Chapter 151: Reunion Dinner (1)
In the blink of an eye, the day of the reunion dinner arrived.
During the car ride to the hotel, Gu Wanrongâs heart was filled with complex emotions. Soon, they arrived at Shiweiju.
After providing the private roomâs name, the server led Gu Wanrong up to the third floor.
Shiweiju was a legendary establishment in City C, equivalent to City Câs version of the Peace Hotel. The private rooms on the third floor were medium-sized, capable of holding two to three tables. A single meal there would cost at least forty to fifty thousand yuan.
In Gu Wanrongâs memory, this group of relatives from the Gu family didn’t seem to have the financial capability to book a private room at Shiweiju. Could this be another change that differed from her past life?
Forget it. Today was just for visiting Yao Zuzu; she wouldn’t think about anything else.
Sweeping the various thoughts from her mind, Gu Wanrong pushed open the door to the private room, and the lively atmosphere that had been sealed away rushed toward her.
Basically, everyone had arrived. Three tables of people turned in unison to look at Gu Wanrong as she entered.
Seated at the head of the main table, Yao Zuzu was the first to speak: “Rong-mèir is here!”
“Yao Zuzu, please stay seated, don’t trip.” Gu Wanrong hurried forward to stop Yao Zuzu from standing up, quickly stepping up to help her sit back down.
“Yao Zuzu, Happy New Year. May the new year bring you joy and good health.” Memories of being protected by her in the past surfaced in her heart, and Gu Wanrong affectionately held her hand while speaking auspicious New Year’s greetings.
From the moment she entered the door, Gu Wanrong didnât spare a single glance for the three large families of Er Yeye, San Gupo, and Yao Gupo.
(Gu Wanrong’s grandfather’s second brother: Er Yeye; third sister: San Gupo; youngest sister: Yao Gupo)
Yao Zuzu looked at Gu Wanrong kindly, repeatedly saying “Good, good, good,” while gently patting their joined hands.
“This is your grandfather. Quick, call him Si Yeye and her Si Popo.” Yao Zuzu pulled Gu Wanrong over and introduced the two elderly people sitting on her left.
Gu Wanrong looked at the two of them and addressed them politely: “Si Yeye, Si Popo.”
It seemed they were the variables of this life. In her past life, she had never heard of the Gu family having these relatives, and she didn’t know what their relationship was.
“Huairen’s granddaughter is already so big; sheâs truly beautiful.” Si Yeye gazed at Gu Wanrong with a nostalgic expression. Si Popo also followed up with a sigh of admiration, “Sheâs carved from the same mold as Huairenâs wife, Shaoyu.”
(Gu Wanrong’s grandfather: Gu Huairen; Gu Wanrong’s grandmother: Tang Shaoyu)
Gu Wanrong gave a shy smile, but doubt continued to swirl in her heart. It seemed their history with her grandparents ran very deep.
“Exactly. Raised by the Eldest Sister-in-law, of course she looks like her. It’s just that her fate is too hard, cursing her family to…” Gu Wanrong’s Er Yeye chimed in from the same table, but before he could finish, he was pulled back by Er Popo beside him.
(Er Popo: Er Yeye’s wife)
Er Popo managed to stop Er Yeye, but she couldn’t stop the others.
Yao Gupo was still over there saying, “Fourth Brother, you don’t know. Eldest Brother’s family has been like they offended the ghosts and gods over the last decade or so; one by one, they’re all gone.”
San Gupo echoed, “Just half a year ago, Eldest Sister-in-law took a fall and didn’t even make it to the hospital. She passed away on the road. Sigh.”
One after another, Gu Wanrong’s grandfather’s three younger siblings couldn’t stop their mouths from wagging. Their words, both overt and subtle, pinned the cause of Gu Wanrong’s family’s deaths onto Gu Wanrong’s head.
The children of these three individuals also directed cold words at Gu Wanrong, some more obviously than others.
For a moment, this scene felt as if the events of the past were being re-enacted once again.
“Enough. It’s the New Year; why speak of such things?” The corners of Yao Zuzuâs mouth curved downward as she reprimanded everyone impatiently. Once these words were out, the topic finally stopped in the private room.
