Chapter 2191: Visit Relatives
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After the reunion festival, it was the usual practice for everyone to go from house to house and admire the moon with their relatives. Legends had it that there was a beautiful fairy living on the moon and she would come to the human world during the reunion festival every year. During this time, every family would hang lanterns outside the house, look at the moon and pray for blessings for the coming year. If a family had an unmarried daughter, they could also pray to the fairy to bless her with a good husband!
Every family would buy lots of glutinous rice balls at this time to be distributed to their relatives on the day after the reunion festival. This was a gesture to wish the recipients well and be blessed with unity, harmony and good fortune in the family.
In the past few years, Qiao Mei had to stay at home to recuperate during the festival period. After that, she was overseas for two years. Xia Wen was the one who went around to visit the family’s relatives. Qiao Mei’s helpers would send the glutinous rice balls to her neighbors on her behalf. Now that the relationship between Xia Guang and his family had become better, Qiao Mei needed to pay Xia Guang a visit.
“I’ve already prepared your share of glutinous rice balls. If you really don’t feel like going, I can represent the Xia family on my own,” Xia Wen said.
“How many families do you need to visit today?” Qiao Mei asked.
“12 families. Then there are another eight families at the military compound and six of Grandfather’s neighbors. It’s a busy day today. Xia Xing’s house will be the last stop,” Xia Wen said after doing a rough count.
After Qiao Mei heard that, she could feel a headache coming on. She waved her hand and said, “I think I won’t go with you this year. There are usually many influenza cases during this period of time. I’m worried that the children might fall sick if they go visiting. If one falls sick, the other two will follow. I can’t cope if I have to take care of all three of them at the same time.”
“Then are you going to Xia Xing’s house?” Xia Wen asked.
“I guess I have to Call me before you head there,” Qiao Mei said melancholically.
When Xia Wen arrived at each house, he would say some auspicious phrases and then pass the occupants the gift. By the evening, he was done with all the visits. He gave Qiao Mei a call and she drove to Xia Xing’s house.
In the past, Xia Xing would spend this festive season with his two younger brothers. This year, there was only his own family around. There were quite a number of people from the Zhou family who came for a visit though, including Old Madam Zhou and the family of Zhou family’s eldest son, Zhou Kui.
“Your mother was bullied so badly! Yet you didn’t even go and settle the score with the Xia family members! Are you still your mother’s son! The men from our Zhou family are not so weak!” Old Madam Zhou said furiously as she pointed at Xia Xing.
“I know that, but I’ve also said it before. I’m only an insignificant person in the family so there’s nothing I can do,” Xia Xing said.
“What do you mean by you’re insignificant! You’re the eldest son of the Xia family’s third son! How can your words carry no weight! Go and tell your grandfather now that Xia Guang has to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life! Once he marries the Zhou family’s daughter, he can forget about remarrying if he divorces her! Xia Guang can forget about having a good life with another woman in the future!” Old Madam Zhou said.
“That’s right! That Qiao Mei is really a jinx! A jinx to the Zhou family! Ever since she appeared, our family has not had a peaceful life! We must get your third cousin to divorce this woman! Chase her out of the Xia family!” Zhou Kui said agitatedly.
Xia Xing smiled in disdain. If he really conveyed this to Xia Jun, Xia Jun might even remove his name from the family tree! Xia Jun would rather abandon the entire third son’s family than abandon Qiao Mei.
Speaking of which, Qiao Mei and the Zhou family were really at odds with each other. In the past, Zhou Hua would occasionally send some money to help the Zhou family out, but ever since Qiao Mei came, Zhou Hua had been focused on dealing with Qiao Mei. She spent all her money doing that and this in turn affected the Zhou family’s finances.
After that, Qiao Mei caused Zhou Hua to lose her reputation and she had to divorce Xia Guang. In the end, Qiao Mei even sent her elder sister to prison. Her two sons also had to stay in jail for more than 10 years!
Just as the Zhou family was making a fuss about how to deal with Qiao Mei, Xia Wen arrived at Xia Xing’s house. He immediately saw the Zhou family members, though he was not surprised that they were here. He already knew that they had come to the capital. He had been wondering when they would decide to come and settle scores with Qiao Mei!
“You’re all here,” Xia Wen said as he entered with a smile.
The last time Old Madam Zhou met all the Xia family members, it was when Xia Guang and Zhou Hua got married. At that time, Xia Wen was only five or six years old. Old Madam Zhou had not seen him after that.
Old Madam Zhou thought that she had never met such a dignified man! She wondered if he was married. At his age, he looked like he was a good match for her youngest daughter!
“Oh my! Are you our Xiao Xing’s friend?” Old Madam Zhou asked.
“Grandma Zhou, I’m Xia Wen, the eldest son of the Xia family’s eldest son. Do you still remember me?” Xia Wen said politely.
Old Madam Zhou was smiling when she spoke, but her face immediately fell when she heard this. Xia Wen held back his laughter. He only rued the fact that Qiao Mei was not here yet and had missed such an exciting “face-changing trick”.
“Yes, yes. You’re such a busy person. How do you manage to find time to come to our place?” Old Madam Zhou said.