Marrying My Bestie's Ferocious Brother - He Calls Me His Baby!-Chapter 246 - 245: Old Traditions? My Child, My Rules!

Chapter 246: Chapter 245: Old Traditions? My Child, My Rules!

Gu Yanshen turned to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, a loud voice came through.

"Old Gu! I could smell the aroma from afar!"

Zhao Tiezhu walked in with two bottles of good wine.

Following him were Political Commissioner Zhou and Dean Li from Beijing Agricultural College, whose hair was graying.

The room instantly filled with people.

Gu Xiuzhen adjusted her collar and sat upright in the middle of the sofa, assuming the posture of an elder.

She waited for these people to greet her.

But Zhao Tiezhu was sharp-eyed and immediately noticed the cold dishes ready on the dining table.

"Wow! That braised beef! What a color!"

He shoved the wine into Gu Yanshen’s arms and rubbed his hands as he moved toward the table.

"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are amazing! I was barely able to move past the corridor because of the tantalizing smell!"

Lin Wan Yi smiled and invited everyone to sit.

"Mr. Zhao, make yourself comfortable, please sit down."

Political Commissioner Zhou nodded with a smile: "Yanshen, you lucky guy, you’re the only one with such fortune in the whole military district."

Dean Li even stuffed a thick red envelope into Gu An’s hands, smiling warmly at Lin Wan Yi: "Wanyi, I’ve been looking forward to this meal."

Everyone was laughing.

No one glanced at Gu Xiuzhen sitting on the sofa.

She seemed like a forgotten statue, her face growing darker.

"Ahem!"

Gu Xiuzhen coughed heavily.

Zhao Tiezhu then reacted, turned his head and glanced: "Oh, isn’t this our aunt? You’ve come as well?"

Gu Xiuzhen kept a stern face, snorting through her nose.

"Hmm."

Everyone took a seat.

The hot dishes were served.

The braised pork was rich but not greasy; the steamed fish was fresh and chewy.

Especially the plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, as green as jade, emitting a peculiar fresh fragrance.

Zhao Tiezhu picked up some greens with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth.

Chewing twice.

His eyes suddenly widened.

"Amazing!"

He slapped his thigh: "Why does this green vegetable taste even better than meat? Sister-in-law, have you cast some spell?"

Political Commissioner Zhou tasted a bite and couldn’t help but nod: "Indeed, sweet and crisp, leaving a lasting impression."

Gu Yanshen served Lin Wan Yi a piece of fish, his eyes filled with affection.

"My wife’s cooking is the best."

The table was filled with praises.

Gu Xiuzhen sat there, her chopsticks didn’t even move.

She looked at the sumptuous dishes and only felt annoyed.

"Humph."

She sneered quietly, her voice small but exceptionally jarring amidst the lively dining table.

"It’s just food and drinks."

"Today’s young people focus all their energy on such trivialities, never understanding the importance of austerity and simplicity."

Zhao Tiezhu’s hand paused while picking food.

The atmosphere turned somewhat awkward.

Political Commissioner Zhou set down his chopsticks.

He looked at Gu Xiuzhen, his tone calm yet firm.

"Sister Gu, that’s not right."

"Why did we go through the revolution? Isn’t it to ensure that people can eat meat and live good lives?"

"Yanshen and his wife have improved their lives through labor; that’s a good thing and it’s our goal to strive for."

Gu Xiuzhen was at a loss for words.

She opened her mouth, wanting to refute but couldn’t find the words.

Frustrated, she could only pick up a piece of braised pork and chew forcefully, as if she meant to crush it.

Dean Li ignored this small disturbance.

He was staring intently at a plate of mung bean cakes in front of him.

These were desserts Lin Wan Yi specially made for after the meal.

Using mung beans grown in the special space, ground into powder, and mixed with spiritual spring water.

Dean Li picked up a piece, took a bite with care.

It melted instantly in his mouth.