Yao Zuzu patted Gu Wanrongâs back comfortingly. Seeing her expressionless, she said, “Sit down. Don’t listen to that nonsense your Er Yeye and the others are saying.”
To Gu Wanrong, family was her shackle. Having no family in this world wasn’t a bad thing at all.
Besides, she wasn’t the original Gu Wanrong of this world. Every word these people said was completely unable to wound her; she was simply weary and annoyed by it all.
“Iâll go sit over there, Yao Zuzu.” Gu Wanrong pointed to the table for the younger generation, declining Yao Zuzuâs suggestion for her to sit beside her.
“Fine, you youngsters will have more to talk about.”
After Gu Wanrong took her seat, there was a period of silence, quiet and still.
The parents and grandparents of the people at this table had all said similar things about Gu Wanrong “cursing her kin” both to her face and in private. Naturally, their relationship with Gu Wanrong was mediocre.
It was as expected. Anyway, she didn’t care; it was just a formality.
At this moment, Tong Zishanâthe son of Er Yeyeâs daughterâsuddenly spoke up and asked, “Gu Wanrong, why did you delete me from your WeChat?”
Gu Wanrong said lightheartedly, “Since we no longer associate with each other, whatâs the point in keeping it?”
The others at the table looked over one after another.
Seemingly choked by Gu Wanrong’s ruthless words, Tong Zishan paused for a few seconds before putting on a breezy, lecturing expression. “How can a person be so cold? If I were like you, I wouldn’t have been promoted at the factory.”
Gu Wanrong ignored him, but he continued to talk to himself.
“Do you guys know the brand ‘Xiyuanlai’?”
The others responded one by one.
“I know it!”
“So many local delicacies from our City C released by Xiyuanlai are delicious!”
“Itâs a snack brand that became insanely popular in the second half of this year. It’s like a ‘Celestial Purple Star’ descending into the food industry.”
Their words reached Gu Wanrongâs ears without missing a beat. It seemed Xiyuanlaiâs reputation was good, and the brand name had truly been established.
“Don’t I work at a food processing plant? The owner of the plant changedâit was changed to Xiyuanlai. My Grandpa and Grandma must have chatted about the reason why I got promoted.”
“With the change in owners, the previous factory director would surely have been like ‘monkeys scattering when the tree falls.’ Iâm different; Iâve always maintained a great relationship with the old factory director. And wouldn’t you know, Xiyuanlai was generous and didn’t replace the factory director at all. With the director there, and with my seniority, I got a share of the year-end promotions.”
“So, Gu Wanrong, let me teach you: delete fewer people’s contact info. You never know when you might need someone.”
The alcohol hadn’t even been served yet; was he already this intoxicated with himself?
Bragging first, then “let me teach you”…
“Isn’t Xiyuanlai a brand under Qianyuan Group? Their group’s employee benefits are very good. It’s said they even distribute housing. Brother Tong, did you get any?”
“A few days ago, their year-end gifts even made it onto the trending searches. There was cash, gold, and luxury brand prizes.”
“Since you were promoted, Brother, did you get even more and better things than what was posted online?”
“Where, where…” Tong Zishan seemed modest, but was actually smug.
He continued, “After you guys graduate, if you can’t find a job, you can come to me. Our factory’s wages, benefits, and bonuses are visibly good. Others can’t even squeeze their way in.”
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow and said to Gu Wanrong, “The same goes for you. After all, with your Chinese major, it won’t be easy to find a job.”
“Your brother isn’t biased, haha.”
Translator’s Note: “Rong-mèir” (厚匚ĺż) is an affectionate way to call a younger female relative. “Yeye” (Grandpa), “Gupo” (Great-Aunt), etc., are traditional Chinese kinship terms. The “Celestial Purple Star” (納垎ć) is a metaphor for a sudden, brilliant success. “Monkeys scattering when the tree falls” (ć ĺç˘ç˛ćŁ) is an idiom meaning followers deserting a leader who has lost power.
Hope you guys are enjoying the family drama! These relatives are something else, right? Happy reading!
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