Xu Wendong turned around and saw a woman in her thirties leaning against the kitchen door fra, her hands covered in flour, with a half-smile on her face.
Her na was Ding Qian.
Ding Yao’s cousin on her father’s side, the two had never seen eye to eye since childhood, and even though Ding Qian had long been married, she hadn’t changed her old ways.
Whenever she found the chance, she’d take a jab at Ding Yao, to the point that the Ding Family had grown accustod to it and didn’t take it to heart.
Ding Yao smiled slightly and said, "Yeah, Wendong is several years younger than , I’m definitely the older woman here."
"Unlike so people who found an old guy more than ten years older to be their husband."
"Aren’t you afraid people will mistake you two for father and daughter when you’re out together?" She said, giving the other a provocative look.
The people in the living room and kitchen all shook their heads helplessly upon hearing this.
These two sisters should never et.
"You..." Ding Qian’s face turned ashen with anger, and she stomped her foot hard. "I was attracted by my husband’s talents. He’s a deputy director at the provincial dical university. What about your boyfriend? Does he have a decent job?"
Ding Yao refused to back down and said, "Wendong is working in a governnt unit now. His future achievents will definitely surpass your ’old’ man."
Ding Qian snorted coldly. "In a governnt unit without backing or connections, what achievents can he possibly have?"
Ding Yao ignored her, took Xu Wendong into the kitchen, and introduced him to her mother and the few relatives.
Xu Wendong greeted them warmly, leaving a good impression, and was then led back to the living room by Ding Yao to listen to the elders chat.
From international economics and trade to the price of oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, they seed to know it all. Xu Wendong remained silent, with a teapot in front of him, voluntarily pouring tea for Ding Yao’s uncles and aunts.
Luckily, the Ding Family had a spacious apartnt of over two hundred square ters. If it were an ordinary three-bedroom apartnt, it couldn’t possibly accommodate so many people.
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang.
More guests had arrived.
This ti it was a young couple in their mid-twenties.
The girl was Wang Yan, a cousin on Ding Yao’s grandmother’s side, and her husband, Deng Lei.
After eting, they exchanged pleasantries, even sharing a warm hug with Ding Yao, indicating that the sisters had a good relationship.
At least they didn’t claw at each other like with Ding Qian.
Wang Yan then handed the gift she had prepared to Ding Yao’s father, Ding Zhicheng. "Uncle, this is a gift from my husband, a Jade Ruyi carved from Hetian jade seed material, symbolizing all things go well. I hope you like it!"
When she presented the Jade Ruyi, everyone’s gaze was drawn to it. Although it was less than twenty centiters, the craftsmanship was extrely exquisite, and the jade was very smooth and warm.
Even those who knew nothing about it would feel it was quite valuable.
"Yan Yan, this gift must not be cheap, right?" Wang Yan’s second uncle, Wang Dahe, couldn’t help but ask.
Wang Yan smiled and said, "Not expensive, just over a hundred thousand yuan!"
Hiss!
Everyone couldn’t help but sharply inhale. They never expected the Jade Ruyi to be worth such a hefty sum.
"Yan Yan, this gift is too valuable. Uncle can’t accept it!" Ding Zhicheng said sternly. "You two just got married, you should be saving up to buy a house. Why spend so much money? Hurry and return it!"
Wang Yan replied, "Uncle, while a hundred thousand yuan isn’t a small amount, it’s far less than the kindness you’ve shown . When my parents died in a car accident, it was you and Aunt who took in and raised to be who I am today. Without you, where would I be now?"
"Now that it’s your sixtieth birthday, it’s only fitting for to show so filial piety."
"And about the house, there’s no need for you and Aunt to worry. My husband’s family is in a redevelopnt area, and once their house is demolished, we’ll receive at least two new apartnts."
"Oh, and by the way, my husband just beca an employee of a multinational corporation, so we’re financially secure."
Upon hearing this, Ding Zhicheng showed a hint of a relieved smile. "If your parents knew this, they’d surely rest in peace!"
Others envied Wang Yan for finding such a good husband. Otherwise, how else could she afford to give a gift worth a hundred thousand?
But Wang Dahe seed rather disgruntled.
Because he hadn’t adopted Wang Yan back then, she ended up being taken in by her brother-in-law’s family. If he had taken her in, these benefits would have been his.
"Since this is your heartfelt gesture, Uncle will accept this Jade Ruyi." Ding Zhicheng no longer declined, although he planned to keep it temporarily for the young couple and return it when they needed it in the future.
Deng Lei was a very shy person.
After greeting everyone, he didn’t say another word, sitting quietly next to Xu Wendong like a well-behaved schoolboy. Even though he knew these people, he was too shy to initiate conversation.
Seeing him so restrained,
Xu Wendong felt a bit more capable himself.
At least he could occasionally interject and share a few words with the elders.
"Xiao Xu, which unit are you working at now?" Ding Zhicheng suddenly asked Xu Wendong. Although he was the main focus this evening, he really wanted to know about Xu Wendong’s work.
He’d heard a bit about Xu Wendong, knowing that he used to work at the sa hospital as his daughter, and was quite skilled in dicine.
But he wasn’t sure why he was reassigned.
Under the curious gazes of everyone, Xu Wendong said, "I’m currently on vacation. My job appointnt won’t be issued until after the Spring Festival. If nothing changes, I’ll be heading to a coastal city in the Northeast of our province."
"Not even sure what job you’ll have, and so people dare to say their boyfriend is in a governnt unit?" Ding Qian entered the living room with a fruit platter, seizing the opportunity to mock Xu Wendong with her sarcastic tone.
"Furthermore, you should find a stable job. Only a stable job can provide a stable life. A nomadic existence can never last long, and long-distance relationships even more so."
She then turned to Ding Yao, speaking earnestly. "Yao Yao, there’s a lot of temptation out there. Even if you and your boyfriend were already married, you can’t let your guard down."
"I think you’d better find a boyfriend with a stable job."
"Even if he can’t achieve what my husband has, as long as he has a stable job, that’s good enough!"
Ding Zhicheng didn’t say much but also felt his niece had a point.
Ding dong!
"That should be my husband!" Ding Qian excitedly went to the door and, sure enough, it was a familiar face. She affectionately clung to her husband’s arm as they entered the living room.
Just as she was about to introduce her husband to the relatives and friends who hadn’t t him before, Wei Jiang saw Xu Wendong and involuntarily gasped, "Director Xu, why are you here?"
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