The rich bean fragrance trembled his soul.

"Marvelous!"

Dean Li’s mustache stood up in excitement.

"Wanyi, where did you buy these mung beans from? This quality... it’s unprecedented!"

"I’ve spent a lifetime in agronomy and have never seen such good beans!"

"Could you save me some samples? I want to take them back to the lab to study thoroughly!"

Lin Wan Yi smiled: "Teacher, I just happened to buy them at the market."

"Happened to?"

Gu Xiuzhen seized another opportunity.

She curled her lips with a look of disdain.

"A case of luck meeting opportunity."

"What good beans? It’s just lots of sugar making people’s mouths sticky."

"Dean Li, you’re a top expert, don’t be fooled by such petty tricks."

Dean Li frowned.

He turned through his thick glasses to gaze sternly at Gu Xiuzhen.

"Comrade, if you don’t understand agronomy, don’t speak randomly."

"The active components and flavor layers here are not simply achieved by adding sugar."

With that, he turned away, no longer bothering with Gu Xiuzhen.

Turning his attention to Lin Wan Yi and warmly saying: "Wanyi, if you come across more such good stuff in the future, let me know immediately!"

Gu Xiuzhen’s face instantly turned livid.

She felt as if she had been publicly slapped.

The burning pain stung.

After the meal.

It was finally time for the main event—Zhua Zhou (traditional baby’s first birthday ceremony).

Gu Yanshen cleared the carpet.

Lin Wan Yi took out a large red tray.

It was filled with various items.

Included were an abacus, pen, stethoscope, and one of Gu Yanshen’s military medals.

It even included a small slingshot made by Gu An himself.

The two children were placed at one end of the carpet.

Gu An showed no interest in his surroundings, still clutching that small gear in his hand.

Gu Ning was quite excited, her big eyes darting around.

"Come, An An, Ning Ning, pick something you like."

Lin Wan Yi coaxed gently.

At that moment.

A skinny hand suddenly reached in.

"Wait!"

Gu Xiuzhen strode forward.

She held a dirty cloth bag in her hand.

With a loud noise.

She emptied the contents of the bag right onto the center of the carpet.

A rusty sickle.

A worn-out little red book.

And a moldy steamed bread.

A musty, mildewed smell instantly dispersed the aroma of food in the room.

The room fell silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Yet Gu Xiuzhen looked smug.

She pointed at the heap of trash on the ground.

"This is the tradition of our Gu family!"

"What Yanshen grabbed during Zhua Zhou was exactly this!"

"One must not forget their roots!"

"Take away those fancy things!"

She said, reaching out to wave away the abacus and pen prepared by Lin Wan Yi.

"Those bourgeoisie items, don’t let them corrupt the kids!"

Gu Yanshen’s face turned dark instantly.

He was just about to act.

But Lin Wan Yi was quicker.

"Snap!"

A crisp sound.

Lin Wan Yi firmly gripped Gu Xiuzhen’s wrist.

Her strength wasn’t large, but steady.

Gu Xiuzhen was briefly stunned, tried to pull her hand away, but couldn’t.

"What are you doing? How insolent!"

Gu Xiuzhen screamed.

Lin Wan Yi didn’t let go.

Her smile disappeared entirely.

Replaced by a layer of frost.

She picked up that rusty sickle with her other hand.

Without a glance.

And directly stuffed it back into Gu Xiuzhen’s arms.

"Aunt."

Lin Wan Yi’s voice was cold.

Each word fell like nails on the floor.

"This is my home."

"These are my children."

She stood up, protecting the two children.

Looking down at Gu Xiuzhen.

"What they choose to grab, that’s their freedom."

"Whether it’s the pen, abacus, or that military medal."

"All are possibilities for their future."

"As for your old traditions..."

Lin Wan Yi pointed toward the door.

"You should take them back to your home and hold onto them yourself."

"Today’s Zhua Zhou."

"I make the decisions!"