In view of the preciousness of family affection, under Yu Shu's supervision this year, Shen Youlin split his couplet writing half and half, half serious and half unserious.
Yu Shu was responsible for the packaging, making sure that at least one serious couplet that could be posted on the door was included in each package.
In the afternoon, Shen Youlin sat in Dou'e's sled and went from door to door delivering goods.
Before leaving, Shen Youlin felt emotional and said to her: "It's really not easy to support a family. Even in heavy snow, I still have to go out and face the cold wind and snow. But as a man, I have to shoulder the responsibility of supporting the family."
Yu Shu held back her laugh: "Then come back soon, I'll have dinner ready and waiting for you."
Shen Youlin raised his face: "I want a goodbye kiss~"
"Mua!"
"I want one here too~"
"Mua! Go on!"
Satisfied, Shen Youlin ordered Dou'e: "Son, let's go! Go earn money with Dad!"
The heavy snow brought out Dou'e's ancestral bloodline. Its usual happy expression was gone, replaced with a much more serious look. Today it wore a stylish set of black clothes, and when it ran, it was as fast as lightning, very cool!
The sled had bells tied to it, ringing all the way, and many children ran to the windows when they heard the sound.
"Uncle Seven! I want a ride too!"
"You're too fat! Dou'e can't pull you!"
"Uncle Seven, I'm not fat, I'm not fat! Let Dou'e pull me!"
"Your legs are too short, Dou'e said it can't pull you!"
............
Dou'e pulled Shen Youlin swiftly around in the heavy snow, making countless little brats cry from envy.
The next day was the day before the Lunar New Year, and relatives from the Shen family's side branches all came. That morning, Yu Fanxing arrived at the small villa where Yu Shu lived, carrying lots of packages. She spent over three hours primping Yu Shu.
While putting on Yu Shu's makeup, Yu Fanxing nagged: "After the New Year, you and I will go to the software company and have the programmers input your figure and looks into the digital wardrobe software. Then when I buy you clothes in the future, it will be even more convenient."
Yu Shu had been woken up early in the morning and was too sleepy to even open her eyes fully: "Change the software name to something like Shining Yu Treasure, Miracle Shu Shu...."
Halfway through, she let out a big yawn, and the eye makeup that had just been applied was blurred by the tears welling up in her eyes. Yu Fanxing shrieked in distress.
After redoing the eyeliner, Yu Fanxing asked in a meaningful way: "Why so sleep deprived? I wouldn't have thought Little B*stard looks as limp as a soft-shell crab, white feathered chicken, yet at night he's still as vigorous as a jackal, tiger, leopard."
"Actually...he was teaching me poems and lyrics last night, really." Yu Shu's tone was extremely sincere, because it was true after all.
"Who's a soft-shell crab?!" Shen Youlin came in carrying breakfast, a face full of just-got-out-of-bed annoyance.
Yu Fanxing had appeared at the bedroom door early in the morning and kept knocking, refusing to leave without opening the door. It annoyed Shen Youlin so much that he threw two pillows.
Yu Fanxing: "You heard wrong, I said we're having lobster tonight. Oh I happen to be hungry right now. What a filial son I am to my mother."
"There's no share for you, it's all for me and Yu Shu. If you want to eat go get your own."
Yu Shu was too sleepy to move, so Shen Youlin fed her breakfast bite by bite. Taking advantage of Shen Youlin's hands being occupied, Yu Fanxing gobbled up his share of breakfast—she even ate until she was stuffed without saving a bite for him.
While feeding Yu Shu congee, Shen Youlin looked at his mother with disgust: "Is our family going bankrupt? Has the old hag not been feeding her shrew wife enough the past few days?"
Yu Fanxing choked. She was already stuffed, now she felt even more indigestion.
Yu Shu stuffed a steamed bun into Shen Youlin's mouth: "Be good. Don't get mad at Star, be a good mute handsome boy today."
Yu Fanxing didn't allow being called Auntie. Calling her Big Sis now was also inappropriate. So they compromised by having Yu Shu call her by her nickname.
