Zhang Liushui finished his drink and turned to look at Zhang Liunian. Zhang Liunian, finding it awkward not to, could only drain his glass as well.
However, as soon as he finished his drink, Zhang Liushui refilled his glass. One after another, they continued until Zhang Liunian felt his stomach was full of wine. He finally interrupted, "Brother, please don't refill it. If we keep drinking, we won't be able to eat."
Zhang Liushui didn't insist. He put down his wine glass and continued to express his gratitude, "Third brother, from now on, this elder brother's life belongs to you. Just say the word if you need anything."
These words were still an expression of thanks.
Zhang Liunian looked at his three nephews who were eating, then turned and smiled at his elder brother, "There's no need for thanks between brothers. Mutual help is the most basic thing. Besides, I am their third uncle, their blood relative. How could I not help in a crisis?"
As soon as he said this, the three nephews stopped their actions and looked at Zhang Liunian with admiration.
They had heard just now that their third uncle considered them blood relatives. This made them very happy. Tomorrow, they would tell their friends, and they would surely be envious.
Hearing this, Zhang Wenxue's heart was filled with mixed emotions. If their second brother had thought the same way as their third brother, he wouldn't have ended up in that situation.
He thought about it but dared not say it aloud, fearing he would spoil the atmosphere.
Zhang Liushui lacked such emotional intelligence. He also thought of their second brother's troubles and sighed, saying, "Third brother, I know you are a good person. If our second brother had understood your thoughts, he wouldn't have done those foolish things.
Among us three brothers, when the second brother was successful in the past, he always looked down on us. I, as the elder brother, know this better than you. But for him to steal your formula and then your money, it truly caught me by surprise."
"Let the past be the past. After all, by the time he gets out, we'll be old," Zhang Liunian knew that Zhang Liuxing had been sentenced quite severely, with over twenty years in prison. By the time Zhang Liuxing was released, they would indeed be old.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenxue and his wife truly couldn't eat any longer. Their second son had once been the pride of their family. Who could have imagined that he would end up in prison?
Zhang Liunian noticed his parents' uneasy expressions but didn't offer any comfort. He continued to drink and eat with his elder brother.
After the meal, Zhang Wenxue informed Zhang Liunian about Zhang Xiaomei's pregnancy, which was one month along.
"Really? Xiaomei is pregnant? That's wonderful!" Zhang Liunian was very happy to hear that his younger sister was pregnant. After all, in his past life, Zhang Xiaomei never had a child of her own until her death, and she was greatly bullied by the Tie family.
Now that she had remarried and was living in the village, and was about to become a mother, how could Zhang Liunian not be happy for her?
Zhang Wenxue was also very happy for his daughter and sighed, "Yes, Xiaomei has finally seen the end of her hardships. When she is further along, I will have your mother go and take care of her during childbirth." This was also a way to compensate for the mistakes they, as parents, had made towards their daughter in the past.
Zhang Liunian paused upon hearing this. He looked at his mother, Yu Xiaohua. Receiving his gaze, she said somewhat sheepishly, "Mom wanted Xiaomei to return to Tiejia Village before because our village had no precedent for divorce and returning home. Mom didn't want Xiaomei to be the exception, to be pointed at and gossiped about by the entire village.
However, as time has passed, we've found that the villagers are quite understanding. They haven't troubled Xiaomei or spoken ill of her. Mom has come to terms with it. Times are changing, and we old folks need to adapt our thinking.
We will take better care of Xiaomei from now on and ensure she has a good delivery."
"Xiaomei would be very happy to hear you say that," Zhang Liunian knew that his sister was even more easygoing than him. With just a single remark like this, she might even cry from emotion.
"Xiaomei is a good child." When Zhang Wenxue heard that his daughter was pregnant, he took things to see her. His daughter also visited them when she had free time, and the two families were now formally interacting.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Brother, Mom, Dad, Xiaomei, everyone, come to my house for dinner. I'll ask the two aunties to help me cook, and you can just wait to eat the prepared meal," Zhang Liunian, seeing the good atmosphere, directly announced his plans for New Year's Eve.
Upon hearing that her son was hiring others to cook, Yu Xiaohua quickly said, "Why hire others? Mom will do it tomorrow. This little bit of work doesn't need hired help."
"How can that be? We'll have over a dozen people in our family tomorrow. How can you manage it all by yourself?" Zhang Liunian didn't mind the expense; he just wanted everyone to celebrate the New Year together.
But Yu Xiaohua was reluctant to let her son spend money and insisted, "It's only a dozen people. Mom used to cook for over ten people every day when she was at her maiden home. Don't worry, Mom will prepare the New Year's meal tomorrow. If you have time, help me look after the nephews."
"No need for third brother to help. I'll watch these little ones," Zhang Liushui, hearing his mother suggest having his third brother help with his sons, couldn't stay put. Tomorrow, he wouldn't have to guard Daming Lake and would have time to look after his son and a nephew.
"Third son, do as your mother says. Tomorrow is New Year's. If anyone is not busy at anyone else's house, you'd have to bother others. It's better to have family help," Zhang Wenxue also knew that his wife could handle the cooking for a dozen or so people and didn't need to hire outsiders.
"Exactly, third brother, Mom can handle it, you don't need to hire anyone else," Zhang Liushui also joined the ranks of those persuading Zhang Liunian.
What else could Zhang Liunian do but nod in agreement?
"Third son, Mom has one more thing. Your maternal grandmother says she wants you to visit her in Yujia Village on the second day of the Lunar New Year. See if you have time to go. If not, then forget it," Yu Xiaohua remembered her mother's request from last time and immediately thought of her maternal family.
Actually, she knew why her mother wanted to see her youngest son; it was surely to get his help.
Before, with their second brother around, he would be the one to pay New Year's visits. This year, it was their mother specifically asking for her youngest son to visit, which must mean she wanted her youngest son to provide something.
"Me to go to Grandma's house? Didn't Second Brother always go?" Zhang Liunian looked confused.
Zhang Liushui had known about this for a while and had considered the reason. He immediately spoke up to remind him, "Third brother, you don't understand. Your reputation now is much greater than second brother's. Even I, as your elder brother, am noticed and praised by many people when I walk outside.
Grandma must have heard that you've made money and are helping the villagers live better lives, so she wants to see her promising grandson whom she's only met twice. It's also possible she wants you to arrange jobs for her sons, your uncles. You should think carefully before deciding whether to go. Grandma definitely has something to ask of you; she wouldn't be asking you to come for no reason if she wasn't busy."
Zhang Liushui had some understanding of his maternal grandmother's family situation because, among the three brothers, he had visited more often than the second brother, though still only a handful of times.
Based on his past understanding, unless there was a reason, his grandmother would never specifically ask someone to pay a New Year's visit.
Zhang Liushui didn't want his third brother to be completely unaware, which is why he revealed this information.