning it to Lao Fang's side beforehand, probably because he was afraid that Tian Shi would make trouble if she found out.

  "Mother, I'm curious about something," said Ziqing. "When my older brother got married, all the uncles were waiting to give him a meeting gift, but none of the aunts did. Why is that?"

  "It's all reasonable, it's just that the rural folks are a bit poorer and don't go through this formalities. It was your uncles who brought it up themselves, these past few years, they've been living off our family's reputation, having a good time, so they want to show off a bit."

  "Alright, I'll support Mother then." Madam Shen heard this and smiled but didn't say anything.

  "We won't go to Big Aunt's house, I wonder what Grandpa and Grandma will say? It would be better if Father didn't go either." Zi Qing asked.

  "Let's talk about it later. Do you think your father would agree? It was because when your older brother got married, your grandfather gathered the four of us in the house and talked for half a day, saying that even if we don't move around during Chinese New Year, it's fine, but when the children get married, they must attend, otherwise the villagers will gossip and won't care about our family's reputation. They'll just spread rumors and who knows what they'll become in the end. The people in their village aren't familiar with us, so naturally they won't speak up for us. That's why your father decided to go himself, anyway it's not like there are many times, one child once." Shen said with a sigh.

  "Mother, my father-in-law is really funny. He said that it's okay if we don't move around during the New Year, but this should be told to my elder sister and her family instead. My elder sister doesn't let others come to visit either, they've been staying at our home since the second day of the new year and she doesn't need to entertain anyone else. At least my second sister still entertains us once a year, taking turns with my mother-in-law's relatives every three years. But my elder sister only eats at other people's homes, who can ever get to eat at her home?"

  Just then, Zeng Ruixiang led Zi Fu and others in, so Zi Qing had to stop talking.

  Who would have thought that on the tenth day, not long after finishing dinner, the old man came to the door alone. Zi Qing made tea and brought it over. Just as she was about to go back inside, the old man said: "Zi Qing, don't leave either, let's all sit together and listen to me say a few words."

  Zeng Ruixiang saw that the old master's expression was not right, so he quickly gathered all the family members to sit in the hall. The old master glanced at everyone and asked: "Tomorrow is Da Mao's wedding day, who among you will go?"

  "Dad, I can go alone, and the kids won't go either. It'll also save a table for your sister." Zeng Rui Xiang replied.

  "I knew it would be like this, fortunately I came today. Xiāngér, when Zǐfú got married, I told you four that no matter whose child gets married, you must attend. You agreed at the time, didn't you? Moreover, I didn't ask for a gift, your older sister also said that from now on, each family will live their own lives. If she comes up with another vicious scheme like that again, even if you don't say anything, Father will cut off ties with her. It's not that Father is biased towards Lǎo èr's family, this time it's really for your consideration. Think about it, Zǐqíng's incident just passed, Dà Máo knelt at your door for half a day, and the whole village knows he accidentally knocked over the plate and tore Zǐqíng's clothes. The truth is only known to us behind closed doors, others may have doubts but can only speculate. If you don't attend Dà Máo's wedding this time, it will confirm other people's speculations that Zǐqíng was intentionally framed by Dà Máo. Think about whether my words make sense?"

  Zeng Ruixiang and Shen listened silently for half a day, then Zifou asked: "Grandfather, I'm afraid that if we go this time, it will only add to the arrogance of my eldest aunt and her family. It's not that I, as a nephew, am speaking ill of my elders, but my eldest aunt and her family have been too ruthless in their actions over the years. They've done many wrong things, not just one or two, and every time they get away with it because my parents are soft-spoken and you and grandma protect them. That's why they become more and more outrageous each time. Look at how they treat your eldest son - they don't dare to cross him because they know that if they provoke him, he won't even give them a glance."

  The old man listened to Zifeng's words and didn't know how to respond, so he paused for a moment before saying: "Your uncle has already promised to attend Damao's wedding banquet, and he's still the head of the family. Damao was wrong this time, but Kangping also didn't hold back when he took action, and Damao got what was coming to him. Next time, even if you lend him some courage, he won't dare do it again. As for Guoying, she's just a child with shallow eyes, trying to climb high branches. Your aunt has indeed scolded her before. As for your aunt, I've already talked to them about this, and next time you'll really cut off ties if there's another incident like this. I keep my promises. This time, please go and attend the banquet on account of old man's face. She is after all your own aunt. Even if one day when I close my eyes, you can cut off ties and not come to visit, I won't be able to control it then, but now that I still have a breath left in me, how could I just watch my children become sworn enemies? Isn't this tearing at the heart of their parents?"

  Zeng Ruixiang initially felt ashamed when he heard Zi Fu's words, thinking that it was his own weakness that had caused his wife to suffer for over a decade and their children to endure hardships. However, upon hearing the old man's humble request, his heart still ached. At this moment, Zeng Ruixiang didn't know how to choose: should he follow his elderly father, but who would compensate for the suffering of his wife and children? Or should he follow his wife and children, but how could he ignore the pleading gaze of his nearly sixty-year-old father? In that instant, Zeng Ruixiang fell silent.

