Xia Wan Tang offered a polite smile. "It's alright, cousin. Children just don't know any better."
Children who didn't know better needed proper guidance.
Nearly running into someone could be chalked up to an accident, but throwing a tantrum like this was a clear sign of poor upbringing.
Judging by the scene, this wasn't an isolated incident.
Ling Yu Hong also seemed troubled, looking at the noisy scene before him with a headache.
His wife, Jiang Shi You, was impatiently telling her mother-in-law, "Mom, don't indulge him. Let him make a fuss."
"He's still young, what if he cries himself sick?" Su Jin Hua couldn't bear to see her grandson crying so inconsolably. She took out her phone, trying to coax him, "Grandma will let you play on the phone, don't cry anymore."
Upon hearing about the phone, Ling Han Fei immediately stopped crying. He snatched the phone and scrambled to his feet.
As he tapped the screen to unlock it, he walked towards the sofa.
"How many times have I told you, playing on the phone is bad for children's eyes." Jiang Shi You took a deep breath, clearly quite upset.
Su Jin Hua dismissed it. "What's the big deal? Which child doesn't play on their phone?"
Jiang Shi You had no recourse, her angry gaze fixed directly on Ling Yu Hong.
Ling Yu Hong frowned and turned his face away.
He felt it was a bit of an overreaction. Playing on the phone, what a trivial matter.
Jiang Shi You took another deep breath and apologetically turned to Xia Wan Tang. "You must be Wan Tang, right? I'm so sorry, that child is spoiled rotten."
"It's fine, cousin-in-law," Xia Wan Tang nodded gently in response.
"Children who don't know better just need to be disciplined properly."
Zhu Yun Fei said with a hint of annoyance. She walked to Xia Wan Tang's side, linking her arm with hers, her tone instantly becoming gentle: "Dear, let's go sit over there, and Mom will introduce you to some elders."
Jiang Shi You's expression turned a little unpleasant.
She could say whatever she wanted about her own child, even scold or hit him, but others couldn't.
Ling Yu Hong also felt a touch of awkwardness, but he quickly masked it.
Zhu Yun Fei led Xia Wan Tang to sit on the sofa, Ling Yu Chen following closely behind.
However, there was no more space on the sofa, so he stood behind Xia Wan Tang.
On the main sofa sat the Ling family's elder patriarch, Ling Cheng Feng, and the elder matriarch, Guo Man Xia.
Beside them were the Ling family's second son, Ling Cheng Zhi, and his wife, Su Wan Ling.
All four were approaching eighty years old.
Xia Wan Tang sat on the left sofa with Zhu Yun Fei and her husband, facing three people.
Two of them were the unlucky child from earlier and his grandmother. The other was a middle-aged man, presumably Ling Yu Chen's uncle.
Zhu Yun Fei smiled and introduced, "Dear, these are Second Grandfather and Second Grandmother."
"Second Grandfather, Second Grandmother." Xia Wan Tang followed suit.
Ling Cheng Zhi's face was full of smiles, his aged features creasing as he laughed.
He said to Ling Cheng Feng beside him, "Elder Brother, you are truly blessed! To have such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law."
Ling Cheng Feng nodded in agreement, finding it quite reasonable.
"Good, good, a fine child," Su Wan Ling responded with a smile, praising, "She's a beautiful girl. Marrying Yu Chen is great fortune. You must have many children in the future to carry on the Ling family line."
Xia Wan Tang's smile didn't waver, but a hint of displeasure stirred within her.
The Ling family's elder matriarch chuckled softly. "Children and grandchildren have their own destinies. We who are half in the grave should just enjoy our blessings."
"That's not how it should be said."
Su Wan Ling looked affectionately at her beloved great-grandson, proudly saying, "We've lived this long, and it's all to see more generations. Look, my Han Fei is already this big, and Yu Chen has only just gotten married."
The implication was clear: her family was flourishing, unlike Ling Yu Chen's branch.
