"Huh?"
Xia Xiangyun, who had also woken up early and just finished reciting scriptures in the Buddhist hall, saw Wan Yunting returning from outside and asked in confusion, "Little Wan, where did you go so early in the morning?"
"Mom, I didn't go anywhere. I went out to practice martial arts," Wan Yunting deliberately stretched and said with a smile.
"Hmm, when you have breakfast later, Mom will call you all," Xia Xiangyun patted the snow off him and smiled gently.
"Okay, Mom, I'll go find Dad first to talk about something and discuss where we'll go to play today."
"Go ahead, Mom is going out with your aunts to make breakfast," Xia Xiangyun nodded and smiled.
When the extended family gathered, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the daughters-in-law of the family were responsible for making the first breakfast of the year for the family.
After watching his mother leave, Wan Yunting entered the living room. His father, Ouyang Zhixin, was also awake and smiled when he saw him, "Little Wan is up too. Are you back from practicing?"
"Good morning, Dad."
Wan Yunting greeted him, then sat down with his father. A servant brought them tea. Wan Yunting dismissed the servant and personally brewed the tea, saying, "I went to Grandpa's place last night. I just got back."
Ouyang Zhixin's expression froze. He turned to look at him and asked with a frown, "Is someone trying to harm your grandfather?"
Wan Yunting nodded and said, "The woman Ouyang Liqun brought, I chatted with her last night!"
Ouyang Zhixin's heart skipped a beat. He leaned towards Wan Yunting and asked, "What did she want to talk to you about?"
Wan Yunting poured tea and placed the teacup on the coffee table in front of his father. He shook his head slightly and said, "That's not important. As long as Ji Ruxue has evidence of Ouyang Liqun's drug trafficking abroad, of course, I don't fully believe her words, but one thing is that she has already threatened Grandpa's safety!"
Ouyang Zhixin frowned and said coldly, "It was Ouyang Weizhi who had her do this, right?"
Wan Yunting nodded, knowing that his father understood the stakes and didn't need him to say more. Ouyang Zhixin's eyes were sharp and he said, "This Weizhi is really foolish. He thinks he can influence the old man's decision on the family head position with such means!"
Wan Yunting took a sip of tea and said, "Let Xian'er accompany Grandpa for the next few days, because that woman is not simple!"
Ouyang Zhixin nodded and said, "When Xian'er wakes up, I'll make arrangements..."
"Why are you calling me?"
Zhang Xian'er walked in, having heard her father mention her name from outside. Ouyang Zhixin smiled and said, "Xian'er is awake. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yes."
Zhang Xian'er nodded, casting a sideways glance at Wan Yunting with her peach blossom eyes, "Someone woke me up in the middle of the night!"
Wan Yunting smiled at her, knowing that this girl was very skilled.
"It's like this, Xian'er. I want you to accompany your Grandpa Shen He for the next few days and protect his safety."
Ouyang Zhixin knew that this girl wanted to repay the kindness of saving her in the past, so he didn't need to be indirect with her.
"Who wants to, Grandpa Shen He?" Zhang Xian'er's peach blossom eyes widened, becoming sharp immediately. She turned to Wan Yunting and asked, "Did you go out last night because of this matter?"
Wan Yunting smiled at her and said, "Don't ask too much, just go and protect Grandpa."
"Okay." Zhang Xian'er would naturally not refuse, because she was more willing to protect Grandpa Shen He. She gave Wan Yunting a glare, turned around, and snorted, "I'll go now."
Ouyang Zhixin watched her leave and asked, "Little Wan, is Xian'er capable?"
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "It's fine to have her by Grandpa's side. Besides, Grandpa already has a powerful martial artist by his side!"
"Hmm?"
This remark puzzled Ouyang Zhixin. He said, "Besides Zhang Heng working for your grandfather, there doesn't seem to be anyone else."
Wan Yunting smiled. It seemed his father didn't know about the woman Aze who was by Grandpa's side!
"What are your plans for this matter?"
Ouyang Zhixin raised his eyebrows. He was naturally referring to Ouyang Weizhi and Ouyang Liqun, father and son, as well as Ji Ruxue!
Wan Yunting lit a cigarette, crossed his legs, and smoked, his eyes half-closed. He said, "Let's wait two more days."
Ouyang Zhixin nodded and said, "How about I go talk to Weizhi?"
"No."
Wan Yunting waved his hand and said with a smile, "I'm afraid Uncle Weizhi doesn't know anything. You'll just be asking in vain if you go to him."
"That's true."
Ouyang Zhixin nodded and said, "He did give birth to a smart son, but it's a pity that the smarter he is, the more he'll be backfired by his cleverness..."
"Dad, Brother, good morning. What are you two talking about?"
At this moment, Ouyang Fanmeng came in, her face full of smiles. She happily sat next to Wan Yunting. Her clear apricot eyes looked at her brother and father. Ouyang Zhixin changed the subject and laughed, "You girl, why are you also up so early?"
"I was woken up by the firecrackers set off by some of the nephews," Ouyang Fanmeng pouted and said with a smile.
"Haha, how about I take you to snatch their firecrackers to play with?" Wan Yunting said with a smile.
"Okay, Brother, let's go..."
