The next day, as soon as the Yu family finished breakfast, visitors arrived.
A dozen people crowded into the living room, making it feel cramped.
"Dad, Dad."
"Grandpa."
"Great-grandpa."
A chorus of shouts for Old Master Shen, relatively orderly.
"Eh, eh, eh."
After acknowledging them one by one, Old Master Shen questioned his two sons as to why they brought their great-grandchildren.
Today was a serious matter, not a casual visit.
Shen Jianming and Shen Jiahui never shirked responsibility, even when it wasn't their fault:
"The sons felt it was good for them to get out more and interact. We'll have the four of them play together later."
"Hmph!" Old Master Shen snorted heavily. Bringing even the great-grandchildren, wasn't it just to freeload?
"Xiaohui, Xiaojuan, Xiaoping, Xiaoqin, even though you're still on vacation, have you no consideration for your in-laws?"
The four women, singled out by their grandfather, looked at their respective mothers. It was their mothers who had called them.
Ma Xingxiang and Zhao Qilan were displeased:
"Father, if Wanting and Wanzhen can come, why can't Xiaohui and the others?"
"Bang!" Old Master Shen slammed the table: "They are still members of the Li family; they don't have fathers-in-law, mothers-in-law, husbands, or children to look after."
"Have your daughters been married off or not? What is this constant returning to their maiden home?"
"If you love returning to your maiden home so much, why don't you two go back to yours?"
"I'll pay for your travel and living expenses. How about you go back to your maiden home for half a year or so?"
Ma Xingxiang and Zhao Qilan lowered their heads in silence. If they argued further, their father-in-law might actually send them back to their maiden homes.
"Hmph!" Old Master Shen waved his hand at the four granddaughters:
"You are no longer considered Shen family members. Step back."
The four women quickly retreated behind their parents.
Old Master Shen turned with a smile and introduced them to Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo:
"Young Li, Young Tian, this is my eldest son, Shen Jianming, and his wife, Ma Xingxiang."
"This is my second son, Shen Jiahui, and his wife, Zhao Qilan."
"This is my eldest daughter, Shen Jianfang, and her husband, Li Jinghua."
"Jianming, Jiahui, Jianfang, Jinghua, these two are Ziyu's future parents-in-law, Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing."
Shen Jianming, Shen Jiahui, and Li Jinghua extended their hands to Li Zhengguo.
Shen Jianfang extended her hand to Tian Jing.
Ma Xingxiang and Zhao Qilan did not move.
Shen Xiaohui nudged her mother. Ma Xingxiang shifted slightly but did not move.
Shen Xiaoping nudged her mother. Seeing that her elder sister-in-law wasn't moving, Zhao Qilan also refused to move. After all, she wouldn't be the only one scolded.
Old Master Shen pretended not to see the six people on that side.
After the greetings on this side were finished, he introduced his grandchildren to Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing:
"This is my good-for-nothing eldest grandson, Shen Zhaolin. Among the four children over there, the two older boys are his."
"This is my second grandson, Shen Zhaoqiu. That girl and the youngest boy are his."
Shen Zhaolin and Shen Zhaoqiu quickly greeted them:
"Uncle Li, Aunt Tian, hello."
Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing nodded at the two: "Hello."
Old Master Shen was not satisfied with his two grandsons' attitude and waved them aside.
He called Li Weibo to his side and introduced the Shen family members to him one by one.
With each introduction, Li Weibo extended both hands, shook hands enthusiastically, and addressed them loudly and warmly.
After the introductions, Old Master Shen said to his two grandsons:
"See? This is how juniors should behave."
Ma Xingxiang and Zhao Qilan curled their lips. With the chance to associate with the Shen and Yu families, shouldn't they be more enthusiastic?
Old Master Shen waved his hand: "Everyone sit down and talk."
Ma Xingxiang and Zhao Qilan, along with their daughters, also moved to sit down, but were stopped by Old Master Shen: "There are no seats for you."
Ma Xingxiang pointed to the stools by the dining table: "Aren't those there?"
