"Uncle Han, please co in!"
"Uncle Zhao, this way please!"
"Sister Qi, you sit at that table. I'll take you there!"
"Aunt Wang, over here, over here."
At noon, at a dium-sized restaurant, a number of people arrived in succession. Among them were Lao Su's friends and colleagues, his mother Zhou Hui's card-playing friends, close relatives from both sides of the family in the city, and even so acquaintances from the neighborhood.
The number of relatives wasn't that many, mainly because they lived nearby, and most of the guests were friends and colleagues of his parents.
As the protagonist, Su He naturally had to accompany Lao Su and his wife at the door to greet the guests. The visitors varied in age, as there were also relatively young colleagues from Lao Su's school.
Everyone who entered would complint Su He a few tis, saying things like how pretty she was or how promising she was, etc. At first, the young girl found it quite novel, but gradually, her face started to ache from smiling.
Of course, there was no traditional gift register; most of the attendees were friends and colleagues who were already adapted to modern living, preferring mobile transfers.
Almost all those who brought cash were relatives, and they would directly give the money to Su He, not following the traditional gift-giving process.
Lao Su, being a university professor, had many friends and colleagues. Combined with a few close families in the neighborhood and so relatives, they organized six tables in total.
It didn't seem like six tables were a lot, but there were dozens of people nevertheless. Most ca alone, with only a few couples like Li Maoru and his wife attending together.
Finally, when most of the guests had arrived, Lao Su returned inside to attend to everyone, then introduced Su He at each table, receiving repeated praise from the guests.
After making the rounds, Su He had no more duties and was pushed aside by Lao Su, who started drinking with his friends and colleagues.
"Brother~~ I'm exhausted, it was so awkward!" Su He walked with a tired face to a corner and saw Wang Xing playfully shaking her older brother's neck, complaining in anguish.
She didn't seem at all surprised by their behavior.
She knew this person. He used to visit her brother during sumr and winter vacations.
Although they t less often after going to college, he still felt familiar.
The reason Wang Xing ca here was because he had been forgotten at the hospital yesterday and left unattended, so he ca over to exact revenge.
Upon seeing this, Su Qing patted Lao A's hand and softly said, "Alright, that's enough now. Don't complain after getting what you wanted. You've already had the chance to play the hero saving a beauty. What more do you want?"
And perhaps Wang Xing was tired too, as he spat, "You still have the nerve to say that. You just left at the hospital. Be honest with , when you went back to the police station yesterday, did they comnd you or sothing?"
"You really are sothing. You take the credit, and I do the legwork. I'll be honest with you, I ca just to eat today, and I'm not planning to pay. I'm here for a free al!"
The siblings: ...
It's the first ti soone's referred to themselves like that. As expected of you!
"Then ask my sister. It's not like the party is for !" Su Qing shrugged, indicating that it was up to him.
Next to him, Su He quickly responded with a smile, "Net cafe brother, if you don't mind, co in and have a bite. I'll arrange a seat for you."
Wang Xing: ...
His familiar friends called him Lao A, colleagues called him by his real na, but only this girl in front of him consistently called him "Net cafe brother."
The incident from years ago when he found a wanted criminal's ID card at an internet cafe was still rembered by soone after all these years. Even when Su Qing and others called him Lao A, they didn't deliberately think of this past, but Su He did.
Because getting caught by the police at the internet cafe left a lasting impression on her about Wang Xing.
You could say she was polite because she still called you "brother," but her nickna for you cos with a bit of your past mishap. You could say she's impolite, but again, she does call you "brother." So, she has manners, but not entirely polite.
"Okay, stop listening to his nonsense. He surely wasn't that happy last night either!" Su Qing scornfully pushed Lao A aside, then turned to Su He and continued:
"He's already transferred his money to . I'll give it to you later. Also, why aren't you eating? If you miss this chance, the next ti you get a table set just for you, it will be on the day you're gone!"
Su He: ...
Is this sothing a brother should say?
But co to think of it, for soone to have so many tables set just for them, aside from this school admission feast, there's only the banquet for a baby or the day when one kicks the bucket.
After all, even wedding dinners are for both spouses, not for one person alone, so the opportunity is quite rare.
As for getting older and celebrating birthdays? Who knows if our generation will still have that custom or even live to that day.
"Enough talk; don't you want to give an explanation for yesterday's incident, 800 Su?" Wang Xing felt ignored. He thought he'd get so spotlight but barely got any screenti.
"What do you want then?"
"Tell about the details inside!"
"Sorry, our policy states that major cris cannot casually be reported to non-related parties."
"You... May your mom stay healthy!" He forcefully swallowed a curse, "Fine, just wait. When I beco a civil servant, I'll see what you say then!"
Su Qing: ???
"You're taking the civil service exam?"
"Yeah, I'm preparing to take the provincial exam this year, right here in our city's police departnt!"
