Gu Jinchen managed the escort agency, Luo Ge and Ling Yun busied themselves with the restaurant, and Wang Sister-In-Law oversaw the workshop.
Luo Shiyan was forced to take over the Luo family business in the imperial court, while Luo's Father and Luo's Mother enjoyed their retirement.
The children studied diligently at the Academy.
Occasionally, Luo Ge would coordinate with Li Shopkeeper and Jiang Feng on the business of dried fruits, fruit wine, and pastries.
Day after day, their fulfilling yet simple and joyous life passed by...
...In the blink of an eye, a year had gone by, and it was time for the most anticipated and joyous holiday of the year: the Spring Festival to welcome the new year.
On New Year's Eve, the extended family at the Luo Mansion was bustling with activity.
"Luo Shiyan, take the children to check on the couplets, don't get in the way here," Lady Qian said, somewhat exasperated.
It was the eve of the Lunar New Year, the night of family reunion. For the first time, the entire family would be together to celebrate the new year and enjoy the reunion dinner. The occasion was extraordinary, and naturally, they wanted to prepare everything themselves to make it more meaningful.
Luo Juan, Gu Jinchen, and Luo Shiyan, along with the other men, conscientiously followed their wives, helping out.
Gu Jinchen and Luo Juan were actually quite capable and could genuinely be of help.
But Luo Shiyan... well, his "help" was more like causing trouble.
After watching him fumble around for a while, Lady Qian couldn't bear it anymore and spoke up with obvious disdain.
Hearing this, Ling Yun wiped her hands and shooed the bewildered Luo Shiyan out.
"Listen to Mother, don't make a mess here."
"Father, you go by yourself. We need to wash the vegetables," the children chimed in.
Meanwhile, Yun Mu, Yun Yi, and Little Zhen Heng were busy with their assigned task of shelling peanuts.
They were occupied and didn't want to go with their father/uncle.
Yun Mu and the others were of the same generation as the babies, cousins in the family, and could also address Luo Shiyan as uncle.
They also called Lady Qian and her husband grandmother and grandfather.
Luo Shiyan, collectively shunned by everyone: "..."
Fine, he'd go then.
Without Luo Shiyan's counterproductive help, the family's progress sped up. Before long, a table full of reunion dishes was laid out.
Even the babies had their own seats. They could now sit steadily, so they were placed in their little chairs.
The sweet little Ziqin sat next to Luo Ge, while Chen and Ran sat next to their grandparents. Gu Jinchen had Yun Mu, Zhen, and Heng sitting next to him.
Unlike previous years when there was always an empty seat at the Luo family's reunion table.
Now the whole family, big and small, gathered around one large table. The sight was truly heartwarming.
This was what celebrating the New Year should be like.
"Good, good, good. From now on, we'll gather like this every year on this day. How lively!" Luo Juan nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with joy at the scene before him.
"Yes, we'll gather like this in the future. No one is allowed to be absent," Luo Ge agreed with a smile.
"Agreed!" Luo Shiyan chimed in loudly.
The children in the family also joined in the excitement.
Of course, the New Year wouldn't be complete without the annual tradition of the younger generation offering their blessings to their elders.
"Children/daughters-in-law, sons/sons-in-law, grandchildren, we wish Father and Mother/Grandfather and Grandmother/Grandma and Grandpa a happy New Year and good health."
Compared to last year, this year was much livelier with Luo Ge and the five children joining in.
"Ah, good, good, good. Come, come, take these. They're for you," Lady Qian and her husband nodded repeatedly, smiling as they distributed the land deeds and money they had prepared.
From oldest to youngest, everyone received something.
"Thank you, Mother."
"Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa."
"Ah, ah." Lady Qian nodded repeatedly upon hearing Yun Mu and the others' greetings.
When it came to the three babies, in addition to the land deeds and money like Luo Ge and the others received, they also got specially prepared jade pendants.
"Come, come, Grandma's sweet Ziqin, hold it carefully," Lady Qian couldn't resist pinching Ziqin's chubby cheeks, full of adoration.
"Mm-ah." Little Ziqin also smiled, nodding her little head and responding with a sound.
Her demeanor was truly more endearing the longer one looked.
The two little rascals were also exceptionally well-behaved, knowing how to take the gifts and nod their heads in thanks.