The Ling family's elder matriarch was not one to be easily subdued. She smiled, "Isn't my Yu Chen busy with his career? Teng Kong Group is prospering day by day now."
Upon hearing this, Su Wan Ling's smile faltered slightly.
Zhu Yun Fei, as if oblivious to the subtle barbs in their words,
continued her introductions, "Sitting opposite are your Second Uncle and Second Aunt."
Xia Wan Tang continued to smile, obediently calling out, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt."
Ling Jun Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
Su Jin Hua, perhaps still unhappy about the earlier incident, showed little smile.
Xia Wan Tang didn't mind, continuing to follow her mother's lead in greeting people.
"That's your cousin and his wife, and that child is their son. You also have a younger cousin and a niece. The niece is at tutoring and is eight years old this year."
After the introductions, Xia Wan Tang had a general grasp of who everyone was.
Su Jin Hua asked casually, as if it were an afterthought, "I heard you're still studying, what university is it? And what's your major?"
Xia Wan Tang replied truthfully, "Second Aunt, I'm in my third year. My university is Nan Jia University, and I'm studying Chinese Language and Literature."
"Oh, that's not bad."
Nan Jia University was considered one of the best universities in the capital, so there was nothing to fault there.
Su Jin Hua then smiled and asked, "I heard your family..."
"Let's go, it's time to eat."
Ling Yu Chen interrupted her, signaling that it was time for the meal.
The Ling family's elder matriarch said affectionately, "Come, Tang Bao, let's eat."
The group rose in twos and threes.
Su Jin Hua raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with a cold smile.
Did she think she could be stopped just like that?
They had learned about Ling Yu Chen's wife at the birthday banquet that day.
Based on the information exposed online, they had investigated her privately.
They had expected someone of consequence.
Instead, she turned out to be merely an adopted daughter from a fallen household.
How could such a person be worthy of entering the Ling family? She clearly lacked any proper upbringing, and Su Jin Hua looked down on her from the bottom of her heart, though she wouldn't say it outright.
Preoccupied with her own smugness, she failed to notice Ling Yu Chen glance back at her with a deep look.
The spacious dining table was laden with delicacies.
Elder Ling and Ling Cheng Zhi sat at the head, with the elder matriarch and Su Wan Ling in the first seats to their left and right, respectively.
Next were Ling Jun Ye and Ling Jun Mo, Zhu Yun Fei and Su Jin Hua...
They were seated in order, the elder branch on the left, the second branch on the right.
The table was full of people, creating a lively atmosphere.
"Come, come, today is a joyous occasion. Elder Brother, let's have a drink!"
Ling Cheng Zhi poured two cups of wine and offered one to Elder Ling.
Elder Ling smacked his lips, a hint of craving. The aroma of the wine seemed to deliberately waft into his nose, stirring his desire.
But he dared not drink. He glanced surreptitiously at the elder matriarch beside him, as if seeking permission.
The elder matriarch said calmly, "If you want to drink, then drink. What are you looking at me for?"
Elder Ling immediately acted as if he had received a decree and picked up his wine glass.
The two glasses clinked, and they downed the wine in one gulp.
Ling Cheng Zhi chuckled, raising his cup. "Elder Brother is still so afraid of Eldest Sister-in-law. You don't even dare to drink without her nod."
"Fear and love are two different things," Elder Ling chuckled, unfazed by the remark.
Being afraid of one's wife wasn't something to be ashamed of.
Su Wan Ling glanced at the elder matriarch opposite her, eating her food with a blank expression.
She wondered what kind of fortune Guo Man Xia had accumulated over a lifetime to enjoy such comfort.
"Come, darling, eat," Su Jin Hua said, holding a bowl and feeding her grandson.
Ling Han Fei was engrossed in his game on his phone.
"Mom, he's seven years old. Let him eat by himself. He plays games while eating, what's this bad habit you've spoiled him with."