  The old man let out a long sigh, stood up, and hunched over. Shen saw this and quickly pulled Zeng Rui Xiang's sleeve, nodding her head. Zeng Rui Xiang looked at his father and understood Shen's intention, feeling warmth in his heart. He said, "Dad, don't be like this, we'll go, but if they do anything bad again in the future, we won't even bother with basic courtesy."

  "Alright, alright, they've already promised me that. I'll head back first then everyone can go together another day, including your second and third sisters' families." The old man finished speaking and left, with Zeng Ruixiang personally seeing him out the door.

  Zi Rong kicked the chair leg and said angrily: "It's really suffocating, my sister was bullied by someone, and we still have to attend their wedding."

  "What are you kicking at, I think what Old Man said makes some sense too, let Qing'er go together with us. This is for outsiders to see, anyway Father will also follow the rules, no free food, we're a big family and should occupy one table." Zi Fu advised.

  Ziying also let out a sigh, not knowing what Lin Kangping would think if he knew she was going to Da Mao's wedding. Zi Xi stood beside her chair and patted her shoulder, saying: "Sister, don't worry, when I grow up, I'll settle the score with my aunt and them if they dare to scheme against our family again."

  In the end, everyone went together. The Yan family's place was small, and neither Old Master Yan nor the Tian family had gone ahead of time. Xia Yu's family stayed in the old house for a few days, also waiting to go on the day of the wedding. Young Uncle Zhou Yunjiang had also returned after taking time off, so this time everyone was really present.

  Zi Qing met the son of Mrs. Zhou, Zi Quan, in Yan Village. The last time they met, he was still in his infancy, but now he is already four or five years old. He has grown to be quite clever and agile, with a face that resembles the Zeng family's features, which are also delicate. His hair is combed up into three braids that converge into one braid on top of his head, and his clothes are about 70-80% new. The silver necklace around his neck still has a silver lock hanging from it. However, he has been spoiled too much by Mrs. Zhou, who dotes on him more than her own eyes. As a result, he has developed a personality that is used to getting his way and will throw a tantrum if things don't go as he wishes. Zi Qing observed him for a while and found that whenever this child doesn't get what he wants, he will cry and make a fuss. Mrs. Zhou always gives in to him.

  Zeng Ruiqing also came over, but didn't speak to Zeng Ruixiang. Zhou Shi didn't talk to Shen Shi either. The two of them sat separately, with Zi Qing's family at one table. During the noon break, Chunyu mentioned that her family was going to build a new house too, saying that Er Mao had made some money doing business outside. Zi Qing looked at her with a smug face and turned around to leave.

  Zhou hummed and muttered to himself, "Tricking ghosts and thieves, can Er Mao do business? Er Mao is just the same." Zi Qing heard this and couldn't help but smile secretly.

  After the dinner party was over, Zeng Rui Xiang took his family and left. Once they got home, Zi Qing repeated what Zhou Shi had said and asked: "Mother, what does 'to deceive ghosts and strike at bandits' mean?"

  "You're really silly, you want a ghost to help you catch a thief? Is that possible? Do you believe it?" said Zifeng. Liu heard this and burst out laughing.

  "Big brother, you're really annoying! If you have something to say, just say it. Why did you poke me?" Zi Qing said, rubbing her own head.

  "Your elder brother likes you, that's why he is like this." Liu said. After a few days of getting along, Liu also became more casual.

  Back in the house, Zixi was busy setting up mahjong and said that since it's Chinese New Year, they should win some extra spending money. Liu couldn't play yet, so they couldn't start two tables, everyone rushed to join in, and Ziqing had to give up her seat. She sat aside doing needlework and watching the commotion. What she was making was clothes for Lin Kangping. When Liu saw it, she smiled and praised: "Sister, you're really virtuous, your brother-in-law is a lucky man."

  Zi Qing was about to respond when Zi Xi shouted from the side, "Sister, it's an emergency in Jianghu, I don't have any copper coins. No big deal, lend me twenty cents first, and I'll return them if I win."

  "No money, still rushing to get on, just in time to get off, I'm going up." Zi Qing put down her needle and thread and was about to go over.

  "Sister, I haven't had enough fun yet. Let me play for two more rounds, I'm so tired of reading books every day, it's almost New Year's, can't you let me have some fun?" Zi Qing heard this and handed over her purse.

  Liu watched for a while and also understood, and then made a fuss to go up. Zeng Rui-xiang also pulled Shen up to the table, wanting to personally teach Shen. At that time, there were more people watching the commotion than playing mahjong, it was truly very lively.

  In the following days, Ziying's home entered the New Year's state ahead of time. Fortunately, it was a separate large courtyard, otherwise, the noise and laughter every night would have driven the neighbors crazy. Ziying felt that these days were truly filled with eating, drinking, and having fun, what a joy!