Su Siqi glanced at the item in her hand, his earlobes turning red.
Did the little girl make it herself? He had to take a good look.
Su Siqi took the gift, opened the red cloth bag, and revealed a corner of bamboo.
Su Yinyin entered from outside, holding a delicate wooden box in her hand. "Second Brother, Yinyin also brought you a gift."
Everyone turned to look at her.
A hint of impatience flashed in Su Siqi's eyes.
Su Yinyin acted as if she hadn't noticed, squeezed her way to Su Siqi's side, and said ingratiatingly, "Yinyin's gift is definitely the best. Will Second Brother look at mine first?"
Su Siqi narrowed his eyes, displeased. He remembered the third brother saying that this girl had caused trouble for Mo Mo quite a bit when she first entered the General's Mansion.
He hadn't invited her to his birthday this time, and his mother had previously ordered that people from the second branch not be allowed into the General's Mansion. How did she get in?
"Oh, it's really lively today. I was thinking of coming earlier to help out, but I'm still late." Dou Ying entered from outside, a polite smile on her face. xxs壹贰
Zhou Wanyou was entertaining guests nearby. Seeing her approach, her eyes flickered, and she stepped forward to meet her. "When did Second Sister-in-law arrive?"
Dou Ying signaled for a maid to bring over a chest, putting on a friendly sister-in-law demeanor. "I heard it was Siqi's birthday, so I specifically gathered some trinkets to bring for him."
The chest wasn't large, but it was heavy.
When it was opened, it was filled with gold, silver, and jade ornaments, all of considerable value.
Everyone was stunned.
These were hardly trinkets. It was unprecedented for an elder to give such a substantial gift to a junior for their birthday.
Su Siqi's eyes practically gleamed with gold instinctively.
Although he didn't like Su Yinyin, he liked treasures.
Zhou Wanyou furrowed her brows and politely declined, "Second Sister-in-law might not know, but Siqi only accepts gifts from children on his birthday."
Su Siqi was anxious: Who said he wouldn't accept? Who would be foolish enough to refuse money!
"It's fine if you don't accept from others, but we are family. What's wrong with an elder giving something to the children?" Dou Ying's expression was a little anxious, as if afraid Zhou Wanyou wouldn't accept.
The guests in the room exchanged glances, confused.
It wasn't a secret that the Su family's second branch and the General's Mansion were not on good terms. In the past, whenever Dou Ying attended a gathering, she would seize any opportunity to belittle Zhou Wanyou behind her back.
But her actions today were truly baffling.
Had the relationship between the two branches of the Su family improved?
A faint light flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes, and she sneered inwardly.
What good intentions could a weasel have when paying respects to a chicken?
Dou Ying busied herself, instructing the servants to carry the items away.
Zhou Wanyou spoke to stop them, "The child is still young and cannot accept these. Second Sister-in-law's intentions are appreciated, but the gifts are not necessary."
Su Siqi felt a pang of hurt but didn't object. After all, his mother had already indicated she didn't want to receive gifts, and he couldn't go against his mother's wishes. "Mother is right. Second Aunt, please take your gifts back."
Seeing this, Dou Ying could only swallow her words, pulling at the corners of her mouth awkwardly. "Since Siqi doesn't like them, I won't insist."
She looked up at Su Yinyin, pinning all her hopes on her. "Didn't Yinyin prepare a gift for her Second Brother?"
Su Yinyin, having received the hint, squeezed into Su Siqi's arms with the chest. Her elbow, as if by accident, bumped into Su Yunmo's waist.
Su Yunmo, who was straddling Su Siqi's legs, lost her balance from the bump and was about to fall to the ground.
Her several brothers were startled and rushed forward simultaneously.
Chen Mingmo, being the closest, quickly caught the little dumpling and roared, "Su Yinyin, what are you doing?!"
Su Yinyin leaned against Su Siqi's legs and looked back at them innocently. "I didn't do it on purpose. She couldn't sit still herself, so how can you blame me?"
Su Siyuan rushed over in two steps, pointing at Su Yinyin. "Nonsense! I saw it just now, you did it deliberately!"
How could this girl be so annoying! Always targeting Mo Mo!
Su Yinyin was extremely annoyed. Among the General's Mansion's three brothers, only Su Siyuan was someone she didn't want to approach. He had even hit their mother last time for that brat Su Yunmo.
Although her mother said she had to maintain good relations with them, Su Siyuan was not capable and would surely end up as a hoodlum, never inheriting the General's Mansion.
She didn't need to curry favor with him.
"Third Brother is so fierce to Yinyin. Even if you like Mo Mo, you can't slander me." Su Yinyin pouted aggrievedly, her eyes turning red, as if she had suffered great injustice.
Su Siyuan's eyes widened. This was the first time he had heard such a distortion of facts.
He rolled up his sleeves, intending to hit her.
Su Yunmo quickly pulled him back. "Third Brother, Mo Mo isn't hurt. Please don't be angry. We can't fight on Second Brother's birthday."
Su Yinyin kept burrowing into Su Siqi's arms, fanning the flames with Su Yunmo's words.
"I also think today is Second Brother's birthday, and everyone should focus on Second Brother. Third Brother making such a fuss clearly doesn't put Second Brother first. It's too much."
She had heard it when she first came in; Second Brother disliked Su Yunmo's attire. She had never heard Second Brother being that close to that brat.
She figured Second Brother really disliked her, and by saying this, Second Brother would dislike Su Siyuan as well.
Su Siqi had almost dropped the little dumpling and was still shaken. Hearing these words, his expression turned somewhat grim.
Su Yinyin sensed Su Siqi's displeasure and knew her gamble had paid off.
Su Sizhuo's gaze swept over Su Yinyin, his expression turning cold.
It was common for children to squabble and fall, but it didn't mean other people's children could sow discord among his siblings.
"Second Aunt, you brought your daughter today to give my Second Brother a gift, or to put on a show?"
Dou Ying was enjoying the show immensely. When she was called out, she had no choice but to play peacemaker. "What is this child saying? It's lively when siblings are together, which makes them seem more intimate."
She affectedly flicked her handkerchief and looked at Zhou Wanyou. "Children are young and don't understand. A few minor quarrels now and then, Fourth Sister-in-law, please don't mind."
Zhou Wanyou replied calmly, "How could I? It's just playing. Adults don't bother with children's matters."
Anyway, Second Brother would handle it.
Dou Ying's eyes suddenly brightened. It seemed letting Yinyin try to win over the boys was the right move.
Indeed, no matter how much the couple liked Su Yunmo, that girl was just adopted. How could she be closer than their own son?
"Yinyin, do you hear? Today is your Second Brother's birthday. You need to perform well."
Su Yinyin nodded emphatically and opened the box. "Yinyin knows Second Brother likes fans, so I specifically asked someone to craft a jade fan."
The jade fan was made with gold inlay and jade, and even the fan surface was made of the finest tribute silk and satin.
The small fan was extremely valuable.
Let alone the children, even the adults' eyes widened in astonishment.
Su Siqi picked up the jade fan with two fingers. "It is indeed a fine item."
Dou Ying immediately lifted her head proudly.
She knew Second Brother would like it. This jade fan had cost a lot of money. No matter what Su Yunmo was going to give, it definitely couldn't compare to hers.
She turned and gave Su Yunmo a provocative glance.