"Heh." Old Master Shen sneered: "Who are you?"
Ma Xingxiang was about to speak again when Shen Jianming stopped her: "You stand behind me."
If they were here as hosts, yet didn't greet the guests, what kind of hosts were they?
If they were here as guests, their father could directly drive them away.
Ma Xingxiang was speechless. What was she, a servant girl from ancient times, standing behind her husband?
Her gaze shifted to the opposite side. Sitting on the sofa were that family of three and Yu Ziyu.
Fine, she would see what this family was capable of, to make her father-in-law treat them with such courtesy.
Since the elder sister-in-law stood behind the elder brother, Zhao Qilan could only stand behind her husband.
Shen Xiaohui and her three sisters stood awkwardly, unsure where to go.
Old Master Shen pointed outside: "Go help in the kitchen. With so many people arriving, Sister Yuan can't manage alone."
"Once you're married, returning to your maiden home is just for eating and drinking. Other matters are none of your concern."
Shen Xiaohui beckoned her three younger sisters, gave a slight bow to Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo, and left the living room.
After sending his granddaughters away, Old Master Shen turned his attention to his grandsons: "Where are your wives?"
Shen Zhaolin and Shen Zhaoqiu quickly stood up:
"Shi Jie (Li Yao) is at home tidying up, preparing to receive colleagues from her unit."
"Heh." Old Master Shen chuckled: "But the colleagues haven't come today. And after I told you so early, they just happen to need to tidy up the house on the same day."
Shen Zhaolin and Shen Zhaoqiu lowered their heads.
Old Master Shen sighed: "Sit down. An unworthy wife ruins three generations!"
Shen Jianming and Shen Jiahui were deeply ashamed. It was all their fault for thinking they wouldn't return, so they married and had children locally.
Ma Xingxiang rolled her eyes to the heavens. An unworthy wife? If not for her background as a poor peasant family, who knew if her son would even still be around.
Old Master Shen apologized to Tian Jing with a smile: "Sorry for making you witness this."
"It's alright," Tian Jing said indifferently, "Whose family doesn't have some troubles?"
"Hahaha." Old Master Shen laughed heartily: "You're right, every family has its own difficult scriptures to read."
"Alright, now that everyone is here, shall we discuss Ziyu and Xiaobo's marriage?"
Yu Jinghai sat up straight: "We had an agreement with Xiaobo before. Their first son will take the Yu surname."
Li Zhengguo nodded: "Xiaobo mentioned it, and we agree. Since the two children have an emotional foundation, this is not a big issue."
"Of course, it's not a big issue," Ma Xingxiang said sarcastically:
"In the future, the child will inherit everything from the Yu family and also benefit from the Shen family's prestige. This is a golden opportunity that people would fight tooth and nail to get."
Shen Jianming stood up and glared back: "You still know it's a Yu family matter? What right do you have to butt in?"
"Why don't I have the right to butt in?" Ma Xingxiang roared at her husband:
"Yu Jinghai was entirely supported by Father. The Yu family's glory is half that of the Shen family."
"Exactly," Zhao Qilan chimed in, seeing her elder sister-in-law start the attack:
"Uncle Gao said that if Ziyu were with Mingxiu, giving the Yu family two sons would be fine."
"Really?" Ma Xingxiang quickly turned to ask her sister-in-law: "Did Uncle Gao really say that?"
Zhao Qilan nodded: "Yes, but Father didn't agree."
"Father!" Ma Xingxiang turned back to question Old Master Shen: "Why didn't you agree?"
Old Master Shen, enraged, laughed: "Is it up to you, Ma Xingxiang, to run the Shen family now?"
"I wouldn't dare," Ma Xingxiang said, but her tone was far from humble:
"I may not run the Shen family, but I have the right to intervene in my younger sister's family."
"Back then, you were willing to give up the opportunity for advancement to Jinghai instead of letting Jianming try for it. He Yu Jinghai and Shen Jianrong have owed us a debt for life."