Still fuming, Shen Youlin ate up the steamed bun in three bites, but his expression did look a little better. He stopped saying anything more.
Clutching her chest, Yu Fanxing marveled at the nature of love in this world. Things go down yet things come up. Their mother-son relationship in the future really depended on Yu Shu now.
She threw a suit at Shen Youlin: "Change into this. You and Shu Shu wear matching colors today."
Shen Youlin shook open the garment bag. Inside was a custom-tailored light blue suit. On the sofa was a blue cheongsam, which was what Yu Shu would wear later.
Instantly satisfied, Shen Youlin took the suit to the next room to change into it.
While doing Yu Shu’s hair, Yu Fanxing explained to her: "Some close relatives from the side branches will come today. Old Madam's intention is to host an engagement banquet for you two. If you don't want something high-profile and public, it's all up to you, but you have to properly meet the family members. Don't blame Old Madam for taking things into her own hands. She's just really afraid you'll run away someday, after all Little B*stard is too much of a jerk."
Yu Shu chuckled: "Don't worry, I'm not an ungrateful person. I understand Old Madam's intention. And even if I wanted to run away, I wouldn't bear to leave...after all, you've all given me too much!"
"That's right! We're afraid you'll run off, that's why we throw money at you!"
The two looked at each other and smiled brightly.
After Yu Fanxing finished primping Yu Shu, she went back to change as well. She and Shen Chaowen were also wearing couple outfits today, cheongsam with suit, in a deep blue color. When she and Shen Chaowen stood next to Yu Shu and Shen Youlin, despite being two generations apart, their auras and looks were no less inferior.
The visiting relatives and friends all marveled that she hadn't changed one bit after so many years. She and Yu Shu looked like intimate sisters rather than mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
While modestly brushing off the compliments, Yu Fanxing couldn't help grinning from ear to ear.
At first Shen Youlin also played along, dutifully acting as Yu Shu's background prop. But not long after, his true nature emerged and he went to the group of children to establish dominance.
Dou'e was also dressed up today, wearing a little suit in the same color as Shen Youlin, with a bowtie around its neck. Shen Youlin's two little nieces were braiding little plaits into its fur and clipping them with pink butterfly hair clips.
Dou'e lay placidly on the carpet, allowing the little girls to primp it.
Passing by, Shen Youlin lightly kicked its butt: "Stupid dog!"
Dou'e suddenly whipped its head around. One of the neatly braided plaits instantly came undone, eliciting shrieks from the little girl.
Dou'e kept grinning idiotically at Shen Youlin, drool practically dripping from its mouth.
Shen Youlin then casually knocked over the boys' building block and Lego structures, provoking a chorus of indignation.
After teasing the cat and dog, he plopped onto the sofa, satisfied, and started cracking melon seeds.
His fifth uncle's son came over holding an iPad, showing him photos: "Uncle Seven, look! This is my doggy! His name is Fluffy!"
In the photo, against a blue sky with white clouds and nice sunlight, little nephew hugged a snowy white Tibetan mastiff puppy. They sat on the grass looking at the camera, smiling widely with teeth showing. The little dog also had its eyes closed, smiling and sticking out its bright red tongue.
"Oh, pretty cute."
Little nephew looked extremely disappointed. "But Dad wouldn't let me bring him back. He said if you saw Fluffy you'd feel sad."
"Your dad lied to you. Just bring him back next time you go home."
"When he grows up, I won't let you ride in his sled! Hmph!"
Shen Youlin spat out a melon seed shell: "Your dog won't grow up."
"He will grow up! Fluffy will grow even bigger than Dou'e!"
"No he won't."
Little nephew wanted to argue further but was called away by his own dad.
At the end of the hallway, second uncle was severely scolding his son and grandson: "What's wrong with other breeds of dogs?! It just had to be this particular one? Just so Youlin is reminded of Yun Duo?!"
Fifth uncle's expression was equally ugly: "Fluffy was a gift from the boy's grandpa. How could the old man have known about Youlin's situation."
Around the corner, Zhao Wenqian paused. She thought of that plush toy dog in the package....
