Chapter 69: Chapter 58, New Year’s Eve Dinner_l
The Yan Family’s New Year’s Eve dinner was eaten in silence. With Stepfather present, Daohua always remembered the slap she received in the pavilion. To say nothing of lifting the atmosphere, the fact that she could restrain herself from leaving was already a great display of self-control.
Even now, she could still remember the ringing in her ears and the fiery sting on her face.
If her stepfather had shown even a little bit of fatherly affection at that moment, he wouldn’t have hit her so harshly.
For such a father, she did not want to expend any more emotion than necessary.
Yan Zhiyuan did attempt to liven up the atmosphere at the table, but Old Lady Yan wasn’t in high spirits, and Madam Li didn’t join in the conversation. The younger ones, namely Daohua and Yan Wenkai, who were usually witty and humorous, were both silent tonight. Yan Yile was lively, but what she said simply couldn’t pique everyone’s interest.
Thus, the Yan Family’s New Year’s Eve dinner swiftly came to an end.
“Alright, you all may go, return to your respective courtyards to welcome the new year,” Old Lady Yan said indifferently.
Yan Zhigao immediately laughed, “Mother, how can we leave? We’ll stay here and keep you company.”
Yan Zhiyuan also made his position clear, “Exactly, Mother, let us stay with you.”
Old Lady Yan didn’t want to dismiss her sons’ filial piety outright and said nothing more, turning to look at her three daughters-in-law: “The children are still young; there’s no need for them to stay up for the New Year. Take them back to sleep.”
Seeing her son and daughter’s bored expressions, the Sun Family matriarch chuckled, “Then I’ll take them back first and come back later to accompany Mother.”
Under the pitiable gaze of Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin, and remembering Aunt Lin who was dining alone, Yan Zhigao also said, “Mother, I’ll take Yishuang and Wenbin back to Shuangxin Courtyard first and come right back.” Old Lady Yan waved her hand, showing she was indifferent, and turned to the Wu Family matriarch: “Wenhui is still young, you take him back to sleep too.” Before the Wu Family matriarch could speak, six-year-old Yan Wenhui ran up to Old Lady Yan with his little legs, clung to her leg and cooed, “Grandmother, I want to stay up for the New Year with you and big sister.”
Seeing her little grandson, Old Lady Yan’s face brightened with a smile as she touched Yan Wenhui’s head: “But if you get sleepy, you must tell your mother. You’re still young; you can’t stay up late.”
Yan Wenhui nodded vigorously and then scampered off to find Daohua and the others.
Soon after, Yan Zhigao and others left, and the room fell silent once again.
Yan Zhiyuan glanced at those remaining: the third brother was not one to talk much, the eldest nephew was also reserved, and as for the eldest sister-in-law… she might have been approachable in previous years, but this year he dared not ruffle her feathers.
After looking around, Yan Zhiyuan felt stifled; with so many people in the room, he couldn’t find anyone to talk to.
So be it, everyone could just sit quietly and see the New Year in.
“Grandmother!”
Suddenly, Daohua burst in with Yan Wentao, Yan Wenkai, and the little tag-along Yan Wenhui.
Seeing Daohua, Old Lady Yan’s smile widened, “Such hustle and bustle, not at all like a young lady. Where have you all been?”
Daohua shook the deck of cards in her hand, “Fearing that Grandmother might be bored during the New Year’s vigil, your granddaughter specially went to fetch these.”
Old Lady Yan’s eyes lit up, and even Yan Zhiqiang, who had been sitting quietly all along, came over with a smile, “I was just getting bored. The cards have arrived at just the right time. Mother, shall we start a game of ‘Solitaire’?”
“Let’s do it!”
The previously dispirited Old Lady Yan suddenly sprung to life with a wave of her hand, actively shuffling the cards under the stunned gaze of Yan Zhiyuan and others.
The cards were made by Daohua, modeled after the poker cards from her previous life. With few forms of entertainment at home, she and Old Lady Yan would play ‘Solitaire’ to pass the time during the New Year holidays.
