Xia Mingzhong brought Ye Longlin's family of three back to the Xia family and immediately had Xia Lingxuan notify everyone in the Xia family to hold a grand banquet at the Xia family ancestral home that evening to celebrate Ye Longlin's return.
"What are you looking at? You should call him Brother."
Xia Mingzhong slapped Xia Lingxuan on the head, glared at him, and then launched into his usual elderly nagging.
"Look at your elder brother, he's already married and has a child, and Yi Yi is so well-behaved. Look at you, you're already twenty-six and you just stay at home all day. When will you bring a wife back to me?"
"Your father will be back soon, and I'll have him arrange a meeting between you and Director Hu's daughter. I told you last year, and Old Hu had already spoken to his daughter about it. As a result, you stood her up, forcing your father to treat her to lunch for a whole month. And she's quite good-looking too. What are you thinking about all day?"
"Also, hurry up and call your third brother back. He's the most mischievous in the family. Don't cause any more trouble. How many problems have we solved for him this year? If that doesn't work, cut off his bank card, and the same goes for you. If you're not married by the end of next year, I'll cut off all your cards too!"
Xia Lingxuan: "......"
Xia Lingxuan felt like crying without tears. He was lectured by his grandfather without saying a word and didn't even know who he had offended.
Before Ye Longlin appeared, his grandfather liked him the most. But after his elder brother showed up, all that love was gone.
Alas, the world is going downhill!
"Brother, please sit for a while. I'll go call my dad first."
Xia Lingxuan said helplessly. He didn't really resist his elder brother. After all, he was his aunt's child, and he should call him brother.
Moreover, the old man often talked about his aunt in front of him, so he didn't have much resistance. However, his third brother would likely argue with his elder brother.
"It seems I need to brief Old Third later."
Before Ye Longlin's return, the generational hierarchy in the Xia family was still calculated based on when Xia Shumeng was alive. The old man had many rules, but usually, only he and Xia Lingxuan were here, so the rules weren't that important.
However, during family banquets, the rules were very important.
The third son, that is, Xia Mingzhong's third son's son, was very mischievous and always caused trouble. He was twenty-three this year and still immature.
Although he wasn't exactly a dissolute rich kid, he was somewhere between a prodigal and a decent person.
Many people rushed back for the Xia family banquet that evening. The first to return was Xia Shijie, Xia Lingxuan's father.
"Dad, did sister's son come back?"
Xia Shijie said loudly as soon as he entered the house and hurried in.
Normally, the old man would have scolded him for being so loud, but today, he was in a good mood and didn't care.
At this moment, Xia Mingzhong was holding Ye Churan and doting on her. He hadn't worn such a happy smile in a long time.
"Yes, and he brought back a great-granddaughter. Look, isn't she very well-behaved and lovable? Hahaha."
Xia Shijie glanced at Ye Churan and instantly took a liking to the little girl.
Xia Mingzhong looked up and explained, "Little Ye, this is my second son, Xia Lingxuan, currently the head of education. You should call him Second Uncle."
Ye Longlin looked up and nodded slightly, "Hello, Second Uncle."
Mu Hanqi also greeted from the side, "Hello, Second Uncle."
Xia Shijie grinned, "Hey, hey, good, good! I used to think that you and Big Sister were... I never expected you to be alive and back after so many years. That's great."
"By the way, I also heard about the calligraphy and painting exhibition. Thank you. If it weren't for you, Dad might have been ruined today."
Ye Longlin shook his head, "It's only right. After all, he is my maternal grandfather. I will naturally stand by his side."
With these two sentences, Xia Shijie also accepted Ye Longlin. Being able to stand by Xia Mingzhong without reservation was very touching.
"Yi Yi, why don't you go play for a while? Grandfather wants to talk to your father."
Xia Mingzhong pinched the little girl's round cheeks affectionately, as if he couldn't let go of her.
The little girl had round cheeks and two small tiger teeth when she opened her mouth. Anyone would like her.
"Okay, okay."
The little girl went to play in the yard by herself. Ye Longlin seemed to remember something and turned to her with a stern face, warning, "Yi Yi, you are not allowed to pull Grandpa's grass!!"
He hadn't forgotten how the little girl had messed up the Great Elder's small courtyard.
The little girl pouted, "Got it."
Xia Mingzhong looked at Ye Longlin. He could see a shadow of Xia Shumeng in him, especially his eyes, as if stars were always emerging from them.
Moreover, this granddaughter-in-law was the little princess of the Murong family. She was worthy of Ye Longlin in terms of identity and status, and it could be considered a match made in heaven.
"At the time, I thought you and Shu Meng had both died. After I arrived in the capital, it took me a lot of effort to bring Shu Meng home. That was during the Ye family's internal strife. I didn't dare to find just anyone, and I didn't dare to reveal my identity in the capital, so I couldn't find you.
At that time, I thought you were dead, but later I heard news from the capital that Ye Guohui had escaped the capital with you. For the next twenty years, there was no news of you and your father, and I gradually gave up. I didn't expect fate to be kind to me and send you back to my side."
Xia Mingzhong sighed with emotion, his eyes showing nostalgia.
"By the way, how is your father? Why didn't he come?"
Speaking of Ye Guohui, Xia Mingzhong now understood. No one could be blamed for these matters.
If there had been no internal strife, his daughter would have been very happy. He could only say that the deep waters of the wealthy family were not for everyone to wade into.
"After my father left the capital that year, Ye Nantian issued a kill order. Many people chased my father and me from the capital. Later, we were saved in Nan Province, and then my father enlisted. With the power of the military, he protected me. I could also be said to have grown up in the military, joining the army very early.
After that, there were various missions, and many near-death experiences. Slowly, I walked to where I am now from a pile of corpses. Thinking back, it all seems like yesterday. I even remember the despairing faces of my teammates on my first mission.
Later, the incident at the Mobei Prison occurred, and my father sacrificed himself in that incident. It was only then that I returned to the country."
Ye Longlin sighed. He had never told Mu Hanqi these things for fear of her worrying.
Now he had to say it, as the old man had asked.
"You must have had a very hard time without your parents by your side all these years."