Now these little ones were already nine months old, and could understand most of what adults said. They were very clever, making everyone dote on them.
Seeing them like this, the old couple couldn't help but pick them up and play with them for a while.
Little Ziqin also obediently nestled back into Luo Ge's arms, repeatedly trying to hand the jade pendant Lady Qian had given her to Luo Ge.
"Hmm? Does little Ziqin want to give it to Mother?" Gu Jinchen couldn't help but tap his daughter's nose as he watched her behavior.
It was just meant to tease the child, but to everyone's surprise, little Ziqin seriously nodded her little head and tried to push the jade pendant into Luo Ge's hand.
"Niang~"
Hearing this soft, sweet sound, everyone present was stunned.
Luo Ge was particularly shocked, looking at Gu Jinchen in disbelief.
"What did little Ziqin just say? Did she... did she just call me 'Mother'?"
Gu Jinchen was just as pleasantly surprised as Luo Ge. He nodded at Luo Ge and quickly turned to his daughter.
"Sweet Ziqin, what did you just say? Can you say it again? Let Mother and Father hear it once more."
Looking at her anxious father, and then at her brothers, uncles, aunts, and grandparents who had somehow gathered around, little Ziqin blinked her big eyes, which were like black grapes, in confusion. Seeing that Luo Ge still hadn't taken her gift, she pushed the jade pendant forward again.
"Niang niang~" she called out again.
This sound was like flipping a switch. After a moment of stunned silence, everyone burst into joyous laughter.
As Luo Ge laughed, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. She reached out to take the jade pendant from her daughter's hands and brought her face closer to the child's.
"Yes, Mother's here. Thank you, baby." Mother is very happy, very pleased.
Watching this scene, Gu Jinchen wrapped his arms around them. Looking at his wife and daughter in his arms, and the little rascals beside him, he felt enveloped by an overwhelming sense of happiness.
This sudden surprise made everyone very happy, but they couldn't forget about their stomachs.
After all, this reunion dinner was the result of half a day's work by the whole family, so it certainly couldn't be neglected.
With this pleasant surprise preceding it, the reunion dinner tasted even more delicious.
It's just that when he saw how much his daughter adored his wife, Gu Jinchen couldn't help feeling a bit sour in his heart.
His wife had already heard their child call her "Mother," when would he get to hear a "Father"?
Seeing how his daughter doted on her mother, he realized he had no chance of competing with his wife for affection. He could only pin his hopes on his two little rascals.
So, after they had eaten and drunk their fill, Gu Jinchen affectionately snuggled up to his two sons. He pinched their chubby cheeks and kept coaxing them.
"My good boys, Daddy has something tasty. If you call me 'Daddy,' I'll give it to you. How about that?"
He waved the pure milk candy made by Luo Ge in front of his sons, his eyes brimming with childlike anticipation that seemed out of place on such a grown man.
Although they found their father's behavior quite strange today, the two little scamps still reached out to grab the candy in Gu Jinchen's hand.
"Good boys, you have to call me 'Daddy' to get the candy," Gu Jinchen said slyly, dodging their hands and chuckling.
Watching the scene of one adult and two children, Luo Ge covered her face in exasperation, shaking her head with amusement.
Meanwhile, the brothers Yun Mu and Yun Yi seemed to have grasped something from their uncle's behavior.
They each grabbed a piece of milk candy and began waving it enthusiastically in front of little Ziqin.
"Sister, quick, call me 'Big Brother.' Big Brother has candy here."
"Sister, you should call me 'Second Brother' first. Second Brother has two pieces, see?"
Yun Yi proudly waved the two pieces of candy in his hand, not to be outdone by his older brother.
"Da-da~"
"...Bro-bro."
"Br... Bro... Brother..."
"Oh, oh! Daddy's good boys, so well-behaved!"
"Yes, Sister, Big Brother's here!"
"Second Brother too!"
Finally, after their relentless efforts, they managed to coax out two "Daddy" calls and two "Brother" calls.
Although the children were still learning to speak and their words were a bit unclear, the men were extremely satisfied with what they heard.
Luo Ge watched the entire scene of the three guys – one big and two small – tricking the children, feeling utterly helpless.
But isn't this exactly what family is all about?
Simple joys, uncomplicated but deeply happy.
............ [End of the Full Text] ............