‘Solitaire’ had become one of the rare entertainments Old Lady Yan truly enjoyed.
Yan Zhiqiang and Daohua took their accustomed seats with ease.
Daohua chuckled, “Grandmother, are there any stakes?”
Old Madam Yan chuckled as she pulled out her purse, “If you have the skills tonight, win this old lady’s purse.”
Daohua and Yan Zhiqiang immediately exchanged a smile.
Just as Daohua and the two others were about to start drawing cards, Yan Wenkai grew anxious, “Older Sister, what about us?”
Daohua replied, “You guys watch first, once you learn, start your own game.”
Solitaire was simple and easy to pick up, and Yan Wentao loved to play it too. He immediately said, “Older Sister, do you have more cards? Give them to me, I’ll teach Wenkai and the others how to play.”
Daohua took out another deck of cards from her person and handed it to Yan Wentao, then beckoned Madam Li, “Mother, come here, I’ll teach you how to play cards so you can play with Grandmother later.”
“Alright!”
Madam Li grinned and sat down next to Daohua.
Meanwhile, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai ran off to find Yan Wenxiu and dragged him into starting a new game.
For a moment, only Yan Zhiyuan was left sitting there dry as a bone.
Seeing his mother, who wasn’t young, and the not-so-bright youngest brother getting into the game energetically, Yan Zhiyuan approached his three nephews, curious to see how it was done. Before long, he too caught the interest and insisted on playing with his three nephews.
When Yan Zhigao returned after sending Yan Yishuang and Yan Wenbin back, the previously quiet New Year’s Eve vigil had become bustling with activity, and the laughter could be heard even through the door curtains.
As he entered the room, he saw his wife and youngest brother keeping the Old Madam company playing cards, all of them wearing bright smiles; on the other side, his second brother was also engrossed in a card game with Wenxiu and the others, roughhousing and clearly enjoying themselves.
His eldest daughter was walking around jovially, from one side to the other, offering tea and snacks; following her closely was little Yan Wenhui.
Everything was so harmonious.
It was as if the earlier silence during the New Year’s Eve dinner had been an illusion.
“Big Brother, why did you come back so late? Come, join Mother for a round,”
While Yan Zhigao was pondering these things, Yan Zhiqiang suddenly came over, pulling him down to his own spot.
Yan Zhigao looked at his mother and wife and said with a smile, “I can’t play this game, you’ll have to teach me properly, Third Brother.”
Yan Zhiqiang immediately said, “It’s very simple, look, both Mother and I can play it.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Yan glared at her third son, “What do you mean by that? Are you saying that this old lady is as stupid as you?”
Yan Zhiqiang immediately begged for mercy, “Mother, you’re the mother of the Lord County Magistrate and you’ve raised Daohua, that clever imp, who would dare call you stupid?”
Old Madam Yan huffed, seemingly forgiving him.
After a few rounds of cards, Yan Zhigao had roughly got the hang of the rules and laughed, “This game is quite novel, a good way to pass the time.”
Yan Zhiqiang replied, “Isn’t it? Back at the old home, every New Year’s Eve vigil was so boring until Daohua made this deck of cards. Everyone in the clan loves it.”
Yan Zhigao was surprised, “Daohua made the cards?”
Old Madam Yan glanced sidelong at her eldest son, “That girl of yours is sharp, unlike you, mistaking the brass for gold.”
Yan Zhigao said helplessly, “Mother, your son has not.” He did favor Yishuang a bit more, but it wasn’t that he didn’t value his eldest daughter.
Old Madam Yan looked at Daohua, sitting next to Wenkai and holding Wenxiu as they enjoyed some snacks, “I warn you, if you dare to act rashly again in the future, this old woman will take Daohua back to the old home, so she won’t bother you anymore,”
Yan Zhigao, “Mother, your son knows his mistake. I was indeed too upset at the time and hit Daohua. But you can’t expect your son to apologize to his daughter, can you?”
Old Madam Yan huffed coldly and said no more..