"Pfft, haha, hahaha!" Su Qing laughed with pauses, three parts laughter and seven parts mockery.
"What are you laughing at!"
Hearing this, Su Qing grabbed his arm and pointed towards the entrance, gesturing to the big yellow dog dressed like a police dog: "Big Yellow is over there, go learn sothing from him, it might help you!"
Wang Xing: ...
Just when soone was gritting their teeth, ready to give Su a good beating, Mom Zhou Hui ca: "What are you all doing here, this must be Little Wang, Auntie rembers you, co, co, co in for dinner, why are you standing here!"
Wang Xing opened his mouth but said nothing. This family has it out for him, ready to insult as soon as they open their mouths, yet not giving him any reason to complain.
Then the three of them were taken into the hall, and Wang Xing was seated at the table. Of course, when hosting a banquet, you have to entertain your son's friends.
But the three were separated, Su He, being a girl, went to sit at her dad's table, Wang Xing was assigned to sit with Old Su's colleagues, and he was led by his mom Zhou Hui to the table with all the aunts.
"Oh, Little Su Qing is here!"
"I heard you've beco a police officer now, making progress!"
"Hey, look at Little Su Qing, growing more handso by the day, do you have a partner yet?"
These were so of the older relatives who often visit the family in the city, speaking kindly, genuinely happy for him after hearing from his mom about his recent accomplishnts.
Of course, where there are well-wishers, there are also those who are envious.
"Hey, look at Hui'Er's luck, so good, daughter just got into a top university, and her son is doing well too, just wait to enjoy life!" This was said by a cousin not too close nor too distant, seeming like praise, yet Su Qing perceived so barbed undertones through the narration.
[What's the big deal, just becoming a little police officer, look at all of you, my son is a university graduate too, now starting his own business, what's so great about being a police officer, how much money can a police officer make, such ostentation, even holding a graduation feast!]
"Exactly, exactly, does Little Su have a girlfriend yet, it's ti to find a partner!" [So what if you've been to university, what if you have a proper job, my grandson is already two years old!]
Hearing this, Aunt Wang chid in: "I introduced soone a couple of days ago, it didn't work out, Little Su, that girl's family later heard you worked at the police station, and asked to co talk to you again, but I heard you deleted her?"
[How could you just delete that girl so casually, how impolite, made get scolded by people!]
"Didn't work out? Why not, our Little Su Qing's got looks, got height, has a stable job, can earn money, what's going on?" [Surely, the girl wasn't interested, their family must be too pretentious!]
That's the jealousy talking.
Actually, whether they're relatives or not, except for biological parents or those very close, there's always a part who envy what you have, fear what you lack, look down on your poverty, and dread your wealth.
In simpler terms, you can have a good life, but not better than mine, if you are doing better, then I think you are showing off, though I won't say it, it's there in my thoughts, but that's all it is.
Su Qing felt for the first ti that having a narrator wasn't that great; it made true heart-to-heart connections seem scarcer, the more one understood people's hearts, the more disappointing it was.
"Auntie, please stop, that girl still sotis finds people to add on WeChat just to curse , I can't afford to provoke her, take a look if you don't believe !"
Saying this, Su Qing took out his phone and opened WeChat, showing the abusive ssages accompanying each friend request, making Aunt Wang speechless, even blushing a little.
Of course, a few genuinely happy elders at the table started discussing introducing soone to him right in front of him, claiming they knew whose daughter from where, making his mom smile from ear to ear.
On one hand, humbly saying her child is just lucky, while probing people about that girl's age, job, etc.
Su Qing had strong suspicions that this was why his mom had called him back, to et people, use the opportunity for relatives and friends to introduce soone.
Within an hour, those known to Old Su, friends and colleagues, began to leave, as if rely showing up for formality.
Even so relatives began to do the sa, everyone seed quite busy, and mostly, they ca for reciprocating favors, a kind of social exchange.
Only now, the exchange perspective has overtaken; there's much less of the heart-warming touch of the past.
In the end, only Old Su's table continued drinking; it's nothing out of the ordinary for n to drink and brag.
Just when Su Qing thought he could catch a breath, a voice suddenly called out, nearly scaring him to death!
Li Maoquan, swaying as he stood up, with sowhat unfocused eyes, shouted to him: "Second Brother, Second Brother, co over, drink a little with Big Brother, you, , and your dad, let's raise a glass to toast your uncles!"
The words had just settled, and silence fell around them, with so at the table clearly inebriated.
Seeing this, Aunt Liu, Li Zijun's mom, promptly ca forward to lead her husband away: "Co on, you're drunk, what nonsense are you talking about!"
Li Maoquan, on the other hand, waved a large hand: "Who's talking nonsense, last... last ti my Second Brother ca to our house to drink, we beca sworn brothers, Hongye, you're the third!"
Su Hongye: "We all listen to Big Brother, haha!"
...
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