New Year's Eve, Together as a Family

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"Don't you know to call your sister yourself? The last time we talked, she told me your brother-in-law had been extremely busy at the factory lately. He probably won't be back until a few days before New Year's."

Li Zhou did not believe his sister's excuses one bit.

During her four years in college, she had always said she would return around the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth, a few days before New Year's. Yet every time, before Li Zhou had even finished his final exams, she and her husband had already driven home.

"Mom, you believe her? When hasn't she said that to me? 'Oh, I'll be back a few days before New Year's,' and then she'd come running back within two days."

Li Zhou's mother, who had been watching TV, shot him a fierce glare. His brother-in-law was far busier than he was. Even though he owned a factory, he had to handle everything personally. Li Zhou had experienced that himself, so how could he not know what it was like?

Li Zhou was left speechless, unable to argue back.

During the summer break of his freshman year, Li Zhou had gone to help out at his brother-in-law's factory, following him around in the delivery truck.

In that scorching weather, they delivered barrels of paint weighing dozens of pounds, filling an entire truck every time.

The guys at the factory helped load the truck, but once they reached the customers, only Li Zhou and his brother-in-law were left to unload it.

At least four days a week were spent making deliveries. After every unloading job, he would be soaked through from head to toe.

Li Zhou still remembered that month or so vividly.

"Mom, my brother-in-law's paint factory works them to the bone all year, yet the net profit is only a little over a million. After all the money spent maintaining connections every year, there's not much left. The company headquarters will be completed next year. Why not have my sister and brother-in-law manage the company cafeteria? Whoever earns that money, it's still being earned. Why let outsiders make it instead of our own family?"

Li Zhou's mother had wanted to say something, but the words stopped at her lips.

Seeing how well her son was doing now, how could she not want him to lend his sister a hand? She dreamed of it! But she, as their mother, could not make that decision.

What she and her husband earned, they could give to whoever they wished. But they could not make that choice with money their son had earned himself.

Li Zhou's mother rubbed her eyes, her voice slightly choked.

"You two siblings can discuss it yourselves. Ever since your sister went to college, she was afraid you still held it against her for always hitting and scolding you when you were little. Whenever she had time, she took part-time jobs and often bought you clothes and shoes—brand-name things she never even wanted to wear herself."

"When you were little, after you were born, your sister always thought your father and I favored you. And you loved provoking her back then. She was already unhappy, and once you provoked her, she would chase you around and beat you. But the palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. How could I, as a mother, play favorites? Besides, your father absolutely adored your sister. Out of more than a dozen siblings, I was the only one who had a daughter. Tell me, who wouldn't love her?"

"Later, when your sister went to college, she finally understood. She suddenly wised up. She realized that when she was in middle school, I gave her ten yuan in spending money every month, but when you reached middle school, you only got five. The more she understood, the more afraid she became—afraid you would hate her. Son, no matter what, you two are blood-related brother and sister. There's nothing you can't sit down and discuss properly. When your sister and brother-in-law come back for New Year's, talk to them more. If the two of them are willing, then it'll be easy."

After a long silence, Li Zhou rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Got it, Mom."

This year, Li Zhou had guessed wrong. His sister's family truly did not return until the twenty-sixth day of the lunar month, only two days before New Year's.

The day before yesterday, Li Zhou had sent half of the security staff home for the holiday. Even among Zhou Song's group of four, he had kept only two on duty and let the other two return home for New Year's.

They would come back on the second day of the lunar new year to switch shifts with Zhou Song, as would the rest of the security staff.

The day before Spring Festival—New Year's Eve!

Li Zhou finally saw his sister's family of three after not seeing them for a year.

Just after Li Zhou's mother finished cooking lunch, a white SUV pulled up in front of the supermarket.

Grinning, Li Zhou stepped forward and scooped up his niece, Yaya, who came running toward him.

"Uncle, Yaya missed you so much."

"Oh? How much did you miss Uncle?"

Yaya puffed out her cheeks, her bright eyes darting about as she struggled to find words to describe it.

"Hmph!"

╭(╯^╰)╮

"I just missed you a whole, whole lot!"

"Oh, really? Then hurry up and give Uncle a kiss."

"Mm-hmm~"

Watching his son-in-law carry things out of the trunk one after another, Li Zhou's father happily went over to help.

"Honestly, you're already here, why did you bring so many things?"

His father shouted so loudly that anyone could tell he was showing off to the neighbors. In truth, he was already over the moon! Were all those things his son-in-law brought just gifts? They were all prestige!

At that moment, Li Zhou's mother heard the commotion and came out as well.

"Grandma~"

When Li Zhou's mother saw Yaya, her face broke into a smile. She hurriedly wiped her hands behind her back.

"Oh, my precious granddaughter! Come, let Grandma hold you."

Li Zhou handed Yaya, whose arms were already outstretched, over to his mother.

"Son, hurry and call Xuanxuan over. We're about to eat."

Li Zhou casually picked two sweet mandarins from the gifts and headed over to Xiong Kexuan's place.

After Li Zhou left, his older sister Li Na began gossiping.

Li Na teased with a smile, "Mom, who's Xuanxuan?"

Li Zhou's mother, who was playing with Yaya, answered without turning around, "Xuanxuan? She's the president of your brother's company. She helps him manage the entire company."

After saying that, Li Zhou's mother sighed.

"Xuanxuan is a pitiful child too. She was an orphan to begin with. Just when she finally made it through the hard times, not long after she got married, her husband died fighting a fire. When she first came to your brother's company, she even brought along a baby daughter who still needed feeding. Fortunately, she has finally made it through now."

Less than ten minutes later, Li Zhou returned carrying a little child, with Xiong Kexuan walking behind him.

"Yaya, Uncle brought you a little companion."

Sure enough, children were most interested in other children.

The moment Yaya saw Xiao Nuonuo in her uncle's arms, she immediately broke free from her grandmother's hands and trotted over to his side, looking up at the little one in his arms.

Xiong Kexuan looked at Li Zhou's family with a slight blush on her face.

"Auntie, Uncle!"

Li Zhou's mother took Xiong Kexuan's hand. "Come, come. This is Li Zhou's sister, Li Na, and this is Li Zhou's brother-in-law, Sun Li."

"Hello!"

"Hello!"

After they got acquainted, everyone gradually found more things to talk about.

"Grandma, Yaya's hungry."

"Let's eat, let's eat. Come on, eat first."

Li Zhou's father waved a broad hand and called everyone to the table.

At the dinner table, looking at the two adorable little ones, Li Zhou took out two plump red envelopes.

"Here, here. May you two little ones stay as adorable as ever and have lots and lots of happiness."

With that, Li Zhou stuffed the two large red envelopes into the little ones' hands.