New Year’s Day.
Jiang Nian hadn’t fully woken up yet when he was dragged into the car. Also in the car were two chirpy little girls.
"Mom, where are we going?"
"Where to?"
Li Hongi turned around from the passenger seat, looking at him speechlessly.
"Back to our hotown, of course. Where else?"
Jiang Nian leaned back, "Visiting relatives again? It’s so boring. I’d rather sleep all day until night without being called."
"Then spend it alone."
"Alright."
Teenagers, driving parents crazy.
Li Hongi was quite pissed off by Jiang Nian, but unfortunately they were on the road. She could only mildly scold him a few tis.
Jiang Nian laughed, completely unconcerned.
"Mom, these relatives always brag about this and that. They keep asking questions, it’s just so dull."
"What do you know, like a child."
In fact, Jiang Nian understood a bit. But Old Jiang and the others had it all figured out, so he didn’t need to worry.
Family relations are hard to avoid.
So, this year, he still had to sit at the table, munch on peanuts and sunflower seeds, and listen to everyone boast.
Can’t earn twenty thousand, but can brag about earning twenty thousand?
Boast after boast,
Xu Qianqian and Song Xiyun were sitting in the back playing on their phones, not joining the conversation until now when one nudged him.
"Why don’t you co spend ti at my place?"
Song Xiyun also put down her phone, curiously glancing at Jiang Nian.
However, Jiang Nian just waved it off.
"Forget it."
"Your house has just as many relatives, uncles and aunts. If I show up on New Year’s Day for a al, my mom might kill ."
Li Hongi sneered, "At least you know."
Quiet drive all the way.
Old Jiang first drove to Xu Qianqian’s hotown, dropped off the two girls, and went inside to have so tea.
Xu Qianqian pulled Song Xiyun upstairs, the two girls likely needing to freshen up.
anwhile, Jiang Nian picked up a handful of seeds, wandering downstairs, teasing chickens and dogs, and sending so ssages.
Zhang Ningzhi’s grandparents were over in Qiong Province, watching fireworks videos all day, smoke everywhere.
The roads were completely obscured, just flashes of fire and smoke.
Inside, her parents and relatives were playing mahjong, also filled with smoke, seemingly prepping for an all-nighter.
"Happy New Year!"
Jiang Nian was doing practice papers when Zhi Zhi Baby video-called him. On New Year’s, you couldn’t ignore it.
So, he chatted briefly before joking about so cheeky topics.
Zhang Ningzhi couldn’t handle it, her face turned red. She glared at him several tis, said a few words, and then went off to sleep.
Class President and Li Lanying stayed up for the occasion.
The two weren’t used to staying up late, fell asleep watching TV. Woke at midnight from the firecracker sounds in town.
Sent Jiang Nian ssages, only to find out he was working on problems.
Chatted a bit, then went back to sleep.
Chen Yunyun started a group call in the chat with Wang Yuhe, each taking turns chatting.
Jiang Nian occasionally chid in, then they all played a ga together.
By late night, there was a pile of unreturned New Year greetings—friends’, classmates’, even Xu Shuang the sponsor’s.
Han Xiao directly transferred a thousand; he didn’t dare accept.
After waking, he scrolled through the ssage list, feeling overwheld before being dragged off to freshen up.
Then, we arrived at the present mont.
He replied to ssages one by one, noticing Tingzi’s New Year greeting. The content was brief, only four words.
"Happy New Year."
The tistamp was twelve-oh-five, not exactly precise.
"Yeah, happy."
Jiang Nian replied but didn’t stop there. After sending, he sent another one about ten minutes later.
"1."
And then, swiftly retracted it.
Having done all this, Jiang Nian grinned carefree.
...
Xiao Longtan Village.
The Jiang Family’s self-built house was nearly neglected, Old Jiang went in to inspect, made so repairs, and left.
The family of three wouldn’t stay there tonight; they were only visiting relatives.
Likely to head back to town by nightfall.
As for Xu Qianqian and the others, they would stay at the hotown until the fifth. When the ti cos, Jiang Nian would go pick them up.
It’s up to Jiang Nian to pick them up.
A large family gathering follows the usual steps, chatting at the door, going inside to drink tea, munching on seeds, smoking, and bragging.
