Chapter 93: Chapter 93: This Meal Can’t Be Eaten
Gu Xiaoying called out, saying the dishes were ready.
Over here, Gu Ruhai and Gu Rushan set up the large table as they did every year, and brought out the chairs.
There were four types of steamed dishes, steamed meatballs, steamed tofu, steamed braised pork, and steamed sticky rice, also known as millet, served piping hot, filling the whole room with fragrance and warmth.
Next came a pot of cabbage stewed with vermicelli, which included chunks of pork belly, a chicken, a braised fish, a plate of fried peanuts, and a plate of bean sprout salad mixed with vermicelli, making exactly six dishes, symbolizing harmony and good fortune.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu took the main seats, as was proper, and beside them, Gu Rushan and Gu Ruhe sat firmly on either side, as they did every year.
Next were the wives and children of Gu Rushan and Gu Ruhe, and finally came Gu Ruhai’s family.
They sat down warmly and busily.
Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaojie stood aside watching the joyful table of people, and Gu Xiaoqing felt sulky.
Glancing at Gu Ruhai, who was silent and not joining the conversation, wondering if their father was hurt or angry.
In the past, maybe there was nothing wrong with sitting like this, but things are different now.
Father felt uncomfortable.
Finally, there was dissatisfaction, which was tough.
Mr. Gu was happily chatting with his two sons when he glanced over and noticed Gu Ruhai standing aside, not sitting down, along with Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaojie, all three just standing there.
A pang hit him.
He looked at the table and knew something was wrong.
But how could he address it?
He couldn’t just tell his second and third sons to make room for the eldest in front of Xiao Xue, their daughter-in-law.
That would offend people.
The third son’s promotion this year still depended on connections with Xiao Xue’s father, which Mr. Gu knew clearly.
So, this couldn’t be done that way.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Gu said, "Eldest, quickly have a seat with the kids first, your wife will be here soon, why worry about your wife at such an age?"
This was said half-jokingly, half-teasingly, hoping that once Gu Ruhai sat down, there would be less fuss.
Gu Ruhai wasn’t sure what was wrong with him, having never felt such deep dissatisfaction, seemed unhappy with everything.
What was rightful and deserved in the past now seemed glaring and heart-wrenching this year.
He felt that perhaps as the eldest, he wasn’t even as good as a child from the third son’s family.
Was it because having started some business, he became miserly like a businessman, started nitpicking, and wanted fairness in everything?
Had he changed, or was it the world that was changing?
Gu Ruhai was bewildered.
Inside, it seemed like another self wanted to resist, to break free from the shackles, to break through the unfair partiality, as if not doing so made him always restless and unwilling.
Seeing that Gu Ruhai remained still.
Gu Rushan laughed and spoke, "Big brother, sit down, still waiting for our parents to invite you three or four times?"
This was a heavy remark, suggesting that Gu Ruhai was being undutiful to the elders, bringing a serious tone to his own parents.
Gu Ruhai, who was initially hesitating, suddenly had his thoughts ignited by this remark, and the fire that had been suppressed in his heart seemed to be doused with hot oil, flaring up instantly, burning his face a little red.
Seeing Gu Ruhai’s expression, Gu Xiaoqing knew their honest father was about to explode.
She quickly stepped forward and pulled Gu Xiaojie to sit down, saying, "Dad, you’re the eldest, you should sit in front of Grandpa and Grandma. Xiao Jie and I are juniors, we’re fine sitting here."
This statement laid bare the issue.
Gu Rushan and Gu Ruhe were taken aback.
Uncomfortably, they gave each other a look, then stood up.
Smiling sheepishly, they said, "Big brother, sit here, sit here."
Gu Ruhai walked over and unceremoniously sat next to Mr. Gu, which was Gu Ruhe’s seat, leaving Gu Ruhe no choice but to signal for Xiao Xue to shuffle over, while he sat next to Gu Ruhai.
Xiao Xue was unwilling but understood it was a matter of face, so even if she wanted to find fault, she had no reason.
She nudged Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin beside her, gesturing with her mouth, "Scoot over, make room for your dad."
Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin had just sat down and picked up their chopsticks, both drooling over the four steamed dishes; after all, they couldn’t get such authentic country-style steamed dishes even in town.
The meatballs glistened with oil.
They looked irresistibly delicious.
And the braised pork, sliced into thin pieces, arranged in the bowl with the pork skin facing up, its dark red skin shining with a glossy luster, exuding a tempting aroma.
Before the two could take a bite, they were urged to move by their mother. With this move, they were now far from the steamed braised pork and steamed meatballs, and Gu Xiaofeng was the first to object, immediately tossing down his chopsticks and sitting on the floor, rubbing his eyes with his hands and wailing loudly.
"My braised pork, my meatballs, why do I have to move? I’ve sat here every year, why do I have to move? Let Big Uncle go away, I don’t want to move. Bad Big Uncle, I want to eat braised pork."
Xiao Xue’s face darkened too, for despite spoiling the kids a bit at home, this was a six-year-old in second grade acting like a tantrum-throwing country bumpkin, making Xiao Xue quite vexed.
What an embarrassment.
Meanwhile, although Gu Xiaomin didn’t sit on the floor crying, she was glaring resentfully, staring fiercely at Gu Ruhai, cursing foully, "What a thing, taking my dad’s seat. I’ll tell my grandpa when we get back, have him lock all of you up for bullying me and my brother."
Her tone was extraordinarily assertive, absolutely unlike a ten-year-old girl.
Gu Xiaoqing laughed, thinking good.
Better to lay all cards on the table openly.
Knowing this meal would be difficult, and even before starting it, rivalries already emerged.
Neither Mr. Gu nor Mrs. Gu anticipated this, nor did Gu Ruhai expect it.
Everyone was stunned.
Even though the kids were small, their words carried significant implications; unless an adult constantly discussed such matters, how would the kids know what to say?
The children’s words were clear, accusing Gu Ruhai of taking their dad’s seat.
See, even the kids thought it was a given right.
Gu Ruhai’s face turned dark; this meal couldn’t continue.
Standing up, he called Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaojie, and said to Mr. and Mrs. Gu, "Dad, Mom, we’re not joining the meal; we’re heading back. We’ll come early tomorrow to pay respects, but we won’t be dining. You all enjoy the meal and have a good time."
Without another word, he turned to leave.