Ouyang Fanmeng still had a childlike innocence. Moreover, she had never had a complete childhood in all these years. In this girl's memory, from the time she was sensible, her parents had taken her to seek medical treatment. Every time she saw her parents' disappointed expressions and tearful faces, it made Ouyang Fanmeng very sensible from a young age.
For more than ten years, she had lived in that villa and had never stepped out of the house. Even during the New Year, she couldn't come to the Ouyang family ancestral home to celebrate with the clan because the fishy smell on her body affected those around her.
When Ouyang Fanmeng was seven years old, her father brought her to the ancestral home for New Year, but she was scorned, which caused immense harm to her young heart. From then on, every New Year, her father never brought her to the ancestral home again, and her mother stayed at home with her.
Therefore, this New Year was the first grand reunion for everyone in the Ouyang family, and it was also Ouyang Fanmeng's happiest moment, especially since her brother had also returned. Now she was acting like a child.
Wan Yunting was also willing to be a child for her. He took her hand and ran outside. They saw several nephews and nieces. They didn't know whose children were playing with firecrackers, so the siblings ran over, snatched their firecrackers, and played with them. This made the children cry loudly.
"Haha..."
Ouyang Zhixin, standing at the main entrance of the courtyard, watched his children playing happily with his hands behind his back. As their father, he was naturally happy and felt immensely gratified.
In the past, when he saw such scenes in other people's homes, Ouyang Zhixin's heart ached. He never thought that one day, his lost son would return, his daughter's illness would recover, and they would be playing like normal children.
As he smiled, a tear rolled down the old father's cheek. He quickly turned his head to wipe away his tears, and his mischievous daughter threw a firecracker at him, giggling, "Dad, be careful..."
"Haha..."
Ouyang Zhixin quickly retreated to dodge. The small firecracker exploded in the accumulated snow, but its power was not great...
"Grandpa, Aunt Xiaomama, Uncle San, Happy New Year..."
At this moment, his second brother Wan Dongming and second sister-in-law Wang Chulin, holding Wan'er, who was wearing a small red dress, arrived. The little girl had two small buns tied with red ribbons and butterfly knots. Her rosy face and big eyes like grapes were full of spirit. She skipped over and first wished Grandpa Ouyang Zhixin a happy New Year, then ran to wish Wan Yunting and Ouyang Fanmeng, who were playing with firecrackers outside, a happy New Year.
"Wan'er is awake! Come let Grandpa hug you."
Ouyang Zhixin showed a kind smile and went to pick up Wan'er. He pointed to Wan Yunting and Ouyang Fanmeng who were playing outside and said, "Look at your Aunt Xiaomama and Uncle San, they're so old but they're still playing with firecrackers."
"Haha..."
Wan Yunting burst into laughter. He and his sister Ouyang Fanmeng threw firecrackers at each other, scaring the girl into shrieking with joy.
Wan Dongming and Wang Chulin greeted Ouyang Zhixin and wished him a happy New Year before coming out to watch the scene of their third brother and his sister, which also amused them. Wan'er also got down from Ouyang Zhixin's arms and ran to pester Wan Yunting, her third uncle, for firecrackers to play with...
Duan Yingying also got up and felt speechless watching Wan Yunting act so childishly...
By nine o'clock in the morning, the daughters-in-law of the Ouyang family had united to prepare breakfast for the entire family. They gathered in the grand dining hall. Compared to last night, there were half as many people.
Now, only those with Ouyang family bloodlines could stay overnight at home. The other half were relatives of the Ouyang family.
Ouyang Zhixin and his wife brought Wan Yunting and Ouyang Fanmeng, Wan Dongming and Wang Chulin holding Wan'er. Duan Yingying also followed them in. Ouyang Shen He immediately beckoned Wan Yunting and Ouyang Fanmeng to come and sit beside him...
At this breakfast gathering, there were not so many family rules. Everyone found their seats and started eating breakfast.
The last to arrive were Ouyang Weizhi and Fang Wenli. Ouyang Liqun also appeared with Ji Ruxue. This woman, who was a combination of sexiness and the devil, always attracted attention.
"Alright, everyone, after breakfast, go do whatever you need to do," said Ouyang Shen He, who had finished eating. He got up, supported and accompanied by Zhang Xian'er and Aze, and said to everyone in the living room before leaving with a smile.
With the head of the family gone, the quiet dining room suddenly became lively. Especially the women, they all gathered around Xia Xiangyun, exaggeratedly praising her for having a good son and so on...
This made Fang Wenli's expression extremely gloomy. She knew that the women in the family were very pragmatic. Now that their family was in decline, they all ran to flatter Xia Xiangyun's family. This was unbearable for Ouyang Weizhi and Fang Wenli, so they got up and left.
Wan Yunting was also being chatted with by the younger male cousins of the family. However, at the adjacent table, Ouyang Liqun and Ji Ruxue kept casting alluring glances at him. Her strangely pale green eyes flickered with a meaningful look. Wan Yunting knew what this woman was trying to do.
This scene was noticed by Ouyang Liqun. He then walked with Ji Ruxue in a deserted corridor and said, "Ruxue, are you interested in Wan Yunting?"