So relatives are truly sothing else though.
These people are generally middle-aged, moderately successful, earned so money, and hold a certain say among relatives.
Drive a BMW, possess a bit of status in society.
Speak with an arrogant attitude, usually ignoring the younger generation. Co New Year, they start directing.
Jiang Nian has an uncle like this.
"Uncle."
Uncle Zhao was sitting in the yard on a chair playing on his phone. Hearing the voice, he didn’t even lift his head and directly ignored it.
Jiang Nian: "..."
Seriously, jerk.
Uncle Zhao wasn’t deaf, he’d been like this for ten years, made so money, and bought the first BMW.
At that ti, Old Jiang was struggling to support his family.
anwhile, all the relatives were dealing with daily necessities. The kids were all in school, finances were tight everywhere.
In contrast, Uncle Zhao feasted and erected grand halls.
Initially, he was sowhat dismissive in speech. Later, he arranged visits at tis suited for guest feasts.
Invited a flock of relatives over for tea, yet he was nowhere to be seen for half the day.
Found so excuse and sent them off.
Nothing’s more absurd than that.
However, not everything goes smoothly for Uncle Zhao. His guest feasts aren’t as lively nowadays.
Another issue is bothering him.
Wants a son.
Has three daughters already, insists on having a son.
"Uncle... seems like one’s missing?" Jiang Nian muttered, "Never mind, I’ll go ask Junjun then."
Jiang Nian’s youngest cousin had two sons, the youngest being Junjun.
Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhao’s expression instantly changed.
"Where’s Junjun? Why didn’t I see him?" Jiang Nian shouted, "Grandma, did Yihua cousin and the others arrive?"
Another uncle heard, assud Jiang Nian didn’t know.
"Your cousin-in-law is pregnant again, didn’t co this year."
"Huh?"
Jiang Nian really didn’t know, "Really?"
Uncle Zhao couldn’t hold back, impatiently continued.
"Yihua is still working at the factory, with the current situation. Making money is getting harder, not easy to support."
The first sentence was fine, but the latter one stretched his legs and said.
"I have a friend with several kids and no ti to tutor them. Their grades aren’t great, similar to Jiang Nian’s."
Uncle Zhao sighed, "Better to nurture fewer well."
Jiang Nian’s mouth twitched at that, thinking, bastard, what does it an ’similar to ’?
Just say, my grades are poor.
However, he was also puzzled. Ms. Li loved boasting so much, yet hadn’t flaunted his scores.
Jiang Nian didn’t rebut, boasting would just be embarrassing.
Plus, he’d have to prove it later.
Most importantly, he wasn’t that angry. That old guy’s annoying but he’s aged a lot.
Having money or not, vitality shows significant differences.
A toothless lion, isn’t even a sick cat.
So, Jiang Nian only wanted to throw so shade. Rather than argue with the old man, he was more curious about another matter.
The kitchen, where Grandma and aunts were.
"Mom!"
Jiang Nian directly barged in, "Didn’t you tell others I scored over 650 in the provincial exams?"
Young calves don’t know what humility is.
Upon hearing that, the few won in the kitchen were astonished.
Grandma didn’t understand the score, but seeing the daughters’ shocked faces knew it wasn’t low, so she smiled.
"Can Nian go to a Tier One college then?"
"Mom, that’s enough for the 985 universities." The eldest aunt corrected, "Our family produced the first 985 graduate!"
"What’s more, might even aim higher?" The third aunt knew a bit, "Maybe, he could get into Qinghua University."
"Really?" Grandma also.
The second aunt, also known as Li Hongi, was both embarrassed by Jiang Nian’s straightforwardness and felt a bit proud.
"Hadn’t said it yet, might as well let you announce it everywhere."
"Oh, okay!" Jiang Nian cheekily replied, turning around and asking, "Auntie-in-law, where’s the village broadcast room?"
"Oh you child."
The kitchen imdiately broke into harmonious laughter. Soon, the youngest aunt ran out to spread the news.
Before long, all the relatives knew of Jiang Nian’s scores.
Uncle Zhao was still boasting, reminiscing his bygone years as a boss. Hearing the news, he was absolutely stunned.
After a while, he said, "I’m going to the bathroom."
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